COLLEGE

Elite class of inductees

Clay, Coker, Dismuke, Farmer, Huff enter Etowah County Sports HoF

Kevin Taylor Times Staff Writer
The 2018 inductees of the Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame pose for a photo before the ceremony Saturday night at Convention Hall in Gadsden. The inductees are, from left, Steve Clay, Joe Dismuke, Raymond Farmer, Reginald Huff and Johnny Coker. [Kevin Taylor/The Gadsden Times]

The Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame saw another elite class inducted Saturday night at Convention Hall in Gadsden.

Steve Clay, Johnny Coker, Joe Dismuke, Raymond Farmer and Reginald Huff received their plaques, which gave their storied successes along with a much younger likeness etched into the award.

Some came to the front to see their plaques. Farmer, who coach the Etowah High football team to the 1999 Class 5A title, said he almost didn't recognize himself. But his and his fellow 2018 inductees' accomplishments shined like a beacon on those plaques.

"It's up there with the best," Farmer said of his induction. "I'm in the hall of fame in college (Memphis State), but to be here — to be recognized by your peers and the fact you had so many good people up for it — it's just amazing. I'm blow away, and I tried to contact as many people as I could because I wanted to share this with them because I didn't get here by myself."

Over the 10-year period as coach of the Blue Devils, Farmer amassed a 92-33 record. He was chosen by the ASWA as the 5A Coach of the Year in 1999. Etowah also reached the state title game in 1997 and 1998 under Farmer.

An Ashville High graduate in 1961, Farmer coached 43 years at 12 different schools in his career. He won three boys state track champions at his alma mater from 1972-74. He also coached Springville in 1975 and 1976 and Coosa Christian in 2006 and 2007.

After playing football at Ashville, Farmer signed a scholarship with Memphis State. He was a three-year starter at defensive back and wing back and led the Tigers in receiving three straight seasons, from 1962-64. His first coaching job also came at Memphis State in 1965.

Current Gadsden City High boys basketball coach Reginald Huff had little trouble filling tables to witness his induction. The Gadsden High alum, who helped lead the Tigers to a state basketball title in 1983, went on to play for Gadsden State and Birmingham Southern before playing in the CBA.

As a coach, Huff led Litchfield before taking over the Gadsden City boys program in 2006. For his career, Huff has a record of 479-144 in 23 years.

"It's a great honor to be a part of this," he said. "You don't set out as this being one of your goals, but when people recognize your accomplishments and they award you, it really makes you feel great."

Coker started playing four sports when he was 6 years old, but eventually golf became his best game. An All-State performer on the links for Gadsden, Coker signed to play collegiately at Auburn where led the Tigers to a Southeastern Conference title in 1976.

"What a great honor to be inducted with so many great athletes," he said if his induction. "I'm honored and privileged to be in this hall."

Clay, also a Gadsden alum, had a standout career in football as a player and coach. He went on the play for legendary Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and was a member of the 1966 “Missing Ring Team.”

Once his playing career ended, Clay moved on to coaching. He was an assistant at his alma mater for several seasons, then in 1972 became the first football coach at Westminster Christian, which later became Westbrook Christian.

Clay later established another football program, this one at Litchfield in 1976. He got the Eagles to the playoffs in just their second season. In between those two Etowah County stops, Clay coached at Collinsville for three seasons and finished with a 28-3 record and a spot in the state semifinals in 1974.

"I'm at a loss for words," he said. "I've seen so many great friends already tonight and (the ceremony) hasn't started yet. It's quite an honor anytime your hometown recognizes you for anything. I came back my senior year and they had a Gadsden Day for the boys and we a key to the city, but I don't think it's going to be as special as this is tonight." 

While at Southside High School, Dismuke was an All-Area, All-State and an All-American offensive lineman who went on to play at the University of Alabama. Dismuke was a member of Bryant's last team in 1982. While playing for Bryant, Dismuke played all five positions at one time or another and was the snapper for extra points and field goals.

"It's a tremendous honor," he said of being inducted into the hall. "This is such a wonderful area. I have lived all over, but decided to come back here, and both of my kids graduated from Southside. And we've always called this place home. Being part of the Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame, I really don't have the words to tell you how blessed I feel."

Among the five inductees all said either a former coach or their parents were their driving motivation to excel at their respective sport.

"My high school coach (Bill Ellis), he got me prepared mentally and physically to play when I went to college," Farmer said. "God also put something in me that not everyone else had. He put that degree of competitiveness and not wanting to lose and just do good and please."

Getting the call to hear he had been elected to be one of the 2018 inductees into the hall was a much-needed spark for Huff a few months ago.

"I was in bed sick at the time when I got the call, and then I jumped up and told my wife, 'Guess what, I'm going to be inducted into the Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame,'" he said. "I'm in the Hall of Fame at Birmingham Southern, but to be here at home and be inducted, that means a great deal to me."

Like Farmer, Clay said his high school coach Jack Green and college coach (Bryant) were driving forces in his athletic endeavors.

"I was lucky to be surrounded by a lot of great people," Clay said. "I always had someone to look to even when I was just growing up. I had great parents and grandparents. I was lucky to go to bed every night knowing that I was loved."

Coker said his father Jerry was his primary motivator during his athletic career.

"He taught me everything about sports. He taught me how to play baseball, how to shoot a basketball, punt, pass and kick and how to play golf," he said.

Like Coker, Dismuke said his family motivated him to do the best he could athletically and academically. Dismuke earned congressional appointments to Army and Air Force academies, but opted to play at Alabama to stay close to his family.

"I knew my parents didn't have the money to put me through college, so I knew my best avenue to get an education would be through sports," he said. "Everything I did, I did it for my parents so they would be proud of me."

Also at the ceremony, the Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame scholarships were handed out to six local high school athletes. Hokes Bluff's Landon Johnson and Amanda Noah, Etowah's Caleb Horton, Gaston's Amayiah Hill, Gadsden City's Jamontavius Woods and Coosa Christian's Ashton Mills were this year's recipients.

Times Sports Writer J.J. Hicks contributed to this report.