Local Sports
Thornton, Hollis highlight ’09 HOF class
By Justin GravesWhen it comes to Cullman-area sports media, no one’s shoes were bigger than Bill Shelton’s.
The former sports editor of The Times was a legend in his own right.
That’s indisputable.
Shelton’s legacy lives on today, and none of his successors have been able to fill the hall of famer’s shoes — at least in the public eye.
However, a few have come close.
Enter Charles Hollis and Johnny “Flashman” Thornton: Two members of the media with local ties that will be joining Shelton in the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame with its 2009 class of inductees.
Thornton and Hollis will enter the hall of fame with nine other inductees, including strength and conditioning guru Steve Johnson and former Cullman County superintendent Jim Boyd.
The seven other inductees are Carol Brindley King, Douglas Styles, Bobby Waters, Shawn Crider, Randy Blackwood, James Michelfelder and Otis Green.
Last year, Hollis — a graduate of Hanceville High — became the second Cullman County native to enter the Alabama Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.
Want to know who Hollis joined in the ASWA Hall of Fame? You guessed it: Shelton.
Hollis started his career at The Times. He eventually left Cullman to follow a career path that ended with his current job: Associate sports editor at The Birmingham News.
Before Hollis became The News’ associate sports editor, he worked two of the paper’s most coveted beats — covering Alabama and Auburn athletics.
While on the Alabama beat, Hollis followed the Crimson Tide’s football team as it won the 1992 national title.
Thornton also started his career at The Times, working under the legendary Shelton. The man better known as “Flash” went on to take a job as the sports information director at Wallace State.
In the 1990s, Thornton chose to leave Wallace State. He eventually took a job at WKUL, where he covered local high school sports as a broadcaster for the Cullman-based radio station.
A few years ago, Thornton left WKUL and began to work as a freelance sports writer for The Times. In 2007, he started CullmanSportsPage.com — a sports blog that concentrates on local athletics.
“I am very delighted to be selected as an inductee into the Class of 2009,” Thornton said. “I am very humbled by those who feel that I have been something very positive through the years.
“It’s something I thought of from my high school days at Good Hope in that I wanted to contrbute to the society in some positive way, and those that are on the selection committee and others associated with the Hall of Fame felt that I have the credentials of what it takes to be joining such a great group of people. It’s a special feeling to be part of the 10th anniversary and to share with those that have earned the opportunity to be inducted as well.
Johnson could be called a hall of famer on several different platforms. He was a standout athlete at Vinemont High, and he’s also enjoyed success a strength and conditioning coach — training several notable athletes such as Wesley Britt, Justin Britt and Steve Woodard.
“It was flattering when I found out that I had been nominated last year,” Johnson said. “I was flattered then, so think about how I feel now that I’ve actually been accepted.
“It’s a tremendous honor to just be considered. I really do appreciate this.”
This year, the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame directors changed the format which inducts new members. The 2009 class is the smallest yet, with only 11 inductees.
Cullman and St. Bernard were allotted three inductees, with King, Styles and Waters getting the call. Hanceville was awarded two slots, with Green and Hollis taking those spots.
The other six schools were allowed one inductee each. Crider (Cold Springs), Boyd (Fairview), Thornton (Good Hope), Michelfelder (Holly Pond), Johnson (Vinemont) and Blackwood (West Point) are the county’s representatives.
Several notable semifinalists — such as Good Hope’s Wade Knight and Cullman’s Wayne Chappell — didn’t make the cut. Their applications will be considered by the hall of fame’s board of directors again next year.
This year’s class of inductees will enter the hall of fame during its annual banquet, which will be held Saturday, April 25 at the Cullman Civic Center.
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