HAMPTON ROADS — Housed at Langley Speedway, sports media legends in Hampton Roads have their own space and each spring a new enshrinement ceremony takes place. That space? The Hampton Roads Sports Media Hall of Fame.
The hall was established by Greg Bicouvaris, a local media personality, and Chuck Hall, Langley Speedway Promoter, in 2017. Bicouvaris, who has a long-standing career as a TV host/interviewer and play-by-play announcer for Newport News public schools. He has worked in sports production at the network level radio and television and wanted to create a special place to honor those who work to cover sports throughout the Hampton Roads region.
“As long as you’ve got some sort of work in sports media, you are eligible,” Bicouvaris said.
The incoming class is selected each December by the hall of fame board. To qualify, sports media members must have covered sports in the Hampton Roads region for at least five years and have been a positive influence on their community. Each class has five members and two honorary recipients.
“This will be the eighth year of inductees and we’d love for it to keep growing. We have a great mix of minorities, women, men, and people love it. Everyone feels like there is an opportunity for them to get into this hall of fame. Character, good standing, and morals are very important to us,” Bicouvaris said.
In 2025, the hall will enshrine Jay Colley, the voice of William & Mary athletics; Brad Face, former sports anchor at WVEC; Woube Gebre, Norfolk State radio and TV broadcaster; Earle Hellen, a late golf writer and sports reporter for the Daily Press and Times-Herald; and Bill Leffler, a late sports writer and columnist for the Virginian-Pilot.
The 2025 ceremony will take place prior to a race at Langley Speedway on May 3.
“It’s really cool to do the recognition right before a live sporting event. There’s not many banquets that can host 1,000 people. It’s a nice pleasantry that Langley does so that people can watch the ceremony and then enjoy a race,” Bicouvaris said.
For more information on the Hampton Roads Sports Media Hall of Fame and to see members of each hall of fame class, visit hrsmhof.com.