Earlier tonight, three new members were honored and inducted into the Pickens High School Athletics Hall Of Fame. The three members of the 2014-15 class were Alonzo Hampton, Cay Roland Reece, and Linda McAfee Hunter.PHS principal Dr. Chris LeMieux got the evening started with some opening remarks about the event. After everyone was able to get food and settled back into their seats, Athletic Director Kyle Rasco had some remarks of his own and an introduction to the first inductee, Alonzo Hampton. Jack Dunn would be the man to talk about Mr. Hampton as they were former teammates on the football team.

Mr. Dunn told several stories about Mr. Hampton’s time at PHS and then it was time for the man to say a few words himself. Mr. Hampton stepped up to the podium very humbled as he accepted this tremendous honor. He thanked his family, the commuinty, his friend Mr. Dunn for the kind words, and lastly thanked the Hall Of Fame committee for picking him to be included in this class.

Mr. Hampton was a member of the class of 1972. He was a four sport athlete competing in football, basketball, baseball, and track & field. He was named to the football All State Team during his senior year. During his sophomore season, QB Bobby Cantrell found Alonzo for a 96-yd touchdown reception and that is still a school record. He finished that game with a school record 183 receiving yards. a record that stood till 2012 when Shannon Brooks would break it.

Alonzo started on both sides of the ball for the 1971 Dragons football team who set and still hold four defensive records: points allowed in a season (41), fewest rushing yards allowed in a season (1,040), most fumble recoveries in a season (26), and shuts in a season (6). Alonzo did baseball as well as track & field at the exact same time which is unheard of in today’s sports. He was apart of two state tournament baseball teams in 1971-72 and in his senior season, he and his track teammates went to state for four relay events and he held the high jump record from 1971-1996. Mr. Hampton, to no one’s surprise, was named Most Athletic by his senior class. In 1968, Mr. Hampton is quoted as saying, “I just wanted to make a name for myself.” He did just that.

Current Dragonettes head basketball coach Donna Enis was then asked to come up and say a few words abouth the two other inductees, Cay Roland Reece and Linda McAfee Hunter. Coach Enis’s dad coached Alonzo Hampton in basketball. Coach Enis said her and some of the players were looking up records and one of those was points scored in a quarter. They thought that senior Haley Kalson may have broken that record this season. Turns out, she was two points shy of Mrs. Hunter’s record of 23.

Mrs. Cay Roland Reece is a member of the class of 1974. She was a member of the Varsity Girls basketball team all four years and played Tennis during her senior year. December 19th, 1970 Mrs. Reece made her debut for the Varsity Dragonettes and did not leave the court until her final game in 1974. The Dragonettes captured the Class-A State title beating Haralson 44-36 in ’74. Mrs. Reece was named to the 1974 basketball All State Team. She scored 1,640 points during her time finishing 7th all time in school history. She was named Most Athletic by her senior class. Mrs. Reece stated to Kyle Rasco that the two girls that she looked up to were Puala VanSant, and Debbie Deboard Grimes. The three are right next to each other in all time points with VanSant at 6th and Grimes at 8th.

Last but certainly not least was Mrs Linda McAfee Hunter. She is a member of 1974. She played for the basketball team all four years of high school. Much like Mrs. Reece, she made her debut on December 19th, 1970. Mrs. Hunter started at forward for the Dragonettes on their 1974 State Championship team. After that game, she was honored as Georgia’s 1973-74 MVP as well as the All State Team. During her time, Mrs. Hunter scored 1,239 points which is good enough for 10th all time. Mrs. Hunter thanked her family, the community, everyone for coming, the committee, and her coach, coach Cowart.

These three new members of the Athletics Hall Of Fame will be recognized tomorrow night during halftime of the Dragonettes game. Congratulations to the 2014-15 class of the Pickens High School Athletics Hall Of Fame!