New inductees announced

Even as he watched his friend, Ronald McKinnon, be inducted into the North Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame last year, Gerald Smith wasn't thinking that he might be next.

"I never thought of myself as being in that category," Smith said. "Ronald played in the NFL and even made the Division II Hall of Fame. I just didn't think about being inducted myself."

That changed for Smith recently when he learned of his inclusion as part of the 2008 class of the UNA Hall of Fame. The former All-American defensive back is one of six new inductees.

Joining Smith in the Class of 2008 are: baseball standout Greg Bowles; volleyball and women's tennis player and volleyball and softball coach Ande Jones; tennis standout and tennis and cross country coach Kevin Bradford; basketball star Steve Martin; and football standout Merle West.

Smith was a four-year letterman and starter in football from 1993-96. He was a three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection and two-time All-American. Smith played on teams with a combined 47-6 record that included three straight GSC titles and three straight NCAA Division II national championships.

He finished with 310 total tackles, making 228 primary stops and 82 assists. He had 14 interceptions for 79 yards and one touchdown, four fumble recoveries, 11 caused fumbles and 45 pass break-ups.

"I never worried about the numbers I put up," said Smith, now an officer in the Muscle Shoals Police Department. "For me, it was all about having fun and winning games. It was just a blessing for me to play football at UNA."

Smith will join several of his former teammates in the hall of fame. McKinnon, Tyrone Rush, Jeff Redcross, Cody Gross, Keith Humphrey, Israel Raybon, Jon Thompson and Jarius Hayes were part of one or more national championship teams at UNA from 1993-95.

"Our team was like a family back then, and that still carries on," Smith said. "Coach (Bobby Wallace) taught us how to be men, and I'm grateful that I got to be a part of those teams.

"I'm helping coach at Muscle Shoals now and I tell those kids that if you do good, then it will follow you. Evidently I did something good at UNA because I've just been so blessed."

Bowles was a two-time All-American in the outfield for the Lions in 1990 and 1992. He finished second nationally in stolen bases in 1990 with 48. Bowles hit .376 as a junior and .373 as a senior with four home runs, 24 RBIs and 33 steals. He was first-team All-GSC and All-Region as both a junior and senior.

Bradford was a two-year letterman in men's tennis from 1981-82. A Russellville native, he was selected MVP of the 1981 team that is still the school's only men's tennis team to win a GSC crown 27 years later. He won GSC individual championships at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles, earning All-GSC honors in the process.

Jones was a leader on UNA's AIAW state championship volleyball team in 1975 and was a four-year volleyball letterman and three-year tennis letterman. She returned as UNA's volleyball coach in 1979 and also coached tennis and softball. Jones also served as the athletic department's senior woman administrator during her career.

In 16 years as volleyball coach she was 381-260, winning six GSC titles (1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988).

Martin was a four-year letterman in basketball from 1986 to 1990. He was the team's leading scorer in 1987 and 1990, and is UNA's third all-time leading scorer with 1,561 career points.

West was a three-year football letterman for the Lions from 1952-54. He was voted the team's most valuable lineman in 1954. The Lions were 22-4-1 during his three years.

A native of Haleyville, he coached football, basketball, baseball, golf, wrestling, and track for 40 years at various high schools.

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 740-5737 or jeff.mcintyre@timesdaily.com.