FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2001
FHSAA to defer Smith's Hall of Fame induction until 2002
GAINESVILLE – The Florida High School Activities Association will defer until the 2002 ceremony the induction of high school football great Emmitt Smith into the FHSAA Hall of Fame, the Association announced today.
Smith, the first individual selected for induction into the FHSAA Hall of Fame solely on the basis of his contributions as a student-athlete, was one of seven individuals chosen this year for the Association's highest honor. Smith's schedule, however, was going to prohibit him from attending the induction ceremony on Thursday, June 14, in Tampa.
"Mr. Smith expressed his sincere desire to attend the induction ceremony," said Jack Watford, FHSAA Director of Communications and the director of the FHSAA Hall of Fame. "Unfortunately, due to prior commitments he simply was not going to be able to do so. Commissioner Robert W. Hughes and I felt it equally important that he be present to accept this honor in person. We extended to him the option of deferring his induction until the 2002 ceremony so that he could be present, which he gladly accepted. The FHSAA looks forward to inducting Emmitt Smith as a member of the 2002 class."
The six individuals who will be inducted as members of the Class of 2001 are the late Frederick William "Fritz" Buchholz, a founding father of the Florida High School Activities Association; Roger Sprague Gilmore, former sports editor of the DeLand Sun News; I. Brent Hall, who coached Forest High School of Ocala to back-to-back state football championships in 1974 and 1975; Kelly Wayne Kilpatrick, who chaired the FHSAA's first public liaison advisory committee that was influential in saving the Association from dissolution in 1997; Terence Miller "Terry" Oestreich, a long-time contest official in six sports; and William Henry "Bill" Wilson, who coached Vero Beach High School to back-to-back state boys track & field championships in 1979 and 1980.
The FHSAA Hall of Fame was founded in 1991 to recognize and preserve the heritage of high school activities in Florida. The FHSAA Hall of Fame is the official high school sports hall of fame in Florida. This year's class brings to 54 the number of individuals who have been enshrined.
The 2001 FHSAA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Banquet will be held at 7 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 14 at the Wyndham Westshore Hotel in Tampa. Tickets are $30 and must be ordered in advance through the FHSAA Office.
Smith, 31, who played at Escambia High School in Pensacola from 1983 through 1986, ended his high school career with an all-time state best 8,804 yards on 1,144 carries – good for fifth on the national all-time rushing list. He continues to hold the national record for most 100-yard games with 45. His 28 consecutive 100-yard game performances are good for third on the all-time national list. In his 1,144 career rushing attempts, Smith fumbled just six times. He helped lead Escambia High School to back-to-back state championships in 1984 and 1985.
The Florida High School Activities Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletic competition in Florida. It has a membership of more than 640 middle, junior and senior high schools.
Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org
