The West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences this month will honor five graduates who have made their mark in business, professional sports, education and physical therapy.

The college will induct four alumni into the 2008 Hall of Fame : WVU professor emeritus William Alsop, aquatic therapist Paula Briggs, professional and college football coach George Henshaw and former NFL player Pete Zinaich. Zinaich will be honored posthumously.

John Mallory, a former NFL player and retired business executive, will accept this years Outstanding Alumnus Award. The Monongalia County Board of Education , represented by Superintendent Frank Devono, will receive the 2008 Deans Service Award for outstanding service to the National Youth Sports Program.

The awards ceremony will be Friday, Oct. 10, at the new Erickson Alumni Center57 Alumni Drive (formerly Medical Center Drive), near Ruby Memorial Hospital and Milan Puskar Stadium.

A reception will begin at 7 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony at 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Hall of Fame class of 2008 inductees represents internationally recognized college professors, administrators, scholars and business leaders within the physical activity industry, Dean Dana Brooks said.

The inductees received numerous honors and awards for their service contributions to their various professions,Brooks added.The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences is proud to add the names of this years class of inductees to its growing list of outstanding alumni.

William Alsop

Alsop earned his bachelors degree from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and his masters and doctoral degrees in physical education from WVU .

Alsop was faculty member in WVU s College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences for more than 30 years. He was founder and leader of the nationally acclaimed Sport Management Program at WVU and helped in the initial formation of the colleges visiting committee.

During his tenure at WVU , he held the positions of associate professor, coordinator of graduate studies, chairman of the Department of Sport and Exercise Studies, chair of the Division of Physical Education and Sport Studies and program coordinator of the Sport Management Program.

Alsop was president of the West Virginia chapter of the Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. He also served on numerous committees of the national association, including the board of directors and as vice president for the Midwest District.

He was involved in the early formation of the North American Society for Sport Management and served as the organizations membership chair.

Alsop and colleague Andrew Ostrow donated the assets of their successful publishing company, Fitness Information Technology Inc., to establish the International Center for Performance Excellence in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.

He and his wife, Marie, reside in Morgantown and Swanton, Md.

Paula Briggs

After obtaining her bachelors degree in physical education from Frostburg State College, Briggs earned her masters degree in exercise physiology from WVU .

Briggs has had a long, distinguished career in aquatics and aquatic therapy and rehab. She is the aquatic director at the MountainView Regional Rehabilitation Hospital therapeutic pool, where she developed aquatic programs for all patient diagnoses.

She is also a faculty member in the School of Medicine , Department of Human Performance and Applied Sciences at WVU . She successfully introduced the aquatic therapy curriculum at WVU , making the school one of the few universities offering a specialty in aquatic therapy.

At the national level, Briggs serves on numerous committees for the National Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute. She has also served on the Committee of Disability International Foundation, Aquatic Exercise Association Advisory Board and the boards of directors of the local American Diabetes Association chapter and Mountain Laurel Chapter of the American Red Cross.

She is the liaison for the West Virginia Bureau of Health, Chronic Disease Coalition and Physical Activity Coalition.

In 2000, she received the Aquatic Therapy Professional of the Year Award from the Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Institute, the organizations highest recognition. She also received the Tsunami Spirit Award from the Aquatic Therapy and Rehab Institute in 1996.

She lives in Morgantown with her husband, Rick.

George Henshaw

Henshaw earned his bachelors and masters degrees from WVU .

As an undergraduate, he started for the WVU football team during his sophomore, junior and senior years and was an All-Conference lineman. He received the Ira Rodgers Award in 1970.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater. He was also offensive- and defensive-line coach and offensive coordinator at Florida State University, an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama and head coach at Tulsa University.

Henshaw spent five years with the Denver Broncos, coaching wide receivers and the offensive line and was the teams offensive coordinator in 1992. While he was with the Broncos, the team won two AFC West titles and appeared in Super Bowl XXIV .

He was offensive coordinator with the New York Giants for four years. He also coached for the Tennessee Oilers, served as assistant head coach/offense for the Tennessee Titans and served with the New Orleans Saints.

He has been involved in several professional organizations, including the American Football Coaches Association and National Football League Coaches Association.

He and his wife, Kathleen, reside in Mandeville, La.

Pete Zinaich

Zinaich earned his undergraduate and masters degrees in physical education at WVU .

Zinaich played fullback for the WVU football team during the 1946-49 seasons and was captain of the 1949 team. He helped the Mountaineers to a 9-3 record in 1948, including a 21-12 victory over Texas Western in the Sun Bowl.

He was also a baseball standout at WVU from 1948-50. He played catcher and shortstop and batted cleanup in the lineup.

Zinaich went on to have a successful professional football career, being selected in the ninth round of the draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

After retiring from football, he was a teacher and coach at various high schools in West Virginias Northern Panhandle area and Ohio.

He was selected to the WVU All-Time Team (1930-50). He was a recipient of Hancock Countys Sports Greats Award by the West Virginia Centennial Commission and the West Virginia Lions organization.

The Pete Zinaich Touchdown Club Scholarship is awarded annually to a WVU athlete.

John Mallory

Mallory earned his bachelors degree in education from WVU .

As an undergraduate, he played for the WVU football team, leading the Mountaineers in punt returns from 1965-67 while excelling as a defensive back. He was a two-year All-Southern Conference pick and earned honorable mention All-America honors.

Mallory also lettered twice in track.

He went on to play in the NFL , being selected in the 10th round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was traded the next year to Atlanta, where he became the Falconsall-time punt return leader.

He was also a player-coach for the now-defunct World Football League franchise in Shreveport, La.

After his football career, Mallory spent 25 years at AT&T, where he held management positions in sales, marketing, product management, strategic planning, government affairs and personnel. He also worked as the general manager of an AT&T sales division.

He now works as an independent consultant.

He has served on the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerces Business Education Training Alliance board of trustees and the AT&T Community Involvement Council.

Active in his alma mater, he serves on the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences visiting committee. He is a former member of the WVU Alumni Association board of directors and served as vice president during his term.

He has been named to the WVU All-Time Team (1960-69) and WVU Athletic Hall of Fame.

He lives in Whitehouse Station, N.J.