2023Â INDUCTEES
2023 Inductee Highlights
Mike Burns' career highlights
Mike Burns, 54, was a star baseball player at Decatur, Calhoun Community College and North Alabama. He played three years in the Houston Astros organization. After his playing days ended, Burns returned home to coach baseball at Decatur and then Calhoun. He was inducted into the UNA Hall of Fame in 2002.
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Gary Couey's career highlights
Gary Couey, 71, played on the 1968 Cotaco Indians basketball team that made the school’s only appearance in the state tournament. Couey was one of the five starters who each averaged double figures. The team scored over 100 points seven times. He was later a coach and worked in school administration.
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Joe Edwards' career highlights
Joe Edwards was a star basketball player back in the glory days of the Priceville program in the 1950s and 1960s when the Bulldogs won four state championships. He went on to star at Florence State. In his sophomore season in college, Edwards averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds. He passed away in 2015.
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Shondra Fuller's career highlights
Shondra Fuller, 48, starred on two Decatur girls state championship teams in 1991 and 1992. She was the MVP of the 6A state tournament in 1992. Fuller was an Alabama Super 5 selection in 1992 and an honorable mention All-American selection in 1991 and 1992. She played in college at Alabama before knee injuries ended her career.
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Myles Hammon's career highlights
Myles Hammon was an All-State football player at Falkville in 1960 and 1961. He started at tackle for the Blue Devils for six seasons. Hammond played at Auburn from 1962-65 and competed in the 1964 Orange Bowl and the 1965 Liberty Bowl. He died in an airplane crash in 1979 while serving in the Air Force.
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Robert Pope's career highlights
Robert Pope, 76, starred on Danville state championship basketball teams in 1962 and 1963. He later played at Calhoun and Saint Bernard before starting a 37-year coaching career. He coached Danville to the 3A Final Four in 2005.
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Kathleen McRight Slaten's career highlights
Kathleen McRight Slaten was a star basketball player at Austinville from 1936-1940. She led her teams to four state championships and four Morgan County Tournament championships. She is deceased.
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Gary Spivey's career highlights
Gary Spivey, 71, played basketball at Austin from 1968-1970 and was a member of the Black Bears’ 1969 state championship team. He later played in college at Alabama Christian (now Faulkner University) and then at Lubbock Christian. Spivey was a highly regarded basketball official for 33 years from 1975-2008.
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Dr. Frank Sykes' career highlights
Dr. Frank Sykes grew up in Decatur and starred in baseball and basketball at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He went on to become a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues. Sykes returned to Decatur in 1924 and opened a dental practice. He had a pivotal role in the infamous Scottsboro Boys Trial in 1933. After being harassed by the Ku Klux Klan, he moved his family to Baltimore. He died in 1986.
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Keith and Karen Wilemon's career highlights
Keith and Karen Wilemon were the husband and wife team that built a powerhouse track and field team at Falkville that produced 10 state championships and 14 runner-up finishes. Keith, 62, was head coach for four of the championship teams. Karen, 58, was the official head coach for two of the state championship teams. Both served as assistant coaches for four state championship teams with their son Jace as head coach. Keith was inducted into the Alabama High School Hall of Fame in 2021.
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