Blount Co Sports_Program 2019 7x10 small

2019

Induction Ceremony

Anchors Church

Thursday 03. 07. 2019

1

March 7, 2019

Dear Friends,
On behalf of my fellow board members, I cordially welcome you to the 2019 Induction
Ceremony of the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame. Tonight, we recognize the
achievements of twelve individuals who have excelled in competitive athletics, and have
made an impact on Blount County.
The Blount County Sports Hall of Fame was organized in 1996 to honor, preserve, and
perpetuate the names and outstanding accomplishments of sports personalities who have
brought lasting fame to Blount County. The Hall of Fame is governed by a 16 member
Board of Directors that establishes the criteria for selecting inductees and determines
the eligibility of candidates and how candidates shall be elected to the Hall of Fame. A
nominations committee receives nominations, then selects a class of inductees each year.
Nominees who are not selected are held in active files for consideration for 3 years.
Our goal is to honor the wonderfully talented people who have made Blount County
Athletics special. I hope tonight will be a memorable night for all of our inductees and their
family and friends.
We are honored to have Eli Gold serve as our guest speaker, who is not only known in
Alabama, but all over the United States. I personally thank you for your support and
attendance. Please enjoy this celebration!

Sincerely,

Gregg Armstrong

President of
The Blount County Sports Hall of Fame

2

Guest Speaker

Eli Gold

-- Since 1988, Eli has served as the radio play-by-
play “voice” of the University Of Alabama Crimson
Tide. He is now the longest tenured play-by-play
“voice” in the Southeastern Conference. In addition,
Eli has added coverage of Alabama Baseball, softball,
soccer, volleyball and women’s basketball on the SEC
television Network to his resume.

-- In the fall and winter months, Eli is part of Sports
USA’s coverage of the National Football League.
Sports USA, is one of the national radio networks
to offer live, syndicated coverage of the NFL. Eli handles the play-by-play of NFL games in
addition to play-by-play of post-season college football bowl and all-star games for Sports USA.

-- Eli was a member of NASCAR’s Motor Racing Network (MRN) for 41 years before stepping
aside in May of 2016. Over the years, he served the network as a co-anchor, turn announcer and
pit reporter. For 33 years, Eli also served as the host of “NASCAR Live”, a weekly, nationally
syndicated radio call in show, which was heard on over 450 stations.

-- In his years behind the microphone, Eli reached the National Hockey League as the television
play-by-play “voice” of the St. Louis Blues and the radio “voice” of the Nashville Predators.
In addition, Eli also spent four years as a baseball play-by-play announcer in the Detroit
Tigers organization. Eli has also served as a free lance play-by-play announcer at ATP Tennis
Tournaments while also voicing many sports and non-sporting corporate videos.

-- Eli has served as a play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports, NBC Sports, ESPN and TNN
Motorsports in their coverage of NASCAR racing. He has also handled play-by-play for CBS
Sports’ regional coverage of NCAA basketball.

-- Eli was hired as a play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports in late 2002, and worked for NBC
as a play-by-play announcer for their coverage of the Arena Football League.

-- Eli is a 5-time Alabama Sportscaster of the Year as voted by his peers in the National
Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

-- Eli was inducted in to the State of Alabama Sports Hall-Of-Fame in 2014 and was inducted
in to the University of Alabama Hall-Of-Fame in 2016

-- Born in December 1953 in Brooklyn, New York, Eli resides in Birmingham, Alabama with
his wife of 41 years, Claudette, and their daughter Elise, who is a graduate of the University of
Alabama.

11

2019 Induction Ceremony March 7, 2019
Welcome………………………..President Gregg Armstrong
Invocation……………………Board Member Rodney Green
Meal
Introduction of Guest Speaker & Special Presentation

President Gregg Armstrong & Mayor of Oneonta Ross Norris

Guest Speaker…………………..…………………...Eli Gold

Presentation of Awards

Closing Remarks………...…..President Gregg Armstrong
***Eli Gold will be available for photos and autographs after the ceremony.

Presentation of Awards

Bruce McAfee being accepted by
Sara & Daniel McAfee presented by Sharon Standridge

Lisa Baswell Bates presented by Jerry Faulkner
Donald Warren presented by Coach Jim Williams

Jim Armstrong being accepted by
Anthony Armstrong presented by Kim Hargett

Danny Bentley presented by Terri Lowry
Gary Godfrey presented by Rodney Green
Joe Hazelrig accepted by Noah Hazelrig presented by Steve Hallman

Mark Hitt presented by Jim Carr
Jeff Milwee presented by Jason Bullard
Gary Pate presented by Daniel Smith
Eddie Priest presented by Andy Holland
Rob Rice being accepted by Jamie Rice & Jakob Rice presented by Jeremy Hyde

2

Board of Directors

President - Gregg Armstrong
Vice-President - Jim Carr
Secretary - Wendy Green
Treasurer - Mitchie Neel

Left to right, bottom row: Gardner Gilliland, Chris Latta, Rodney Green, Jeff
Hallmark, Gregg Armstrong, Jim Carr, Jim Williams, Alan Smith, and Kim Har-
gett. Top row: Robbie McAlpine, Keith Bender, Karron Standridge, Buddy McCay,
John Bullard, and Wendy Green. Not pictured: Hal Buckelew and Mitchie Neel

3

Bruce McAfee

What better way to begin our induction ceremony than
to start with Bruce McAfee. Coach McAfee excelled in
three sports at Altoona, including football, basketball and
baseball. He ranks as one of the most decorated athletes
in the athletic history of West End, Altoona and Walnut
Grove high schools. Coach McAfee earned All-Etowah
County football honors in 1961, 1962 and 1963.
As a senior, he was named to the All-State first team. Coach McAfee was selected to the annual North/
South All-Star team as a senior defensive end. As a basketball player, he was named All-County honors in
basketball for three years.

During the spring of 1964, Coach McAfee was awarded the prestigious Foot-Skeen Award given to
the top student-athlete in Etowah County. Coach McAfee·s sports career at Altoona earned him the
reputation as being one of the most successful high school athletes to ever wear a uniform in Etowah
County. He was a 1964 graduate of Altoona High School.

Coach McAfee was considered to be one of the top football players in the state during his senior year at
Altoona and signed a football scholarship to Auburn University, where he found success at both defensive
and offensive end. He was also one of the top punters on the team. Coach McAfee was a starter on offense
before the 1965 season but was removed due to a severe ankle injury just days before the opener.
Coach McAfee completed his education at Auburn University and graduated in 1968. He was hired by
Principal J.D. Webb at Susan Moore High School in Blount County in the summer of that year as assistant
football to head coach Larry “Pod” Patterson and also as the school’s head varsity boys basketball coach.

From 1968-1990 and 2002, Coach McAfee·s basketball teams won six Blount County Tournament
championships, nine area tournament championships, three regional championships and one state finals
appearance. Coach McAfee·s 341 wins as head basketball coach stands as the single most in the history of
Blount County high school basketball.

Coach McAfee served as head football coach at Susan Moore from 1989-1993. He finished with a
record of 36-20 with two area championships and four playoff berths. Coach McAfee also served as the
school’s head varsity baseball coach, winning a pair of county championships and three area championships
and making three playoff appearances in four seasons.

After stepping down from coaching in 1994, Coach McAfee served as school principal. After his
retirement, He served as a school board member and also as president of the board of education. Among
many things in his life Bruce McAfee was a gentleman. He was loved and respected by his community
and returned those sentiments. He was a humble man in every aspect of his life and always attributed his
success to the people around him - players, coaches and family. He is sorely missed but remembered by all
who knew him.

Coach McAfee and Sara have two sons, the late Michael McAfee and Daniel McAfee. He also leaves
behind 3 granddaughters and brothers and sisters who have joined us tonight. Coach McAfee was inducted
into the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 for his contributions to Susan Moore School and
community. Coach McAfee passed away in October of 2018 after a four year battle with cancer. On behalf
of the Blount County Sports Hall of Fames Committee, I am proud to present Daniel, Kaylie and Sara the
award for Coach Bruce McAfee.

4

Lisa Baswell Bates

Lisa Baswell Bates graduated valedictorian from
Locust Fork High School in 1995 where she played
basketball for Coach Jerry Faulkner and volleyball
for Coach Janice Carter. On top of all-county and
all-area selections for 4 years, she was selected 1st
team All-State in basketball 1993, 1994, and 1995
and the 3A Player of the Year in 1995. She averaged
27.5 points and 15.4 rebounds as a senior and was named Super Five All-Metro Team by the The
Birmingham News, Street & Smith All-American, and selected to play in the Alabama/Mississippi
All-Star game. Her team played in the Final Four 2 times. Her #13 jersey was retired at Locust
Fork, and she is still ranked in the AHSAA record book in 10 areas 24 years later - including
3,050 career points, 1,960 career rebounds, and 543 career blocks.
Lisa signed a basketball scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi where she
played 1995-1997, made it to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament, and led Conference USA
and set a school record in free throw percentage at 84.5%. She then transferred to Jacksonville
State University to play basketball 1998-2000 where she earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees
in Special Education with a 4.0 GPA and was eventually inducted into the JSU Sports Hall of
Fame in 2011. In just 2 seasons with the Gamecocks, she finished with 1,187 points - leading the
Atlantic Sun Conference both years: averaging 22.3 points her junior year and 20.3 points her
senior year. She also led the league in free throw percentage at 85% both seasons and tied the JSU
record that still stands today by scoring 46 points against Alabama A&M. Lisa was Student Athlete
of the Year for the Atlantic Sun and 1st team Academic All-American in both 1999 and 2000
and was selected as the Academic All-American of the Year in 2000 (only athlete in JSU history to
receive this honor).
Lisa is currently the Special Education Chairperson at Sand Rock High School and has taught
and coached there for 19 years. Her husband, Keith, teaches 2nd grade and coaches football there
and her son, Eli, is a junior there as well. She has been Head Basketball Coach there for 19 years
with a record of 382-191 and Head Volleyball Coach there for 17 years with a record of 572-208.
Her basketball teams have been Cherokee County Champions 3 times, Area Champions 8 times,
made Regional Tournament at JSU 8 times, and were 2A State Runner-up 2 years. Her volleyball
teams have been Cherokee County Champions 8 times, Area Champions 8 times, made the State
Tournament 9 times, and made it to the Final Four 5 times. She was selected to coach in the North/
South All-Star game in basketball in 2017 and was selected as 2018 2A Coach of the Year.

5

Donald Warren

Donald Warren graduated from Oneonta High
School in 1979. He played Varsity Basketball
for five years under Hall of Fame Coach Jim
Williams. He was a starter for the last four years,
and scored over 2000 points for the Redskins.
Donald was one of the most elite athletes from
Oneonta High School. After graduation, he was
awarded a college scholarship to Western Texas
Junior College where he played for another Hall
of Fame coach, Nolan Richardson. During his freshman season, Donald averaged 11 points
and 6 rebounds per game as his team won the Junior College National Championship in
the 1979-1980 season with a record of 37-0. Donald finished his career as a Jacksonville
State Gamecock.

Donald has one son, Donald Warren, Jr., who is making a career in the United States
Navy. Donald is married to his wife, Belinda, who has four sons. Donald is retired from the
State of Alabama Highway Department. He is loving his retirement while fishing as much
as he can and enjoying his grandchildren.

6

Jim Armstrong

Jim Armstrong was a 1963 graduate of
Hayden High School where he excelled in
athletics. He lettered in football and basketball
and was named to the All-County Team for
both sports. He was also a member of the H
club, FFA, Yearbook staff and senior class
vice-president. Jim was offered a basketball
scholarship to the University of South Alabama
but opted instead to join the Army. After serving
our country Jim worked for Alabama Power. Several years later he was diagnosed with
cancer in 1970 and eventually was on medical disability from Alabama Power and formally
retired at age 62.
Jim was very involved in West Blount Youth League baseball and coached many teams
over the years. He was a volunteer coach with Hayden High School football and baseball
teams from 1982-1988. He also helped keep football and baseball fields mowed, and helped
to install wiring and lights for the HHS baseball field.
Jim was a lifelong member of Hayden First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon
and was involved in many areas of church ministry. He served on 2 South American
mission teams in Columbia and Guatemala.
Jim was honored with several awards including the Jim Armstrong Building at Robert
Reid Stadium, the 2010 American Cancer Society Life Inspiration Award, in 2011 the
West Blount Chamber established the Jim Armstrong Scholarship and in 2011 the Blount
County Commission established Jim Armstrong Day in Blount County.
Jim Armstrong passed away at the age of 67 after a 41 year battle with cancer in August
of 2011. He loved the community of Hayden and Hayden High School, and nothing
brought him more joy than his family.

7

Danny Bentley

Danny Bentley was born and raised in Blount
County. He attended Oneonta High School
graduating in 1966. As an athlete at Oneonta,
Danny excelled in every sport receiving many
awards. He was awarded a football scholarship
because of his determination and ability to
Auburn University to play for Ralph
“Shug” Jordan. He graduated from Auburn University with a Masters Degree in
Communications.

After Auburn, Danny taught and coached at Talladega High School for five years before
returning home to Blount County. Danny used his degree in communications becoming the
manager/owner of
WCRL/WKLD Radio Station. He created and produced “Coaches’ Corner’’, a popular
high school sports/interview show. He was also the play-by-play announcer for all Blount
County Sports. Danny worked for over three decades through broadcasting encouraging
and connecting all Blount County athletes, students and fans to enjoy and appreciate high
school sports.

Danny has served on the Alabama Broadcasters Association Board of Directors,
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, President of the Blount County Auburn Club,
Auburn Lettermen’s Club. Danny is also a member of Lester Memorial United Methodist
Church.

Danny loves and enjoys his family and has been happily married to Margaret Hiller
Bentley for 48 years. They have two children and six amazing grandchildren. Danny and
Margaret love to travel; however, being with family is what they enjoy the most.

Danny continues to love all sports and encourages young people to participate, compete
and have fun playing the game they love.

8

Gary Godfrey

Gary Godfrey was a star football player at
Sardis High School. He was named to the
1966 All-State Team, as a running back, by the
Birmingham News his senior year. Out of high
school, Gary signed with Kansas State where
he played for 1 ½ years. He gained 250 yards
rushing in his final two games before being injured. He returned home and landed at
Jacksonville State University under Head Coach Charley Pell.
Gary became a stand-out performer in college from 1969-1971. In 1970, he led the
Gamecocks to a perfect 10-0 record and the Mid-South Conference Championship. He was
also named Defensive Player of the Year by the conference. Gary received his degree from
Jacksonville State University.
Coach Godfrey started his career at Oneonta High School as assistant football coach
under Hugh O’Shields. He was also the Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach. Under
Godfrey’s coaching, the girls won the county championship two years in a row, 1979 &
1980. After three years at Oneonta High School, Godfrey was offered the head coaching
job at Cleveland High School.
Gary Godfrey was the head football coach at Cleveland and Sardis during his career in
high school sports. He received the honor of Blount County Coach of the Year in 1995-
1996, and again in 1996-1997. We was honored in 2003 as one of the JSU Football
J-Club All-Centennial Team Member as a linebacker.
Godfrey was a teacher and coach for 32 years. For the twenty years he was at Cleveland
High School, he had a winning percentage of 68%.
Coach Godfrey’s wife is Donna Godfrey, a retired math teacher from Oneonta High
School. His son is Jared Godfrey, self-employed in the agricultural field, and daughter-in-
law, Christina Godfrey, a nurse practitioner.

9

Joe Hazelrig

Joe Mack Hazelrig was an outstanding high
school athlete, coach, and Superintendent for
Blount County schools. Joe graduated Locust
Fork High School in 1964, and then went
on to Jefferson State Community College and
Jacksonville State University to graduate in
1969. Joe held a master’s degree in school
administration.

Joe loved sports. He was a stand-out in high school athletics. He was All-County and All-
Region in football and basketball. He continued his love of sports after graduating college
to become the Head Football Coach at Hayden High School 1971-1975 with a record of
29-20. He then became Head Football Coach at Cleveland High School 1977-1981 with
a record of 30-21. During these years of coaching, Joe made many needed improvements in
our county football programs.

For most of Joe’s career in education, he served as the Superintendent of Blount County
Schools from 1980 until his retirement in 1996. He had the second largest tenure among
superintendents in Blount County.

Joe passed away on September 10, 2013. He was married to Becky, and they had two
sons, Scotty and Sam. Joe was a member of Locust Fork Baptist Church where he was a
Sunday School teacher for 25 years, the Locust Fork Masonic Lodge, Cleveland Athletic
Boosters, Hope House board, and the Blount County Children’s Center. Joe was also a
sponsor of the United Way and FCA, and a supporter of the American Heart Association.
He also coached youth league sports and enjoyed visiting with former players . Joe made a
tremendous impact on academics, facilities, and athletics in Blount County.

1100

Mark Hitt

Mark Hitt is an Oneonta native that has been
involved in athletics in one way or another since
his little league days. He graduated in 1973
from Oneonta High School. While at Oneonta,
he participated in football and track. He won
numerous awards and medals for his performance
on the field. He was a starting linemen on
Oneonta’s 1972 and 1973 State 2A Football Championship teams.
After high School, Mark continued to play sports at the collegiate level. He attended
Marion Military Institute for one year where he was a member of the football team and
the baseball team. The second year, he walked-on the Mississippi State University (MSU)
Football team. He was awarded Best Walk-on Award that first year and then was awarded a
full football scholarship. Mark had an outstanding football career while at MSU and earned
several awards. He lettered three years in Football. He graduated from MSU with a B.S.
Degree in Education with the goal to teach and coach.
In 1985, Coach Hitt began his teaching and coaching career at Hayden High School.
He taught Science and Physical Education, and he coached Junior football, Varsity football,
and baseball. After five years at Hayden, he transferred to Appalachian High School. He
again coached Junior football, Varsity football, and baseball. He coached for 13 years at
Appalachian. While coaching and teaching, he earned a Master’s Degree. From 2004-
2015, he served as Assistant Principal and Principal. During his time with the Blount
County Board of Education, he dedicated many hours to the students of Hayden and
Appalachian Schools. He was committed to working hard, doing the right thing, and being
a man of his word.
Coach Hitt and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters - Jennifer and Lauren. Both
daughters graduated from Appalachian High School and had the privilege of attending
school with their Dad. Jennifer is married to Scott Brunson, and they are blessed with two
daughters – Baylor and Camryn. Jennifer and Lauren currently reside in Tennessee. Coach
Hitt retired in 2015 after a long and successful career in education. Now, he spends time
with his family and friends as well as fishing and hunting. Coach Hitt’s motto now is “Every
day is a holiday.”

1111

Jeff Milwee

1973 Graduate of Sardis High School
Lettered 3 years in varsity football, basketball, baseball and
track.
Made All-County and All-State in football, All-County and
All-Area in basketball.
Attended Jacksonville State University where he was a
member of the JSU football team.
1978 Graduate of Southern Benedictine College with a
B.S. degree in Secondary Education.
Began coaching career at Glencoe Middle and High Schools
under Coach Lyle Darnell. Coached Jr. High football,
basketball and track, winning County Championships in football and track. Also coached varsity baseball
winning county championship. As assistant varsity football coach went to state playoffs 2 years.
At Scottsboro High School went to state playoffs as assistant varsity football coach and were region runners-
up as the varsity baseball coach.
At Etowah High School served as assistant varsity football coach and girls’ basketball coach.
At Guntersville High School went to state playoffs as assistant varsity football coach.
Head Football Coach at J. B. Pennington High School 1985-1996
While there, his teams: Were Area Champions 7 years. Went to first round of the State Playoffs 3 years. 2nd
round 3 years. 3rd round 2 years. Also served as Athletic Director and coached Jr. High and Varsity Girls’
Basketball and Jr. High Boys’ Basketball.
Head Football Coach at Boaz High School 1996-2000 - State Playoffs 1997
Susan Moore High School 2000-2002 served as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. 2001 reached
3rd round of State Playoffs, 2002 1st round.
Honors and Service :
• Jeff was Blount County and/or Area Coach of the Year in 1986, ‘87, ‘88, ‘90, ‘93, ‘94, ‘95 and 2001.
• Served as President of the Blount County Coach’s Association.
• From 1994-2001 served as AHSAA District 8 State Football Representative.
• He was President of the District 8 Board and served on the AHSAA legislative council.
• He has was a member of the 1994 State All-Star Football Committee and served on the AHSAA Hall of
Fame Selection Committee.
• Coached the North Alabama All-Star Team in 1997.
• 2014 J. B. Pennington High School Alumni Association presented Jeff with the John Burton Pennington
Award.
CAREER COACHING RECORD
127 Wins, 63 Losses - In a 3 year period had a 29-1 regular season record. - Had six 10-win seasons and
three 12-win seasons. - Four teams were undefeated in regular season.
Since retirement has served as a volunteer for Snead State baseball field maintenance and on WQSB Friday
night football radio show. He served on the Boaz Water Board for 10 years.
He and his wife, Fran, live in Boaz. His daughter, Anna, lives in Florence, Alabama, where she is an academic
advisor for the University of North Alabama athletic department, where she and brother A.J. both received
their college degrees. Jeff’s son, A.J. along with wife, Ashley, and their sons, J.J. and Jett, live in Akron, Ohio,
where A. J. was offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at the University of Akron.

1122

James Gary Pate

Born in the winter of 1943, the first of two
children to James and Genera Pate, of Leeds, Alabama;
James Gary Pate has lived a lifetime of dedicated and
selfless service to both his students and his athletes, he
has had a love for coaching and teaching and has tried
to be a role model and mentor to all.

Graduating from Leeds High School in 1961
and lettering in football, basketball and baseball all
four years; He was named most valuable player in both basketball and football, and was all county
baseball and football his junior and senior years.
After high school, he attended Howard College (now known as Samford University), where
he played football for legendary coach Bobby Bowden, who gave him the nickname “The Leeds
Flash.” After a knee injury he transferred to Livingston State (now known as the University of West
Alabama)and played baseball for two years, where he started in center field and led his team in stolen
bases. Graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a double minor
in Science and History; He earned his Master of Arts in Education in 1989 from the University of
Alabama in Birmingham.
He began his career after college, going back to where it all started, as an assistant coach to
Homer Smiles, his former high school coach at Leeds High School, working as an assistant football
coach and Head baseball coach. He worked at Leeds High School until 1970 when he became the
youngest Head Coach in Jefferson County being named the Head Coach at Oak Grove High School
at the age of 26, leading them to the first winning season in four years. In 1971 he went on to
become the Head Coach at Odenville High School where he had two winning seasons.
Moving to Blount County in 1973, he became the Head Coach at Locust Fork High School,
coaching football, baseball and basketball. In 1974 and 1975 Locust Fork would become Blount
County Champions in both Football and baseball, making it to the second round of the football
state playoffs in 1975 with a 10-2 season. He would become Blount County “Coach of the Year” in
1975, with winning seasons from 1976-1980 and an overall record of 43\28\1.
After two years at Hayden High School as Head football coach, he returned to Locust Fork
in 1984 as an assistant coach until being named Head football coach in 1986 once more. He
remained Head football coach, with many more winning seasons until 1991, when he was named
Vice Principle of Locust Fork High School, retiring from that position in 1994, after putting in 30
years of service.
In 2006 the football stadium was named “Gary Pate Field” in his honor, which is a testament to
the hours spent working on facilities, countless hours of grass cutting and the many gallons of paint
covering concession stands, fieldhouses and dugouts, in addition to all the years ,days and hours
teaching and coaching.
Blount County athletics has made great strides because of Coach Gary Pate and all the other
recipients honored here tonight.

1133

Eddie Priest Jr.

Eddie Priest Jr. is the son of Eddie and Donna
Priest. He has a brother JB Priest and a sister, the
late Tina Priest. Eddie was born in Boaz, Alabama
on April 8th 1974. He’s been married for a little
over 23 years to his wife Jennifer Criswell Priest.
He has a son, Evan, and daughter, Rylee that are
a senior and junior in high school, respectively.
Eddie has lived in Blount County his whole life. His schooling consisted of Mt Pleasant
Church pre-kindergarten, Susan Moore Elementary and Susan Moore High School. He
graduated high school in 1992 as his class salutatorian. After high school, he went on to
play college baseball at Southern Union Community College. He graduated with Cum Laude
honors with a 3.6 GPA.

After graduating Southern Union, Eddie signed a baseball scholarship to play at
Jacksonville State University. Before attending Jacksonville State, he got drafted by the
Cincinnati Reds. Eddie played professionally from 1994 until 2002, and then officially
retired in 2003 after his second shoulder surgery. Eddie currently works at Snead Equipment
underneath his father-in-law and does professional pitching instruction 3 days a week along
with numerous camps and clinics during the year. He is also coaching a travel baseball team.

Highlight’s of Eddie’s life include marrying his high school sweetheart Jennifer. They have
known each other since kindergarten. Jennifer and Eddie have two amazing kids, Evan and
Rylee. While coaching his children, Eddie, along with Coach Andy Holland, led his daughter’s
basketball team to the championship game in 6th grade. He also led his son’s travel baseball
team to three state championships and winning one of those.

Eddie played all three sports in high school. Some career highlights include winning 3 of
4 county championships in baseball starting in 9th grade. He was named all area in baseball
from his 10th grade year through his senior year. He was named all county in baseball from
his 9th grade year through his senior year. Eddie was drafted in the 9th round in the Major
League Baseball draft after his sophomore year in college. He was named top 10 prospect
in the Cincinnati Reds organization after his first year. In 1998, after his third full year, he
was promoted up to the highest level of baseball. Eddie’s first start for the Cincinnati Reds
included his first strikeout of possible future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, Barry
Bonds. He also had numerous minor league strikeouts that included Robin Ventura and Hall
of Famer Ricky Henderson. Eddie’s career ended and retired in 2003 after having his second
shoulder surgery in 2001.

Eddie hopes that along with instructing young men on the game of baseball, that he can
instill the importance of becoming strong Christian leaders in their homes and schools.

1144

Rob Rice

Rob left this world all too soon at the age of
49 on March 29, 2018. For countless years,
Rob devoted his career to Blount County Sports.
Whether it was on the radio, television, or
newspaper, Rob was usually there or involved
in some aspect. He loved Oneonta and Blount
County.
Rob graduated from Oneonta High School. He attended Andrew College on a baseball
scholarship before transferring to UAB. Rob held a degree in business. He worked for
many years as a radio broadcaster for WCRL/WKLD from 1990-2016. He covered sports
ranging from football to softball. Rob first started working for The Blount Countian in
2003, as managing editor, sports editor, and advertising manager. Rob became the full
editor of the local newspaper in 2010. He then purchased The Blount Countian where he
was also chief editor. Occasionally, Rob still continued to broadcast sports events until his
death.
Rob was President of the Oneonta Park and Recreation Board, member of the Blount
County Children’s Center, OFFER board member, active in Oneonta Jaycees, and a member
at Redeemer Community Church. Rob was married to Jamie, and had three sons, Jakob
Rice, Justin Moore, and Chase Moore.

1155

Partnerships

A & J Steel Products
Probate Judge Chris Green
Kerry Green ARC Welding LLC
Jeff & Tawanna Hallmark
Consolidated Pipe & Supply
Blount County Revenue Commissioner Gregg Armstrong
Brunson, Barnett & Sherrer
Jim Murphree Insurance Agency
Cadence Bank of Blountsville & Oneonta

Les and Mitchie Neel
Peoples Bank of Alabama

We greatly appreciate
your support!

1166

Past Inductees

1997 INDUCTEES 2000 INDUCTEES

Paul Randall Faust Ellie B. Glasscox
Charles Louis Grisham Roger (Bubba) Long
Mary Harvey Isbell Tom Lowry
Hugh P. O’Shields Lawrence Wade
Larry “Pod” Patterson
Charles Lamonde Russell
Donald Wesley Sutton

1998 INDUCTEES 2009 INDUCTEES

Richard B. “Dick” Burleson William Hawkins
William K. “Bill” Nichols Conrad Nix
William Earl Warren O.B. Logan, Jr.
James Edward Williams
William Harold Carter
Steve Johnson

1999 INDUCTEES

Mike Currier
Michael Cornelius
Joseph E. Gibbs
Floyd Dean “KO” Miller
Ben Sivley
EL “Coach” Starkey

1177

18