Four former Russellville superstars will be inducted into the Russellville Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame this Friday between games of the Clash of the Cats.
The Logan County-at-Russellville girls and boys doubleheader is now also called the Mullen-Meguiar Cat Classic in honor of long-time RHS coaches/administrators Wayne Mullen and Mickey Meguiar.
The honorees played in the forties, seventies, eighties and the first decade of the 21st century.
The new Hall of Famers are Kenneth Knight, Roderick Holman, David Britt and Nakia Daniel.
They are profiled below:
Kenneth Knight, RHS Class of 1948:
The late Kenneth. Knight was a four-year starter on the RHS Basketball team, earning All-District honors in 1946, ’47 and ’48. He led the Panthers to the district championship each of his last two seasons, and the Panthers were regional runner-up in 1947.
As a member of the Panther Football team in 1944-47, as the quarterback, he is the only Panther ever to be named Captain three years. He led the Panthers to a 17-3-1 record in his last two seasons, leading them to a bowl game in Pensacola, Fla. in 1947.
After earning All-State honors, he signed with the University of Kentucky to play football for Coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. He beat out future UK star quarterback Babe Parelli for the starting signal caller on the Wildcats’ freshman team.
A promising college and—what many predicted—professional career was cut short by a car accident that took the life of his brother, Raymond, who was also a Panther football star. Mr. Knight was recently named one of the “50 Greatest Football Panthers.”
After graduating from the University of Kentucky, Ken Knight enlisted in the Navy and served in the Korean War. Afterwards, he worked for the telephone company in Chattanooga until his untimely death in 1970.
Several Knight family members from Tennessee and Indiana are expected to attend Friday’s ceremony. His son, Karl Knight, will accept his Hall of Fame plague from one of Kenneth’s teammates and classmates, Justice William G. Fuqua.
Roderick Holman, RHS Class of 1980.
Roderick Holman was a member of the RHS basketball team from 1977-80, first earning a starting position in 1978. He earned All-District honors in 1978, ’79 and 1980; All-County all three of those years. He was named All-4th Region, All-South Central, and Honorable Mention on All-State in 1980. He led the region in scoring in 1980, scoring 24.8 points per game.
He was a member of the Panther District Champs in 1979 and ‘80, and a member of the All-Decade Team, which consisted of players from RHS and the five county schools over the 10 seasons of the 1970s. He was Logan County Player of the Year in 1980.
He scored 1,630 points in his illustrious career, and his 45 points in a 100-95 win over Trigg County in 1979, was the school record that stood for 39 seasons until Jacob Naylor broke it this December.
As a member of the track team from 1977-80, Roderick was a long and high Jumper.
After graduation, Rod Holman signed with Lindsey Wilson Junior College.
Presenting Roderick Holman his award will be Dewayne Woods, a classmate, teammate, and former athlete at RHS.
Captain David Britt, RHS Class of 1988
David Britt was a football lineman for Coach Ken Barrett’s Panthers from 1984-87, and the Panthers went 12-1 in his freshman year. He was a three-year starter on the both sides of the line.
David was a captain for the State Finalist Team in 1987, which means the team won district and regional championships. He earned All-WKC Honors in 1986 and ‘87. He was named to the prestigious multi-state All-South Team in 1987, as well as being named to the Courier Journal’s All-State Team in both 1986 and ‘87.
Britt was a member of the Panther Basketball team in 1985, ’87 and ‘88, and a key member of Russellville’s district championship team in 1987.
After high school, David Britt was a varsity football player for the U.S. Naval Academy. The only accomplishment he wants listed is Navy beating Army twice during his playing years.
After his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1992, David Britt served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for 25 years, rising to the rank of Captain, the highest level below Admiral.
After being promoted to Captain, he was assigned to the Pentagon, where he served as the advisor to the President of the United States on the Department of Defense’s online education policy.
Captain Britt resides in Norfolk, Va. with his wife Kristen, daughters Hayden and Marin and son Jenks.
David Britt’s Hall of Fame plaque will be presented by his brothers, former Panthers Andy and Matt Britt.
Nakia Daniel, RHS Class of 2010
Nakia Daniel was a member of the Lady Panther Basketball team from 2005-2010, lettering all six years. She was team captain in 2008, ’09 and ‘10. She was named All-District Seasonal Team in four years, All-District Tournament Team three years; and Class A All-Regional team in 2007, ‘08 and ‘10.
She was selected to the West Squad All-Star Team in 2010, starting and scoring seven points in a win over the East Team. Her career high was 31 points against Estill County in 2010. Her 315 three-point shots made are a school record, and her 1,810 total points are third all-time for Lady Panthers. She signed with Volunteer State College.
As a four-year letterman on the RHS Softball team, she was selected to the Class A All-Regional team in 2007, and All-District team in 2010.
Presenting her award tonight will be her father, Roger Daniel, a 1975 RHS graduate who has spent most of his life mentoring, coaching, and supporting the children of our community.