Lehigh University Athletics
Jackson to receive Hall of Fame recognition
5/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Five former Lehigh greats have been elected to the Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame. Football standout Rennie Benn ’86, lacrosse and soccer star Chris Cameron ’89, gridiron star Bill Ciaravino ’51, track star Robert B. Jackson ’35, and wrestler Mike Lieberman ’75 will make up the Class of 2004. When he graduated from Lehigh in 1986, Rennie Benn held claim to or was tied for seven records on the gridiron and will go down as one of the most prolific pass receivers in Lehigh football history.
Benn established Lehigh records in pass receptions for a career (237), career receiving yards (3,662), career touchdown receptions (44), and touchdown receptions in a game (5). Benn also tied the mark for points in a game (30), pass receptions in one game (14) and touchdown receptions in a single season (15). Benn’s five touchdown catches in one game and 15 in one season were also NCAA Division I-AA records at the time. He recorded three or more touchdown catches in a game an astounding six times.
Benn’s 44 touchdown receptions puts him in second place all-time in the NCAA Division I-AA record books, while his 3,662 yards place him in seventh place and the 237 receptions are good for 14th.
“Rennie is certainly among the best wide receivers in Lehigh history,” said teammate and Hall of Famer Marty Horn ‘86. “He was one of the best ever to wear the uniform at that position. There have been a lot of great receivers at Lehigh, but he was unique in his ability to separate from defensive backs and catch the long ball.”
Benn used his deceptively quick speed to finish his career for Lehigh with the third highest point total of any player in history with 266. Benn received All-America honors in 1985 on the Kodak/AFCA Division I-AA First-Team and he was also an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American that year. Benn was also an honorable mention All-American selection in 1985 and 1983, as well as a second-team honoree in 1984 and in 1986 he played in the Senior Bowl, catching a touchdown pass in helping lead the North to victory.
Benn was named to the ECAC Division I-AA second team in 1985, following a season in which he hauled in 73 catches for 1,087 yards, which placed him eighth in Division I-AA, and the first team in 1984, when he caught 77 balls for 1,149 yards and ten touchdowns, good for fifth in the nation. Benn also excelled on the track where he was a silver medalist in the 1986 East Coast Conference Championships in the 100-meter dash.
“This is a great honor to be inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame,” Benn explains, “When I think about the great tradition at Lehigh University, especially on the football field, it’s great to be considered with the greatest to have ever played at this wonderful university.”
Benn, who played under the legendary coach John Whitehead discusses his time on the gridiron with his coach. “I had a chance to play under the great John Whitehead, who not only taught us about football, but also taught us lessons and values for life, and I still use those values he instilled in our team, today in my work and family life.”
Benn earned his degree from Lehigh in finance and currently he is employed by Prudential Financial, where he serves as the Director of Financial Reporting. Benn has been involved with numerous youth sports as a coach and has also volunteered his time to the local YMCA.
A two-sport star, Chris Cameron excelled in both lacrosse and soccer during his time at Lehigh, and received countless awards for his athletic prowess.
“Chris is just a great kid from a great family and he had outstanding athletic ability,” says John McCloskey, who coached Cameron in both lacrosse and soccer. “Chris was really a throw back type of kid in that he could have played any sport that he wanted to. He was an all-around outstanding kid.” McCloskey concludes, “This is pretty great to see someone like Chris be inducted into the Hall of Fame here at Lehigh, you don’t get the opportunity to be around someone like him all too often.”
Cameron had success in both sports he participated in while at Lehigh, but he was particularly well-recognized in lacrosse, as he led the nation in scoring twice in his career, while also being an All-American. As a freshman, Cameron was ranked second in the nation in scoring with 40 goals and 53 assists. Cameron’s list of accolades also includes being selected to play in the North-South All-Star game, garnering East Coast Conference All-Star honors and serving as captain twice during his Lehigh career.
During his senior season, Cameron was the sixth best assist man in the nation, and he ended his career with 121 goals and 186 assists, giving him 307 points. Those stellar numbers broke the East Coast Conference records for both career assists and points.
Lacrosse wasn’t the only sport in which Cameron excelled at Lehigh. He also enjoyed success on the soccer field, as he tied for the team lead in goals (8) and led the team in assists (6) as a senior. Cameron helped lead Lehigh to a
“This is a great honor to be inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame,” Cameron said. “This is something that
Cameron continues, “I am happy to go into the Hall of Fame and to receive all of this wonderful recognition from past teammates, coaches and friends that made my time at Lehigh such a valuable and enjoyable experience. I must also thank my coach John McCloskey who helped build the program throughout my time at Lehigh. He was always there and a real constant throughout the seasons.”
Following his graduation from Lehigh, Cameron played some professional lacrosse with the Boston Blazers and also the Brine Lacrosse Club, before heading into employment as a sporting goods sales representative. Following his stint with Brine as the Director of Field Communications, Cameron worked for the Rupp Company in Playing a critical role in helping the 1950 football team achieve the only unbeaten season in Lehigh’s history, Bill Ciaravino was an up-front leader on that historic unit, which finished its season 9-0.
“He wasn’t the biggest guy,” said legendary Lehigh coach (and fellow Hall of Famer) Bill Leckonby, “but he was outstanding on the field. As the defensive captain, he called the plays for our defense, and since we went undefeated, I think he deserves some of the credit for that.”
Ciaravino starred at linebacker on the defensive side and also at guard on offense, as this was in the days of unlimited substitution. Ciaravino had one of his best games of his career versus
“Bill was one of the best kids we had in the program, on and off the field. I don’t think we had anyone better,” said Leckonby.
Ciaravino served two years in the Army medical corps and left as a captain and returned to
Ciaravino earned his bachelors degree in biology from Lehigh and later went on to earn a master’s at the Columbia School of Medicine. Ciaravino then went on to establish his own physician practice in A consistent performer who excelled on the track during his time at Lehigh, Robert Jackson had a memorable four years for the Brown and White.
While at Lehigh,
One of Lehigh’s greatest examples of “most improved” as an athlete, Mike Lieberman climbed his way to the top of the wrestling mountain, which culminated in the 1975 National Championship as a junior – after failing to qualify his first two seasons.
“There was no greater driving force in my career than Michael. He won an NCAA Title when I was a freshman and that was my aspiration throughout my time at Lehigh and that is what drove me to the top,” says Lieberman’s brother Mark, who is also a member of the Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame. “Michael was an outstanding athlete with incredible gifts and talents and he worked extremely hard to achieve everything that he did.”
Mike Lieberman, who was a team captain during one of Lehigh’s greatest eras, was the first-ever
Despite suffering a cracked vertebrae at mid-season, Lieberman reached the 1976 NCAA semis with a string of 37 straight victories as a senior, settling for a third place finish. His career record on the mat was 66-17-1, including a combined 46-3 mark in his junior and senior seasons. Lieberman was an EIWA champion twice at 177.
“I am both delighted and honored with the news of my election into the Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame,” Lieberman said. “I am humbled to join an elite group of former student-athletes who are already members of the Hall. These men and women are accomplished on the athletic field, in the classroom and in their careers. At the same time, I know there are many great Lehigh Alums who are most deserving of this honor and have yet to be elected. I feel fortunate to have been considered, nominated and chosen.”
Lieberman earned his degree from Lehigh in marketing and management in 1976 and started out working for Bethlehem Steel, when he entered the loop sales program. He then went on to work for Mack Trucks Incorporated in
Lieberman has been active in the Formal induction into the Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame will take place on Saturday, May 8. For more information on the Hall of Fame and the Athletics Partnership, please contact Barb Turanchik ’75 at (610) 758-3132 or bat0@lehigh.edu.
