ATLANTA — Former
Benedict College standout Charles “CB” Benson will be inducted into the 2027 SIAC Hall of Fame class for his historic contributions as a three-year letterman in baseball and football from 1960 to 1962.
The Columbia, SC native, attended Booker T. Washington High School where he lettered in football for three years and led his team in scoring and rushing yards during his senior season.
Benson continued to excel on the gridiron at the next level becoming one of the most accomplished football players in Benedict history, contributing as both a defensive back and running back. He became the first Tiger to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season, earning Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Back honors. In his senior season, Benson rushed for 205 yards and scored four touchdowns in the 34-0 victory over Allen University in the 1962 City Classic.
Although Benson was recruited to play football, he established himself as a dominant infielder on the diamond from 1960-63, and served as team captain for two seasons, without ever playing the sport in high school.
As captain, Benson led the Tigers in batting average and stolen bases during his tenure, which earned him Most Valuable Player for three consecutive seasons.
His athletic supremacy produced the ultimate distinction in Benedict athletic history when the No. 45 was retired in football and the No. 14 was retired in baseball in his honor. Benson is the only athlete in school history to receive the honor in two sports, and as a result he was inducted into the Benedict Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.
Post graduation, his success on the baseball field carried him to the professional ranks.
Known professionally as Charlie Benson, he spent six years in the minor leagues and advanced to the Triple-A level in the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins organizations.
Playing for the St. Cloud Rox during the 1964 season, Benson delivered one of the strongest campaigns of his professional career, batting .272 with 112 hits, nine home runs, 48 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 102 games. His performance earned him a promotion to Double-A Fort Worth, and he finished the season with 132 hits, 11 home runs and 56 RBIs between the two clubs, all career highs.
Benson earned two All-Star selections during his professional career.
After his playing days, Benson worked for 30 years in recreation with the South Carolina Department of Corrections and later served as a baseball scout with the Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs. He also officiated baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball at the high school and collegiate levels.
His professional and civic affiliations included charter memberships in the Benedict College National Alumni Association and National Athletic Booster Club, as well as affiliations with the South Carolina High School Association and National Association of Recreation Directors.
SIAC HALL OF FAME
The SIAC Hall of Fame stands among the conference's highest honors, preserving the accomplishments and contributions of individuals whose achievements in athletics, leadership and service have helped define the history of the SIAC and its member institutions.
2027 SIAC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
Date: Tuesday, March 2, 2027
Doors Open: 11 a.m. ET
Ceremony Begins: Noon ET
Venue: Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame
Address: 250 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
TICKETING INFORMATION
Tickets On Sale: Nov. 1, 2026
Ticket Price: $150 per person
Purchase Tickets: SIAC Tickets
2027 SIAC HALL OF FAME CLASS
The 13th SIAC Hall of Fame class includes 10 inductees representing achievements in athletics, administration and contributions to the conference.
- Selina Kohn, Albany State University – Women's Basketball
- Charles Benson, Benedict College – Baseball and Football
- Dominique Worthen, LeMoyne-Owen College – Men's Golf
- James Bullard, Morehouse College – Football (Posthumous)
- Fred Lane, Lane College – Football (Posthumous)
- Roosevelt Williams, Tuskegee University – Football
- Phyllis Oliver-Mattox, Savannah State University – Women's Tennis (Posthumous)
- Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Benedict College – Administrator
- Andre Pattillo, Morehouse College – Administrator
- Charlie Neal – Contributor (Posthumous)
For a complete list of SIAC Hall of Fame inductees, visit the SIAC Hall of Fame webpage.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is an NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) headquartered in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and eight women's sports and is a proud member of NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.