For the last decade, Trigg County officials have recognized its star athletes in perpetuity — creating, developing and enriching an Athletics Hall of Fame.
Now, academics and life achievements are next in line for recognition.
During Tuesday’s Cadiz Rotary Club meeting, champion brainstormer and county magistrate Mike Wright described what’s become the Trigg County Schools Distinguished Alumnus Committee — which will forever elect annual classes of former Wildcats, who have gone on to be great ambassadors of this community and its provisions.
In the last few months, Wright has employed the assistance of Trigg County High School Principal Tim Bush, Board of Education member Theresa Allen and four esteemed locals — Christie Ethridge, Jim Wallace, George Radford and Bob Brame — to form the first committee.
The mission: two-fold. Honor those who are products of Trigg County and have accelerated through their chosen profession or worked significantly in community service and worthy causes. In turn, this provides a frame of reference for current and future Wildcats graduates, who can look back on previous successes and have the faith they can push out on their own.
A large inaugural Class of 2022 comprises of Wallace, Radford, Virginia Alexander, Lincoln Bingham, Smith Broadbent Jr., Dr. John Futrell, Dr. Elias Futrell, Scott Howell, Harold Knight, Chappell Wilson and Willie Wilson, and should serve as a strong base for future classes — which Wright and Bush both noted would be smaller as the years go by.
Wright said the curriculum to be a part of this Hall of Fame would be wide-ranging and fair, and that suggestions for future inductees — as well as those wishing to offer expertise — would be welcome and appreciated. Several nominees are already in tow, and have a chance to be elected later.
There are plans in place for even more implementation of these honors.
A 3-D relief plaque will be gifted to those selected, and another will be mounted within Trigg County High School. A QR code on the plaque will direct those with smart phones to a biography and list of accolades for the person.
An exact date is undetermined, but Wright said a Friday in September each year is a perfect time to honor the classes. They’ll be able to be honored in front of a high school assembly and potentially break off into a brief career fair, before being recognized at a Trigg County High School football game.
A weekend reception would complete the Hall of Fame festivities.
Wright said the committee is in the midst of requesting funding for this first year, with an estimated $1,700 needed for this first set of plaques. Funding will be far less needed in the future, with a maximum of four people and/or groups annually awarded.
Appropriations have to be made, Wright added, for those who didn’t get the opportunity to graduate from Trigg County for various reasons.
Wright and Bush said all future nominees and requests for this Hall of Fame need to come through the high school.
