The inaugural Athens Independent School District ’ s Athletic Hall of Fame class was inducted during a December evening overflowing with team spirit and laughs as stories were recalled while AISD honored 13 of its most accomplished living athletes . These individuals were recognized because of their success in their respective sport and the sacrifices that they made throughout the years .
The members of this inaugural class are Johnnie Ruth Henderson Byrd , Emmet Augustus “ Duke ” Carlisle III , Tommy L . Bowman , Patricia “ Prissy ” Corley , members of the 1956 Athens High School Golf Team which includes Gene Robinson , Frank Duphorne , John Lively , and Billy Lively , and members of the 1974 AHS Golf Team which includes Steve Grant , Kip Estep , Billy Pierot , Mike Pierot , and Phillip Pierot .
AHS Athletic Director Zac Harrell spoke to the crowd about how athletics “ brings together communities and it brings together people from all different backgrounds , for one purpose bigger than themselves .” He said may be a bit biased but that he truly believes “ there is nothing greater than athletics in small town Athens , Texas .”
Coach Harrell then told the crowd about how he begins his athletic periods each day by having students join in chanting , “ It ’ s a great day to be alive and to be an Athens Hornet .
Huh-rah !” At this , the emcee for the evening , AISD Communications Coordinator Mayor Toni Clay , recommended he lead the entire crowd in the chant .
Coach Harrell pulled Connor , a recent student , from the crowd and they led everyone in the chant with such energy that began the evening with the type of excitement that normally only precedes an athletic event .
Competing with this Hornet school spirit was that of the 20 or so Fisher School students who stood and joined in as Johnnie Henderson Byrd , the first honoree of the evening , led them in the Fisher School fight song .
As she stood before the crowd Thursday night to accept her honor , without even looking at the screen behind her , Byrd sang the entire fight song by heart with her classmates and the room cheered .
Byrd graduated in 1946 from Fisher High School in Athens during the time of segregation . She was an excellent athlete , playing just about any sport she could , and was an especially fine basketball player .
She graduated from Fisher at the age of 16
6 | Greater Athens Magazine | January 2023