FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2017 All Sports Association Hall of Fame Class Announced
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL — All Sports Association President Joe Fagundes announced today that the 2017 inductees to the association’s Hall of Fame are Coach Mary “Roonie” Scovel of Panama City and former collegiate and NFL standout Cliff Lewis of Baton Rouge, La.
“Once again, our Hall of Fame Committee and the Board of Directors are proud to select two outstanding individuals for the All Sports Association’s Hall of Fame,” said Fagundes. We are so fortunate to live in an area that so many not only believe, but practice service before self. Our two Hall of Fame Inductees have contributed so much to so many through hard work and a passion for what they do!”
A renowned collegiate basketball coach at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Scovel played collegiately at University of Florida before beginning her coaching career with Auburn as an assistant. After beginning her head coaching career at Paxton HS, she took over Laurel Hill School where she won a state championship in 1995 and was state runner up in 1996. At Gulf Coast State College, she has been legendary, compiling a 513-71 record (prior to this season), winning 4 National Championships and was named NJCAA Coach of the Year in 2016. In addition to head women’s coach, Scovel was named director of athletics in 2016.
A native of Fort Walton Beach, Lewis was an All-State linebacker at Fort Walton Beach High School before playing collegiately at the University of Southern Mississippi. He became one of Southern Miss’s best linebackers during his three-year career, amassing 280 career tackles (176 solos and 15 big plays). His tenacious style of play was the inspiration behind the infamous nickname of the defense, the “Nasty Bunch”. He was selected in the 12th round of the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers where he played 4 seasons (1981-1985). After a fifteen-year collegiate coaching career (1990-2005), Lewis settled in Baton Rouge, where he currently serves as the Title1 Coordinator and Director of Athletics at Mentorship STEAM Academy.
Lewis was previously honored by the All Sports Association as the Professional Athlete Award Winner in 1982. He was also enshrined into the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame in 2016.
Scovel and Lewis will be enshrined at a private luncheon honoring them and the association’s past presidents on Wednesday, February 8, 2017. Past inductees are: 2016 – Ron Balicki and Marci Clemons Spivey, 2015 – Kathy Combest and Sgt. Sam Hairston, 2014 – Kevin Craig and Rev. Jim Ross, 2013 – Betty Howard and Edwin Watts, 2012 – Derrick Brooks and Mickey Englett, 2011 – Jay Bell and Ray Ross, 2010 – Randy Smyth and Rev. Talmadge Smith, 2009 – Bobby Walton and Wyman Townsel, 2008 – Rick Flores and Ruben Manasco, 2007 – Tom Hammonds and Don Anchors, 2006 – Bettye Campbell and Houston Harrison, 2005 – E.G. Green and Giro Brigante, 2004 – Buck Smith and Danny Wuerffel, 2003 – Jackie Burkett and Don Sutton.
The All Sports Association’s Annual Awards Banquet will be held on February 10, 2017 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Fort Walton Beach. Honored that evening will be the area’s top Scholastic (high school), Collegiate, Amateur, Professional and Special Olympian athletes. In addition, the Wuerffel Trophy, College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service, will be presented to Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight. University of Miami head coach Mark Richt will be the keynote speaker.
# # #
About the All Sports Association:
Since 1970, the All Sports Association has been honoring the top athletes in Northwest Florida through their annual awards banquet in February of each year. The All Sports Association is an organization whose membership is made up of dues paying volunteers whose primary mission is to provide a contribution of time to raise money for local youth oriented non-profit organizations with an emphasis on sports programs.
Through the efforts of the All Sports Association’s annual banquet and summer golf tournament the group helps fund numerous worthwhile sports organizations and charitable causes. Primary beneficiaries of the association’s fundraising efforts are the Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Special Olympics, Eleanor Johnson Youth Center and Okaloosa Walton Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
For Sponsorship Information Contact: Ralph Frangioni, (850) 585-9839, rkfrangi@cox.net
