Former Renfrew, Slater players inducted into textile sports hall of fame

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Former players from Renfrew and Slater mills were among the latest inductees into the Greenville Textile Heritage Society's Textile Sports Hall of Fame.

Travelers Rest native Lewis Tyler Lockaby, who played for the Renfrew Rifles, and Bliss McCall and Perry Rampey, who both played for the Slater Sluggers, were inducted at this year's ceremony, held earlier this month during the society's annual Textile Festival.

A veteran of WWII and a former coach and educator, Lockaby played for Renfrew while attending Newberry College, where he enrolled following his service. Lockaby was playing for the Rifles when the team won the Piedmont Textile League Championship in 1949.

Bliss McCall, who passed away in 1969, was a four-time all-star with the Sluggers. Rampey, who passed away in 1993, was a three-time all-star with the team.

Accepting on behalf of Bliss McCall.

Perry Rampey family members.

The two-day Textile Festival, now in its eighth year, was held at the Hughes Main Library in downtown Greenville on Oct. 4-5 and featured exhibits from area mills, villages, communities, and museums.

A total of 15 players representing 10 mills were inducted as part of the 2014 Hall of Fame class.

On the Web: Greenville Textile Heritage Society