Hall of Fame
Ralph Thurston enrolled at Chowan not once, but twice. The former All-Conference football performer for the Braves saw his stay in Murfreesboro interrupted by the Vietnam War. Believing strongly in his commitment to God and Country, Thurston left school to serve as a medic aboard the USS Repose stationed off the Vietnam coast. The ship set a record for most time at sea during tour of duty.
Charles Taylor, a former Chowan teammate, inducted Thurston into the Chowan University "Jim Garrison" Sports Hall of Fame. “With Ralph, what you see is what you get,” stressed Taylor “Here’s a man so in love with his country that he sacrificed a portion of his college education to serve his nation in a time of war. That hasn’t changed at all over the years because Ralph is still very kind to his fellow man.”
Thurston, who resides in Chesterfield County, Va., is in the real estate and insurance business. His close ties with Chowan remain intact as he serves on the board of directors with the Braves Club.
