013014 fp farragut hall of fame

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Presented by Volunteer Pharmacy FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014 • 1C

Storied past

ell into the second decade of the 21st century, Farragut High School brass came up with an idea that’s caught fire:

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Recognize the school’s “storied” athletic history by creating a Hall of Fame. “I’m not sure why this has taken so long because we have a storied past,” Farragut athletic director Seth Smith said during a February 2013 interview. “[Softball head coach] David Moore and I got together and talked about it and we put together a committee.” The resulting recognition has grown into a special event, as Second Annual FHS Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony for Class of 2014 begins at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, in FHS Commons. While Smith said inductees are chosen by a “points system,” as determined by a vote of Hall of Fame Committee members, “Points are gained by their high school career, college career, post college if they played professionally,” he added.

Alan Sloan

Inaugural Farragut High School Hall of Fame Class — the Class of 2013.

Also considered: “Is this a person who represents Farragut High School well?” Smith said. Inaugural FHS Hall of Fame Class of 2013, which was officially inducted March 9 during a similar banquet ceremony, featured 10 athletes and six coaches. Ex-student/athletes inducted were the late Jimmy Elliott (1980, basketball, baseball); Bill Bates (Class of 1979, football), his sister, Rachel Bates Bellefeuille (1989, volleyball, basketball, golf, softball); Neil Clabo (1971, football, basketball, baseball); Beth Willis Dolente (1990, basketball, volleyball); Shannon Simmons (1994, track and field, basketball); Kevin Yeager (2000, track and field, basketball, soccer); Katherine Marshall Moore (1987, track and field, cross country); Tracie Foels (1988, soccer, basket-

ball) and Tyson Clabo (2000, football, basketball). Former coaches elected were the late Jack Carr, the late Bill Clabo, Bill Parker, John Heatherly, Lynn E. Sexton and Lendon Welch. Erik Gerhardt, i105.3 WFIV’s “Radio Voice of Farragut Athletics,” is scheduled to return as emcee Feb. 1, leading a banquet and ceremony honoring eight member from the Class of 2014 (see individual profiles on pages 2D and 3D): former players to be inducted are Pete Billingsley (Class of 1972, basketball, football, baseball); Marvena Almond Ruddy (1992, track and field, basketball); Andy Baksa (2002, cross-country, track); Michael McKenry (2003, baseball); Jenny McGrath Weaver (1988, swimming), and Jenni Miller Metcalf (2000, volleyball). Ex-coaches to be inducted are Scott

McKenzie (track and field, golf, 19812010) and Jerry Cannon (1966-88, basketball). Athletic Service Award will be presented to Doug Horne (FHS Class of 1963), prominent real estate developer and owner of Republic Newspapers, Inc., (parent company of farragutpress) for contributions to Admirals athletics. A Tennessee Volunteers theme remains with the event’s keynote speaker. Tim Priest, Knoxville attorney, former All-SEC defensive back at Tennessee (1968-70) and Vol Network radio commentator for UT Football, is this year’s speaker. Johnny Majors, former UT Football star player and head coach, was 2013 keynote speaker. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. To purchase tickets, call 865-9669775 and ask for Smith or Moore.

Priest, former Vol, Farragut resident, keynote speaker ■

ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com

In addition to his professional success as a injury law attorney long after earning All-SEC honors as a Tennessee Volunteers Football defensive back in 1970, Tim Priest’s Farragut roots run deep. A former town of Farragut judge in the early to mid-2000s, Priest is a Town resident whose wife, Betsy, is a former Farragut

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High School guidance counselor. Their children, Laura Morris and Adam Priest, both graduated FHS as honored athletes. Priest, a partner in Priest the downtown Knoxville firm of Pryor Flynn Priest

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and Harber, will serve as keynote speaker during Second Annual Farragut High School Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony. “I’m honored to be asked to come as speaker. I hope I can be worthy of that,” Priest, UT Football color analyst on The Vol Network with Bob Kesling the past 15 seasons, said. “I’ve seen a lot of outstanding athletes in a lot of different sports, and a lot of really good coaches

at Farragut. “My children played for some of them,” Priest added. “I’ve got some appreciation for what’s gone on there through the years.” About the Hall of Fame, “I thought it was a great idea when I heard about it last year. Mostly I read about it in your all’s paper [farragutpress], about them starting up a Farragut High School sports Hall of Fame,” he said. “Last year’s

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class and this year’s class are very worthy nominees. … Just a lot of great athletes and an athletic heritage at the school with state championships and all kinds of things.” Going back to one of last year’s inaugural Hall of Fame inductees, “I actually coached Neil Clabo when he was a freshman at UT,” Priest said about graduate assistant coaching he did under then head coach Bill Battle.


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