Former Ole Miss official named to head sports hall of fame

MACON - John Shafer will get $80,000 and a $20,000 stipend as the executive director of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. <br> <br> A former University of Mississippi athletic director, Shafer was named the hall&#39;s new executive director Monday. <br> <br> His employment package is worth nearly $125,000, including benefits. <br> <br> Shafer, who resigned at Ole Miss in April, will be the third executive director of the Sports Hall of Fame, which opened in 1999. <br> <br> Alice Knierim resigned in December and was replaced by interim director Jacquelyn Decell. <br> <br> Museum officials hope Shafer, who is expected to start next month, can generate private donations to keep the fledgling museum afloat. <br> <br> State funding to the museum was cut by 13 percent in fiscal year 2002 and by nine percent for 2003.