CULLMAN, Ala. – The 20th annual Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame class was inducted at the annual banquet Saturday night and this year’s class drew a crowd of friends and family that filled the Cullman Civic Center. The 2019 class consists of West Point’s Jason Allcorn, Hanceville’s Keith Burns, Good Hope’s Phillip Carden, Cullman’s Mike Cobb, Cullman’s Clifford Eugene Copeland, Fairview’s Marty Hardman, Hanceville’s Mitch Hollis, Vinemont’s Teck Johnson, Cullman’s Mike Lee, Holly Pond’s Russell Walker and Cold Springs’ Tim Willoughby.
Along with honoring this year’s inductees, there were also several scholarships to give out to local students during the banquet.
Victoria Rouse Memorial Scholarship: Kinley Campbell, Cold Springs High School
Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship: Caroline Hollingsworth, Cullman High School
Charlotte Cummings Memorial Scholarship: Alivia Boyll, Fairview High School
James and Gussie Shabel Memorial Scholarship: Taryn Collins, Good Hope High School
Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship: Logan McKee, Hanceville High School
Dane Estes Memorial Scholarship: Kara Hollis, Holly Pond High School
Jimmy Dale Burgess Scholarship: Tess Duke, Holly Pond High School
Charlie Richard Memorial Scholarship: Baylee Grace Loyd, St. Bernard Prep School
Michael Stewart Memorial Scholarship: Rachel Hall, Vinemont High School
Jacob Harris Memorial Scholarship: Rylan Jones, West Point High School
Below is a brief bio of each of this year’s Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame inductees.
Jason Allcorn
Graduated from West Point High School in 1995 and played baseball, basketball and football in high school. Lettered in baseball for four years, lettered in football for three years and in basketball for two years. All County in basketball for two years and was All-County and All-State in football. Played on West Point football team that went 12-1 in 1994. Received a football scholarship at Arkansas State and lettered there for three years.
Keith Burns
Graduated from West Point High School in 1971 and played baseball, football and track. Played on three county championship football teams. Played outfield and catcher on baseball team and won two county championships. Started coaching at Cold Springs High and established the Jr. High Football program. Coach Jr. High football at Hanceville for 10 years, winning seven county championships with a 36-game win streak. Varsity defensive coordinator in 1990, varsity head football coach from 1991-1994. Made state playoffs in 1991 and 1992 and was voted Cullman County Coach of the year in ’91 and ’92. Coach boys and girls track at Hanceville, winning three girls county championships and seven boys’ championships. Varsity offensive coordinator at West Point from 1995-98, varsity baseball coach at West Point from 1996-99.
Phillip Carden
Graduated from Good Hope High School in 1977 and played baseball and basketball. All-County baseball in 1976 and 1977 and All-County basketball in 1977. All-Area and All-Tournament Team in 1977 and honorable mention All-State for basketball. Led Cullman County in scoring with 25.1 points per game in 1977 and led Cullman County in free throw percentage (84.9%). Signed with Wallace State basketball in 1977. Umpired ASA softball for 14 years around the state of Alabama and refereed basketball for park and rec. for eight years.
Mike Cobb
Graduated from Cullman High School in 1968 and played football and baseball. Was voted most valuable player in 1967, most valuable back in 1966 and team captain in 1967. Received a football scholarship to Samford University and was an All-Tennessee Valley Conference Team member and was chosen to play in the Alabama All Star Game. Leading rusher with 1,173 yards and averaged 6.34 yards per carry. Led Tennessee Valley Conference in interceptions. Set a school record for carries in a game at 31 and the school record for most rushing years in a season. Only person in top 10 rushing and receiving in Samford history. Best offensive back, team captain and honorable mention All-American Small College. Member of the 1971 Samford national championship team.
Clifford Euguene Copeland
Graduated from Cullman High School in 1949 and played baseball and basketball. Played baseball with the Cullman Red Sox. Following graduation, he was sent to Iowa by the Cleveland Indians to play Independent Baseball. Received a scholarship to Illinois State University to play both baseball and basketball. Joined the Air Force in 1951 where he played baseball and basketball. Played on U.S. team that won the European Basketball Championship. After release from Air Force, played baseball for St. Bernard College. Played on the Stockham Pipe Baseball Team and played in the World Amateur Championship in Cashion, Oklahoma. Signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1956 and played in the minor leagues for two years. Graduated from Samford University with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and owned Hospital Discount Pharmacy in Cullman.
Marty Hardman
Graduated from Fairview High School in 1985 and played football, basketball and baseball. Voted All-County, All-Brindlee Mountain, All-Area and All-State honorable mention in football. Voted All-County baseball in 1984 and 1985. Leading hitter in Cullman County with a .475 average and played in the East-West All-Star Game. Voted All-County, Team MVP and selected to East-West All-Stars in basketball. Varsity assistant football coach at Fairview from 1986-1999 and made the state playoffs seven times. Varsity baseball coach from 1990-1995 and won four county championships and three area championships. Jr. High basketball coach from 1994-1999. Middle School football coach from 2001-2006 with a 32-3 record. Started golf team at Fairview and coached from 1996-2008.
Mitch Hollis
Graduated from Hanceville High School in 1978 and played baseball, football and track. Played on 1977 football team that finished 11-1 and went to semi-finals. In 1977, was voted most valuable back, most valuable offensive player, All-County and All-State. Played in the North-South All-Star football game. Received a football scholarship to Jacksonville State University. Fought in 25 Tough Man Contest, finishing second in the state in the light weight division.
Teck Johnson
Graduated from Vinemont High School in 1985 and played baseball, football and track. Was voted All-County and All-Area in basketball his junior and senior season, made the East-West All-Star team and was honorable mention All-State his senior season. Voted All-County and All-Area in football senior year. County and Area champion in high jump. Played for Hall of Fame coaches Mike Cupp, Mark Smothers and Randy Hasenbein.
Mike Lee
Graduated from Cullman High School in 1969 and played football, basketball and baseball. Played for Hall of Fame coaches Dafford Smith, Oliver Woodard, Ray Talley and Del Brock. Played quarterback and defensive back in football. Played on two undefeated teams in junior high school and an undefeated junior varsity team. Voted team co-captain and MVP for football in 1968. Selected to the All-Tennessee Valley Conference team and Birmingham New Alabama All-Star team in 1968. Played three years of varsity basketball. Played outfield, infield and pitcher in baseball and led the team in homeruns. Received football scholarship to Marion and played quarterback for two years. Signed baseball and football scholarships to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. Holds record at Tennessee Chattanooga for longest punt at 84 yards.
Russell Walker
Graduated from Holly Pond High School in 1983 and lettered in track and football for three years. Named to the All-Brindlee Mountain, All-Area and All-State football teams in 1981 and 1982. Selected as the McDonalds and Cullman Times Defensive Player of the Year in 1981 and 1982. Averaged 14.3 tackles and 4.1 sacks per game as a senior along with 13 forced fumbles, two interceptions and three blocked punts. Named All-State after placing second in the shot put at the 1982 1A-2A State Track Meet. SFC USA (retired) served 21 years in ABN INF and Special Operations duty positions. Conducted combat operations in Central and South America, Southwest Asia and the middle east. Coaching positions include strength and conditioning coach, assistant football coach and track coach at Holly Pond since 2004. Graduated from Athens State and started teaching social science classes at Holly Pond High School and Middle School in 2012.
Tim Willoughby
Graduated from Cold Springs High School in 1977. Coach Cold Springs junior high basketball from 1987-1993, winning two county championships. Coached at Curry High School in Walker County, winning a county and an area championship. Coached at Sparkman High School in Madison County from 1986-2002, winning three county and area championships and finishing as a state runner-up. Named Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A Coach of the Year in 1997. Coached at Hanceville High School from 2003-2005. Coach Curry varsity girls’ basketball from 2010-2013. Coaching Cold Springs varsity boys’ basketball from 2013-present and has won a county championship and four area championships. Coached Cold Springs baseball from 1987-1990. Coached Curry Jr. High football for two years with an undefeated season.
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