Hall tells of ties to H-of-Fame inductees
FHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018 also featured two Service Award honorees. Dr. Jerome McKenzie, seated far left, was the first athletics physician for a particular high school — at FHS from 1977 through the mid-1990s. Bobby Henry, standing far right, coached basketball and taught at Farragut Middle School for 49 years — 512-195 coaching record with eight county championships — while serving as head coach of FHS freshman football for 37 years while compiling more than 200 wins. Inductees, seated from left, are Eric Watkins (Class of 2001); Chris Martland (2000); Darren Rothenberg (1996); Lytle Rather (1982) and Brian Foster (1988). Standing, from left, are Mark Randolph, accepting for his daughter, Alyssa Randolph (2008); Julie Crews (1988); Jeanne Heydet Harkins (1985); Lacie Smith (2003); Rhonda Snow (1982); Wendy Starliper, accepting for her late husband, Chad Starliper (1993), and Bradley Culbreth, accepting for his late father, coach Wallie Culbreth (boys soccer, 2002-2015). Not represented in the photo is Meredith Lance Gunn (1994).
But his relationships with those holders, Jason Price and Benson Scott, went much deeper.
With Price the holder during Hall’s first UT game as a freshman in 1995, “he said, ‘man, let’s go down to the other end of the field for warm-ups and let’s pray; let’s just ask God to take care of us and bless us,” Hall, a Farragut resident, said as guest speaker for Sixth Annual FHS Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
With 13 nominees inducted — 12 ex-Admirals players and one coach — and two Service Award honorees recognized — the Ceremony was held Saturday evening, Feb. 3, in the school’s Commons.
When Price graduated after the 1996 season, “All of a sudden Benson comes along. … Benson and I would do the same thing,” he said. “Benson and I had so many great experiences at UT in 1997 and 1998.
“What was impactful for me with Benson ... that was the time God began moving in my life and drawing me to faith in Christ,” Hall said.
“… I was calling myself a Christian, but there were these other guys, including Benson, that actually lived the Christian life,” he added. “I thought to myself …
"my life looks a lot different than theirs.’
“So, in the Spring of ’97 God began this movement inside of me that set me on a different path. Benson, of course, was there.
“And still, to this day, he is a huge part of my life, a great friend and a great encouragement for me.”
As for Price, “Jason was a Hall of Fame inductee in 2015, and continues to be a good friend,” Hall said.
“… Jason gave me so much confidence and encouragement, and he always believed in me,” he added.
Forming a friendship with the late Chad Starliper, one of the 2018 inductees as a golf star [Class of 1993], Hall said, “Chad and I worked at Rather & Kittrell; we worked across the hall from each other.
“Chad had an influence on me in a number of ways: professionally, in finance, he was so technically sound,” Hall added about the 1990 state champion medalist who also won the American Junior Golf Tournament championship in 1992 while qualifying for U.S. Open Junior Amateur [1990] and PGA Junior Championship [1991] .
As for Chad’s Christian faith, “He had an unbelievable testimony,” Hall said. “So, as I began to grow in my faith … I would always go to Chad and ask him questions.”
Moreover, “He’s without question the most talented person I think I’ve ever met in my life,” he said.
About the lone coaching inductee and his dedication to coaching FHS varsity boys soccer, “you actually had people like [the late] Wallie Culbreth who designate their own time and money to helping young men achieve and excel and be great at what they do,” Hall said.
Named ESPN National High School Coach of the Year in 2004, Wallie led his Admirals to a national championship in 2004 while wining four Class AAA state titles: 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009. His overall record of 271-37-19 spanned a 14-year coaching career (2002-2015).
OTHER INDUCTEES
Lytle Rather [basketball star, Class of 1982], was a two-time All-East Tennessee and All-District 3-AAA shooting guard on two of then head coach Lynn E. Sexton’s best Admirals teams.
Julie Crews, an All-state soccer defender for the Lady Ads from the Class of 1988, also earned All-American honors at Lees-McRae College.
Eric Watkins, state champion wrestler in the 215-pound weight class [Class of 2001], also was a standout defensive lineman for Eddie Courtney’s football team. He remains the school’s all-time leader in career minus-yardage tackles with 36.
Jeanne Heydet Harkins was one of the region’s best cross-country runners in the early to mid-1980s [Class of 1985], plus a region distance champ in track [3200 and 1600].
Rhonda Snow, a star centerfielder at FHS [Class of 1982], went on to earn NJCAA All-American honors at Cleveland State Community College before becoming an All-Conference center fielder at Southern Illinois.
Chris Martland, track & field star from the Class of 2000, was a leg on the state champion 4 X 400 relay team as a senior, helping the Admirals win yet another state crown.
At Belmont, Martland set seven school records — six of which still stand — then as a post-graduate transfer to the University of Tennessee finished fourth in the 2005 SEC Championship Meet decathlon.
Alyssa Randolph, Class of 2008, helped the Lady Admirals golf team capture a pair of state championships [2004 and 2006] and two other state runner-up finishes [2005 and 2007]. Randolph ended her FHS career as state runner-up medalist.
She also earned Tennessee Player of the Year honors her senior season.
In 2006, Randolph won four consecutive tournaments on the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour and qualified for the U.S. Girls Championship.
She also was a golfer at two SEC schools: Kentucky and Ole Miss.
Meredith Lance Gunn, basketball star [Class of 1994], set what was then the FHS program’s all-time career points total her senior season. She finished with 1,521 points.
Brian Foster, Class of 1988 baseball star named All-state his senior season before a Minor League Baseball career, also was a two-time District, KIL and Knoxville Area Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year honoree.
Lacie Smith, All-state volleyball outside hitter and KIL Player of the Year [Class of 2003], also earned conference Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-American honors [2006] at Lees-McRae College.
Darren Rothenberg, a two-time All-state offensive and defensive lineman [Class of 1996] who also earned Male Scholar Athletic of the Year honors from Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association as a senior, went on to be a starting offensive lineman for three seasons in the SEC at Vanderbilt.
Rothenberg also represented the Class of 2018 as speaker.
About those who influenced all the inductees, “The teachers that encouraged us and challenged us and wouldn’t let us fail. Our parents who sacrificed for us,” he said. “… The coaches who impacted our lives, like [the late] coach Buddy Fisher [varsity football head coach 1987-1995].
“Thank you to the Hall of Fame Committee and all those who put this together tonight.”
