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ED BRUCE - Contributed to Jefferson County athletics for 35 years as a coach and administrator. Coached football for 12 years at Phillips, Jones Valley and Gardendale with an overall record of 93-37-1. His 1971 Phillips team enjoyed the school’s first winning season in 10 years. He also coached track and started the wrestling program at Phillips and the soccer programs at Jones Valley and Gardendale. He spent his last 15 years in administration and currently is principal at Corner. A graduate of Hewitt-Trussville High School and the University of Alabama.
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EUGENE COOPER - Started the football program at Ardmore in 1947 where he coached for all but one of his 31 years in Limestone County. His football teams posted an overall record of 151-49 with three state championships and four undefeated seasons. His basketball teams were 297-203 and he also coached baseball and track. The school football stadium is named in his honor. A graduate of Union Hill High School (Ind.) and Indiana State University.
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DON CREASY - Spent 23 of his 30 years in coaching as the head football coach at Central (Florence), Colbert County, Coffee and Mountain Brook with an overall record of 185-77-2. His longest tenure was at Colbert County, his alma mater, where 11 of his 12 teams made the playoffs with a 101-16-0 record, two state championships and two runner-up finishes. He coached in two state all-star games and one Alabama-Mississippi all-star game. A graduate of Colbert County High School and the University of North Alabama.
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FRANK RAY GARNER - Is a basketball legend in South Alabama. He was a coach and teacher for 36 years at Pleasant Home—23 as head basketball coach with an overall 414-207 record. His teams played in state tournaments nine times and won the state championship in 1966, a first for a Covington County school. He coached in the 1968 state all-star game. The school gym is named in his honor. A graduate of Pleasant Home High School and the Delta State University (Miss.).
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CONNIE McGUIRE - Has been a pioneer in promoting girls' athletics in North Alabama during her 20-year coaching career at Lexington. She organized the first volleyball and track teams at her school and was instrumental in getting coaching supplements for girls’ sports. Her volleyball teams won five state championships and compiled a 441-97 overall record during 20 straight winning seasons. She had a 210-128 career record in basketball and also coached track, gymnastics and cheerleading. A graduate of Lexington High School and the University of North Alabama.
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CHARLES "SCOTTY" SAUERS - Is a living legend in officiating circles in the State of Alabama. He has officiated in several sports for over 60 years and given his life to athletics. He was a Southeastern Conference basketball official for 25 years but has always had a keen interest in high school athletics, helping younger officials and recruiting new ones. For years he conducted rules clinics for the AHSAA all over the state and continues as an active member of the South Central Officials Association that he founded in 1965. A graduate of Ashland High School (Pa.) and the Penn State University.
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MALCOLM STREET, SR. - For 51 years this living legend was THE radio “voice” of high school sports in Northeast Alabama—47 of those at WHMA in Anniston where he devoted countless hours of radio time to the promotion and growth of prep athletics. With his own "bringing-the-game-to-life" style, he broadcast Anniston football games for nearly half a century and covered almost every school in the area through several radio shows he established. He broadcast the district basketball tournament for over 40 years and helped to establish the Calhoun County basketball tournament. A graduate of Glencoe High School and Jacksonville State University.
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ERNEST TUCKER - Came to Phillips (Birmingham) in 1925 and served for 45 years—38 as a coach of all sports. He is most remembered for his track teams that won five state titles and his basketball teams that went to the state tournament 13 times. His 1937 basketball team lost in the finals and his 1926 baseball team won a state crown. He is credited with introducing the one-handed shot to Alabama prep basketball and initiated B-teams. A graduate of Erwin High School and the Carson-Newman College (Tenn.). 36 years
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E. C. "BALDY" WILSON - Served the Etowah County schools for 36 years - 18 as a coach at Glencoe and 18 in administration, including eight years as superintendent. He was even called back into service as interim superintendent 10 years after his retirement in 1984. His football teams compiled a 90-75-10 overall record while his basketball team won five county titles. He coached in the state all-star football game in 1959. The Glencoe city park is named in his honor. A graduate of Oxford High School and Jacksonville State University.
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OLIVER WOODARD - Coached football for 26 years, produced state championship teams at three different high schools—Winston County in 1953, Roanoke in 1955 and Cullman in 1962, and compiled a career coaching record of 179-65-8. His longest tenure was 15 years at Cullman where his teams went 106-40-6 and he was state Class 4A coach of the year in 1962. He served as president of the AHSAA coaches association. A graduate of Morgan County High School and Jacksonville State University.
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PAUL WOOLLEY - Reached the elite group of football coaches with 200 career wins during his 33-year career at eight schools—Tuscaloosa County, Thompson, Hokes Bluff, Montevallo, Handley, Brantley, Monroe County and Opp. He rejuvenated several school programs en route to an overall record of 202-94-4 and 12 playoff appearances. He guided two teams (Handley and Brantley) to the state finals and was named Coach of the Year 13 times. Served two terms as AHSAA coaches association president. A graduate of Montevallo High School and Howard College (now Samford University).
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