Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction

Mark Sills shakes hands with guests as he walks in to the Modern Maturity Center. Sills has been an advocate for youth sports and founded Urban Youth, Inc., which directs youth basketball tournaments for non-profit youth groups in Wilmington and other cities.

Joseph Todd walks in to the Modern Maturity Center. Todd was a high school football standout at the Louis L. Redding School in Middletown and went on to play at Morgan State.

Congressman John Carney speaks at the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Alton Thompson, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Delaware State University, smiles as he jokes with inductee George Banks III at the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

George Banks III speaks at the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Banks III has bowled twenty-seven 300-point games.

Dr. Alton Thompson, left, smiles as he hands William "Squeak" Coursey his Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame plaque at the induction ceremony. Thompson joked that when the two played baseball against on another, he would never steal when he saw Coursey playing third base.

Emory Howell speaks at the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Howell was a standout runner in both track and cross country in high school and earned All-American honors at Delaware State.

Gilbert Jackson III, who accepted an induction for both himself and posthumously for his father Gilbert Jackson Jr., smiles as he speaks at the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Jackson III was a standout at John Dickinson High School in football, basketball, baseball and track & field. As a head coach at Sanford, he lead the boys basketball team to a 1986 state championship.

Members of the audience applaud Gilbert Jackson III as he speaks at the Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Bernard Francis Johnson speaks after receiving his induction plaque at Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Johnson was a standout football, baseball and basketball athlete in high school, and went on to play in the Delaware Semi-Pro Baseball League for the Bridgeville Comets.

Dr. Alton Thompson, left, smiles as he hands Robert C. Johnson his Delaware Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame plaque at the induction ceremony. Johnson was the first basketball player in Smyrna High School's history to score 1,000 career points and was a standout in track & field. At Delaware State University, he earned All-MEAC honors as a swimmer. Johnson was also a standout baseball player for Delaware State, once pitching an 11-inning one-hit game in which he struck out 17 batters.