Meet the Alabama Sports HOF Class of 2024 and honorees [PHOTOS]

The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) is inducting eight new members tonight in Birmingham.

Along with the Class of 2024 inductees, ASHOF is honoring Alabama football legend Kerry Goode as the 2024 Distinguished Sportsmen, Sportswriter Randy Kennedy for the Mel Allen Media Award and Roy Parker for the 2024 Frank “Pig” House Award.

On Friday, May 3rd, Bama Buzz met the inductees and honorees before the induction ceremony on Saturday.

Below is the list of the inductees (descriptions provided by ASHOF) and photos from the media day event.

Class of 2024

Mike Anderson – Basketball I Coaching – A Birmingham native and coaching legend, Anderson became UAB’s head coach in 2002. In 2004, Anderson’s Blazers reached the Sweet 16 by upsetting top-ranked Kentucky. Since leaving UAB in 2006, Anderson has been the head coach at Missouri, Arkansas, and St. John’s where he was honored as Big East Coach of the Year in 2021.

Penney Hauschild Buxton – Gymnastics – An SEC & Alabama gymnastics pioneer, Buxton was the first Southeastern Conference gymnast to win an NCAA title. She won four titles at the Capstone, including NCAA all-around championships in 1985 and 1986. Thanks to Hauschild’s paving the way the Crimson Tide became one of the most dominant gymnastics programs in the NCAA for three decades.

Larry Chapman – Basketball I Coaching –  Chapman was the head coach of the Auburn University at Montgomery men’s basketball team for 37 years from 1976-2014. His AUM teams notched fifteen 20-win seasons in his career. Chapman’s 1987-88 team posted a record of 32-3 and reached the NAIA National Championship game. His 714 career wins rank in the top 70 of men’s college basketball coaches. 

John Drew – Basketball – Born in Vrendenburgh, AL., Drew led J.F. Shields High School to a basketball state championship. During his high school career, he set the AHSAA career scoring average record with 41 points per game. He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the 1974 NBA Draft playing there for nine seasons. During his 12-year NBA career, Drew scored 15,291 points and grabbed  5,088 rebounds.

Robert Mathis – Football – Mathis played football at Alabama A&M University setting the NCAA I-AA single-season sack record with 20 sacks. Drafted in 2003 by the Indianapolis Colts by 2006 he was leading his team to a Super Bowl victory over the Chicago Bears. A five-time Pro Bowler, Mathis spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the Colts. He holds the NFL record for most career forced fumbles (54). 

David Palmer – Football – University of Alabama great, Palmer was the school’s first single-season 1,000-yard receiver. In 1992, he was a member of the Crimson Tide’s consensus National Championship team. Following his junior season, Palmer was recognized as a consensus First-Team All-American and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He won the Paul Warfield Trophy as the nation’s top collegiate wide receiver in 1994. He played seven years with the Minnesota Vikings, primarily as a return specialist.  

Scott Sullivan – Baseball – Tuscaloosa native,  Sullivan was a relief pitcher for the Auburn Tigers. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1993 MLB Draft, making his MLB debut with the Reds on May 6, 1995. While playing for Cincinnati, he set a club record by pitching at least 100 innings of relief every season from 1998-2001. Sullivan ranks second in Reds franchise history with 494 pitching appearances. He also played one season with the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals. Sullivan finished his 10-year MLB career with an ERA of 3.98 and 622 strikeouts.

Mike Washington – Football – A Montgomery native, Washington played defensive back at the University of Alabama where he was a member of the 1973 national championship team. He was named All-SEC and All-American in 1973 and 1974. Washington played nine seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting 105 games. Washington finished his career with 28 interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and three touchdowns.

Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Museum

A special event and place, 2024 Distinguished Sportsman Kerry Goode summed up what it means to be honored by the ASHOF.

“It’s feeling great to be recognized for my service to the community. What we do for others is the only thing that last. But it’s great to be with all of these Alabama greats. It’s an honor.

Kerry Goode, ASHOF 2024 Distinguished Sportsmen

Want to see all of Alabama’s sports history in one place? Visit the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, which is located near the Protective Stadium and the BJCC at 2150 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM.