From world champs to a few national winners and All-Americans and from those who excelled as students and athletes and throw in a couple of Olympians for good measure .. oh yes and a vet of the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball plus an all-star caliber sports writer and one has the 2017 class of the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame.
And kudos to the committee for recognizing those who may have been missed by the bright television lights and headlines, but were perfect on the bowling lanes and outstanding on the national and international waters in boat racing.
The usual full house of family members, friends and guests at the Chattanooga Convention Center listened to story after story of those inductees who pointed to others - coaches, parents, siblings – rather than themselves - as they - the inductees - received the accolades and applause and headlines over the years.
Here are a few of their stories …
Track and Field
The Tyner track coach (Gary Carter) who believed in a black youth (Larry Cooke) enough to help him go from “I not only finished last I finished dead last” to a city champ and to help him add three feet to his long jump efforts and drop four seconds off his 400 meter time. That slow guy was later a two-time All-American in the long jump at Carson-Newman.
Wrestling
The wrestler (John Lennon) who once cried after losing a junior high match at Red Bank and taken to task by his brother who said, “ wrestlers don’t cry.”
Lennon wiped away the tears, later brought pain to many an opponent and was 100-2 and two-time state champ for Cleveland High School.
And baby boomer Yogi Anderson who was raised at the Lookout Mountain Playground, a Little Boys Baseball all-star for the champion Coca Cola Cokes in 1962 …. Then later won team and individual and team state wrestling crowns for “Fight, Fight for Old Notre Dame” … and is one of only two student-athletes to earn 12 varsity letters at the U. of the South
And quoted Franklin D. Roosevelt “be sincere, be brief and be seated …”
Tennis
GPS net program had good representation as Elizabeth Donnovin was a Prince All-American and a Southern 18s singles champ, while a few years earlier Laura Duffy Moore was one of the best in the nation in juniors.
Volleyball
Sale Creek volleyball coach Debbie Shipley Hill) talked about “small town and big dreams” and hopes of a state title one day, being able to coach her kids and credited hall of famers Catherine Neely and Grace Keith with much of her success.
And so many more as Kelsey Jane Nunley (Soddy Daisy HS/U of Kentucky) had the academics and the fast ball to be an All-American pitcher for the Wildcats …
Swimming and diving was well represented as McCallie and Michigan grad Sean Ryan was an NCAA All-American swimmer and found his niche as an open water swimmer to make his way t all the way to the Olympics in Rio ... long time East Ridge rec swim coach Don Waters Jr. gave credit to his mom and dad and Myra Creighton – not only was an All-American at GPS and Vandy, but multi-tasked well enough to make high marks in class and is a law firm partner in Atlanta.
The Walt Lauter Award went to long time Cleveland area football coach Bobby Scott, while the Morris/Morgan award for overcoming life’s tough times with success went to visually impaired (VI) tri-athlete Liz Baker of Signal Mountain … she overcame blindness to become a national and world champ and placed fourth in the 2016 ParaOlympics in Rio.
And legendary golfer Maggie Scott who knows how to “drive for show and putt for dough” (friendly quarter bets on the weekends).
Best Quotes
“I not only finished last, but dead last in the 400 meters as a kid but had a coach who saw something in me and believed in me enough to help me be the best in the county and the region for Tyner HS” Larry Cooke.
“Take your son hunting when he is young so you want have to go hunting for him (in the wrong places) later in life.”- world champion skeet shooter Carl Poston, Jr. “And it’s a great honor to be selected for your hometown hall of fame.”
“You must have complete trust in your (sighted) guide to be successful,” – visually impaired triathlete, world and national champ and 2016 Para-Olympian Liz Baker
“I didn’t have a great deal of talent but God gave me a fire in the belly to use my talents to succeed” – All-American swimmer Myra Crieighton
“I was one of 13 kids in the Jones household and my mom was my heart and soul … she taught me what it meant to be a winner … it’s what’s in your heart … the three keys are belief in God and need the support of your family and community” … Dale Jones (Bradley Central HS/U of Tenn.), All-American football player and current assistant coach at Appalachian State
“I was mad day after day at Bradley Central) coach Jim Smiddy for making me shoot all those extra hours in the gym for what I thought was a waste since I passed the ball to the taller players.
“But I was the open player with the ball in my hands with three seconds remaining in the state finals and made the shot to win it all,” said Bradley Central and UTC star Karen Mills
A simple word from national and international caliber boat racer Brainerd Cooper. “Thanks for recognizing my sport.”
“Mom gave me the passion, drive and love and importance of completing what you started and not quit … and dad taught me baseball fundamentals which got me to the big leagues.” Former MLB player Ray Stephens
He didn't forget who got him here ... current Chattanooga Times Free Press sports editor Stephen Hargis was quick to note in his acceptance speech "and a big thanks to Roy Exum at the Chattanooga Free Press who gave me my first job long ago ... and actually paid me to go cover a sporting event," Hargis said with a laugh.
Wilkins Last Word: Before emcees Randy Smith and Darrell Patterson closed the dinner, Gerald Wilkins stated, “I enjoyed all the great stories and speeches” and then he pointed in the direction of Liz Baker – Morris/Morgan Award recipient) “and said emphatically “why is she not in this hall of fame.”
Patience , Gerald … “soon and very soon.”
HOFers: Baseball (Ray Stephens), Basketball (Karen Mills, Gerald Wilkins), Boat Racing (Brainerd Cooper, Jr.), Bowling (Gary Workman), Football (Brent Adams, Dale Jones), Golf (Kip Henley), Softball (Letha High), Sports Media (Stephen Hargis), Shooting (Carl Poston, Jr.), Swimming and Diving (Myra Creighton, James Don Waters,Jr.), Tennis (Elizabeth Donnovin, Laura Duffy Moore), Track and Field (Larry Cooke, Terry Dale Topping),Volleyball (Debbie Shipley Hill), Wrestling (Yogi Anderson, John Lennon)
Male Athlete of the Year: Sean Ryan
Female Athlete of the Year: Kelsey Jane Nunley
Walt Lauter Lifetime Achievement: Bobby William Scott
Betty Probasco Lifetime Achievement: Maggie Scott
Morris/Morgan Award: Liz Baker
contact B.B. Branton t william.branton@comcast.net