Main Street Preps
NASHVILLE WEATHER
physicians-mutual-dental-insurance-banners

Springfield High School Athletic Association announces third Hall of Fame class




The third Springfield Athletic Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted on Saturday, Sept. 24.Springfield High School Athletic Association

The third Springfield Athletic Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted on Saturday, Sept. 24.Springfield High School Athletic Association

Twelve Bransford and Springfield High School greats have been named to the Springfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

This year’s class is the third of its kind, joining 24 athletes, coaches, administrators and other contributors. The SHSAA honored its inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2020.

The Springfield High School Athletic Association accepted nominations for this year through May 2. The following nominees will be inducted on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Springfield Baptist Church:

James (Jimmy) Burr (Posthumous)

Bransford High School Class of 1965

A 6-foot-5 standout on the Bransford High School basketball and football teams, James Burr, also known as Jimmy, was a graduate of the BHS Class of 1965. Burr was an outstanding basketball player, averaging 25.9 points, 14.5 rebounds and four blocked shots per game his junior and senior seasons.

As a quarterback on the football team his senior year, Burr led Bransford to victories over highly ranked Middle Tennessee high schools in Cameron, Pearl, Haynes, Meigs, NCI, Clarksville Burt and Natchez High School (Franklin).

Coach Jerry Pearson, named a member of Greenbrier High School's Hall of Fame in 2016, will be inducted into Springfield's athletic hall of fame in September.Katie Bolton/FILE

Coach Jerry Pearson, named a member of Greenbrier High School’s Hall of Fame in 2016, will be inducted into Springfield’s athletic hall of fame in September.Katie Bolton/FILE

Hugh Carroll (Posthumous)

Springfield High School Class of 1937

A key player in one of the most successful eras in Springfield High School history, Hugh Carroll was a standout for the Yellow Jackets from 1933-37. Although stats are hard to come by during this time, it’s safe to assume that Carroll was one of the most prolific scorers in Springfield history, serving as a back for the legendary 1937 “Point-a-Minute” team featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Ronnie Lee Forte

Springfield High School Class of 1983

A 1981 first-team All-Midstate player for fellow SHS Hall of Fame coach Gene Beck, Ronnie Forte led Springfield to a 25-6 record and set the foundation for some very successful Springfield basketball teams in the early and mid-1980s. Forte went on to make his mark at Vol State Community College and Belmont University. During his senior year he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds a game.

Former Springfield girls basketball standout Sheika Taylor (right) will be inducted into the Springfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September.PHIL STAUDER/FILE

Former Springfield girls basketball standout Sheika Taylor (right) will be inducted into the Springfield High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September.PHIL STAUDER/FILE

Charlie Miles (Posthumous)

Bransford High School Class of 1964

A true legend in the circle of Bransford High School athletics, Charlie Miles played quarterback for the Roaring Lions and helped win the MTAA Region 2 Championship in 1963. Miles led Bransford in a number of statistical categories and was often referred to as a “player before his time.”

Linda Walker Owen

Springfield High School Class of 1969

Linda Walker Owen was the “scorer” on coach Blue Howse’s 1968-69 Lady Jacket basketball team that reached the state tournament. Owen’s senior class averaged 22 wins per season during their careers, securing an 88-7 record and a No. 2 ranking in the Midstate. They won three district tournament titles, one region tournament championship and a trip to the 1969 girls state tournament.

Owen played collegiately at Middle Tennessee State and was instrumental in the beginning of the women’s basketball program as a four-year starter.

Jerry Pearson

Springfield High School Class of 1958

Jerry Pearson was a tremendous three-sport athlete for the Yellow Jackets. He was a quarterback, defensive back and punter for the Springfield teams that played in the 1956 and 1957 Clinic Bowls. He also played basketball and made the 20th District All-Tournament team his senior year.

After graduating from MTSU in 1962, Pearson began a 45-year coaching career which included stops at East Robertson, Greenbrier, Dickson, Dickson County and Springfield High School. He was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2012.

Jimmy Suter (Posthumous)

Greenbrier High School Class of 1938

Suter graduated from Greenbrier High School and then enrolled at MTSC, where he played football and baseball. He was hired at Springfield in 1953 as the head baseball coach and assistant football coach. His love of baseball was the motivating push that led to the development of youth baseball for young boys in Springfield.

Sheika Taylor

Springfield High School Class of 2000

A phenomenal two-sport athlete for Springfield, Sheika Taylor excelled on the basketball and volleyball court. She went on to lay the foundation for the Belmont women’s basketball team and enjoyed a successful career in law enforcement and as an entrepreneur.

Michael Thomas

Springfield High School Class of 1993

The Michael Thomas era represented deep postseason runs for Yellow Jacket football in the early 1990s. As one of the most decorated football players in Springfield’s history, Thomas culminated an incredible career when he received the 1992 TSSAA Mr. Football award as the state’s most outstanding player for Class AA.

Stacy Holman White

Springfield High School Class of 1989

A true cornerstone of the Springfield High School tennis program, Stacy Holman White played on the inaugural SHS tennis team in 1986. She still holds the distinction of being the only Springfield player to qualify for the region tournament for four straight seasons. White was also a four-year starter for the Springfield volleyball team, which won district championships in 1987 and 1988.

James Winrow

Bransford High School Class of 1968

James Winrow was an incredible athlete for Bransford High School. He was instrumental in leading the 1966-68 basketball and football teams to the most successful seasons in school history. Winrow went on to have a successful career as a teacher and coach in the Metropolitan Davidson County School System.

Darrell (Slim) Woodard

Springfield High School Class of 1979

Darrell “Slim” Woodard started on the varsity basketball team as a point guard his sophomore year and was team captain and second-leading scorer during his junior season. Woodard was a three-year starter for the Springfield Yellow Jackets and has been involved in Special Olympics, AAU youth basketball and Robertson County Government across his career.

Leave a Reply