Bauxite honors newest inductees

The 14th annual Bauxite Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet was held at the Bauxite Community Hall on Nov. 2.

Since its inception in 2006, and including the 2019 inductees, 117 individuals and eight athletic teams have been honored. The Hall of Fame banquet has become the annual social event of the year for this small community.

Dr. Bob Carlisle, president of the Bauxite Hall of Fame Committee, welcomed honorees and guests who filled the dining hall. Carlisle relinquished emcee duties to Glynn Mccallister. Mccallister, known as “the voice of the Miners,” read a brief synopsis of each inductee before presenting them with a commensurate plaque.

Individuals selected for the 2019 Wall of Honor Distinguished Alumni Awards were Mitch Tull and Randolph Bell. Tull gave an overview of his lifetime achievements in the pharmaceutical field. Mccallister accepted the award for Bell in his absence. Paul E. Kimbrough was selected to receive the Wall of Honor Exemplary Service Award, which was accepted by his son, Paul Kimbrough, Jr in memory of his late father.

The 2019 Bauxite Hall of Fame inductees included Shane Oliver, Hubert Spann, Corey Brown Combs, Harry Mcdermott and the 1995 BHS Softball Team. Coaches of the

1995 softball team, Paula Davis Fitzhugh and Susie Simmons, highlighted the evening with unrehearsed, humorous stories of memorable events of their first year of softball at Bauxite High School.

Memorials honoring

John Gardner and Glenn P. Brooks were prominently displayed. Gardner and Brooks, both who recently passed away, were dedicated members of the Bauxite Old Timers and the Bauxite Hall of Fame Committee.

The buffet dinner served to the 145 guests was catered by Riverside Grocery and Catering of Benton.

GINGER ENGLISH/SPECIAL to The Saline Courier 2019 Bauxite Hall of Fame inductees, from left, in the front row, are Mitch Tull, Hubert Spann, Kristy Gentry Byrd, Sharissa Oliver Ferrell, Amy Orrell Young and Corey Brown Combs; middle row, Brandi Casteel Mcdade, Wendi Kitchens Sams, Sara Raschke, Charish Schroeder Wallace and Jana Olles; back row, Paul Kimbrough, Ronnie Stuckey, Tim Bearden, Susie Simmons, Paula Davis Fitzhugh Shane Oliver.

GINGER ENGLISH/SPECIAL to The Saline Courier Bauxite Hall of Fame inductee Corey Brown Combs scored more than 1,000 points during her basketball career at Bauxite High School.