Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Fulton Basketball Coach Jody Wright to be Honored with Hall of Fame Induction



It's fame for Wright in Anderson County (KNS Article):

In March, Jody Wright earned the moniker of championship coach when the Fulton High School boys' basketball team won the Class AA state tournament.

On Sept. 25, he'll be called a Hall of Famer.

The former three-sport athlete from Lake City High School and basketball coach of 23 seasons will be inducted into the Anderson County Hall of Fame, which benefits the Boys & Girls Club of North Anderson County.

"I don't know that I'm worthy," said Wright, whose good friends Clark Wormsley (Webb baseball coach) and Shelley Sexton-Coller (Webb girls' basketball coach) grew up with him in Lake City. "You're somewhat humbled and honored by it.

"Anytime you're honored by the people of your hometown - who watch you grow up and had a part in your upbringing and who have rooted for you and pulled for you and followed you - that's a huge honor. I'm appreciative of it and humbled by it."

Former University of Tennessee football coach Johnny Majors will be the featured speaker at the 7 p.m. ceremony, which will be held at the First /Baptist Church of Clinton.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the silent auction. Dinner begins at 6. Tickets are $100 each, $85 of which is tax deductible. Tables cost $700 ($580 tax deductible).

"It's a worthy cause," said Wright. "I'm a believer in what the Boys & Girls clubs do."

Joining Wright as sports inductees will be former Tennessee offensive tackle and former NFL player Charles McRae, who played at Clinton, and former Anderson County and Vanderbilt track standout Josie Hahn.

"They have a nice induction ceremony," said Wright. "They do it up right. I'm excited about it.

"I think there are a lot of deserving individuals. ... It's hard to put into words how it makes you feel. It's gratifying."

Other inductees include John Rice Irwin (lifetime achievement), Margaret Fox-Best (business leader), John Faris (philanthropist), Jerry Shattuck (elected official), John W. Clark (community volunteer), William Chesney (posthumously, K-12 educator), and Sgt. David Connell Jr. (posthumously, military).

To purchase tickets, call 865-426-4711 or mail payment to: Anderson County Hall of Fame, c/o Boys & Girls Club of North Anderson County, P.O. Box 537, Lake City, TN 37769.

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