Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is a state-run monument and museum dedicated to preserving and honoring the accomplishments of Alabamians in sports. It was founded in 1967 and is located in its own 33,000 square-foot building at 2150 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

As of 2014, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame consists of 321 inductees, including five of the top 15 athletes on ESPN’s list of the top 100 athletes of the century: Jesse Owens, Hank Aaron, Joe Louis, Willie Mays, and Carl Lewis.

Nominations to the Hall of Fame can be made by any Alabama resident. Nominees must have been born in the state or, "through athletic exploits, brought fame and glory to the state." They also must be over 40 years old, or retired from their sport for more than a year. The Board of Directors meet each summer to create a ballot of eligible nominees, which is sent to a statewide selection committee for voting. A second ballot, consisting of the half of the original list with the most total votes, determines the inductees, which are announced each October.

Inductees

• 2015: Jay Barker, Evander Holyfield, Chris Gray, Tony Richardson, Bobby Hunt, Derrick McKey, Ennis Whatley, and Tommy Neville
• 2014: Major Ogilvie, Ruthie Bolton, Red Cochran, Bill Cody, Eli Gold, Travis Grant, Walter Jones and David Magadan
• 2013: Ronnie Baynes, Forrest Blue, Eric Davis, Bill Jones, Bill Oliver, Vickie Orr, Nick Saban, and Dannette Young Stone
• 2012: Artis Gilmore, E. J. Junior III, Bryan Kirkland, Mal Moore, Charley Pell, Andre Tippett, Steve Wallace, and Dan Washburn
• 2011: Shaun Alexander, Vonetta Flowers, Henry Hart, David Hill, John Rutledge, Jimmy Smothers, Frank Thomas, and Al Worthington. Don Logan was the year's "Distinguished American Sportsman" and Mickey Newsome as "Distinguished Alabama Sportsman"
• 2010: Reita Clanton, Howard Cross, Robert Horry, Bobby Johns, Ronald McKinnon, Ben Tamburello, Ed Salem, Mule Suttles. Rick Woodward was the year's "Distinguished American Sportsman" and Mickey Newsome as "Distinguished Alabama Sportsman"
• 2009: Larry Blakeney, Charley Hannah, John Mitchell, Jimmy Key, Lee May, Steve Bolt, Tommy Brooker and Janelle Kirtley Godfrey. In addition Ronald Bruno was honored as a Distinguished Alabama Sportsman and Nick Bolletieri as "Distinguished American Sportsman"
• 2008: Gregg Carr, Condredge Holloway, Don McNeal, Don Mincher, Oliver Robinson, Steve Lowery, Sim Byrd and Jerry Wilson
• 2007: Wilbur Jackson, Barry Krauss, Gene Washington, Buck Johnson, Sonny Smith, David Marsh, Jerry Duncan, and Al Lary. Mal Moore was named the year's "Distinguished Alabama Sportsman"
• 2006: Joe Ciampi, Lionel James, Buddy McClinton, Mickey Andrews, Mia Hamm, Jim Davenport, Tim Flock, and Bob Veale
• 2005: Rudy Abbott, Billy Atkins, Robert Brazile, Jeremiah Castille, Jim Fyffe, Chuck Person, Bob Phillips, and Tracy Rocker
• Joe Beckwith, Cornelius Bennett, Vince Gibson, Virginia Grimes, Wade Herren, Bobby Humphrey, Reginald King, and Bobby Wallace
• 2003: Al Del Greco, Rex Frederick, Cleon Jones, Guy Morton, Sarah Patterson, Steve Sloan and Larry Willingham
• 2002: Richmond Flowers, Jr, George Foster, Kevin Greene, Hal Herring, Kenny Howard, Ken Rice, Jimmy Sidle and JoJo Starbuck
• 2001: Charles Barkley, Jimmy Bragan, Jerry Harper, Wendell Hudson, Hank Johnson, Woodrow Lowe, and Derrick Thomas
• 2000: Tom Banks, Bubba Church, Terry Henley, Marty Lyons, Mac McLendon, Jim Pyburn and Chase Riddle. In addition Bill Ireland was honored as a "Distinguished Alabama Sportsman".
• 1999: Donnie Allison, Ed Dyas, Dennis Homan, Carl Lewis, Tommy Lorino, Tony Nathan, Conrad Rehling, and Alf Van Hoose
• 1998: Tommie Agee, John Bridgers, John Forney, Don Gambril, Scott Hunter and Richard Todd
• 1997: Neil Bonnett, Alice Coachman Davis, T. R. Dunn, Bill France, Larry Lemak, Ozzie Smith, and Willie Smith
• 1996: Jodie Connell, Leon Douglas, Harvey Glance, Bo Jackson, Bubba Scott, and Hal Self. Broadcaster Tom York was named the Distinguished Alabama Sportsman
• 1995: Cleve Abbott, Davey Allison, Bob Baumhower, Pat Du Pré, John Mengelt, Terry Moore, and Gene Stallings
• 1994: Paul Crane, Luman Harris, Kirk Newell, Lloyd Nix, Jerry Pate, and Dwight Stephenson
• 1993: Young Boozer, Piper Davis, Gardner Dickinson, Danny Ford, Alex Grammas, C. M. Newton, and Mel Rosen
• 1992: Dieter Brock, Clay Carroll, Mike Fuller, Ozzie Newsome, Donnie Salls, and Henry Seibels
• 1991: Joe Cribbs, Hootie Ingram, Vaughn Mancha, Jo Ann Prentice, Erk Russell, and Arnold Umbach
• 1990: Pat Dye, Red Farmer, Lindy Hood, Jimmy Outlaw, Ray Perkins, and Wimp Sanderson
• 1989: Gene Bartow, Foots Clement, Joe Kilgrow, Johnny Musso, Larry Nelson, and John Stallworth
• 1988: Jackie Burkett, Cary Cox, Dave Edwards, Rowdy Gaines, John Hannah and Billy Southworth
• 1987: Buck Buchanan, Joe Childress, Hubert Green, Homer Norton, Don Sutton and Jim Whatley. The first "Distinguished Alabama Sportsman" honor went to Shoal Creek developer Hall Thompson
• 1986: Terry Beasley, Bobby Bowden, William Lee, Robert Marlow, Sam Perry, and Ken Stabler
• 1985: Ivy Andrews, Jennifer Chandler, Monk Gafford, Jim Glover, John Kolen and Jim "Red" Phillips
• 1984: Bobby Allison, Joe Domnanovich, Vince Dooley, John Laney, Willie McCovey, and Jack Meagher
• 1983: Maxie Baughan, Tom Jenkins, George Lindsey, Billy Neighbors, Gabby Street and Billy Williams
• 1982: Frank Bolling, Paul Burnum, Tucker Frederickson, Elbert Jemison, Benny Marshall and Zeke Smith
• 1981: Bill Battle III, Frederick Davis, Monte Irvin, Fob James, Joe Namath, Pat Sullivan, and Arthur White
• 1980: Hank Aaron, Bobby Bragan, Cliff Harper, Lee Roy Jordan, Frank Kendall, and Donald Whitmire
• 1979: Otey Crisman, Dick McGowen, Leroy Monsky, Shorty Ogle, Bo Russell, and Rudolph York
• 1978: Shorty Cooper, Joel Eaves, George Irons, Frank Lary, Riley Smith, and Harry Walker
• 1977: Percy Beard, Spud Davis, Willie Mays, Holt Rast, Petey Sarron, Ed Stanky, and Clyde Walker
• 1976: Leah Rawls Atkins, Jackie Hayes, Harlon Hill, Bernie Moore, Truett Sewell, Bart Starr, and Robert Veitch
• 1975: Paul Grist, William Hitchcock, Frank House, Zipp Newman, Snitz Snider, Travis Tidwell, Pat Trammell and George Wallace
• 1974: Mel Allen, Billy Bancroft, Jeff Beard, Samuel Byrd, Walter Gilbert, Frank Howard and Virgil Trucks
• 1973: John Cain, Jeff Coleman, Harry Gilmer, James Sewell, Dixie Walker, and Hoyt Winslett
• 1972: Charley Boswell, Joe Garagiola, Papa Pooley Hubert, Henry Manush, Satchel Paige, Del Pratt, and Fred Sington
• 1971: William Chapman, Red Drew, Howard Hill, Dixie Howell, Tackhole Lee, Sanders Russell, Jackson Stephenson, and Charles Streit
• 1970: Hank Crisp, John Heisman, Wilbur Hutsell, Jesse Owens, Joseph Sewell, William Van de Graaff, Wallace Wade, and Gus Wynn
• 1969: Joe Louis, Johnny Mack Brown, Bear Bryant, Michael Donahue, James Hitchcock, Donald Hutson, Shug Jordan and Frank W. Thomas

External links

• Alabama Sports Hall of Fame website