Kenneth “Smiley” Gale (’52)
BREWTON-PARKER COLLEGE
great patriot” by fellow classmate and
Described as a “real BPC alum and a
award presenter
Inducts
Kenneth “Smiley” Gale (’52) accepted the
, Richard Young (’53),
society’
Athletic Hall of Fame.
s induction into the college’s
Kenneth “Smiley” Gale (’52)
the 1951 and 1952 state champion Barons’
Gale was a standout player on both
a
Y
ccepts the award from Richard
presentation ceremony in Gillis
oung (‘53) during the
Athletic Hall of Fame
basketball teams.
G
will cherish always,” said Gale. “The
“This truly is an honor and something I
M
ym March 24. [Photo by Hayley
. Boisseau (’08)]
& honorary
foundation I got here went a long way for me to have success in my career
I will always be indebted to Brewton-Parker.”
.
memories.
To the delight of the luncheon attendees, Gale shared a few BPC
alum
remembers when the Newton Building, currently used as administrative
“Things sure have changed in the last 57 years,” said Gale, who
BY KELLEY M. ARNOLD
of
DIRECTOR OF NEWS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
learned during his meals, which were served family style around an eight-
fices, was the “chow hall,” as he called it. A few valuable lessons he
place setting table, included: “Y
“Don’t close your eyes during grace.” His first Sunday meal left him with just
ou weren’t late if you wanted to eat,” and
individual and an entire team into the college’
Brewton-Parker College’s National Alumni Society inducted one
a scrawny piece of chicken as each of his table mates swiped the best
24 during
s Athletic Hall of Fame March
pieces as prayer was said.
athletic coach as an Honorary
Alumni Weekend 2007.
Alumnus.
The group also distinguished a special
Let’s take a closer look at the recipients and their honors.
Honorary Alumnus
W
Right: Dr. Franklin R. Jones speaks during Alumni
Athletic Hall of
event due to health concerns. (BPC archives)
eekend 2006. Jones was unable to attend the 2007
Fame inductees
Left: Mary Julia Whaley (’37), friend of Coach Jones and
1997 National Championship Baseball
Right: Bill Hinely (’99), right, a member of the
daughter of former BPC president, Rev
accepts the team’s
Team,
accepts the Honorary
. R.L. Robinson,
award from Coach Steve Barker
Athletic Hall of Fame induction
Alumni Society Board V
Alumnus award from National
athletics. [Photo by Hayley M. Boisseau (’08)]
, director of BPC
[Photo by Hayley M. Boisseau (’08)]
ice President Debbie Kittrell.
Left: Members of BPC’
baseball team celebrate in
s 1997
Dr. Franklin R. Jones, 1946 Football Coach
Sioux City
winning the NAIA
, Iowa, after
“Still undefeated.”
Championship [Photo by
National
Shannon Hinely Bull (’97, ’00)]
year BPC played football, and Dr
That’s the motto of BPC’s last football team’
. Franklin R. Jones was the team’
s record. 1946 was the last
According to Brewton-Parker College: T
s coach.
First One-Hundred
riumph Over Adversity, The
had been abandoned in 1936. Dr
Years by Ann C. Turner, Brewton-Parker’s football team
Charles Ricks to “resurrect” the team in 1946. However
. Jones was charged by then-president Dr.
scholarships were cut later that year, so was the team.
, when the football
1997 National Championship Baseball Team
has impacted both a lifetime of “boys” and the college as an institution of
Though the experience only lasted a season, the team and its “Coach”
higher learning.
win a national championship was inducted into the college’
The only team in Brewton-Parker’s history as a four-year college to
Fame. The 1997 National Championship Baseball Team held a 64-7 record
s Athletic Hall of
and funded a scholarship in honor of the ’46 football team,” said Roger
“Since he coached here in 1946, he has raised money for the school
after they won the National
Byrd, director of alumni relations. “He keeps in touch today with ‘his boys’
championships in Sioux City
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
and continues to urge them to do well.”
Team member William “Bill” Hinely (’99) accepted the award on behalf
, Iowa.
of his teammates.
not accept the award due to health concerns, but his friend, Mary Julia
Dr. Jones, who also served as the college’s sophomore advisor, could
Whaley (’37), accepted the award and read a thank you speech on his
we won the championship 10 years ago,” Hinely said. “It is a great
“It was a blessing to play the game of baseball. It’s hard to believe that
behalf.
experience to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’
remember the rest of my life. Many people can’t say they’ve had the
s something I will
be in good hands with my boys,” said Dr
“I always said the future of the citizens of Montgomery County would
“In just my football team alone, two became mayors, a clerk of court, a
. Jones in a letter read by Whaley.
opportunity to play in a world series game, but I thank God that we did.”
television engineer
an honor to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these stalwart students and
, two ministers, successful businessmen and more. It is
athletes.”
THE LAMP SPRING 2007 13
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