Marengo County Sports Hall of Fame announces 2016 class
By Tom Boggs
Marengo County Sports Hall of Fame
For the eighth year since the inaugural group of six (6) inductees were enshrined into the Hall of Fame, the Hall now reveals the five (5) Individuals selected for induction on Feb. 8.
The Induction Ceremony and the meal will be at the Demopolis Civic Center with gathering time beginning between 6 and 6:30 p.m., and the program beginning at 7. There will be recognition of the 36 previous inductees who have brought fame and honor to the County through their endeavors and athletic skills from football, baseball, basketball, softball, boxing, wrestling, tennis, track and umpiring.
TERRY BARR
The first nominee is Terry Barr, who graduated from Linden High School in 1965, where he was an All-State End his junior and senior year. Raised in Half Acre his daddy coached him in Little League when he was 10 years, with the highlight of Terry’s Little League career coming when he pitched a no hitter and hit a grand slam homerun against Demopolis in an All-Star game.
He lettered in Football and Baseball in the 8th grade at Linden High School, and played on unbeaten and State Champion Football teams under Coach Walter Henders his sophomore, junior and senior year. He was invited to play in the Alabama High School All-Star game following his senior year.
Terry signed a football scholarship with Auburn after his last year in High School, and started all four freshman games as a Defensive Lineman, being leading tackler for Auburn in the Alabama-Auburn Freshman game. His College career was cut short by injuries he received in a car accident, but he continued to support local and college athletics back in Marengo County. He and his wife, Angie, make their home in Half Acre, and they have one son, Rob.
JULIAN “BUDDY” BRACKIN
The second 2016 Inductee is from East of Linden where Brackin graduated from Marengo County High School in Thomaston, Alabama. Buddy lettered in Football during the 64 through 67 seasons, in Basketball during 65, 66, and 67 seasons, and Baseball his senior year in l968. His senior Football season in l967, Marengo County High School had a 12-0 Football season and won the first State of Alabama Class A Football Championship. As a halfback in the playoff game, Buddy scored the first time the Tigers had the ball and totaled l93 yards rushing against their opponent, Valley Head.
Buddy accumulated 2,700 yards rushing for MCHS in l967, and scored 25 touchdowns. He was selected for the Blackbelt All-Star team and selected for the first combined 1A-2A All State Team by The Birmingham News, as well as being selected for the super All-State team. He was chosen for the High School All-Star South team, and played in the game held in Tuscaloosa, and was chosen for the All-Southern Team by the Orlando Sentinel.
Buddy attended Marion Military Institute on a full Football Scholarship where he started as a cornerback, but also played offense. He was recruited by Troy University as a sophomore and awarded a full scholarship, but suffered a career ending knee injury in the first game for Troy.
Buddy and his wife, Pat, live in Baldwin County where Buddy practices law in Foley. They are the parents of two children, Ashley and Byron.
CLARENCE BROOKER JR.
Graduating from Demopolis High School in l956, Clarence Brooker Jr.., was one of the truly great all around athletes to come out of Demopolis, playing under the legendary coach, Chink Lott. Junior, as he has always been known, made the All-Star team the first year he played baseball in l950, and continued to make All-Stars every year even when moving up to what was later known as The Babe Ruth League.
He continued to letter in three sports at Demopolis High School, and in football was selected first team All-Blackbelt Conference in l954 and l955 seasons as well as being named on the All-State team his senior year, and being offered a football scholarship to the University of Alabama. In l955 he scored 14 touchdowns either from his halfback position, throwing a halfback pass to a wide receiver, returning a punt or returning an intercepted pass for a touchdown. He also handled kickoff duties and kicked extra points.
This Brooker is probably best remembered for his baseball playing where he starred as a catcher, teaming up with Marengo County Sports Hall of Fame member and Detroit Tiger star, Alan Koch, to win championships including the American Legion Junior Baseball State Championship in l955. In his senior year, Junior was the number one selection to play in the State East-West All-Star baseball game in Birmingham and was selected as Blackbelt All-Star in Baseball in l955 and 56.
Following high school, Junior was offered a professional contract through the Detroit Tigers Club and played professionally until l959 leading the Reno Silver Sox in stolen bases until Willie Davis, future Los Angeles Dodgers great, broke into the lineup. Upon return to Demopolis, he continued to play fast pitch and slow pitch softball, and helped coach youth baseball programs.
He and his wife, Jackie, live in Demopolis where they raised four boys, Johnny, Doug, Brian and Kirk.
RANDY SMITH
Inductee number four for the incoming class has fought and overcome adversity most of his life. Randy Smith of Demopolis was diagnosed early in his life with Type 1 Diabetes but he went on to be a three-sport letterman at Demopolis Academy, graduating in l974, and being selected Baseball Most Valuable Player that year with a pitching record of 28 and 3. Randy made his next mark in athletics being the number 1 baseball pitcher for four years (l975-l978) at Livingston University with a career record of 29 and 15, including a senior season of 11-2. He helped lead Livingston to the College World Series in l976 and posted a win against the eventual National Champions.
Randy amassed 143 strikeouts during his career, and was selected as an All American. As a senior he led the Tigers to the Gulf South Conference East Division Championship, and earned all GSC honors.
From college, Randy went on to have a very successful coaching career at Demopolis Academy, Sweet Water, Coffeeville, W.S. Neal, Cordova and Carbon Hill. He received Coach of the Year honors at Demopolis Academy in l982, finished second in the State at Sweet Water in l984, and won the l985 State Championship. As a Defensive Coordinator in Football at Sweet Water he helped lead the team to the State Championship in l986. In seven State Final appearances his teams won three State Championships and finished second four times, two appearances in baseball and five in football. His overall team records as a coach were 169 wins, 91 losses and four ties.
Randy and his wife, Roxy, reside in Demopolis, and they have two children, Brandon and Kristy.
BILLY FULTZ
Rounding out the five stars in the 2016 class is Billy Fultz of Linden. Billy graduated from Marengo Academy in l975 being a three sport letterman. Shining as the Quarterback on the football team, the leading scorer on the Longhorns’ basketball team, but mostly living out his love and passion on the baseball diamond.
After high school, Billy began a baseball career at Livingston University showing that he could do more than pitch. In addition to being an outstanding pitcher, he was a star at third base and at swinging the bat. He was placed on the All-Gulf South Conference Team as a designated hitter.
After college Billy signed with the New York Mets as a free agent, and his minor league career began at Class A Lynchburg in l982, and ended in l986 with Triple A Tidewater. He was later contacted by the Detroit Tigers to attend spring training, but elected to come home to Marengo County to be a father and a husband. His stats with the Mets organization ended with 34 wins, 384 strikeouts, 659 innings pitched, and an ERA of 3.76 while appearing in l19 games.
While working in his professional career back home, he received a call in l994 from the Cincinnati Reds during the Major League Player Strike. He made the team and moved up to the number 2 pitcher as the opening day neared, but with less than 24 hours before the season opener, the Major League Baseball strike ended which officially ended the baseball career of Billy Fultz.
Billy still finds time to be involved in coaching peewee football, basketball, or helping a pitcher develop proper technique because of his love of the game.
Billy and his wife, Paula, live in Linden, and they have four children, Leighton, Thomas, Weldon and Colston.
More information about the banquet will be made available at a later time, although the Board of Directors has voted to retain the old $25 ticket price which remains an outstanding bargain for a night of laughter, goosebumps, possibly a tear or two, great fellowship and excellent food. Tickets are available at any branch of Robertson Bank, Sweet Water State Bank and Trustmark Bank.