BCHS selects latest Hall of Fame members

Scotty Langham, BCHS Athletic Hall of Fame Committee
Posted 9/12/18

The BCHS Athletic Hall of Fame committee has selected the Class of 2018 inductees. The following have been selected: Donald Taylor (1968); Carl Watson (1974); Michael Smith (1996); Kelly Godbey Morris (1999); and April Brown (2002). Associate member is Lorenzo Hunter. Inductees were introduced at the reception and honored during pre-game activities of the football game....

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BCHS selects latest Hall of Fame members

Posted


BAY MINETTE, Ala.  -- The BCHS Athletic Hall of Fame committee has selected the Class of 2018 inductees. The following have been selected: Donald Taylor (1968); Carl Watson (1974); Michael Smith (1996); Kelly Godbey Morris (1999); and April Brown (2002). Associate member is Lorenzo Hunter. The BCHS Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame reception was planned for Sept.  7. 

Inductees were introduced at the reception and honored during pre-game activities of the football game.

Donald Taylor graduated in 1968 and was a three-year letterman in football. As center on the B.C.H.S. football team, was named Player of the Week five times, and was named to the All-County team for two years. During his senior year, he was named captain of the B.C.H.S. football team, and received the Guts and Grit Award. Donald resides in Bay Minette, Alabama. He has two children and two grandchildren.

Carl Watson graduated in 1974 and was a two sport letterman at B.C.H.S, lettering in football and track. As a defensive end and tight end, he was named B.C.H.S. Player of the Week five times, was named to the All-County team twice, and was named to the 2nd team All-Region team. In 1973, he was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year. After High School, he attended Henderson County Junior College in Texas. Carl is retired and has one child and two grandchildren.

Michael Brandon Smith graduated in 1996, and was a two sport letterman at B.C.H.S., lettering in baseball and golf. He was named to the All-County team, All-Area team, and 2nd team All-State team in in baseball. In 1996, the baseball team advanced to the State semi-final round and he is the B.C.H.S. all-time leader in wins as a pitcher. He played on the first golf team that advanced to the state golf tournament. After high school, he received a baseball scholarship to Wallace-Dothan Community College and Auburn University-Montgomery.

At A.U.M., he was on the Dean’s List for five straight quarters, and received a degree in Physical Education in 2000. He received a Master’s degree from Jacksonville State University. After college, he coached at Dothan High School and Central-Phenix City. Presently, Michael is a business owner and member of the local Rotary Club. He and his wife, Valerie resides in Auburn, Alabama. They have one child.

Kelly Godbey Morris graduated in 1999, was a two sport letterman at B.C.H.S., lettering in soccer and cross country. She was a four year starter in soccer, and was named to the All-County and All-Region teams and the All-State Soccer team in 1999. In soccer, she was named team captain, she is the third all-time leading scorer at B.C.H.S., was named most valuable player in soccer twice, and named to numerous all tournament teams. In her senior year, she help to lead the B.C.H.S. soccer team to the Final Four in Birmingham.

In her three years of cross country at B.C.H.S., was named to the All-County and All-Region teams, and was chosen as the captain of the team. She was salutatorian of her senior class. After high school, she attended Auburn University, and graduated Cum Laude in 2003. At Auburn, she was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, a business fraternity representing the top 10% at the Auburn business school. Kelly and her husband, Drew resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. They have two children.

April Brown graduated in 2002, and was a three sport letterman at B.C.H.S., lettering in volleyball, basketball, and softball. She was named to the All-County team in volleyball, basketball, and softball. In 2000-2001, she was named to the All-County basketball team, the All-Tournament basketball team, and the Southwest Regional Basketball Tournament team .She was named to the Mobile Press Register Sweet 16 basketball team as an honorable mention in 2000, and was an Alabama High School Athletic Association Basketball All-Star selection in 2000-2001. In 2001, she was named to the Mobile Press Register Sweet 16 basketball second team. In 2002, she was named to the Mobile Press Register Sweet 16 Basketball first team, was a McDonald’s All-American High School basketball nominee, was an Area tournament team member, and an Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State selection.

She holds the record for career points at B.C.H.S in basketball with 1579 points. She received Most Valuable Player awards and All-Tournament awards for multiple volleyball and softball tournaments. She graduated with honors from B.C.H.S. She obtained a full academic/athletic scholarship to Birmingham Southern College. She played Division 1 basketball for Birmingham Southern College. Presently, she is an early education educator. April and her husband, Victor resides in Spanish Fort, Alabama. They have 2 children.

Lorenzo Hunter has served 21 years to present as a teacher at B.C.H.S. He coached football for 15 years and served one year as the defensive coordinator. He coached track for one year and his team won the freshman state championship. In his 16 years as head basketball coach, his teams had 383 wins and 166 losses. While coaching basketball, he won 13 County Championships, and had 16 straight play-off appearances. From 1998-2014, he never had a losing season and his team made it to the Final Four in 2001. In 2001, he coached the south team to a victory in the North-South All-Star game, and he received the “Gold Key” to the City of Bay Minette. In 2004, he was voted Area Women Action Group “Man of the Year’. In 2009, he was voted Mobile Optimist Coach of the Year.

Most importantly, Coach Hunter would like to thank God for allowing him to have taught and coached great kids, along with being able to help many players obtain college scholarships in order to further their education. Also, he would like to say a “Big Thank You” to all of his past assistant coaches, team managers, parents, and players for allowing him to go along for the ride.