The Weakley County Sports Hall of Fame has announced the induction of seven new members.
The new inductees, along with the 1987 Dresden Lion’s State Championship baseball team will be honored August 10, 2024, with a ceremony to be held in the University Center Ballroom at UT Martin. This marks the third group of athletes since the inception of the Hall in 2020, with the first class inducted in 2022.
During the spectacular run of basketball played by the ladies in Gleason, the first to be recognized statewide with a Ms. Basketball award was Kara Sanders Atkins. The 1996 graduate of Gleason High School had a stellar career that extended well into college at Freed Hardeman University. Atkins was a three-time all-state selection, three-time all-region, and three-time Class A Best of the West honoree. She was a finalist for the Class A Ms. Basketball Award in 1995 and secured the award in 1996, becoming the first Weakley County female recipient of a statewide award of its kind. Atkins went on to even more success at FHU. From 1996 to 2000 she topped the 2,000-point mark, which is 7th all-time. She ranks 3rd in assists with 542 and knocked down 300 trifectas. Atkins was named all-conference in 1998, 1999, and 2000. She was named All-American in 2000. While at Freed Hardeman, she led her team to the NAIA national tournament all four years with a final four appearance in 1999. Kara Sanders Atkins was enshrined into the FHU Hall of Fame in 2005.
From 1957 to 1974, Robert “Bob” Carroll patrolled the sidelines for the UTM Pacers. Before his coaching days, Carroll was a sergeant for the United States Marines before enrolling at UTMB where he was a standout quarterback/running back. After his stint in Martin, he finished his playing career as a defensive back with the Wyoming Cowboys. While out west, Coach Carroll was the team captain on a squad that beat Texas Tech in the Sun Bowl. Bob Carroll became Coach Carroll when he returned to Martin in 1957 to coach the program as it transitioned to a four-year institution. In 1967, the Pacers beat West Chester (Pennsylvania) in the Tangerine Bowl to capture the NCAA Atlantic Coast Championship and were named National Champions. Coach Carroll coached a total of nine All-Americans while sixteen moved on to play professionally. Carroll was named athletic director in 1974 was the director of UTM’s alumni affairs beginning in 1980. Bob Carroll is a charter member of the UT Martin Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
Lisa Caudle Hutchens, a 1979 graduate of Greenfield High School, amassed over 2,000 points in her high school career, earning a Honorable Mention All-State selection. She continued her career at Union University where she finished her four-year campaign as the 6th all-time leading scorer while coming in at 2nd in assists. While at Union, Caudle Hutches was a NAIA All-American both on the court and in the classroom. She was also named the Volunteer State Athletic Conference most valuable player. After her collegiate career, she excelled coaching in high school, amassing a 106-42 record while at Millington and Jackson Northside. In 1991, she returned to Union as an assistant coach, and was named co-head coach with David Blackstock for the 1998-99 season. During her time on the sidelines, Union was a four-time Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference Champion and six time NAIA National Tournament participant, reaching the Elite 8 in 1999.
It has often been said that a game cannot be played without an official. For the sake of Weakley Countians, Dresden’s Waye McCreight is responsible for countless numbers of games from middle school all the way to the professional ranks. Originally from Memphis, Wayne moved to Weakley County to attend UT Martin and never left. Mr. McCreight picked up officiating football in the 1970’s and progressed very quickly up the ranks. He was the top umpire in the Northwest Tennessee Football Officials association where he worked the play-offs every year and called multiple state championship games. Wayne was snatched up by the Gulf South Conference. His work there quickly caught the eyes of the Ohio Valley Conference where he became one of the top referees. So much so that when the NFL officials went on strike in 2001, Mr. McCreight was given the opportunity to work the professional ranks. Mr. McCreight has continued to give back as he was instrumental in implementing the seven-man crew in the Tennessee High School football playoffs and has served West Tennessee well on the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame board of directors.
One of the best ball strikers in the history of Weakley County, if not the entire state, is Pat Nanney Jr of Sharon. Nanney graduated from Westview High School in 1980 where he generated quite a following around golf courses in the region. He went to UT Martin where he qualified for the NCAA golf tournament all four years. He was a three-time Gulf South Conference selection and won five tournaments during his collegiate career. In 1985, he was named an All-American and finished runner-up in the Tennessee State Amateur Tournament which qualified him for a PGA tour event. He was inducted into the UT Martin Hall of Fame in 1992.
One of the most colorful sideline personalities was also one of the most revered and respected coaches in Tennessee. Charles “Chuck” West, originally from Oneida, spent 42 years at Dresden High School where he served as a football assistant coach but excelled on the sidelines coaching his true passion, basketball. Known throughout the state as one who could overload any zone, Coach West led the Dresden Lions to sub-state four times, advancing to the state tournament in 1987 and 1988. Coach West stepped away from coaching to assume the principal and athletic director position at DHS, a responsibility he kept until becoming sick a few years ago. He served on the TSSAA board of control and gained a reputation as one who had a good handle on athletics of the state from Memphis to Johnson City. Coach West left an indelible mark on Dresden High School, and his warmth and compassion was felt by all those who encountered him.
Martin’s Ms. Mary Vowell graduated from the University of Tennessee Junior College in 1945 after competing in basketball at the high school level. After settling down and raising children in the community, Ms. Vowell was encouraged by her doctors to get to walking to help manage a medical issue. Ms. Mary Vowell found a love of exercise through swimming and re-ignited her love of competition. As a result, she because the owner of several precious medals at the Nationals Senior Games held in 2014 in Houston, Texas. At the time, Vowell secured six medals (one gold, one silver, and four bronze) in a career that saw her capture over 300 medals in the sport of swimming.
This year’s team honoree is the 1987 Dresden Lion baseball state championship squad. The Lions were the first, and only, baseball state champion in the history of Weakley County. Their run to the state title was highlighted by an insanely talented group of athletes who excelled on the mound, and in the field with timely hitting at the plate. Jeff Kelley and Mark Maddox masterfully guided the Lions to a 3-0 record in the 1987 Spring Fling to capture the crown.
The Weakley County Sports Hall of Fame’s primary focus is to provide scholarships for one male and one female student-athlete from each of the four county high schools. To date, the Hall of Fame has awarded over $ 32,000 towards the advancement of education to our students.
The Hall of Fame will host their annual fundraising golf scramble on May 24th at Persimmon Hills in Sharon. Please visit www.weakleycountysportshof.com for more information.
All seven inductees will be enshrined at the annual banquet. During the event, the eight scholarship recipients will be honored along with the 1987 baseball squad.
Tables and a limited number of tickets for the banquet will be available for purchase, with information coming at a later date.
