Winston County Sports Hall of Fame honors 2018 inductees

HALEYVILLE - The Haleyville Elementary School Cafetorium was filled with those in attendance of the 2018 Winston County Sports Hall of Fame banquet Saturday, July 21.
Mitch Nethery, pastor of the Haleyville First United Methodist Church, gave the invocation. A steak dinner, catered by Russell’s Rising Smoke, was served by members of the HHS varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads.
Bob Masdon, Haleyville High School board of directors representative, welcomed everyone and thanked Traders and Farmers Bank and Southern Energy Homes as sponsors of the event.
Masdon recognized Amanda Cunningham and Haydon Twilley of Meek High School as the Eb Deason Award winners as Academic Athletes of the Year. Masdon explained the award is rotated each year between the five schools, including Addison, Haleyville, Lynn, Meek and Winston County.
He then introduced Bob and Connie Dickinson, who began the idea of starting a
WCSHoF 21 years ago.
Masdon also spoke about the loss of board member Jerry Jackson, who was tragically killed in an accident in December of 2017. Aubrey Haynes has been named to Jackson’s spot on board.
Masdon explained the WCSHoF has two board members representing each of the five schools. The board members make the recommendations for inductees each year. Board members include: Addison-Randy White and Randy Lee; Haleyville-Bob Masdon and Aubrey Haynes; Lynn-Brad Alsup and Keith Alsup; Meek-Becky Wilson and Dr. Terry James; Winston County-Joe Morrow and Dan Hogan.
Masdon then introduced Tony Giles, sports announcer for the University of Alabama as master of ceremonies. He is known as the “Voice of the Crimson Tide”.
Giles has been serving as master of ceremonies of the WCSHoF for the past 16 years. “Many of you say to me when I walk in the door ‘welcome home’. I feel like I am home because so many of you have become friends over the years as we have inducted a lot of great people in to this hall of fame in this county,” he said.
Giles turned the podium over to guest speaker Bobby Hum-phrey.
“It is a joy to be here with you tonight,” Humphrey began. “To the board and selection committee, thank you for your wonderful work. It is very, very time consuming.
“Congratulations to all the inductees. When you talk about being inducted into a hall of fame that means you have done something that can be identified as contributing to the field of sports and to helping  someone’s life.
“I believe sports provides a variety of things. It is not just a ball, or scoring points and winning a game.  I think the leadership that you learn and learning how to work together are valuable. You learn how to be a good listener and a work ethic. There are a lot of parts to building a team and each one is important.
“When I was the coach of the Birmingham Steel Dogs, my most valuable person was my equipment manager. He was a very important part of my team and the organization. Whatever you do, whatever part of the team is your duty - it is important.
“The Bible puts it this way, ‘The body has many members, but every members of your body serves a purpose.’
“Every part works together for the functioning of the body or a team or a club or a school, etc. It is important.
“That is what sports does. It all works toward the functioning of the entire body. That is what I think these inductees have provided when you are talking about sports and their accomplishments.
“Let’s talk about striving for excellence. As we think about that,  it does not have anything to do with age.
“There is something you can do and excel in everyday, no matter what age you are or where you are in life. Young people and you seasoned people, get up every morning and continue to strive for excellence. Strive means you continually work toward something. When you strive for excellence, there are sacrifices that have to be made, but the rewards are also greater.
“You may give up something on this end, but you will get something much greater on the other end. It is called sacrifice.
“Success is just not handed out. You have to work for it. In my wildest dreams, I would never have thought that I would be here on behalf of hall of fame inductees. It is all because I had an opportunity to play football and worked hard to reach my goals - sacrifice and success. Keep that burning desire to strive for excellence no matter who and where you are.”
Giles read the presentation of awards as the board members made the presentations to their respective school’s honorees.
The first honoree recognized was Kelly Rushing as a special category inductee for Haleyville.
Rushing said, “Wow! I would like to thank all the committee members and everyone responsible for putting on this event and my induction. I want to thank my Lord Jesus. I am truly blessed among men.
“As a coach, I believe there is a special place for coaches wives. My wife is one of the best. She has been without me a lot, because I have been coaching other people’s children. Thank you Michelle for being a strong coach’s wife. My two boys, Dakota and Brock, they have been great. I was fortunate to coach Dakota in high school and that was special times. Now I am getting to coach Brock now and that is a dream come true.
“My first job in coaching was given to me by my daddy. He and I coached 7th and 8th grade football at Haleyville. I cherish those times and I thank you daddy and I love you.
“I want to thank my momma and my brother, Kyle. They have been there every time a big event has happened in my coaching career.
“Coach Whitney Webb is here tonight. We coached together for about 10 years. A lot of times, I just drove the buses and she took care of all the other organizational things. She was loyal to me and we had a lot of good times with our girls. Thank you Coach Webb.”
Rushing thanked Coach Wayne Jones for giving him his first paying job as a coach, as well as coaches Steve Atchley and Steve Spiller, along with then Superintendent of Education Dr. Clint Baggett.
“The most important reason I am up here tonight is that I coached good players,” Rushing continued. “Without them, I would not be here. They got the job done. I can’t say enough about all the players I have had the privilege to coach. There are events and relationships that you develop when you are in coaching which make things special.
“Last, but not least I want to say congratulations to two teammates, Jeff Rasbury and Duffy Cordrey. That is something special.

“Jeff Burdge, I am not trying to make you feel older, but when I was in junior high school, every young boy wanted to be you and play for Coach (Mike) Haggard. I want to say thank you once again and it doesn’t get any better in my profession.”
The next inductee was was in the special category from Meek High School - Trey Barnes. His sister, Ashley, accepted on behalf of the family as her brother died in a camping accident when he was a young man.
She said in a tearful voice, “I would like to thank everyone who was involved in letting my brother get this special award. It means everything to my family. Thank you.”
The next inductee was Timmy Miller from Winston County High School. Miller commented, “I want to thank the board for allowing me to become a member of the
WCSHoF. I want to thank my family for being here tonight - my mother, my brother, my wife Rhonda.”
Miller thanked Coach Morrow and everyone who had been a part of his sports and coaching career. “Sports was a big part of my life growing up and it has been ever since. Thank y’all,” he ended.
David Powell, from AHS, was next in the presentation. “He commented, “I just want to say thank y’all. This award means a lot to me and my family.”
From Haleyville, Jeff Rasbury, replied about his honor, “I wasn’t prepared to speak tonight. Several years ago, some people did remember that I threw a few passes. Now later in life, I am a good receiver, because I say pass me the potatoes, pass me the rolls,” he laughed. “I am truly humbled that the selection committee thought enough of my efforts as a young man to be part of this group.
“Two special people who are not here tonight are my late father and mother, Isaac and Betty Rasbury. They truly loved Haleyville and certainly loved sports. They sacrificed a lot of time and money to allow me to play sports at Haleyville. I truly wished they were here tonight to enjoy this honor.
“I am honored tonight to have my family with me. My wife and daughter, my son-in-law, my two uncles and special friend, Johnny Northcutt.
“What we were able to do was because of good coaches and good teammates. Without that, what success we did have couldn’t have happened. I am thankful to be here and appreciate this honor.”
Drema Haley was then honored in the special category for Lynn High School.
She was followed by Kayla Brown Howton, of Meek.
Carl Hunter, WCHS, was then presented his honor. “He said, “I would like to thank the committee for their work they did in making the choices that allowed me as a former player, Coach Morrow, for thinking enough of me to let me have this honor. It is a great honor.…I coached with Dan Hogan one year. I am sure that is where I got most of my knowledge…”
He thanked his family for being with him for the evening.
From AHS, Kim Rooks, was recognized. She commented, “It is a great honor even to be thought of to be inducted into this hall of fame with all these great athletes throughout the years. I would like to thank God for giving me the abilities I had in high school. I would not classify them as hall of fame worthy. I guess I did ok. I would like to thank my parents who were there day-in-and-day-out for every game, picking me up at practice, working two jobs doing everything they could to make sure I had everything I needed. They were there to support me throughout my career. Thank you very much.”
Abe Rooks, from AHS, was recognized. “I’m thankful for this opportunity,” he began. ”I want to thank God for sending Christ for me and saving me. Thank you to the committee for this honor. I am thankful to my family, to the coaches who gave me a chance to play and teaching us how to be men. I am thankful to the town of Addison for supporting us.”
HHS inductee Jeff Burdge received his plaque.
“I want to thank the committee for this honor tonight. It is truly humbling to be in the company of all the people who have been inducted before me. Congratulations to all the inductees tonight.
“I was fortunate to have so many great coaches for a lot of years. We had great teammates, striving for the same thing - to be successful and live up to the traditions we had at Haleyville High School.
“I want to thank my parents for teaching me to be a graceful winner and to be not discouraged, but determined in the face of defeat. They also taught me life-long lessons that there is no quitting in our family. You never give up. My sister is about the biggest fan you could ever ask for. I want to thank you. My wife. There is a lot of life that goes on after high school and college. There have been a lot of successes and a lot of ups-and-downs. I want to thank you for all the support you have given me for almost 30 years.
“I played sports because I was competitive and I liked to win, but more than anything else I wanted to represent my school, town and my family the best way I possible could. Thank you for this honor tonight.”
Brandon Kelly was honored from LHS. “I just want to say thank. you,” he said. “It is truly an honor.  I appreciate it, Brad. Thank you to my dad who has always stood behind while I was growing up.”
Kelly named Mark Finley, his basketball coach. “He meant a lot to me,” he replied. “Dan Hogan was my baseball coach during high school and he taught me a lot.”
Jerry Goodwin, MHS, came to the podium, followed by WCHS honoree Tabitha Garrison Mays.
Mays said, “I want to thank my dad. He was there day-in-and-day-out. He was my best rebounder, my best catcher, whatever I needed, he was there. I had a wonderful experience with all of coaches. Coach Morrow took on the father figure when my dad couldn’t be there. I loved being an athlete. It taught me a lot more than just points on a scoreboard.”
Mays said she coached volleyball for six years early in her education career, at which time she retired as a coach to be mom and ballfield mom.
Dusty Hayes, AHS, received his recognition.
Duffy Cordrey, HHS, followed, making comments about his honor, “I would like to thank the committee first for giving me this honor. I want to thank Aubrey and Bob for making my recommendation. I appreciate that.  This award go to someone sitting out here in the audience. That is my wife. She has put up with me for 26 years and that is a hall of famer right there. It has been a difficult job.” Cordrey said he knew his children and his late father would have loved to been with him tonight. “This has meant a lot to me and family. Thank you.”
Anna Cagle, LHS, received her award, and to end to the presentation was honoree Caleb Smith, MHS. Smith is the grandson of hall of fame inductee Jerry Goodwin.
Masdon announced that a book has been published containing pertinent information from the last 20 years of the WCSHoF. The books are $20 each and may be purchased by contacting any board of director.