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Hall of Fame recognizes greatness

• The Albany Sports Hall of Fame honors six former star atheletes, this year's prep stars and the 1967 Monroe state championship baseball team.

Danny Aller

ALBANY — Former Albany High star football player Robert ‘Goo Goo’ Heidt winced slightly as the spotlight found his smiling face among the crowd Monday night at a dimly lit Albany Civic Center.

It was a crowd that included five other Albany sports legends neatly lined on the Civic Center’s stage, all of whom were there that evening to be honored as the 21st class of the Albany Sports Hall of Fame.

And while each honoree might’ve been asked there to share a few memories of their past glory days, there was no doubt that when this night was over, they’d have one more.

“I’ll tell you the truth,” began first-inductee Heidt as he maneuvered the microphone and tried his best to adjust his 73-year-old eyes to the glaring light, “I thought I’d gotten too old to make it to this party ... but I sure am glad I’m here.”

As Heidt got a brief applause for such a fitting opening line before he continued, there were none who could relate to him more than his fellow inductees — Dennis James, Sam Lippitt Jr., Hampton Smith, Milledge White Jr. and Janet Knight-Linder — all of whom wore a proud smile from the moment each walked in the room Monday night.

“As I’m sure we all will, I want to thank the selection committee for doing me proud and making me a part of its history,” Heidt continued. “But I never would’ve gotten here without my teammates, so wherever you are, thank you, too.”

Next up was James, the former Albany High baseball star who came halfway across the country from his home in Centerville, Utah, to attend the event.

James initially made light of the fact he didn’t prepare a speech, saying “I think I’m in trouble,” but then followed that up with many well-thought out remarks, marking what the night meant to he and his family.

“This is a great honor and I feel privileged to be a part of such a talented 2007 class of great Albany athletes,” he said. “But none of this would’ve been possible without the support of my parents, who always taught me a strong work ethic, and my wife, who I believed moved with me (while playing pro baseball) more than 60 times in 9 years.”

James then added: “But when I look back on my days at Albany High, I still think of those as the best times of my life.”

Knight-Linder was then introduced, bringing a basketball to the stage, neatly tucked under her arm. The former Riverview Academy and Clemson basketball star proceeded to recant how this was a night she’d looked forward to since she left the area in 1982.

“I’ve missed Albany ever since the day I left, and I tell you what: It feels good to be back,” Knight-Linder said.

Lippitt, the former 1942 and ’43 Georgia state golf champion, then spoke a few sentimental words about being glad “he could join his momma,” as an inductee, referring to his mother, Bernice Lippitt, who was part of the 1995 class. Lippitt’s thoughts were followed by Smith, the longtime Albany State University football coach, who — in true coaching form — asked the crowd how they were doing this evening in his opening remarks.

With a lackluster response, the consummate coach then repeated himself: “I can’t hear you. I said, ‘How are y’all doing tonight?’

This time, everyone in the room sat up, giving the ol’ ball coach the only things he’s ever asked of any of his players: energy and
enthusiasm.

And the night closed with Milledge White Jr.’s son, Brandon, speaking for his father, who passed away in January 2002.

“This is bittersweet for me,” Brandon said. “Sweet in that I know this is something my dad would’ve been proud of; bitter because I know he would’ve wanted to be here to accept it himself.”

And while the festivities Monday weren’t limited to just speeches from the inductees — the 1967 state champion Monroe High baseball team was honored; former Cairo native and Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Bill Stanfill guest spoke and seven Albany high school athletes were honored as their school’s Athletes of the Year — the night belonged to those who’d given so much to Albany during their lives as young athletes growing up in the Good Life City.

But perhaps the most fitting remark of the evening came from Utah resident James, who closed his speech with a thought that nearly drew a standing ovation from the audience, as well as the inductees.

“I might have left Albany at one time, and I might not live here anymore, but this is where I was born and this is where I grew up,” James said. “And I’m proud to call Albany my home.”

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