Towson University Athletics

Basketball had always been a passion with Eddie Diggs despite never having scored a point or even played in a game but his dedication to the sport and the athletes he served through the years earned him local and national recognition.

Eddie became the first former Towson student to enter the Tigers’ athletics Hall of Fame for his contribution in a support role. He served as the Tigers’ basketball team manager from 1974-79 and was recognized as Towson’s Student Manager of the Year three times.

During Eddie’s career the Tigers posted a four-year record of 86-29, won two Mason-Dixon Conference championships and earned two trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Every player and coach from those teams considered their team manager an integral part of that success.

Eddie dutifully performed numerous tasks in support of the team whether it involved score keeping, serving as a statistician, overseeing the equipment, handling the laundry, keeping the players hydrated, monitoring team meals. Whatever the task he went about it with an infectious smile. He was an inspiration.

Eddie was born with only two fingers on each hand. From an early age he looked beyond his disability, labeled as "congenital anomaly” and was determined to achieve his goals regardless. "To say 'I can't' should not be your first option," Eddie maintained. "We all have abilities, disabled or not. Use them to accomplish your goals."

In 1979 Eddie became the first of 13 children in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree, graduating with a major in sociology. He then spent over two decades working for the Social Security Administration, retiring as a policy analyst.

After watching from the sidelines for a couple of years, Eddie finally made the decision in 1984 to become involved with the Maryland (formerly Baltimore) Ravens wheelchair basketball organization. Through the years Eddie volunteered his time as its nonprofit president/CEO, coach, driver and fund-raiser as well as a conference official, tournament director, referee and school outreach coordinator. As its coach the Maryland Ravens competed in 656 games against other National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) teams, winning 486 of those contests. The program was ranked No. 1 in the country twice and captured the Division III national championship in 2006.

In 2017, Eddie was inducted into the NWBA's National Hall of Fame. He was only the second Maryland Raven to be so honored, following Ralph Smith, the organization's founder, who was inducted in 1995.

"It's a great honor for him and one that he is certainly well-deserving of," said Towson Hall of Fame member and former Tiger basketball great, Bobby Washington (1974-78). "He was one of us. He always kept our spirits up. He took care of our needs. He was very proactive. He had a huge presence on our team."