A Column By JUSTIN KANE
Every year a select few athletes get the recognition they deserve. Each year, the Boone High School Athletic Association selects former athletes and coaches to be inducted into the William R. Boone Sports Hall of Fame. This year, seven athletes from various sports will be inducted into the 13th class. An induction into this hall of fame brings honors to the athletes as Boone has one of the most respected athletic programs over the last 59 years.
The mission of the Hall of Fame is to “recognize, promote and honor the talent of our student athletes, recognize the contribution of coaches and highlight the community involvement of these individuals who have brought positive recognition and fame to their school.” The Hall of Fame isn’t just for great athletes, it is for the athletes who were also great students and leaders in the community.
Here is a look at the 2011 class of the William R. Boone Sports Hall of Fame.
Graham and Gregory Haney (football, class of 1960) played offensive tackle and defensive end. When they played, they used to tell each other “meet you at the quarterback,” and that became their motto as they played defense. They were selected to the 1960 All-County team and were part of the first Boone team to beat Edgewater. One player once said about the Haney boys, “I’ve never felt as scared in college or in the pros as I was going against them.”
Craig Adams (football/baseball, class of 1976) was named an All-Metro and All-American for baseball in 1976. After his senior season, the Cleveland Indians drafted him in the third round where he spent five years in the minor leagues. In five years, he batted .244 and hit 45 homeruns. His coach Don Davis said, “[He was] the best athlete I’ve ever coached.”
Bobby Strange (football/track, class of 1984) played offensive line for four years. His success came in track when he placed second in the state for discus throwing. In 1984, he received the William R. Boone Award, which is given to the best athlete of the year.
Mike Beam (swimming, class of 1980) was the 1979 metro, district and state champion in the 500-meter freestyle. Also in 1978, he was the state runner-up in the 500-meter freestyle, and the metro, district and state runner-up in the 200-meter freestyle. In 1980, he was the state champion in the 200, 500 and 800-meter freestyle and finished fifth in the state 400-meter relay. Also in 1980, he was a high school All-American in the 500-meter freestyle and participated in the Olympic trials. He was also named a two-time Auburn University Swimming and Diving All-Time All-American in 1982.
Stacy Kirk (swimming, class of 1983) was the 1982 state champion in the 100-meter butterfly, and in 1983, she was the state runner-up in the 100-meter butterfly. Even today, she holds the school records in the 50, 100 and 500-meter freestyle and in the 100-meter butterfly. After high school, she went to Florida State University on scholarship.
Misty Cox (women’s basketball coach) is the winningest girls coach in school history. She won five district championships from 1993-2004. She went 269-77 over 12 seasons and from 1999 to 2003, she won four out of five district championships. She is now coaching at West Orange. In 2008, she was named to the Metro Conference Hall of Fame.
Getting into any Hall of Fame is the perfect ending to an athlete’s career. Hundreds of athletes each year participate in sports on campus and these seven rose above the rest in their respective sports. These athletes set the standard of excellence that still holds true today and for all future athletes.
Athletes today should look up to the Hall of Fame inductees as role models and as someone who can inspire them to play for more than just a championship but to leave a legacy behind just like these seven did.
The Hall of Fame banquet will be in the junior/senior cafeteria on April 9. Anyone who would like to see the athletes they admired again or who just wants to be part of a special night, tickets to the event are available for $20 by calling Lisa Speer at extension 2312.
On a somber note, Jim Baynes, a former dean, basketball and baseball coach, guidance counselor and a hall of famer, died Thursday, Feb. 3.