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Published Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Sports

Coweta Sports HOF prepares to celebrate 10th class

By Chris Goltermann

The Newnan Times-Herald

The Coweta Sports Hall of Fame welcomes its two newest inductees next month. But this year's annual banquet, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11, is as much a celebration for all 71 members that will have been honored among its first 10 classes.

"Since its the 10th banquet and the 10th anniversary, we thought it would be nice to celebrate it," said Sports Hall of Fame Chairman Joe Crain Sr. "Johnny Brown's the one who deserves all the credit."

It was the idea of the Newnan Times-Herald's longtime sports editor in the late 1990s to honor players, coaches and people otherwise connected with sports inside Coweta County.

Brown's name graces scholarships awarded to an athlete from each of the county's high schools from the sports hall.

Crain still remembers the first meeting of what would become the Hall of Fame Board and its selection committee to iron out the criteria for its future members.

"We met above the Redneck around 1998 and we didn't have that first class into 2002," Crain said. "So it was a long process to get it started."

Former longtime Newnan High coach Harold Goodman and Cougars football standout Roosevelt Hill comprise this year's two-man class to be honored during ceremonies at the Coweta County Fairgrounds & Conference Center starting at 7 p.m.

In addition, the Coweta Sports Hall of Fame will honor the Newnan High School football team from 1951 that reached the Class A State Finals against Valdosta during an 8-1-1 season under late head coach Norman Harrison.

Tickets are on sale for $25. For ticket information, contact Elizabeth Crain at 770-253-1235.

Inductees are selected based on the following criteria:

(1) Players, coaches and people otherwise connected with sports including, but not limited to, administrators, officials, media and sports medicine personnel.

(2) Natives and people who resided in Coweta County for a minimum of seven years.

(3) People who have had a positive impact on sports in Coweta County or whose athletic performance or support during his or her participation was outstanding.

(4) People who have demonstrated integrity, sportsmanship and character.

(5) Players must be retired and be at least 40 years of age.

(6) All other nominees must be 50 years of age, however, they may continue to participate in their qualifying activities.

Goodman coached three varsity sports over 31 years at Newnan High while part off successful football, basketball and track seasons.

A native of Anniston, Ala., he came to Newnan in 1979 after graduating from Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama) as a health and physical education teacher at O.P. Evans Middle School before moving on to Newnan High School.

He most recently helped lead the Cougars' basketball team to the Class AAAAA Final Four in 2009, its first state semifinal appearance in 54 years. The team went 26-4.

He also was an assistant under Max Bass for 15 years including a run to the 1981 Class AAAA state football championship game. Goodman was also an assistant and head track coach at Newnan High, coaching 12 state champions, 18 national champions, two Youth World champions and five Junior World champions.

Hill was an All-State linebacker at Newnan High under coach Max Bass before playing at Alabama from 1979-83 for legendary head coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant. He also played in the North-South All-Star Game before moving on to college.

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