MURFREESBORO - The Chowan University Office of Development in conjunction with the Department of Athletics announced today the first ever Coach Herb Appenzeller Reunion. The reunion is a celebration of all sports teams at Chowan from 1951-1956. The reunion will take place on Saturday, September 25th at Tavern 125 on Main Street in Murfreesboro. Following the reunion all attendees will be invited to attend Chowan football home season opener against Virginia State University at 6:00pm.  Reservations can be made online at www.gocuhawks.com under Athletic Links/Appenzeller Reunion.  

Appenzeller has a storied history at Chowan University, then Chowan College, as an atheltic director, head coach, and instructor. All are invited to attend as Chowan University President Dr. M. Christopher White will be on hand to talk about the state of the University and Director of Athletics of Dennis Helsel will speak on the growth in the athletic department. 

The Chowan University Office of Development and Ms. Kay Thomas spearheaded this campaign to bring back players from Appenzellar's tenure at Chowan.  "Dr. Appenzeller wanted to get all of his former athletes back together from his days at Chowan," stated Thomas. "With this reunion and the program we have planned we hope to be able to present a snapshot of how we have progressed over the years, from past to present. We are looking forward to the event and of course, I am very excited to have Dr. Appenzellar back on campus."

Appenzeller played football at Wake Forest for N.C. Sports Hall of Famer “Peahead” Walker and played in the first Gator Bowl where Wake defeated South Carolina, 26-14. After his work at Chowan, Appenzeller moved on to Guilford College where he spent 40 years in service as an athletic director, coach, and renowned professor in the Sport Management field. He has been credited with turning four athletic programs around, winning championships at three of the four schools.  

"A sign of excellence for any University is alumni returning to their roots," stated CU's Director of Athletics, Dennis Helsel. "Dr. Herb Appenzeller was a great inspirational leader on this campus. He is an acknowledged creative and innovative sharer of 'how to'. Chowan is blessed to have him and his peers return to their roots. These individuals make Chowan better through their return."

Appenzeller is a member eight sports halls of fame, including NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) Hall of Fame, NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, Wake Forest University Athletics Hall of Fame, Chowan University "Jim Garrison" Hall of Fame, and Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame.  In May of 2010, Appenzeller joined the ranks of the great as a new inductee into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

In 1993 Appenzeller received the Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Coaches Association and Guilford College recognized his career contributions to the college with its Distinguished Service Award.  He received the received the Leadership Award from the Society for the Study of the Legal Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity (SSLASPA) in 1999, the Simon Terrell Director's Choice Award in 2001, the SSLASPA President's Award in 2002, the Guy M. Lewis Academic Achievement Award from the International Conference on Sport and Entertainment Business in 2002, the 2004 Outstanding Achievement Award, Sport Management Council of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, the George Whitfield Baseball Clinic Honor Award,  Presidential Award from the Safety and Risk Management Council of AAHPERD, received three presidential awards from three presidents of the SRLA (Sport and Recreation Law Association).