2012Â INDUCTEES
2012 Inductee Highlights
Ricky Bowling's career highlights
Played baseball and basketball at West Morgan High (1968-71)Batted .420 as a sophomore and junior for the baseball team, while playing first base, second base, shortstop and pitcher. Batted .500 as a junior.
Averaged 20 points a game for the basketball team as a junior, making all-Morgan County and all-Central Valley Conference. Averaged 24.6 points a game as a senior and helped the Rebels make the Class 2A state tournament for the first time in school history.
Made all-county, all-conference, all-state and the North-South All-Star Game.
Lettered in basketball at Saint Bernard College in Cullman for four years.
Also lettered with the baseball team as a junior and senior, leading the squad in batting average as a junior and finishing second as a senior.
Head basketball coach at West Morgan (1984-2011), winning 428 games and advancing to the Northwest Regional tournament seven times and the state tournament once.
Head baseball coach at West Morgan (1975-77 and 1986-96), winning 166 games, advancing to the state's final eight four times and the final four once.
The West Morgan High School gym is named in his honor.
Debra Bodley Harvel's career highlights
Competed in gymnastics at Hartselle Junior High and Morgan County High, helping the high school team finish third at the 1976 state meet
Advanced to Jefferson State Junior College, a gymnastics powerhouse at the time. Helped Jefferson State win two Region XXII championships and two NJCAA championships in 1977 and '78. Was named All-American both years.
Finished fourth in the all-around at the 1977 NJCAA meet, fifth on the balance beam and floor exercise and third on the uneven bars.
Placed sixth in all-around in the 1978 meet and won the uneven bars, setting an NJCAA scoring record on that event.
Competed at Alabama as a junior and was part of legendary coach Sarah Patterson's first Crimson Tide squad.
Remained active in gymnastics after college as a coach and high school gymnastics.
Tony Julian's career highlights
Played basketball at Ryan during 1965-67, making all-Morgan County twice and averaging 17 points a game as a sophomore before transferring to Decatur.
Played at Decatur during 1967-69, making all-county, all-Tennessee Valley Conference and all-Class 4A, Region 8 twice. Made all-state and Sunkist honorable mention all-American as a senior.
Led the 1969 team in scoring at 20 points a game and helped the Red Raiders to the Class 4A state semifinals.
Played baseball at Decatur (1967-69) and was a starting pitcher.
Played basketball at Athens College (1969-72), leading the freshman team with 22 points a game before serving as a varsity reserve.
Played baseball at Athens College, playing outfield and pitching.
Joe Collier's career highlights
Played three seasons of varsity basketball at Priceville High from 1949-52.
Named All-Morgan County as a sophomore.
Averaged 15.5 points a game and helped lead Priceville to a 25-6 record and the Class A state championship in 1951.
Was named all-Morgan County, all-district and first-team all-state.
Part of Priceville's state runner-up team that finished 26-8 in 1952, averaging about 16.4 points a game.
Was named all-Morgan County, all-district and second-team all-state.
Played on Auburn's freshman team.
Mike Jones' career highlights
Played baseball at Decatur High and helped lead the Red Raiders to Tennessee Valley Conference championships in 1960, '61 and '62.
Earned all-state honors. Played basketball at Decatur from 1959-63 and helped the Red Raiders finish second in the 1962 Class AA state tournament.
Also ran track and field and played football at Decatur for legendary coach H.L. "Shorty" Ogle's final squad.
Played freshman baseball at Alabama in 1964.
Signed a contract to play in the Pittsburgh Pirates' baseball organization before being drafted into the United States Army.
Played high-level fast-pitch softball for 25 years and was inducted into the Alabama Amateur Softball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Entered the West Alabama Fast-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jimmy Mitchell's career highlights
Played quarterback for Tanner High's 1960 football team, which went 7-1-2 and tied unbeaten Ardmore.
Played quarterback at Decatur High in 1961, leading legendary coach H.L. "Shorty" Ogle's squad to a 9-1 record and the Tennessee Valley Conference championship.
Made Wigwam and Sporting News All-American in 1961.
Also played basketball for Decatur's 1962 team that finished second in the Class AA state tournament and the Red Raiders' baseball squad, compiling a 5-0 pitching record with a no-hitter against Huntsville and a one-hitter versus Cullman.
Played in the Alabama High School All-Star Game, serving as co-captain for the North team and earning the most valuable back honor.
Played football (1962-64) and golf (1964-66) at Alabama. Lost only one golf match his senior season.
Won 18 regional and state amateur golf tournaments during 1968-79. Held course records at Burningtree Country Club (65) and Decatur Country Club (66) for three years simultaneously.