Former NBA Player Honored at SCC

4/28/09

Charles "Chico" Vaughn, left, was awarded the first annual "Gene Cross Award" on Saturday, April 25, during the "First Ever Cairo Citizen All-Star High School Basketball Game" at Shawnee Community College.
At right, Shannon Woodworth, assistant to the president at Shawnee Community College, is pictured with Vaughn.
The late Gene Cross is legendary as a coach and supporter of high school basketball in southern Illinois. Cross also helped organize the college's first basketball team that went on to win a district title in 1973. Vaughn, a former NBA player, played high school basketball at Tamms High School where he scored 3,358 points during his career (1954-1958).
The 6'2" guard had an unorthodox behind the head release that made his shot difficult to block.