Category: 2024 Inductees

LITTLETON WARD

Athlete – Football, Track & Field A three-year starter at tailback and defensive back at Bryan Station High School here in Lexington, KY, Littleton Ward was a 2nd Team All-State player in 1991, and a 1st Team All-State selection by the Courier-Journal and the Herald-Leader in 1992 as a defensive back. At Bryan Station, Littleton […]

VINCE TAYLOR

Athlete – Basketball Vince Taylor was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and then his family and he moved to Chicago six weeks later.  The Taylor family later returned to Lexington when Vince was an eighth grader. He is the son of the late Joan Taylor and Vertner Taylor and brother of Dr. Janet Taylor. Vince grew […]

ROD SMITH

Athlete – Baseball, Football, Track & Field A legendary figure in the history of baseball in Lexington and in Kentucky, Rodriquez Smith imprinted his name in the Lexington African-American Sports Hall of Fame (LAASHOF) with an illustrious professional baseball career spanning eight years. He is known for his exceptional acumen as a second-base player and […]

Kenneth T. Smith

 Coach – Football, Baseball, Swimming (Special Olympics), and Track Kenneth T. Smith, also known as Coach K.T., was born in Lexington, KY, on November 29, 1946, to the late Fannie (Smith) Kirtley and Gilbert T. Smith, Sr. He was the youngest of three children, sister Anna (Smith) Johnson and brother Gilbert T. Smith, Jr., who […]

ELLA W. SMITH

Supporter – Youth Sports Ella W. Smith, formerly Ella Jean Williams, was born in Lexington, KY, on September 17, 1946, to the late Viola (Williams) White and Thomas Williams. She was the youngest of four children. Her three brothers (James Wiliams, John Dickerson, and Russell Dickerson) preceded her in death. Prior to her passing, Ella […]

ERIC SHELTON

Athlete – Football, Track & Field Eric Shelton is the son of Undrea Badgett and Pamela Shelton. He was born and raised in Lexington, KY, among his three brothers Undrea Jr., Jeremiah and Nehemiah. As a youth, Eric was naturally fascinated with the various branches of art and the creativity it allowed him to explore […]

STEVE MILLER

Athlete – Basketball Steve Miller enjoyed a storybook high school career for the Henry Clay Blue Devils in the early 1980s. His hoops highlights include being named First Team All-City and First Team All-State his junior and senior years, and he was voted All-Region for two consecutive years. Steve was also a member of the […]

ERICKA MUNCY  

Athlete – Basketball, Track & Field, Cross Country A standout at Bryan Station High School in basketball, track and field, and cross country, Ericka Muncy McGinnis parlayed her athletic accomplishments into an extraordinarily successful career in accounting, entrepreneurship, and ongoing service to education. In 1990, the Associated Press voted Ericka the Kentucky High School Female […]

ALLEN McCOWAN 

Athlete – Basketball, Baseball, & Football Allen McCowan was born to LaDonna Beatty and the late Allen McCowan on January 19, 1970. At a very early age, everyone could tell that this child was destined to be a star! With the love and support from his close-knit family, Allen was afforded opportunities that many in […]

TONY MACK

Athlete – Baseball Born April 30, 1961, Lexington native Tony Mack’s first experience with baseball was watching the late, legendary John Will “Scoop” Brown getting the baseball field ready at Douglass Park. Those memories set Tony on a trajectory to becoming the only African-American Major League pitcher born in the state of Kentucky.  The son […]