Nomination deadline for Bourbon County Athletic Hall of Fame is October 15

Time is running out to nominate a deserving player, coach, contributor, or team

 

PRESS RELEASE l BCHS Athletics

 

PARIS, KY – Bourbon County started recognizing their long tradition of great athletes, coaches, teams, and supporters three years ago by starting the Bourbon County Schools Athletic Hall of Fame that was spearheaded by former Athletic Director Wendy Rankin Mahanna.

Their mission is to recognize and honor those who have made valuable contributions to the rich tradition of Bourbon County Athletics and nominees should be of good character and shall be good role models. So far to date, the Hall of Fame has inducted 56 former very deserving Colonels.

“We are so excited to be here for a third year to celebrate Bourbon County High School’s rich history in athletics,” BCHS Assistant Principal Wendy Rankin Mahanna said following last winter’s Hall of Fame banquet. “Several people are surprised about the number of inductees we have had over the last three years, but I tell them that we are way behind. We have so many deserving athletes, coaches, and contributors throughout our history that we need to play catchup in the beginning. I hope everyone will talk to teammates or classmates and get more people to nominate those who really represented the Colonels so well.”

Every year, many ask the same thing: “How is so‑and‑so not in the Hall of Fame?” or “That team should be in the Hall of Fame.” The truth is straightforward… athletes, contributors, coaches, and teams can only be considered if someone nominates them. So please take a moment to nominate a deserving candidate.

The nomination deadline for this year is October 15th, 2026. Please go to this website to fill out a nomination form: https://sites.google.com/bourbon.kyschools.us/bchsathletics/wall-of-honor/nomination-forms

 

–Hall of Fame Policies–

Individuals may be nominated as a player, coach, or supporter of Bourbon County Athletics.

Teams (as a whole) may also be nominated.

The maximum number of individuals admitted per year will be three. One team can be admitted as well for a total of four inductees. (The first several years will be the exception while playing catchup).

All nominees should be of good character and shall be good role models. Inductees shall not have been convicted of a felony. If the discovery of a felony occurs after induction, or one occurs while in the Hall of Fame, then that inductee will be removed as a member of the hall of fame.

 

–Nomination Criteria–

Athletes must be a Bourbon County graduate and be 10 years removed from graduation. They should have an exceptional, verifiable record as a Bourbon County athlete. 

Former coaches of Bourbon County may be nominated if they are no longer coaching.

Those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to athletics outside of being an athlete or coach.

 

–Recognition and Privileges of Membership–

Inductees will be recognized at a basketball game and honored at the Hall of Fame banquet.

A plaque will be presented to individual inductees. A permanent recognition of the Hall of Fame will be in the High School front hallway on the video board.

Individual inductees will be given lifetime passes to all Bourbon County regular season home athletic events (does not include in-season tournaments, classics, or bowl games).

 

–Nomination Procedures–

Nomination forms can be found on the BCHS Athletics website, as well as the District and High School pages. Forms should be submitted to the Bourbon County High School Athletic Director. All forms will be kept on file for 5 years.   

The nomination deadline for this year is October 15th, 2026.

The committee will meet and select the Hall of Fame inductees, and they will be notified immediately, and the information will be made public at a later date.

 

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2025 INDUCTEES: Shelby Banion Shaw (Softball), Don Byars (Football, Basketball, and Track and Field), Jacob Coburn (Soccer), Shane Dunsing (Bowling), Jim Kelly (Track & Field), Preston LeMaster (Basketball), Ivy Livengood (Basketball), Nora Martin Ross (Shooting), Rick Massie (Football), Molly Norton Kenney (Basketball), Rachel Poe (Coach), Derek Robinson (Basketball), Asia Sims (Basketball), Johnny Stout (Coach and Contributor), Charles Trumbo (Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Track and Field), and Amy Waugh (Tennis).

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2024 INDUCTEES: Katie Blevins Allen (Soccer), Gayle Conner Saunders (Cheerleader), Lyle Eads (Coach), Jennifer Johnson Norman (Basketball, Track, Tennis), Tom Leach (Contributor), Wayne Mogge (Football & Basketball), Jenny Moore (Soccer), David Poe (Coach & Athletic Director), Roy Poe (Contributor), Shanda Pulliam Crosby (Basketball & Track), Tony Sosby (Coach & Athletic Director), Craig Summers (Basketball), Ricky Wilson (Basketball), Robin Fryman (Track & Baseball), Mike Holmes (Coach), Myron Hill (Golf), Mike Henderson (Coach).

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2023 INDUCTEES: Wilson Barlow (Basketball), Bill Case (Basketball), Kathy Johnston (Athletic Director), Mabel Stimpson (Coach), Jerry White (Track & Field), Mary Witt Wilson (XC, Track and Field), Allen Cleaver (Track & Field), Jeff Royce (Basketball), Jane Jolly (Coach), Jim Hurley (Basketball), Russ Day (Coach), Jeff Jett (Coach), Jack Tucker (Basketball), Jim Lemaster (Football & Basketball), Larry Conrad (Coach), Eugene “Cotton” Correll (Coach), John Sosby (Contributor), Kelly Galbraith-Geoghegan (Basketball, Track & Field), Jim Ishmael (Coach), Pam Raglin (XC, Track & Field).