The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce our first 3 inductees into the Class of 2020.
Dick Horton
Dick Horton, former Executive Director of the Tennessee Golf Association and the Tennessee Section PGA, is a 2020 Inductee of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. It was announced Friday, February 14, at a gathering at Golf House Tennessee in Franklin.
A native of Hamilton, NY, Horton moved to Nashville in 1973 to take a job as a golf administrator with the Tennessee PGA. During his time in Nashville, Horton founded the Tennessee Golf Foundation, and Golf House Tennessee, which serves as the centerpiece for all golf operations in the state of Tennessee.
Bettye Giles
Clarksville, Tennessee native Bettye Giles founded the Tennessee College Women’s Sports Federation, serving on numerous national committees promoting women’s sports. The organization began with 18 colleges and universities and grew to 34 institutions by 1973.
Giles was instrumental in the development of athletic opportunities, beginning the women’s tennis program at University of Tennessee Martin – it was the first women’s sport to achieve varsity status at UT Martin. Giles even convinced a then-UT Martin freshman Pat Head Summitt to play volleyball as a “conditioner” for basketball season. Summitt went on to become one of the best coaches in basketball history.
Tony Delk
Covington, Tennessee native Tony Delk quickly reached statewide prominence as a basketball player at Haywood High in Brownsville, Tennessee. Delk was a Parade All-American, McDonalds All-American and the 3A Mr. Basketball for Tennessee in 1992.
He went on to the University of Kentucky where he received the Most Outstanding Player Award for the Final Four, and was named SEC Player of the Year, All-SEC and All-American.
He was drafted 16th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. During his 10-year NBA career, Delk played for the Hornets, Warriors, Kings, Suns, Celtics, Mavericks, Hawks and Pistons. His NBA career highlight came in 2001, as Delk scored 53 points in an overtime win over Sacramento. He went on to play in Europe for Panathinaikos in Athens. He won the Greek Cup, the Greek Championship, and the European Championship.
The full 2020 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class will be released in the coming weeks.
Information regarding tickets for the 2020 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Established in 1966, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame honors figures from every sport including basketball, baseball, football, golf, soccer and track & field, along with coaches, teams, sports writers and others who made an impact. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development oversees all operations along with the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors.