2014 INDUCTEES (INAUGURAL CLASS)

A photo of Angie Lee Abner.

Angie Lee Abner - Class of 1999

Angie Lee Abner was a three-sport athlete at GCHS on the Cross Country, Track & Field, and Basketball teams. It was Cross Country and Track & Field where she made her mark. She set or broke (or helped set) numerous records at GCHS -- the 4K in Cross Country and the 400 meter, 800 meter, Mile, Two-mile, 4X100, 4X200 and 4X800 meter relays in Track & Field. She was a regional individual champion in Cross Country, Junior Runner of the Year in Kentucky, All-State, Academic All-State and a member of the Kentucky Super Team. Her Cross Country team placed 4th in the state in 1998. In Track & Field, she won 9 regional titles (800 meter, mile, 2 mile, 4X400, 4X800 relays, was state champion in the 800 meter, a member of the Kentucky Super Team and All-State, as well as Academic All-State. She took her talents to Eastern Kentucky University where she was a member of the Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams. She earned a B.A. degree in Psychology with a minor in Child and Family Studies, and an M.A. degree in Elementary Education. She is now a First Grade teacher at Clarkson Elementary School. She's married to Clint Abner and they have a newborn son, Peerce. She's the daughter of Larry and Paula Lee and a sister to John Lee.

A photo of Patrick Alexander.

Patrick Alexander - Class of 1982

Patrick Alexander was a two-sport athlete at GCHS -- Cross Country and Track & Field. He set or broke GCHS records in the 400 and 800 meters, the mile, 4X200 and 4X400 relays. He attended Western Kentucky University where he was a member of the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. He earned his B.S. in Chemistry & Biology, and an M.A. in Counseling. He is now a Science Teacher at Saint Xavier High School in Louisville. He's married to Kim Alexander. His parents are Joe and Jean Alexander, sisters are Pam Langdon and Patti Whitmore and his brother is Perry Alexander.

A photo of Michelle Critchelow.

Michelle Critchelow - Class of 2005

Michelle Critchelow played two sports at GCHS - Fastpitch Softball and Golf. It was on the softball field and on the mound where she excelled. She has the most strikeouts in a game and a season, lowest ERA, the most perfect games and no-hitters and the most wins in one season. After high school, she attended Northern Kentucky University where she played on the softball team. She was crowned Miss Softball in the state of Kentucky in 2005. She earned an Associates Degree in Arts from Elizabethtown Community & Technical College and is now an Instructional Assistant at H. W. Wilkey Elementary School. She has a three-year-old daughter named Brianna. Her mom and dad are Mike and Faye Critchelow, and brother, Michael.

A photo of Kimberly Escue Willis.

Kimberly Escue Willis - Class of 1993

Kimberly Escue Willis excelled in Track & Field at Grayson County High School. She was State Champion in the High Jump in 1991 and named to the AAA All-State and the Kentucky Super Team, She also competed in the100 and 300-meter hurdles. She was a team leader who was highly respected by her peers and competitors. Tragically, she passed away in January 1993 as a result of an automobile accident. Her parents are Qulin Escue and Vickie Decker, who accepted the Hall of Fame Award on her behalf.

A photo of Chris Gaither.

Chris Gaither - Class of 2002

Chris Gaither focused on one sport at Grayson County High School -- Basketball. He was named First Team All-State and a member of the Kentucky/Indiana All-Stars in 2002. He holds the GCHS record for most point scored in a single season and the most points scored in a single game. After graduating from high school, Gaither attended Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, playing basketball for the legendary coach John Chaney. He transferred to Georgetown (KY) where he continued his basketball career. He earned his B.A. in Graphic Design and an M.A. in Special Education from Georgetown. He is now a teacher and head basketball coach at Collins High School in Shelby County, Kentucky. He and his wife Katie have 3 boys, Caden, Charlie, and Corey.

A photo of Don Lee.

Don Lee - Baseball & Cross Country Coach

Don Lee was Head Baseball Coach at GCHS for 25 years, and Cross Country Coach for 20 years, as well as a Math and Physics teacher. He amassed a 576 - 339 record as a baseball coach, with his teams winning 17 district championships, 8 district runner-ups, 4 regional championships and 9 regional runner ups. He is also a member of the Kentucky High School Baseball Association Hall of Fame. As Cross Country Coach, Lee's teams won 1 regional championship and was runner up 5 times. Prior to coaching at GCHS, Lee coached and taught at Leitchfield High School, where he graduated in 1965. He attended Murray State University, where he also played baseball and graduated with a B.S. in Math & Physics. He received his M.S. in Science Education from Western Kentucky University. Lee and his wife, Diane, who live in Leitchfield, have two sons and two daughters and 13 grandchildren.

A photo of Lee Miles.

Lee Miles - Class of 1996

Lee Miles made his mark on Cougar sports in the pole vault. He attended Berea College and earned a degree in Industrial Engineering. While at Berea, he was also a member of the Track and Field team, received All-Conference honors in 1997 and 1998 and holds the record for the pole vault at Berea with a job of 14'9". Miles and his wife Sheri live in Tampa, Florida where he owns and operates an auto transport company. His father is Gerry Miles and his brother is Lou Miles.

A photo of Spring Wall Pennington.

Spring Wall Pennington - Class of 1993

Spring Wall Pennington excelled in three sports at GCHS -- Track & Field, Cross Country, and Basketball. She was State Champion in the high jump in 1993 and earned AAA All-State recognition as a senior. She was also named a member of the Kentucky Super Team that year. She still holds the GCHS record in the high jump of 5'6". After graduation, she attended Western Kentucky University where she was on the Track & Field team. She earned her B.A. degree in Sociology, with minors in Criminology and Psychology. She now is a Social Services Clinician for the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice in Bowling Green. She is married to Brian Keith Pennington and they have two children, Sophie and Landon.

A photo of DeShea Brock Richards.

DeShea Brock Richards - Class of 1995

DeShea Brock Richards excelled at Track & Field at GCHS - specifically in the discus and shot-put. In 1995, she broke the school record for the women's shot-put and in the Discus. After graduating from GCHS, she attended Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky. She is now working in Nursing Assessment. She and her husband Chris live in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and have two children, Dakota and Mari-Beth.

A photo of Josh Smith.

Josh Smith - Class of 2007

Josh Smith was a three-sport athlete at GCHS, running track and cross country and playing basketball. It was in Track & Field where he made his mark. He set the GCHS pole vault record in 2007 with a vault of 14'7", and was a member of the record-holding 4X400 relay team. In 2005, he was Indoor State Champion and AAA All-State. In 2006, he was both Indoor and Outdoor State Champion, AAA All-State and a member of the Kentucky Super Team in 2007. He attended Western Kentucky University and was a member of the Track & Field team his freshman year. He currently lives in Bowling Green. His parents are Glen and Renee Smith, and his brother is Jarrod Smith.

A photo of Brian Soverns.

Brian Soverns - Class of 2006

Brian Soverns starred in two sports at GCHS, Track & Field and Football. He was first team All-State in the Shot Put in 2006, and on the second team in in the Shot Put and Discus in 2005. He was Indoor and Outdoor State Champion in 2006 and a member of the Kentucky Super Team. He still holds the GCHS record in both sports. He competed in two consecutive Mason Dixon Games (Indoor State Championships) while at GCHS, and in the Nike Indoor National Championship in Washington, D.C. in 2006. He attended Western Kentucky University, where he was a five-time NCAA qualifier, a six-time individual conference champion and an all-conference selection in 13 events. He is still the current WKU record holder in two events. He earned a B. S. degree in Sports Management and Marketing and currently is a Commercial Banker in Louisville. He also coaches track and field at Bellarmine University there. He and his wife, Megan, live in Louisville.

A photo of Dave Thompson.

Dave Thompson, the "Voice of the Cougars" 1966 - 2007

Dave Thompson is perhaps the most well-known voice in Grayson County. Through the years, countless local sports fans have followed high school athletic teams through the radio listening to Dave Thompson's play-by-play. After graduating from Lebanon High School in Marion County in 1963, Thompson spent over 43 years in radio broadcasting. He began play-by-play broadcasting of sports events in Grayson County in 1966 when there were three local high schools -- Caneyville, Clarkson and Leitchfield. With the school merger in 1974-75, he became the "Voice of the Grayson County Cougars" until his retirement in 2007. He and his wife of 49 years, Mary Amelia, have six children -- three daughters, Rosa, Rhonda and Lynn, and three sons, David, Doug, and Paul.