By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
As happened with so many events, Covid shut down the Atmore Area Hall of Fame for three years. But the HOF committee has met, considered new nominations and previous nominations and is planning an induction ceremony to be held in May.
According to HOF committee chairman Billy Conn Madison and committee member Ann Gordon, 12 individuals will be inducted in an effort to “catch up.”
Inductees are James Barnett, Dean Bushnell, Mickey Cannon, Rufus “Sam Jack” Cassity, Stanley Childress, Sara Davis, Rayford Gohagin, Willie J. Grissett, Lori Stinson, Bill Vickery, John Watkins, and Douglas Webb.
If you attended HOF induction ceremonies in the past, you may recall that nomination speeches and acceptance speeches have sometimes exceeded time limits that may have been suggested. The committee is adamant this year about keeping speeches within a set limit.
“We have reorganized, and we have a new format for the induction ceremony this year,” Madison said. “We think folks are going to like this program.”
The induction ceremony will be held Saturday, May 6, 6 p.m., at The Club on Highway 21.
“We realize this is the evening of Mayfest,” Gordon said. “We hope everyone will be ready to come enjoy a nice meal and celebrate Atmore. Also, former residents often come home for Mayfest, so we’re hoping they’ll attend as well.”
Tickets for the ceremony (which includes the catered meal) are $25 each. You must have a ticket to attend. Please note – No one without a ticket will be admitted. Tickets will be available from any committee member or at the Atmore News office, 128 S. Main Street, later this week.
Committee members are Chairman Billy Conn Madison, Charlotte Boyle, Larry Forney, Ann Gordon, Meg Jones, Anthony Marshall, Dr. Ullysses McBride, and Mal McGhee.
More information on the inductees will follow in future editions of Atmore News.