Impressive credentials, worthy honorees and proud participants were all on display Friday night as the nine newest members of the Cougar Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame were inducted between games of a Logan County-Todd Central doubleheader.
The second class of Hall of Famers came to central court while their sports biographies were being aired. There they were met by friends, family members, coaches or school leaders they had chosen to be their ‘presenters.’
The inductees received plaques that had been purchased and prepared by First Southern National Bank, which also provided the food for a hospitality room before the ceremony. Alex Keltner and Tracey Gilbert of FSNB were on the floor distributing the plaques, and fellow FSNB employees Bryan Fuller, Keith Cox and David Atkins were among the hospitality room hosts.
Richard Holloman is chairman of the Cougar Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame Committee. Among those working with him were his wife Louise, former principals Bob Nylin and Bob Birdwhistell, long-time local sports supporters Bill and Nancy Gaines, and former LCHS athletes/cheerleaders Stacey Mason, Melody Goodman Bingham and LeAnn Meguiar Powell. School administrators involved were Athletic Director Greg Howard, Principal Caycee Spears, and the superintendent, Dr. Kevin Hub.
(Shown in the group picture, from left, are Diana Grinter Hunter, Stacey Mason, Regina Robey Lanier, Lora Spencer, Eric and Joyce Sinclair, Charlene and Howard Gorrell, Dr. Dixie Dennis, John Sydnor and Susan Sydnor Carroll, and Lois and Jerry Nole. Photos by Greg Hale)
Four of the inductees are deceased and family members represented them. They were as follows:
For Earle Shelton, his daughter, Dr. Dixie Dennis, accepted from Bob Birdwhistell, a former Lewisburg coach, as was Shelton. Shelton's other daughter, Ann Bailey, and his son, Eddie Shelton, were not able to be present because of health conditions.
For Buck Sydnor, his daughter, Susan Carroll, and his son, John Sydnor, from their cousin, WRUS sportscaster Ben Brown
For Jimmie Nuckols, his sister, Lois Nole, and his brother, Jerry Nole, from Bill Gaines, who had celebrated his 90th birthday earlier in the week at a Hall of Fame Committee meeting.
For Gerald Sinclair, his wife, Joyce Sinclair, and his son, Eric Sinclair, from Tim Thomason, who started for Coach Sinclair at Chandlers High School and on Logan County’s state championship team. His daughter, Carrie Milam Harris, was also present.
The five living recipients were there to receive their plaques.
Diana Grinter Hunter was met at center court by her sisters, Dorothy Barnett and Mary Webb.
Stacey Mason received his award from his principal at Adairville High School, retired Logan County Superintendent Marshall Kemp
Regina Robey Lanier was honored by Birdwhistell, who was athletic director at LCHS when Robey was running track for the Lady Cougars
Lora Spencer was joined at center court by her basketball coach at LCHS, Jim Thompson.
Howard Gorrell, who has been suffering from blood clots recently, was escorted to center court by his wife, Charlene Gorrell. Presenting his award was Barry Reed, who was part of the basketball program when Gorrell coached at Auburn. Reed then coached at Auburn when Gorrell was the principal there and at LCHS when Gorrell was the principal.
Birdwhistell was a charter member of the Hall of Fame, and Thompson also presented a Hall of Fame plaque last year to his son, Mark Thompson, who was at the ceremony Friday.
Plaques for last year’s recipients are now hanging on the wall in the lobby adjacent to the southwest gym doors. Paint for the elaborate background was furnished by Sherwin Williams
Former Cougar Ethan Holloway accepted an award to H&H Sheetmetal for that company’s support of Logan County athletics.