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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Has the time come for Lake County to consider a sports hall of fame? February 21, 2012

Hubert O. Dabney

Joe Williams: Has the time come for Lake to consider a sports hall of fame?

There are plenty of athletes and coaches who would be deserving of some recognition

February 18, 2012

I wonder if anyone has ever given thought, serious thought, to starting a Lake County Sports Hall of Fame.

Writing the story last week about Clermont's Jason Couch being elected to the Professional Bowlers Association's Hall of Fame got me thinking about the possibility. Actually, it was a seed planted in my brain a long time ago by former Sentinel sports writer Herky Cush.

Charles "Buddy" Lowe
Herky, who retired in 2002, was very active with the Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame when he worked for the Sentinel there.

Getting back to Lake, nobody is planning a HOF here, but maybe someone should. Just think about the possibilities.

Clermont is the home of three pro bowlers now in the PBA Hall of Fame — Couch, Norm Duke and Randy Pedersen.

Water skiing has been big here.

Jack Travers, a world-renowned water skiing coach, received the American Water Ski Association's Award of Distinction last year and certainly would be worthy. He and his wife, Lelani, built a training facility, Sunset Lakes in Groveland in the 1970s, and the specially designed man-made lakes have been the training home of many of the world's top skiers including their son, Jonathan Travers and Clermont's Brandi Hunt. There also is the Benzel family, who made their mark as skiers, daughter Tarah Benzel Mikacich, mother, Cyndi, and dad, David.

Is there a way to measure what triathlons have meant to the community?

Race promoter Fred Sommer single-handedly gave the sport life in Lake. He would have to be among the most deserving people for inclusion. Look at the economic impact his races have brought to the county, the exposure he has brought to the county and the triathletes who have moved here. It would be a fitting way to recognize someone who often has been overlooked in almost 30 years of putting on races.

Dayne Williams
Moving onto track/football circles, Jeff Demps, the former South Lake/Florida football star, now beginning his final track season for the Gators with hopes of making the U.S. Olympic team as a sprinter. He is one of the world's fastest. Leesburg's Dayne Williams, who was a fullback at FSU, will always be remembered in Seminole football lore. He made the Wham play famous and was involved in the Puntrooskie.

When you talk about high school coaches, East Ridge's football coach Bud O'Hara would have to be near the top of the list for consideration. He has coached football for 41 years and, though he wasn't in Lake all that time, he has been here a good chunk of it. He built East Ridge's program from scratch and in 10 seasons has a 85-29 record. Before that, he spent five seasons at Leesburg.

If his baseball career continues to develop, Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (Umatilla) could be a candidate. Pro basketball player Jermaine Taylor from Tavares, who starred at UCF, and has played with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings could also be considered.

What would a Lake County Hall of Fame be without the late Buddy Lowe (one of the nation's winningest high school baseball coaches who spent most of his career at Leesburg)? Or the late Austin "Red" Robbins, who played basketball at Groveland High School and then starred in the American Basketball Association?

Or, the late Hubert O. Dabney, whose impact on youth in both high school and the community would take pages to explain. He retired as Leesburg's athletic director in 1988, but played an integral role in the days of segregation. He coached pretty much every sport at the Lake County Training School, Carver Height High School and at Leesburg. He was the first African-American inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1982.

How about Mike Matulia, Lake-Sumter Community College's athletic director since 1997, who has blazed the trail of bringing sports back to LSCC? Think of all the lives he has enriched with the athletic scholarship opportunities given to hundreds of local athletes who otherwise might have missed out. Not only did it extend their athletic careers, but they received an associate's degree along the way.

This is just a few names. There are many more who would be deserving of consideration. An HOF in Lake would be a fitting way to honor the county's best.

jrwilliams@tribune.com or 352-742-5921.

Listen live on my790am or www.my790am.com Saturday March 24, 2012.

Former Leesburg High School, University of Alabama and San Diego Chargers Football Standout Wayne Hamilton makes his first appearance on the Lake County Sports Show March 24, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

#94 Wayne Hamilton Alabama Crimson Tide on a goaline stand at 1979 Sugar Bowl
Hamilton, former Leesburg High School Girls Basketball, Girls Track and Field, and Villanova University Womens Track and Field Standout Shericka Ward will be the featured guests along with the show host Billy Matthews The Voice Of The Leesburg Yellow Jackets, Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Host Sonny Bronson, Belton Bail Bonds Scoreboard Show Co-host Allison Crawford and Carver Heights Quarterback Club Staff Writer Gerald Lacey.


READ MORE CLICK BELOW

The Lake County Sports Show and Carver Heights Quarterback Club proudly announces TJ's Pizza and Jay Eckert as the sponsor of refreshments and lunch for the shows guests and hosts February 25, 2012.


Resources
Joe Williams
Sentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel
www.orlandosentinel.com
jrwilliams@tribune.com or 352-742-5921
 
Leesburg Public Library
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Leesburg, Florida 34748
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Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
leesburgyellowjacketsfootball@yahoo.com
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
















Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.

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