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 November 2008, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame consists of 298 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

Class of 2010

The 2011 class includes Reita Clanton, Howard Cross, Robert Horry, Bobby Johns, Ronald McKinnon, Ben Tamburello, Ed Salem, Mule Suttles and Rick Woodward, this year's "Distinguished American Sportsman".

Class of 2009

The 2010 class includes 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.

Class of 2008

The 2008 class included Gregg Carr, Condredge Holloway, Don McNeal, Don Mincher, Oliver Robinson, Steve Lowery, Sim Byrd and Jerry Wilson.

Class of 2007

The 2007 class included Wilbur Jackson, Barry Krauss, Gene Washington, Buck Johnson, Sonny Smith, David Marsh, Jerry Duncan, and Al Lary.

Class of 2006

The 2006 class included Joe Ciampi, Lionel James, Buddy McClinton, Mickey Andrews, Mia Hamm, Jim Davenport, Tim Flock, and Bob Veale.

Class of 2005

The 2005 class included Rudy Abbott, Billy Atkins, Robert Brazile, Jeremiah Castille, Jim Fyffe, Chuck Person, Bob Phillips, and Tracy Rocker.

Class of 2004

The 2004 class included Joe Beckwith, Cornelius Bennett, Vince Gibson, Virginia Grimes, Wade Herren, Bobby Humphrey, Reginald King, and Bobby Wallace.

Class of 2003

The 2003 class included Al Del Greco, Rex Frederick, Cleon Jones, Guy Morton, Sarah Patterson, Steve Sloan and Larry Willingham.

Class of 2002

The 2002 class included Richmond Flowers, George Foster, Kevin Greene, Hal Herring, Kenny Howard, Ken Rice, Jimmy Sidle and JoJo Starbuck.

Class of 2001

The 2001 class included Charles Barkley, Jimmy Bragan, Jerry Harper, Wendell Hudson, Hank Johnson, Woodrow Lowe, and Derrick Thomas.

Class of 2000

The 2001 class included 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.

Class of 1999

The 1999 class included Donnie Allison, Ed Dyas, Dennis Homan, Carl Lewis, Tommy Lorino, Tony Nathan, Conrad Rehling, and Alf Van Hoose.

Class of 1998

The 1998 class included Tommie Agee, John Bridgers, John Forney, Don Gambril, Scott Hunter and Richard Todd.

Class of 1997

The 1997 class included Neil Bonnett, Alice Coachman Davis, T. R. Dunn, Bill France, Larry Lemak, Ozzie Smith, and Willie Smith.

Class of 1996

The 1996 class included Jodie Connell, Leon Douglas, Harvey Glance, Bo Jackson, Bubba Scott, and Hal Self.

Class of 1995

The 1995 class included Cleve Abbott, Davey Allison, Bob Baumhower, Patrick DuPre, John Mengelt, Terry Moore, and Gene Stallings.

Class of 1994

The 1994 class included Paul Crane, Luman Harris, Kirk Newell, Lloyd Nix, Jerry Pate, and Dwight Stephenson.

Class of 1993

The 1993 class included Young Boozer, Piper Davis, Gardner Dickinson, Danny Ford, Alex Grammas, C. M. Newton, and Mel Rosen.

Class of 1992

The 1992 class included Dieter Brock, Clay Carroll, Mike Fuller, Ozzie Newsome, Donnie Salls, and Henry Seibels.

Class of 1991

The 1991 class included Joe Cribbs, Hootie Ingram, Vaughn Mancha, Jo Ann Prentice, Erk Russell, and Arnold Umbach.

Class of 1990

The 1990 class included Pat Dye, Red Farmer, Lindy Hood, Jimmy Outlaw, Ray Perkins, and Wimp Sanderson.

Class of 1989

The 1989 class included Gene Bartow, Foots Clement, Joe Kilgrow, Johnny Musso, Larry Nelson, and John Stallworth.

Class of 1988

The 1988 class included Jackie Burkett, Cary Cox, Dave Edwards, Rowdy Gaines, John Hannah and Billy Southworth.

Class of 1987

The 1987 class included Buck Buchanan, Joe Childress, Hubert Green, Homer Norton, Don Sutton and Jim Whatley.

Class of 1986

The 1986 class included Terry Beasley, Bobby Bowden, William Lee, Robert Marlow, Sam Perry, and Ken Stabler.

Class of 1985

The 1985 class included Ivy Andrews, Jennifer Chandler, Monk Gafford, Jim Glover, John Kolen and James Phillips.

Class of 1984

The 1984 class included Bobby Allison, Joe Domnanovich, Vince Dooley, John Laney, Willie McCovey, and Jack Meagher.

Class of 1983

The 1983 class included Maxie Baughan, Tom Jenkins, George Lindsey, Billy Neighbors, Gabby Street and Billy Williams.

Class of 1982

The 1982 class included Frank Bolling, Paul Burnum, Tucker Frederickson, Elbert Jemison, Benny Marshall and Zeke Smith.

Class of 1981

The 1981 class included Bill Battle III, Frederick Davis, Monte Irvin, Fob James, Joe Namath, Pat Sullivan, and Arthur White.

Class of 1980

The 1980 class included Hank Aaron, Bobby Bragan, Cliff Harper, Lee Roy Jordan, Frank Kendall, and Donald Whitmire.

Class of 1979

The 1979 class included Otey Crisman, Dick McGowen, Leroy Monsky, Shorty Ogle, Bo Russell, and Rudolph York.

Class of 1978

The 1978 class included Shorty Cooper, Joel Eaves, George Irons, Frank Lary, Riley Smith, and Harry Walker.

Class of 1977

The 1977 class included Percy Beard, Spud Davis, Willie Mays, Holt Rast, Petey Sarron, Ed Stanky, and Clyde Walker.

Class of 1976

The 1976 class included Leah Rawls Atkins, Jackie Hayes, Harlon Hill, Bernie Moore, Truett Sewell, Bart Starr, and Robert Veitch.

Class of 1975

The 1975 class included Paul Grist, William Hitchcock, Frank House, Zipp Newman, Euil Snider, Travis Tidwell, Pat Trammell and George Wallace.

Class of 1974

The 1974 class included Mel Allen, Billy Bancroft, Jeff Beard, Samuel Byrd, Walter Gilbert, Frank Howard and Virgil Trucks.

Class of 1973

The 1973 class included John Cain, Jeff Coleman, Harry Gilmer, James Sewell, Dixie Walker, and Hoyt Winslett.

Class of 1972

The 1972 class included Charley Boswell, Joe Garagiola, Papa Pooley Hubert, Henry Manush, Satchel Paige, Del Pratt, and Fred Sington.

Class of 1971

The 1971 class included William Chapman, Red Drew, Howard Hill, Dixie Howell, Tackhole Lee, Sanders Russell, Jackson Stephenson, and Charles Streit.

Class of 1970

The 1970 class included Hank Crisp, John Heisman, Wilbur Hutsell, Jesse Owens, Joseph Sewell, William Van de Graaff, Wallace Wade, and Gus Wynn.

Class of 1969

The 1969 class included 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