The 24th edition of the HoF gets celebrated with a full house:
GDW Analysis:
Stone Bridge Farms was at a full capacity Saturday evening to honor the 24th edition of the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame.
A dozen were placed into this well established group with the total of Hall of Fame personnel in Cullman County up to 268.
The Hall of Fame came into existence in 2000 with each inductee serving a role to earn recognition.
Another tradition to the Hall is scholarships given to recent graduated seniors.
The 2024 Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame inductees:
Regina Jones: 1988 graduate West Point High School. Jones won the first ever Bill Shelton Award at the Cullman County basketball tournament in 1989. She coached girls basketball and volleyball at West Point combining for six county championships.
Jones' 2020 volleyball team had a great run that carried them to the AHSAA 5A state championship series.
Taft Dillashaw: 1985 graduate Good Hope High School. Dillashaw lettered in three sports at Good Hope, His legacy is being a coach on the football team at Good Hope for 25 years. According to reports, Dillashaw has attended, played or coached in 94 percent of Good Hope football games.
Robin Conn: 1972 graduate Cullman High School. Played 4 years baseball and 3 years basketball at Cullman. Conn served notice in the role of a sports photographer for various newspapers across Alabama. Claimed 60 awards from the Alabama Press Association and the Associated Press.
Joey Graves: 1974 graduate Cold Springs High School. Played basketball for 5 years, was the MVP of the 1974 Cullman County Tournament. Earned recognition in his community as being the official clock operator for the basketball program that ran a series of decades.
Amanda Patrick: 1994 graduate Cullman High School. Made an impact in track with 11 individual and 7 relay state championships. Ran track at Auburn University. Academic All American 3 times. Holds school record in 800 meter and distance medley relays.
Ray Dyer: 1975 graduate Hanceville High School. Performed in football, baseball, basketball and track for 3 years each. All county football 1973 & 1974, all state 1974, played in AHSAA all star football game after he graduated. Signed with University of North Alabama.
Perry Hicks: 1971 graduate Hanceville High School. All county football 1970, most valuable back 1970, led the basketball team in assists in 1970 and 1971. Served as an official for the Birmingham Basketball Association for 10 years.
Hilary Stiefelmeyer: 1994 graduate Cullman High School. Stood out in track the same time with Amanda Patrick. Set 7 state track records and was the MVP in the AHSAA 5A track meet in 1994. Would run for the University of Alabama, earning SEC academic honors.
Todd Lindsey: 1980 graduate Vinemont High School. Member of Vinemont's first ever playoff football team in 1979. Played golf at Wallace State for two years. Winner of the Buck Shear Memorial Tournament 8 years, Terri Pines Invitational 8 years, Chesley Oaks Open 3 years.
Donnie Rice: 1971 graduate Cold Springs High School. Played on the schools' first football team in 1970. Member of the 1970/71 basketball team that won the first of five consecutive Cullman County championships.
Coached football at Cold Springs from 1978 to 1979 and at Fairview from 1980 to 1983. Produced back to back 6 & 4 seasons in his 2 years at Cold Springs.
Joseph Smith. 1947 graduate Fairview High School. Joined the US Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Played collegiate basketball at UNA and was a member of the ROTC program. Worked with the USO as chief of the Armed Forces, traveled with legendary actor Bob Hope numerous times overseas.
Scholarship award winners:
Victoria Rouse Memorial Scholarship: Malaya Taylor of Cold Springs.
Peoples Bank Scholarship: Lexie Anderson of Cullman
Charlotte Cummings Foundation for Girls Athletics: Kabri Redding of Fairview
Gussie Shabel Memorial Scholarship: Ivey Maddox of Good Hope.
Bill Lay Memorial Scholarship: Dakota Overton of Good Hope
Jimmy Dale Burgess Scholarship: Kamryn Tankersley of Holly Pond.
Charlie Richard Memorial Scholarship: Amelia Tafazoli of St. Bernard
James and Gussie Shabel Memorial Scholarship: Katelynn Leeann Evans of Vinemont
Randy Jones Memorial Scholarship: Omar Segundo of West Point.
