
The
Huckabee Annex was dedicated
in April of 2002. The
facility was made possible
by the $1 million contribution
of an anonymous donor who
wished to name the facility
in honor of the late Joseph
Lavern Huckabee. A native
of Marion, SC, Mr. Huckabee
came to Clemson as a student
in 1950 and served in the
Air
Force in the Korean war after
his graduation. He
was a member of IPTAY for
47 continuous years until
his death a in 2001 after
a bout with cancer. He
served on the Clemson Board
of Visitors.
Huckabee
was honored at a dinner
in Clemson in December of
2001. "It
is truly an honor for our
family to be here to accept
this naming opportunity," said
Watts Huckabee, who spoke
on behalf of the family. "I
believe our father and your
friend (the donor) chose
to live a morally balanced
life, focusing on how he
could impact other lives
with acts of kindness."
The generous gift toward the annex allowed Clemson to construct a modern $7.5 million facility that serves Clemson's men's and women's program in all facets of their career as a Clemson Tiger.
The facility that was constructed over the tunnel end (South) of Littlejohn Coliseum includes a new practice gym. This is the first time the Clemson program has had a practice gym and it allows the Tigers to work on their game year round in a private environment.
New equipment rooms and training rooms are also a part of the facility. The athletic training room includes offices for the men's and women's athletic training staff. It is among the largest basketball-only facilities of its kind in the nation. The strength facility is also a part of the Huckabee Annex. Located on the third floor of the facility, the nearly 8,000 square foot area is adjacent to the new concourse area of the Coliseum.
Finally,
the third floor of the annex
is the home of a Clemson
basketball memorabilia area
that provides a modern documentation
of Clemson basketball
history. It
showcases Clemson victories
over number-one ranked teams,
the 1990 ACC Championship
trophy,
and a banner area highlighting
the program's accomplishments
that date to the 1939 Southern
Conference Championship. Giant
action photos of Clemson's
greatest players are also
on
display.