About Inductee

Born in 1940, Mickey grew up in Huntsville. He was educated at East Clinton, Huntsville Junior High, Huntsville High, Florence State and Athens College. Mickey served in the United States Army and the 279th Sig. Btn. Mickey was thrilled with the opportunity to grow up in a town enthusiastic about its youth and sports. Mickey stated, It was very special having played sports with great athletes such as Benny Nelson, Bruce Hammer, Buster Frank, Mike Hopper, Bobby Hopper, Sam Sullins, Bob Sullins, Lloyd Moore, Bill McCrary, Perry Warren, Roger Humphrey and many others. Between 1952 and 1966, Mickeys coaches included Robert McKee, Ben Berry, Charles Hopper,Bob Warden, Clem Gryska, E. C. Campbell, Buddy May, Charles Hill, Harold Sisson, Ed Billingham (UNA), Bobby Frost and Captain J. D. Smith of the United States Army. Mickey was a three-sport player from 1952-1959. He then concentrated exclusively in basketball making the transition from base line forward to point guard. In the 1960s Mickey played Industrial League, Semi-Pro and U. S. Army Special Services sports including basketball and baseball. Mickey played these sports in seven states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee. Mickey stated, I played my best basketball in the Army. I had grown in size as well as in maturity of play. This maturity was required due to the size, speed and ability of those Army players - they were men. Charles Hill and Harold Sisson were Mickeys baseball coaches from 1957- 1959. Mickey was center fielder batting in the .300s. Mickeys sports highlights began when he was only fourteen when he played for Bierne Avenue and they went on to be the undefeated City Champs, coached by Robert McKee (Mickey placed on the All City First Team). When he was a student at Huntsville Junior High, Coach Ben Berrys team won four consecutive nights to win the county basketball tournament (Mickey was named to the All County Team). From 1956-1959 Mickey was on the football team for Huntsville High that defeated Butler High for the first time ever. Spearheaded by their great quarterback tailback Benny Nelson, that Huntsville High football team went on to win all three years never losing to Butler and retired the city trophy. Coach Clem Gryska selected Mickey on his Greatest Eleven Team, as his right end. In the 1959 basketball season, Mickey set a TVC tournament record of 30 points against Coffee High and he joined the All TVC team along with teammate Perry Warren. In the 1959 season Mickey was a co-captain averaging 20.9 points per game including tournament play. Also in 1959, Mickey remembers The Sudden Death Game when Huntsville High rallied against a determined, great Butler team. Exhausted, Nelson, Humphrey, Warren, McCrary and Moore all made clutch shots and defensive plays. They set up a play and Warren tipped to Humphrey, Humphrey threw a long pass to Moore to complete a lay up shot and Huntsville wins. In 1959 Mickey was chosen on the All 8th District Team and Honorable Mention All State by The Birmingham Post Herald. In 1965 while playing in the Army, Mickeys team won the All South trophy with 28 wins and 5 losses. In 1964 Mickey averaged 22.3 points per game, led in team assists, and maintained an amazing 91% free throw average (180 out of 198 attempted free throws). Mickey said, Some of my fondest memories included closing down the YMCA at night, wanting to play longer, one-on-one match-ups with friends in backyards, and not eating supper until fifty out of fifty practice free throws were made consecutively. Mickey added, Being awarded the 1959 Acme Club Most Outstanding Athlete Award at Huntsville High School was also very special. Mickey resides in Huntsville with his wife, Sandy ( former Sandra Rochelle of Tennessee), his daughter, Stephanie, who is presently teaching at Central School in Madison County, and fifteen year old son, Harris, who played football for Paul Parvin at Grissom High School. Mickey owns and manages his own forms printing business, ABF, located at 3301 9th Avenue in Huntsville. Mickeys hobby is bass fishing.