2017 Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame

By Randy Smith:

Dale Jones…..one of the toughest hardest hitting linebackers to ever wear the Tennessee orange jersey became emotional during his acceptance speech last night. Jones was one of 22 deserving athletes to be inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame; the fifty-first class by the way. Jones, who was one of 13 children who grew up in Bradley County, was told many times he wasn’t big enough to play college football. But he did and he did it very well. The two-time all-SEC linebacker and a two-time All-American at Tennessee was called by Coach Johnny Majors, “The greatest leader I ever coached.”

 

Jones spoke of his priorities in life.

….God, his family, and his community as the words began to crack and tears started flowing down his cheeks. He apologized numerous times for his emotions, but that apology wasn’t necessary. Most everyone in that large banquet hall knew Dale Jones. They knew how big his heart is. That same heart that helped him bat down a Mike Shula pass in 1985, then pick it off before the ball hit the ground.  That interception…..that play helped preserve Tennessee’s four-game winning streak over the Crimson Tide and helped solidify Dale Jones’ legacy as one of the greatest Vols ever. People who live in Knoxville and should know this kind of thing say that Peyton Manning and Dale Jones are the two most popular former Vols when they come back to town for a visit at Neyland Stadium. That’s not hard to believe at all.

 

Dale Jones wasn’t the only person to become emotional last night. One of the most talented classes to ever be inducted into the Hall of Fame included former Moc Gerald Wilkins who was so moved at another inductee’s acceptance speech he made a second appearance at the podium to say how lucky we all were to have been a part of the celebration.

 

Another inductee was Karen Mills, one of the greatest Lady Mocs ever. A player who was given her own “Karen Mills Day” in Chattanooga at the end of he career, she has gone on to become a tremendously funny stand-up comedian.  She didn’t shed any tears last night because she tends to use laughter to cover her emotions. What most people in the room last night may not know is the fact that Karen Mills has successfully beaten cancer, and that is another indication that her heart is a big as anyone’s.

 

Elizabeth Baker. an Ironman participant who happens to be legally blind, was there to receive the Morris/Morgan Award for facing adversity head on and winning. Her resume is as impressive as any, and it was her acceptance speech that prompted Gerald Wilkins to make a second appearance at the microphone.

 

There was an Olympic swimmer, Male Athlete of the Year Sean Ryan and Female Athlete of the Year Kelsey Jane Nunley; the greatest softball player in University of Kentucky history who played high school softball at Soddy-Daisy.

 

If you can’t come away from an evening like that one and not be inspired, there is something dreadfully wrong with you. It’s not just about sports……….it’s about life, and life lessons. It’s about God and family and community. It’s about being successful even when you’re told you can’t or you’re too small. It’s about setting goals and priorities and seeing them through to fruition.

 

Congratulations to the HOF Class of 2017 for a job well done.

Randy Smith has been covering sports on radio, television and print for the past 45 years. After leaving WRCB-TV in 2009, he has written two books, and has continued to free-lance as a play-by-play announcer.