A reception is being held in the cafeteria for the 12 inductees, their presenters and their guests.
Those to be inducted and their presenters are as follows:
*The late Homer Chapman, Class of 1940, by former principal R.D. Reynolds
*William Owen Chapman, Class of 1944, by his teammate Boochey Griffith
*The late Jimmy Sanford, Class of 1951, by teammate Buddy Linton
*The late Dickie Bagby, Class of 1961, by his basketball coach, Jim Young
*Larry Johnson, Class of 1962, by his football coach, Waymond Morris
*Gary Todd, Class of 1967, by his basketball coach, Howard Owens
*Phil Todd, Class of 1975, by his basketball coach, Mickey Meguiar
*Forrest Killebrew, Class of 1976, by his athletic director, Wayne Mullen
*Tommy Wilkins, Class of 1982, by his defensive coach, Gwynne Gaddie
*Tobeika Elliott Payton, Class of 1986, by her basketball and track coach, Matt Tipton
*Darwin Washington, Class of 1988, by his football coach, Ken Barrett
*John Markham, Class of 1989, by his baseball coach, Lou Kendall
The following are the biographical sketches of the two honorees not previously profiled:
Tobeika Elliott Payton
Qualified for state track meet in 5 of the 6 seasons lettered... Switched from distance runner to long jumper as a junior and a senior... Was the number 8 team in the state by herself one year... Set school record in 6 different events, some still standing 20 years later... Played varsity basketball 6 years, 5 as starter despite being so small lightweight shoes had to be ordered... Scored 44 points against Muhlenberg Central and averaged 32 first 5 games of senior season... Twice all-district... Averaged over 7 assists per game... Set school records for scoring, assists, steals and games played
Turned down several college basketball scholarship offers to accept academic scholarship to Vanderbilt University where she ran track and earned a degree in math... Coached basketball, track and volleyball in New Orleans area for 10 years... Coached her volleyball team to state
Tommy Wilkins
An offensive lineman and defensive linebacker, Tommy Wilkins was the leader of a Russellville team which won the school's first state football championship in 1980. The group of seniors he led won 28 games in three years, put together the school's first 12-game winning season, and won three regional championships, all school records... At 6-3, 230 pounds, anchored a defense which recorded five shutouts and allowed no more than two touchdowns in 12 games, winning three of four overtime games... Named All-American by National High School Athletic Association and also 1 of 25 Academic All-Americans... Starter on district championship basketball team
Played freshman ball for Bobby Bowden at Florida State... Transferred to Kentucky where he was captain and All-Academic SEC two years... Helped beat Tennessee and led UK to bowl appearance
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