MACON SPORTS HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2016
JULIUS ADAMS
A standout at Ballard Hudson High School before going to College at Texas Southern University, Adams was an all Conference selection in both 1968 and 1970. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1971 NFL draft by the New England Patriots and went on to play 16 years in that organization. He started as a rookie and was chosen to the All-Rookie team. In his NFL career Julius played in 180 games with 151 starts. He had 75.5 career sacks to his credit and was the top tackler among Patriots’ defensive iineman in 1983 with a total of 83 tackles. In 1980 he made his first and only Pro Bowl appearance. He won the Jim Lee Hunt Memorial Award, given to the outstanding Patriot lineman in both 1980 and 1982, and was a member of both the 1970 and 1980 all decade teams. Perhaps the highlight of his long, storied career with New England was playing in the Super Bowl in 1986 against the powerful Chicago Bears.
JEFF BATTCHER
A two sport standout in football and baseball at Stratford Academy, Jeff set passing records in football that stood for 35 years. He was First Team All State in 1978 and was selected at the Macon Telegraph’s Middle Georgia Offensive Player of the Year. He signed a football scholarship at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga but transferred after one season to the University of Utah where he played quarterback and was a pitcher for the Utes. Battcher is involved in numerous charitable organizations related to youth and Sports . He is heavily involved with Major League Baseball’s “Reviving Baseball in Inner cities” (RBI) program which provides baseball equipment and coaching to socioeconomically-challenged inner city youth. He joins his wife, Janet, in the Macon Sports Hall of Fame. They become the first husband and wife team so honored.
SYBIL BLALOCK
Sybil is a pioneer in putting Mercer women’s basketball on the map in the early 1970’s. A native of Sevierville, Tennessee, Sybil scored 1,856 points in her career (6th best in school history} for an average of 18.9 points per game. She played professionally in Europe, Venezuela and with the New Orleans Pride in the Women’s Professional Basketball League. Following her playing days she entered the coaching ranks before returning to Mercer in 1993 as a member of Billy Holmes’ staff. She was named Mercer Associate Athletic Director in 1995 and was elevated to the position of Deputy Athletic Director in 2015. She has served on two prestigious NCAA committees: the NCAA Tennis tournament committee from 2006 until 2010 and was chair in 2009 and 2010 and was a member of the NCAA Division I women’s basketball committee from 2010 until 2015 serving as the chair of the site selection committee.
RICHARD L. "DICK" FRAME
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dick Frame moved to Macon in 1965 and has been here ever since. The Georgia Tech graduate ran varsity track for the Jackets. His career highlight at Tech came in an SEC meet in the 100 yard dash when he defeated Heisman Trophy Winner Billy Cannon. But Dick’s involvement in the track and field program at First Presbyterian Day School is where he truly excelled. He began volunteer coaching FPD students in 1979 and continues to assist with the program today even though he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2006. He currently has coached over 20 State Hurdle Champions and over 20 State Runner ups. His awards have been many including being named winner of the Macon Telegraph Sam Burke Award for Service to High School Sports in 2000 and recipient of the FPD Alumni Service Award in 2009. FPD dedicated it’s Track Facility to him in 2014: The Dick Frame Track and Field Complex.
WAYNE JOHNSON
Wayne “Buffalo” Johnson was a standout football player at Willingham High School for Head Coach Billy Henderson back in the early 1960’s. He was a three year letter winner and captain of the 1964 team that finished with an 8-1-1 record, the best mark in the 12 year history of the school. He was selected by the Macon Telegraph as Macon’s High School player of the year, an almost unheard of accomplishment for an interior lineman. He signed a football scholarship by then assistant Coach Bobby Bowden to play at Florida State University where he lettered three seasons as an offensive tackle, helping the Seminoles to berths in both the Gator and Peach Bowls. Wayne has served his community over the years. He was a Big Brother volunteer in Tampa, Florida and Macon, a member of the Macon Rotary Club and served as President of the Macon Touchdown Club in 1986.
MIKE McCOLLUM
Mike McCollum was the first quarterback at Southwest High School after Willingham and Ballard Hudson merged back in the late 1960’s and he also was a member of the school’s varsity golf team in 1971 and 1972. That golf experience was the forerunner of his career path. After graduating from Georgia Southern University, he became a golf professional and has worked as an assistant at Riverside Country Club in Macon as well as being the head professional at Perry Country Club, Milledgeville CC, Houston Lake CC and Maple Ridge Golf Club in Columbus. In addition to his duties as a Golf Professional, he is also an accomplished player qualifying for the PGA National Golf Club Championships in 1982 and 1983. He holds the Course record at Perry Country Club with a score of 61. Mike was named Georgia Section Professional of the Year in 1991.
DON ROBINSON
Don Robinson played for the legendary Godfrey “Goot” Steiner at Lanier High School in the late '60’s. During his three year varsity career he helped lead the Poets to a record of 28-5-l and an undefeated regular season in 1969 before they lost to Valdosta in the State AAA playoffs. Don lettered three years in track and football at Lanier. He was recruited as an offensive lineman at Georgia Tech by Yellow Jacket assistant Coach Jerry Glanville who was a member of Bud Carson’s staff. After Carson was dismissed Don finished his Tech career playing for Bill Fulcher. During his three years on the Flats, Tech compiled a 18-16-1 record. He was a three year letter winner at Georgia Tech and was selected to the All Southern College team in 1973, his last season with the Yellow Jackets.
LeKEVIN SMITH
Le Kevin Smith is Stratford Academy’s most acclaimed football player ever. He led the Eagles to two GISA state titles as a defensive lineman and was named USA Today Georgia Player of the Year and a Rivals.com All-American. In addition to football he lettered in track and field four times winning four state titles in the discus and two in the shot put. He signed to play at the University of Nebraska where he was a mainstay on defense of the Huskers. He finished his career with 36 tackles for a loss, the second highest total for a defensive lineman in Nebraska history. He was chosen in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots where he recorded 18 tackles and had one fumble recovery in 31 games which he played including Super Bowl XLII against the Giants. Le Kevin was traded to the Denver Broncos during training camp of the 2009 season and recorded 10 tackles and one sack that season.
SHARONE WRIGHT
Sharone Wright was a basketball standout at Southwest High School where he averaged 24 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocked shots as a senior. He played three seasons at Clemson University leading the ACC in blocked shots in 1992-93 and 1993-94. He was the Sixth selection in the NBA draft of 1994 by the Philadelphia 76ers, the highest draft selection by a Clemson basketball player. Wright played four years in the NBA with the 76ers and Toronto Raptors and was an NBA All Rookie Second team pick in 1995. While still a member of the Raptors, Wright’s NBA career was cut short by a car accident in which he suffered multiple injuries. In 203 career games in the pros he averaged 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He also played professionally in Spain, Poland, South Korea and well as in the Netherlands. Sharon returns to Macon each summer to conduct a local basketball camp for local youth.