There have been more than just a few folks who have made the statement that if they had known how much fun was had at the annual Marengo County Sports Hall of Fame Banquets they would have never missed a single one of them. Such is the case upcoming for the eighth annual banquet and induction ceremony scheduled for the Demopolis Civic Center at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8.
Tickets are on sale at First Bank of Linden, Sweet Water State Bank in Demopolis, Robertson Bank Westside Branch or from any HOF director, and there will be no tickets at the door.
The meal of pulled pork barbeque or barbequed chicken will be catered by Leonard and Marsha Moseley, which ought to be enough in itself to bring in a crowd. There is expected to be a good turnout of past team members and cheerleaders from the Linden High 1962 State Football Championship team as they will be honored. Interestedly, from that one team the coach, Pistol Henders, and six of the players have already been inducted into the HOF, with the seventh player, Terry Barr, being inducted on Feb 8.
Past inductees will be recognized, and the annual HOF college scholarship will be awarded to softball player and scholar Hanna Malone from Demopolis High School.
New inductee Terry Barr, All State football player at Linden and Auburn scholarship player, will be introduced by his brother, Bobby, who was All State, played at Georgia Tech, and is himself a member of the Hall of Fame. Both Barrs were members of that 1962 team.
Julian Buddy Brackin, Super All Star athlete from Thomaston and college star, will be presented by his team mate, Clifton McKnight, who excelled in several sports in high school and college, built a sterling record as baseball coach, and is also a member of the Hall of Fame.
Clarence Brooker Junior stood out as a high school baseball and football player at Demopolis, following up in professional baseball after graduation, and he will be presented by his son, Johnny Brooker, who was All State in high school, kicked for Alabama, and is a charter member of the board of directors for the HOF.
Billy Fultz is a baseball legend from Linden and the professional ranks, and he will be introduced by his friend and past teammate, Barry Lyons, who was a member of the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets.
Randy Smith, another baseball hero from Demopolis and from UWA, as well as the coaching ranks, has as his presenter his college coach, Hoss Bolin, who played 13 years in professional baseball, and 14 seasons directing the UWA baseball team to division titles, NCAA playoffs and a World Series appearance.
Make your plans, get your ticket, and be sure to show up for this spectacle of a banquet that, unlike many other banquets, will be one you hate to see come to an end.