GSHF to induct 2015 class in February

MACON, GA (GSHF RELEASE) – The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Honors Court has selected eight new members for the state’s athletic Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 includes William Fulcher, Bobby Hendley, Alec Kessler, Willie McClendon, Reg Murphy, John Schuerholz, Hope Spivey, and Charlie Ward. The inductees were chosen from a starting pool of 189 nominees that were narrowed through a three-tiered screening process culminating with the Honors Court meeting.

“The Hall’s newest honorees are representative of the talent, diversity, and hard work that characterize our state’s teams and athletic programs at all levels”, said GSHF Authority Chairman Emily P. Myers. “These individuals personify the positive traits and attitudes that the Hall strives to nurture in the youth of our state. We’re looking forward to welcoming the Class of 2015 to Macon in February.”

The Hall of Fame selection committees are comprised of athletic administrators, members of the media, Hall of Fame board members, and previously inducted Hall of Famers. During the first rounds of the inductee selection process, nominees are considered in sport or category specific groups. At the Honors Court meeting, the finalists are considered as a single group that includes all sports and categories for induction.

Born in Augusta, GA, William Fulcher was a standout high school football player at RichmondAcademy. As a defensive lineman at Georgia Tech, he was named captain of the freshman team before lettering all three years he played on the varsity. The 1955 Yellow Jacket defense that Fulcher anchored allowed only 4.6 points per game. He went on to play professionally for the Washington Redskins.

Bobby Hendley grew up in Macon, GA where he was a pitcher on LanierHigh School’s baseball team. While at Lanier, he threw three no-hitters and was named MVP of the North-South All-Star Game in 1957. Hendley played professionally for the Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Chicago Cubs. In 1965, he faced Sandy Koufax in the “Greatest Game Ever Pitched”. Hendley gave up only one hit and one unearned run but lost to Koufax’s perfect game. Following his playing career, Hendley returned to Macon to coach high school baseball capturing nine state titles and being named state Coach of the Year five times.

A native of Roswell, GA, Alec Kessler joined the University of Georgia basketball team as an undersized reserve in 1985. By his senior season, Kessler was the leading scorer and rebounder on the only UGA men’s basketball team to win an SEC regular-season title. Kessler was also an outstanding student-athlete. He was twice named the national Academic All-American of the Year. Following four years in the NBA with the Miami Heat, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from EmoryUniversity.

Willie McClendon played running back on Brunswick’s GlynnAcademy football team. At the University of Georgia, he led the Bulldogs to the 1978 SEC Championship setting a school record with 1,312 yards rushing. The same year he was named UGA’s Outstanding Offensive Player, First Team All SEC, and the AP Offensive Player of the Year. McClendon was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears where he played professionally for four seasons.

Reg Murphy grew up in Gainesville, GA and began a career in journalism at Macon’s Telegraph while attending MercerUniversity. During his career, he served in executive positions at many of the nation’s top newspapers including as Editor of the Atlanta Constitution. As an avid golfer and fan of the game, Murphy is active in the local and national golfing communities. He served seven years on the United States Golf Association’s Executive Committee before being elected President of the USGA in 1994. He also serves in an advisory role to the developers of world class golf facilities on Georgia’s SeaIsland and continues to support the recruitment of professional and amateur tournaments to Coastal Georgia.

Before enrolling at the University of Georgia, Hope Spivey competed as a gymnast for Team USA in the 1987 Pan Am Games and the 1988 Olympic Games. At UGA, she continued to astonish with 12 First Team All-America awards and four individual NCAA national championships. In 1993, Spivey and the Gym Dogs captured the team National Championship. During her time in Athens, Spivey recorded 27 perfect 10.0 scores and in 1994 was named SEC Gymnast of the Year.

John Schuerholz is a native of Maryland where he played soccer and baseball at TowsonUniversity. He began his career in baseball with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 before joining the Kansas City Royals in 1968. Schuerholz came to the Atlanta Braves as General Manager in 1991 and oversaw one of the most prolific runs of success in professional sports history. Under his leadership as General Manager from 1991-2007, the Braves compiled the best record in baseball with a .593 winning percentage. During the same period, the Braves won a record 14 consecutive division titles and the 1995 World Series. In 2007, Schuerholz was named President of the Atlanta Braves. He continues to serve in that capacity overseeing all operations for the franchise.

Born in Thomasville, GA, Charlie Ward played basketball and football at ThomasCountyCentralHigh School where he was named the state’s Offensive Player of the Year in football as a senior. At Florida State University, he continued to play both sports leading the football team to their first National Championship and winning the 1993 Heisman Trophy. As a basketball player, he helped the Seminoles reach the NCAA tournament in three consecutive years, and he still holds FSU records for steals in a single game and in a career. Ward was drafted by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. He played in the NBA for 11 seasons appearing in 630 games and scoring 3,947 points.

The 2015 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Saturday, February 21 at the Macon City Auditorium.