DeAngelo Williams, Elliot Perry, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Lionel Hollins are the headliners for the 2022 inaugural class of the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame.
The class of 27 will be formally inaugurated in a ceremony on October 20th at 7pm at the Renathanto Convention Center. It will be the first entrance ceremony since the first classes welcomed in October 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This group of 27 athletes, coaches and contributors represents Memphis’ incredibly rich sports history,” said Kevin Cain, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism, in a press release. , are pleased to recognize the impact they have had on the sport and the community.
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Williams played football for the University of Memphis (2002-05) and remains the school’s all-time leading rusher (6,026). Williams, who played 11 seasons in the NFL (with the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers), still holds the Tigers record for most rushing touchdowns (55).
“I cherish the time I spent at the University of Memphis and the city that believed in me. Without Memphis, I wouldn’t be where I am,” Williams said in a press release.
Perry stayed home to play for then-Memphis State University after starring in Treadwell. He remains the Tigers’ second-leading scorer in program history.Perry played his 13th season in the NBA, including his season with the Grizzlies in Memphis.
A native of Memphis, Lawler has been a professional wrestler for over 50 years and has multiple championship belts. He was inducted into his WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 and has been a performer for over 15 years as part of the televised team on ‘Monday Night RAW’.
Hollins was named head coach in January 2009 after serving as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies. In his four seasons as head coach, he led the Grizzlies to his third consecutive playoff appearance and was the franchise’s first postseason helm. victory. Hollins is still the Grizzlies’ all-time winning coach.
2022 Memphis Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
AF “Bud” Dudley: Founder of the Liberty Bowl, held annually in Memphis since 1965
Billy J. Murphy: The Greatest Football Coach of All Time at the University of Memphis
Charlie Lee: The Memphis-raised right-handed pitcher spent seven seasons with the Montreal Expos and the Minnesota Twins. He had a no-hitter in 1981 and was named the starting pitcher in the 1984 All-Star Game. He worked as a radio commentator for the Memphis Redbirds.
D’Angelo Williams: He is the all-time leading rusher in University of Memphis football and the record holder for most career rushing touchdowns. He spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Elliott Perry: Second-leading scorer in men’s basketball history at the University of Memphis with 13 NBA seasons
Fred Jones Jr.: Founder of Southern Heritage Classics
Gene Bartow: He spent four seasons as men’s basketball head coach at the University of Memphis, leading the Tigers to the 1973 National Championship Game.
James “Doc” Prothro: The native Memphian played five seasons in Major League Baseball before becoming manager of the Philadelphia Phillies for three more seasons.
Jerry “The King” Lawler: WWE Hall of Famer and Memphis’ Most Successful Pro Wrestler
John “Bull” Bramlett: Football and baseball star at the University of Memphis. He is one of only six footballers to retire the jersey. In professional baseball he played three years before he spent seven his seasons in the NFL
Lionel Hollins: Memphis Grizzlies All-Time Winning Coach
Linda Street: A former women’s basketball player at the University of Memphis, she ranks fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list and #1 in career rebounds.One of five former Tigers girlfriends whose jerseys were retired by the program
Lauren Roberts: 8 PGA Tour winners who have called Memphis home for over 30 years
Mary Lou Johns: Memphis University’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach
Michael Haasley: Former Grizzlies majority owner orchestrated move of franchise from Vancouver to Memphis
Missy Gregg: Led Christian Brothers University to the 2002 Division II National Championship in Women’s Soccer. Her 73 goals that season remain an NCAA record (all levels)
Steve Earhart: Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl since 1994. He also served as executive director of the USFL and XFL
High School Coach Appointed: Barbara Whitaker, Buster Kelso, Derek W. Hunter, Jake Rudolph, Jerry Peters, Joe Branch, Ken Netherland, Lloyd Williams, Terry Tippett, Tom Nicks
Reach out to sportswriter Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or Twitter @munzly.