GAINESVILLE — Almost a year to the day that the 2020 Gainesville Athletics Hall of Fame banquet was canceled, Gainesville Athletic Director Adam Lindsey is pleased to announce that the 2020 class will still be honored, but at a 2021 banquet.
On June 8 at The Chair Factory in Gainesville, the class comprised of Billy Lothridge; Tommy Valentine; Patrick Hamilton; Stephanie (Yarem) Ransom; Dr. Tim Fulenwider; and the back-to-back-to-back state championship baseball teams from 1996, 1997, and 1998, will finally be celebrated.
“We were incredibly disappointed to not be able to honor this class last year,” Lindsey said. “That disappointment, along with the caliber of former Red Elephant athletes and athletic supporters in the group, contributed greatly to the Hall of Fame committee deciding to focus solely on the Class of 2020, in 2021.”
As stated in the Gainesville Athletics Hall of Fame By-Laws, those nominated stay on an “active” roster for induction for a three-year period. Due to no 2021 inductions, however, all nominations submitted within the last year will serve their allotted time on the “active” roster without losing a year.
“It’s important to us that the Red Elephants in the Class of 2020 get their day without the ceremony being bogged down by another class being recognized as well,” Lindsey said. “These people and teams have more than earned the right to have their own special night; as will those honored in the years to come.”
The nomination process for the Gainesville Athletics Hall of Fame is open year-round. If you would like to nominate someone for the hall of fame, go to gainesvilleredelephantathletics.com.
Ticket information for the June 8, 2021 Gainesville Athletics Hall of Fame banquet at The Chair Factory in Gainesville is forthcoming.
