Suffolk now has a trio of representatives on the board of directors for the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

LaTasha Colander Clark and Mike Duman were recently announced as new board members, joining Carl Farris of Suffolk, who was already on the board.

“We are always looking for community leaders,” said Eddie Webb, president of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. “These three were highly recommended to us. We are excited to have them in a leadership role with the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.”

Duman, who currently operates Mike Duman Auto Sales in Suffolk as well as several other locations in the region, was elected to Suffolk’s City Council in 2010.

He also currently serves on the Western Tidewater Water Authority, the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Board and City School Advisory Committee on Collaborative Fiscal Concerns.

“I’m honored that Eddie Webb believes that I can be an asset to the board,” Duman said of his Virginia Sports Hall of Fame appointment. “It’s rather humbling to be able to associate myself so closely really with some of the greatest athletes and sports figures not only from the Hampton Roads area but from throughout the commonwealth. So I considered it an honor to be considered.”

Duman has had an impact on the sports scene in Hampton Roads for some time.

“I’m an alumnus of Old Dominion (University) and have supported their athletic program since the mid ’80s,” he said. “I loaned the athletic program cars through my dealership.”

Duman has also supported a lot of sports activities within Suffolk.

“I’ve been a supporter of (Suffolk Youth Athletic Association), a lot of the local traveling teams, local basketball tournaments, we’ve sponsored an annual wrestling tournament for the last five years, and I try to stay involved,” he said.

One of the most recent events he supported was the Old School Classic at Lakeland High School on Aug. 7, which featured local basketball players from previous eras recreating old rivalries on the hardwood. It was a fundraiser for the Cavaliers boys’ basketball program.

“I try to support not so much for the sport itself, but what sports provides and that’s an activity for the youth to participate in and for more community involvement,” Duman said. “So, that’s kind of what I’ve been about. I don’t support a lot outside of the city. Most of my support for sports has been strictly within the city of Suffolk.”

LaTasha Colander Clark was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014, an honor recognizing her remarkable athletic career.

Representing the United States at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, she earned a gold medal in the 4×400-meter relay.

During her college career at the University of North Carolina, she earned the title of All-American.

“Being inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame was an honor, and as an athlete, you’re able to get amongst your colleagues and to congratulate each other for all of the different facets of sports that you come from,” she said.

Now she embraces a new level of honor from the organization with her selection to its board of directors.

“It’s another step, it’s another level, but it’s more being able to now help and be a part of the work, be a part of helping others to be able to be inducted and to also share their accomplishments and their accolades,” Clark said. “I don’t have words for it because it’s such a great honor to not only be inducted, but now I can help others, too.”

She already has ideas for what the hall of fame can do to help recognize those that inspire others.

“We really need to have more programs and events so that people can see all of the wonderful athletes from the Virginia area,” she said. “So, I just think it’s wonderful to be able to work in the Hall.”

Clark and Duman are beginning two-year terms as board members.