DeKalb County (Alabama) Sports Hall of Fame

Class of 2002

J Adams James Adams
James grew up in Ider. He graduated from Ider High School and enrolled at the University of Montevallo where he earned a BS with majors in biology and math. He later earned a Masters Degree from the University of Montevallo. He returned to Ider where he taught until his retirement. He is an avid fisherman. In 1984 James set 36 International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) line-class world records. He established three other IGFA world records in 1985, two in 1986, and another in 1987. He has a total of 42 IGFA line-class world records.
Bethune Julian "Juke" Bethune
Graduated from Fyffe in 1951. Played football and basketball at Fyffe from 1949-1951. Led Fyffe to state tournament in basketball. He was named All District in 1948-1949. In the 1950-1951 season he was voted district MVP. He received a basketball scholarship to Tennessee Tech but transferred to Snead State Junior College.At Snead he made All-SEC of Junior Colleges in 1951-1952. When Snead dropped basketball he transferred to Centenary in Shreveport, Louisiana where he played for three years. He went into the services and later played independent basketball for two years.
Larry Hancock image
Larry Ted Hancock
Hancock is an outstanding citizen of Fort Payne, Alabama whose hard work and dedication were instrumental in the founding of the DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame. He served as President of the Hall of Fame from its founding in 1997 to 2009. He hasbeen involved in DeKalb County sports as a basketball coach, sports announcer and football official. He helped found and coach the highly successful Fort Payne soccer program. Larry has given much time and effort to numerous community organizations including the Boy Scouts of America. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam.
Hearn Charles Hearn
Graduate of Crossville High School and Howard College. He was the defensive coordinator at Munford High School and head coach at Litchfield, Etowah, Tarrant, Guntersville, Crossville, Valley Head and Erwin High School. In addition he was the offensive coordinator at Trinity University, San Antonio, TX. Head football coach and athletic director in Alabama for 27 years: 187 wins, 79 losses, 9 ties.
Jolley Audrey Hall Jolley
Audrey grew up in Geraldine. She graduated from Geraldine High School and Jacksonville State College. She was a star basketball player at Geraldine starting in 1926 and later at Jacksonville State. Her teams at Geraldine went to four state tournaments. She played on all four teams, and was all-state guard for three years (1927, 1928 and 1929). She received a basketball scholarship to the University of Mississippi but went to Jacksonville State instead. At Jacksonville State her team won all their games and she was nominated for the All-Century team as well as the Hall of Fame for JSU as a teacher.
Killian Lane Killian
Lane is a native of Fort Payne. He was the Alabama Golden Gloves Champion 1976-1978. AAU All-State 1977-1978. All Southeastern 1978. All Marine 1979-1980. Ranked number 3 in the United States in 1980. 1980 USMC US All Star Champion. 1980 North Carolina Golden Gloves Champion. Member of t he Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia Boxing Halls of Fame. He was a 1980 Olympic Team finalist. He was Inter-Service Champion in 1980.
Rice Jerry Rice
Grew up in Huntsville, played at Florence State College where he achieved MVP, All-ACC and Little All American honors. Coached for 29 years in basketball and golf at S.R. Butler, Holly Pond, Fort Payne and Crossville. Became the head basketball coach at Crossville and later Fort Payne. His overall coaching record in basketball was 462 wins and 267 losses. In golf his record was 667 wins and 187 losses. His varsity basketball teams won over 70 championships. He took his basketball teams to eight state tournaments. His golf teams went to state finals eight times. Nine board of education recognition awards, five Alabama State legislature recognition awards, four DeKalb County coach of the year awards, three times runner up as coach of the year, and head coach of the North high school all-star team. He served 23 years as an assistant football coach. Assistant coach for the 1986 state championship team.