About Inductee

Anthony Toney, who was born and raised in Huntsville, was one of Ambrose and Laura Toneys nine children. There were four boys and five girls in the sports-minded family, and most of them played a range of sports growing up. Three of the brothers played football at Stone Middle School and later at Butler High School before landing college football scholarships. Anthony was the first. A two-time All-City defensive back at Butler in 1974 and 75 and a four-sport letterman for the Rebels, he had an exceptional football career at Alabama A&M, although the Bulldogs program was in transition at the time and he wound up playing for three different head coaches. A ball-hawking safety, he was named A&Ms Defensive Player of the Year in both 1976 and 1977 and was also chosen as the defensive MVP at the Magic City Classic in both 1978 and 79, and was the team captain as a junior and senior. His brother Clifford played in the secondary at Auburn, intercepting 11 passes from 1978-80, and younger brother Jeff later played on The Hill at Normal. Anthony, who was inducted into Alabama A&Ms Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, acquired a biology degree at A&M and then went on to dental school, graduating from the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey. He initially practiced dentistry in Gadsden, but returned to his hometown to open his own practice in the fall of 1985. His practice, located on Sparkman Drive, has a unique name: Inspiring Smiles Family Dentistry. Toney says Butlers legendary high school coach, John Meadows, had the greatest influence on his athletic career. Other than teaching me the basic techniques in all the sports I played and the importance of sportsmanship, Toney said, I learned some of my life virtues from him virtues like integrity, character, perseverance, humility, loyalty, courage and friendship, all of which has helped me lead a full and complete life. Ive learned the three pillars of having a complete life. Those pillars consist of length (not time), but seeking and living up to your God-given potential; breadth, being mindful of others and their needs personal status is unimportant; and height, having a spiritual connection the Supreme Being. Coach Meadows, thank you for being you. Toneys favorite memory during his senior year at Butler came when the Rebels traveled to Kentucky for a game against nationally ranked Paducah. That town really thought they had a team higher or equal to our caliber and they felt theyd paint the field with us, said Toney. Because of that, we traveled there with something to prove against the Northerners. Coach Meadows put together a game plan to double-team their best player, a linebacker. He had college coaches watching that game and he skated backward all night. We wiped the field with that team, and when we left we were then known as the Green Bay Packers of Alabama. By the way, I also got an interception that night. His favorite time at Alabama A&M was getting to know another fabled coach, Louis Crews, whose teams went 94-52-3 from 1960-75. What a kind-hearted coach he was, said Toney. Even later, after his coaching career was over, he became a friend and a patient in my practice. Dr. Toney, a man of many interests, is an active elder in his church, Chelsea Cumberland Presbyterian. Hes also involved with such organizations as the March of Dimes, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Sickle Cell Foundation and the local MS Foundation. He and his wife, Dr. Janice Toney, are the parents of three children, Oolowa Witherspoon, Anthony and Aaiyah OJnice, and four grandchildren.