FHU Announces 2024 Hall of Fame Class – Chester County Independent

The Freed-Hardeman University Sports Hall of Fame welcomed three new inductees: Joe Burleson, Beau Caviness and Hannah Griffin (Skelley) as the Class of 2024. Gayle McDonald was also recognized with the Distinguished Service Award.

2024 Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony

Joe Burleson
Coaching after FHU
1960-1962
Joe Burleson, who played basketball and baseball for the Lions while attending Freed-Hardeman College, is best known for his half-century of coaching at River Forest High School in Hobart, Indiana.
Burleson was a mainstay of the Ingots’ JV boys basketball team, serving as head coach for 50 consecutive seasons. During that time, he was an assistant coach for 10 different varsity coaches. As a teacher, he taught fifth grade at River Forest Elementary for more than 40 years.
When needed, Burleson was the head coach of the Ingot cross country team for eight years and the track and field team for 11 years. He was an assistant softball coach for 17 years.
The gym floor at River Forest now bears his name, and in honor of his half-century of service, the number 50 jersey has been retired at all levels.
Outside of sports, he received the Sagamore of Wabash Award, the highest honor given by the governor of Indiana. A former deacon, Burleson is still an active member of Traders Point Church of Christ in Indianapolis.

Beau Caviness
Baseball
2013-2018
Beau Caviness is known not only for his outstanding work on the field, but also as an outstanding Christian teammate. Caviness started a weekly Bible study that the Lions baseball players continue to this day.
Beginning his career in 2015, Caviness was named a starter in four games, in which he struck out 10 in 17 2/3 innings of action before moving to a late bullpen role. He threw 48 innings in his sophomore campaign, in which he struck out 51 batters, finishing the year with a 6-5 record with four saves. In 2017, he threw 34 1/3 innings, in which he increased his save total to six, striking out 38 and giving up a career-low 15 walks.
Caviness saved his best for his final season, in which he was called upon to close the door as a closer in 33 games. In 47 innings of work, Caviness struck out 62 batters while maintaining a 2.68 earned run average. He tripled his saves, finishing with an FHU record 18 in a season, also tying for the most in NAIA baseball history.
Caviness has taken the mound in more games than any other Lion in 2024, appearing in 84 games. His 28 saves remain the FHU mark by 13 more, while also ranking in the top 15 with 161 career strikeouts. Caviness has three of the top 10 single-season totals in appearances, and his 33 total in 2018 was the most among Lions. In 2018, he had a K/9 percentage of 11.87, the third-highest among Lions.
Outside of baseball, Caviness was named Mr. FHU and was named to the Academic All-Conference team five times.
He graduated in 2018 with a degree in Sports Science, married Carly and now works as a physical therapist.

Hannah Griffin (Skelley)
Women’s turtleneck
2012-2016
Hannah Griffin (Skelley), the first female golfer to be inducted into the FHU Hall of Fame, remains the only Lady Lion to qualify for the NAIA National Tournament.
At the 2013 national tournament, she placed fourth in the long drive competition. During her career as a Lady Lion, Skelley was the lowest medalist four times, recording nine top-five finishes.
She was twice named the TranSouth Conference Player of the Week and was also named to the All-TranSouth team in 2013.
In 2024, her 18-hole rounds of 74, 74 and 75 placed her in the bottom three in FHU history.
She graduated in 2016 with a double major in Spanish and secondary education and spent four years in the public school system as a Spanish teacher and golf coach before becoming a golf professional for three years. She is currently the office manager and customer service coordinator at Voice of the Heart Center.
Hannah is married to Ryan Skelley and they have two sons, Griffin and Grayson. They live in Murfreesboro and enjoy spending time outdoors with their sons, working out, being with their small church group, and following University of Tennessee sporting events.
Gayle McDonald was selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award. McDonald is a professor of sports science at Freed-Hardeman, serving the athletic department as both an athletic trainer and faculty representative.