FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH SCHOOL ESTABLISHES SPORTS HALL OF FAME TO HONOR PAST STUDENT-ATHLETES

~The FAMU DRS-High Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate the athletic accomplishment of former sports standouts.

Submitted by Miles, Keith A.

      TALLAHASSEE, FL —In conjunction with the administration of Florida A&M University Developmental Research School (FAMU DRS), the FAMU DRS-High Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) is being established to honor and celebrate the past accomplishments of former student-athletes who graduated from FAMU DRS, also known as FAMU High School. The HOF Board of Directors has been hard at work creating this everlasting homage to those who have left an indelible mark on athletics at all levels, including while attending FAMU DRS-High, attending college and/or as a professional athlete. Additionally, the HOF will honor non-athletes who have been committed supporters of the athletic program at FAMU DRS-High in various way.

“It is very exciting to finally create an everlasting legacy honoring our former athletes,” said Clemon Johnson, former championship basketball player at FAMU High, Florida A&M University and in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and HOF Founding Board Member. “While this has been a long time coming, I am so pleased to see the Sports Hall of Fame become a reality.”

Plans are underway to honor the inaugural class during the coming year, in 2023. Nominations are currently being accepted, with forms available at the Front Office at FAMU DRS or on the school’s website. The FAMU DRS-High Board of Directors, operating under bylaws that also are available on the website, will assume the responsibility of accepting all nominations, reviewing them and accompanying documentation, then finally, deciding which nominees will be chosen for the first-ever enshrinement event.

Categories for nominations are as follows:

Former Athlete(s), including all sports and cheerleaders

Former Sports Team(s) (a collective recognition), including all sports and cheer teams

Former Administrator(s), Coach(es) or Staff Person(s)

Individual(s), Business(es) or other Entity(ies) that have supported sports programs at the school

“The Board is committed to ensuring our former athletes, teams and others are recognized for their contributions to uplifting the best of the best in sports at FAMU High,” said Dr. Sandra Gay-Hall, former FAMU High and Florida A&M basketball player, and also a Founding Board Member. “This is how we keep the history of our alma mater so that generations to come will know how the Baby Rattlers impacted the sports community here in Leon County, the state and the nation.”

FAMU DRS Superintendent Micheal Johnson and Secondary Principal Dr. Pink Hightower have supported the effort from its inception. They join with the following members of the inaugural FAMU DRS-High Sports HOF Board of Directors, including the Founding Board Members (denoted with), in anticipation of the HOF coming to fruition:

* Thomas Mitchell, Sr. – Class of 1956

* Steve Beasley – Class of 1960

* Calvin Burgress – Class of 1973

* Clemon Johnson – Class of 1974

* Ronald Lang – Class of 1976

* Cecka Rose Green, – CPM – Class of 1985

* Sandra Gay-Hall, Ed.D. – Class of 1986

* Shawanna Kirby-McFarlane – Class of 1990

* Ericka Cromartie, M.S. – Class of 2001

* Roger Walker, Executive Board Chair designee

As plan for the celebration are finalized, information will be available on the FAMU DRS website at www.FAMUDRS.org.