This year’s Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame banquet is slated for Saturday, July 20 at Stone Bridge Farms.
The annual induction ceremony — scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. — will usher in the 24th class of the CCSHOF.
Inductees for 2024 include: Amanda Patrick (Cullman), Hilary Stiefelmeyer (Cullman), Robin Conn (Cullman), Dewayne Hill (Holly Pond), Ray Dyer (Hanceville), Perry Hicks (Hanceville), Joey Graves (Cold Springs), Donnie Rice (Cold Springs), Regina Bagwell Jones (West Point), Joseph Winford Smith (Fairview), Taft Dillashaw (Good Hope) and Todd Lindsey (Vinemont).
The Times will highlight each honoree prior to the banquet.
Let’s take a closer look at Donnie Rice, Ray Dyer and Taft Dillashaw.
Donnie Rice (Cold Springs)
Cold Springs High School — Class of 1971
— Member of 1970-71 basketball team that won first of five straight county titles under coach Jesse George and reached state tournament | All-Area (basketball)
— Member of first Cold Springs football team under coach Bruce Abbott | All-County (football) | Co-captain of football team | Named Player of the Week by Birmingham Post-Herald
— Head football coach at Cold Springs and Fairview | Assistant coach at Good Hope
Inductee Speak
“I felt very humbled and very surprised that the hall of fame selection committee considered me to be in that same fraternity as some of those other greats. I just hope that the people I played against and the people I played with understand how important it is for me to be honored at such an event. All the people who have crossed my path — from teammates, cheerleaders, coaches and principals — have been very important to getting me to where I am now.”
“Of course, the first year we installed football, that took a lot of planning and organization from everyone, especially our senior class. I was very fortunate to play with a good group and have some success there. Our senior class was also one of the first to make it to the state basketball playoffs at Coleman Coliseum (in Tuscaloosa). That was very important for us.”
Ray Dyer (Hanceville)
Hanceville High School — Class of 1975
— Lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track and field
— All-County, All-Area and All-State (football) | Best of the Best in Alabama (second team)
— Cullman-County All-Star Game (baseball) | AHSAA All-Star Game (baseball)
— Signed football scholarship with UNA | Inducted into Hanceville Bulldog Wall of Fame in 2022
Inductee Speak
“I was very honored. A lot of really good ballplayers have come out of that area and I think that area has been overlooked for years. Back when I was around, it wasn’t much of a hotbed for recruiting, but there were a lot of good ballplayers. Obviously, I wish my parents were here because they are the ones who I credit the most for getting me here. I’d also like to thank the fellow players and administrations, but most importantly, the town. You wanted to do even better, if at all possible, playing for your town.”
“I don’t know if I had one favorite memory — I enjoyed it all. We had good competition and good support almost every night. I remember back in my senior year, the stadium at Hanceville was completely full all the way around. Town support was amazing because people really cared back then.”
Taft Dillashaw (Good Hope)
Good Hope High School — Class of 1985
— Lettered in baseball, basketball and football
— All-County and All-Area (football) | All-County and All-Star (baseball)
— Played college baseball at Shelton State and Wallace State
— Coached middle school football for 10 years | Coached high school football for 25 years
— Coached baseball for 20 years
— Appeared in two semifinal games and five quarterfinal games between playing and coaching
— Played and coached for CCSHOF inductees Billy Pugh and Wayne Weissend
— Attended, played in or coached 94 percent of Good Hope football games
Inductee Speak
“It’s a very happy feeling to be in there with (coaches) Billy Pugh, Wayne Weissend and Danny Welborn. It’s very humbling. You watch all these people go into this Hall of Fame with these great winning records and really just feel like you don’t belong with them.”
“I’ve got a lot of great memories (at Good Hope). We were the first team to win a game in the playoffs — we beat Warrior (in 1983). I remember when I was just a little kid watching Randy Cruce run it back 98 yards against Addison. Then, a couple of years ago beating Etowah at Etowah was a great night.”
▶ The News Courier’s Justin Travis contributed to this report.