The nine charter members of the newly formed Cougar Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame were inducted before a huge crowd at Logan County High School Friday between games of the Clash of the Cats, both of which were won by LCHS.
A story about the night and descriptions of the accomplishments of four of the inductees can be read on The Logan Journal at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=features286.
The qualifications of the other five members follow:
Joseph J. Jefferson
LCHS Class of 1999
First-Team All-State in Football
MVP of Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game
Holds Cougar Career and Season Records in Rushing
4-Year Starter for WKU; Holds Punt Return Record
Played in Senior Bowl and Blue & Grey Game
Highest Draft Choice in WKU History (3rd Round)
Starter for Indianapolis Colts as 4-Year NFL Player
Joseph was the leader of the first Cougar team to beat Russellville in football. He rushed for 1,405 yards in a season and 3,800 yards in his career but played defense at WKU and in the NFL. An honorable mention All-American in college, he holds the Topper record for averaging 13.5 yards per punt return and for the longest punt return in Western history at 95 yards. He was the fastest defensive back at the 2002 NFL Combine, running a 4.37 40-yard dash. He was Player of the Game for Colts’ wins over the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
Presenting Joseph’s plaque was his son, Joseph Jefferson II.
Katherine Neely Murrie
LCHS Class of 1999
State High School Golf Champion
All-State Golfer 3 Seasons
National NAIA Golf Champion, NAIA All-American
Holds 5 Records at Lipscomb University
Former Club Professional at Belle Meade
And Golf Club of Tennessee
Katherine won the Kentucky Invitational Tournament as a junior and three other tournaments besides state as a Lady Cougar. She holds Lipscomb records for career tournaments won and the lowest totals for 18, 36 and 54 holes. She graduated summa cum laude from Lipscomb and earned her masters degree from Belmont and is now a banker in Nashville.
Presenting Katherine’s plaque was her husband, Jason Murrie.
Terry Jawan Clayton
LCHS Class of 2003
Played in Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game
Football Jersey Retired by LCHS
Played Football for UK for 4 Years
National Rudy Award Winner, the First Ever
Nominated for Orange Bowl Courage Award
Iron Cat Weightlifting at UK 3 Years
Outstanding Student in Kinesiolgy at UK
An All-SKY player at LCHS, Terry was honorable mention All-State. At UK he received the Outstanding Student Award and the Health Promotion Exercise Award. He is now on the Cougar football coaching staff.
Presenting Terry’s plaque was Lee Proctor, the first Cougar football player to earn an NCAA scholarship and the man who has spent more years involved in LCHS football than anyone else.
Lee Dockins
LCHS Class of 2006
Football and Basketball Cheerleader 4 Years
Homecoming Court 4 years, 1st and 2nd Runner-Up
8 Medals (5 Gold) in Special Olympics World Games
Performed Gymnastics in China, Greece and Switzerland
Chosen for 2015 World Games in Los Angeles
Winner of Over 130 Gold Medals in Kentucky Summer Games
Cheersport National Champion Cheerleader 2 Years
Lee earned the Gold Medal in All-Around competition in the World Games, signifying that she is the world’s most outstanding Special Olympics Gymnast. She was Special Olympics Athlete of the Year in 2007. She is a Global Messenger for Special Olympics Kentucky.
Presenting Lee’s plaque was her former fellow cheerleader and one of her coaches at Logan County Gymnastics, Becky Silvey Young.
Bob Birdwhistell
Coach and Athletic Director
Coached Lewisburg High Basketball 14 Seasons
Reached District Finals 7 Seasons, Champion Twice
Coached Lewisburg Baseball 10 Seasons
Reached District Finals 7 Seasons, 5 Championships
First Athletic Director at Logan County High School
LCHS Principal Five Years
Spent 40 Years Working in Logan County Schools
A graduate of Franklin-Simpson High school where he was Mr. Basketball, Bob was the central figure at LCHS from its foundation in 1982 until his retirement 10 years later. He later served as assistant principal at Chandlers Elementary School. As athletic director, he was responsible for creating the first football, golf, tennis, and cross country teams to the Logan County School System. He really is Mr. Cougar.
Presenting Bob’s plaque was his first assistant coach and later principal at Lewisburg, Joe Milam.
See descriptions and photos of the four other Hall of Fame members in an article on The Logan Journal at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=features286.