A standing room-only crowd at Logan County High School Friday night witnessed the induction of the nine charter members of the newly formed Cougar Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame between games of the Clash of the Cats.
For 10 years, Cougar fans have been allowed to share in appreciation for Russellville sports figures who have been inducted into the Russellville Alumni Association Hall of Fame. This time, it was the Panther fans who were invited to share in congratulating ultra-successful athletes who have emerged from the Land of Logan.
A committee of people who care deeply about LCHS and its sports have worked hard to plan this Hall of Fame and to select members. They realize there are many more former athletes, coaches and supporters who deserve recognition, too, and more Hall of Fame members will be added in years to come.
The Hall of Fame is sponsored by First Southern National Bank, and many FSNB employees were present, including top local officers Alex Keltner and Tracey Gilbert.
A reception for the inductees and their close friends and family was held in the auxiliary gym Friday evening before the girls Clash began.
The Logan County Cougar Athletic Foundation was formed in 2013 to support LCHS athletics. Richard and Louise Holloman led the efforts to make the inaugural ceremony special with help from many people, including Bill and Nancy Gaines, Stacey Mason, Bob Nylin, John Ferris, Lee Proctor, Marissa Hopkins, Dafnel DeVasier and Debbie Brown. Coach Steve Duncan’s football Cougars set up the tables and chairs
Jimmy Kent Wilson served as the original president of the Foundation and is also chairman of Projects committee. Billy Bingham is fund raising chairman. Kyle Hines is the new president. Mike Riley, Lori Bouldin and LeAnn Powell are active leaders of the group.
Several people traveled long-distances to be there for the ceremony. Among them were Rory Riley, an attorney from Charlotte, N.C., who is inductee Lee Dockins’ World Games coach; Dockins’ maternal grandmother, Billie McLarty of Franklin, Tenn.; inductee Joseph Jefferson and his son Joseph II of Indianapolis; former Cougar coach David Billingsley and his wife Amy of the Lexington area; inductee Katherine Neely Murrie and her husband Jason of Nashville and Katherine’s mom, Deana Neely of Murfreesboro; inductee Fred Tisdale of Louisville; and Karen Harris of Elizabethtown, who was inductee Terry Clayton’s sign language interpreter throughout high school
Two of the inductees’ grandmothers made the effort to be there in wheelchairs. One was Lee’s paternal grandmother, Davey Lee Dockins, accompanied by her husband Frank. The other, 104-year-old Nell Lawrence of Allensville, was rolled out on the gym floor by inductee Brenda Chapman’s husband, George ‘Bud’ Strickler.
Following are descriptions of four of the inductees. The first nine lines will appear on their plaques which will hang in the school lobby. An accompanying story on The LoJo profiles the other five inductees at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=features287
Brenda Chapman
Olmstead High Class of 1973
Regional Tennis Champion 2 Years
WKU Number 1 Tennis Player 2 Years
WKU Basketball Captain & MVP 2 Years
Honorable Mention All-American
Women’s Basketball League Leading Scorer
WKU Athletic Hall of Fame
WKU All-Time Diddle Arena Team
Brenda was a professional basketball player with the Women’s Basketball League, playing for both Minnesota and Milwaukee. She was named Logan County Female Athlete of the Decade for the 1970s and was chosen for the WKU Women’s Basketball Centennial Team.
Presenting Brenda her plaque were her dad, former Kitty League professional baseball player Al Chapman, and her grandmother, Nell Lawrence.
Lillie Mason
Olmstead High Class of 1981
Miss Kentucky Basketball
Played on 7 District Champion Teams
All-American 3 Years at WKU
MVP of 2 NCAA Regional Tournaments
Lady Topper Jersey Retired by WKU
WKU Athletic Hall of Fame
Kentucky High School Hall of Fame
Lillie led the Lady Toppers to two Final Fours and remains near the top of most statistical categories in WKU women’s basketball history. She played professional basketball in Italy, since there was no women’s league in the United States when she graduated. Her jersey hangs from the rafters of Diddle Arena.
Presenting Lillie her plaque was Brenda Anderson Coursey, who was her teammate at Olmstead and was on the Lady Cougars coaching staff for several seasons.
Fred Tisdale
LCHS Class of 1984
Most Valuable Player in State Tournament
Led Cougars to State Championship
Named to 50 Greatest Players in State Tournament History
Led Auburn to Regional Finals in 1982
All-State Twice, All-Region 3 Years, All County 4 Years
WKU Most Improved Player as Sophomore
Co-MVP, Averaged 31 Points, 16 Boards in Pro League
Fred was runner-up for Mr. Basketball and played on the Kentucky HoopStars team in Europe. He was named to All-Tournament teams in the King of the Bluegrass, the Louisville Invitational Tournament and the Ashland Invitational Tournament as a senior. He starred in a pro league in Uruguay.
Presenting Fred’s plaque was Barry Reed, who coached him both at Auburn and at LCHS.
Mark Thompson
LCHS Class of 1989
MVP, All-State Pitcher on State Quarterfinalist Team
All-State Kicker in Football
Holds LCHS Record for Home Runs in a Season (16)
UK Baseball Letterman 3 Years; All-SEC Pitcher
Number 2 Draft Pick In Colorado Rockies’ History
Rockies Organization 1st Player of the Year
First Rockies Pitcher to Earn Postseason Save, Shutout at Coors Field
Mark earned 10 varsity letters at LCHS in football, basketball and baseball. He was named MVP of the Kentucky Wildcats in 1992 when he led the team in ERA, Wins and Strikeouts. He was the first draft choice in Rockies history to reach the majors and was the first winning pitching in Coors Field history. He also pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Presenting Mark’s plaque was his dad, Jim Thompson, who was the first coach of Lady Cougar basketball and guided them to two regional finals berths.