Nominations sought for Atlanta hall of fame

Butch Owen is looking at his grandfather Hub Northen's plaque and those of the other four chosen in September 2018 for induction into the first Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame.
Butch Owen is looking at his grandfather Hub Northen's plaque and those of the other four chosen in September 2018 for induction into the first Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Atlanta Athletics Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for its second class of honorees.

The first class of five honorees was inducted September 2018, with a committee of seven working almost a year to raise funds and formally open the hall.

The induction ceremony for 2019 will be at the Atlanta vs. Liberty-Eylau football game Sept. 20.

The committee will receive nominations from the public at any time. Nominations may be addressed to Atlanta Athletics HOF at P.O. Box 637 Atlanta, TX 75551.

Once a nominee is made to the committee, those individuals will remain in consideration each year.

Potential inductees must have graduated from Atlanta or Booker T. Washington high schools or been employed there. Eligibility includes athletic performance, good character and graduation at least 10 years prior to selection. Emphasis will be on chronology of achievement in order not to miss those beyond the memory of the living public.

Atlanta Hall of Fame first five honorees were:

  •  Atlanta's first major league baseball player Hub Northen.
  •  Coach Ed Rabb who brought football to Atlanta after Wolrd War I.
  •  Bear Allday who became the Rabbits' first football star in the 1920's.
  •  Jimmie Lee Hunt who reached the National Football League after starring at Booker T. Washington High School in the 1950's.
  •  Sarah Haydel who earned four state track titles for the Lady Rabbs in the late 1990s.

Five granite plaques honoring the five were installed on the left entry wall at Rabbit Stadium. This year's selectees will have their plaques mounted alongside the first five.

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