The nomination process for the inaugural class of the Lowndes County Sports Hall of Fame has begun and organizers want the public’s help in memorializing local sports heroes. The organization first announced its intentions for an inaugural 2025 induction class and ceremony in April, unveiling its founding members, board of directors, bylaws and website.
According to LCSHOF bylaws, nominees must meet a list of criteria to be considered. Nominees must be at least 40 years old, though there will be exceptions for nominees younger if the individual has been inactive from their sport for at least five years. Nominees can encompass a variety of sports roles that aren’t just limited to players and coaches. The organization’s bylaws state: “Nominees may be or have been athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, team doctors, media or any similar position that have made significant contributions to athletics and their respective communities.”
Nominees will be considered by a selection committee appointed by LCSHOF’s board of directors. Membership on the committee is limited to one year, beginning Jan. 1 of each year, but members will be eligible for selection again in the future.
Complete criteria for induction into the LCSHOF:
1) Living candidates for induction must be at least 40 years old.
Exceptions may be made for anyone younger than 40 who hasn’t been involved in athletics for five years at time of nomination.
2) Student athletes considered for nomination must have played at a Lowndes County school. Schools for consideration are Mississippi University for Women, former Franklin
Academy, former Lee High School, former Hunt High School, former Caldwell High
School, Columbus High School, Heritage Academy, New Hope High School, former
Motley/West Lowndes High School, Caledonia High School, former Immanuel/Columbus
Christian, Victory Christian, former Lowndes Christian, Mississippi School for
Mathematics and Science.
3) Student-athletes must no longer be playing to be eligible for nomination.
4) Athletes not associated with a school (e.g., tennis players, golfers, boxers, race car drivers, etc.) must have lived in Lowndes County to be eligible for nomination.
5) Coaches/administrators must be retired to be considered for nomination.
6) Coaches/administrators must have accomplished their achievements in Lowndes
County to be considered for nomination. For example, a coach can’t have coached at a
Lowndes County school but won state championships in another county and be considered for nomination.
7) All candidates for nomination must have been a worthy citizen who demonstrated the ideals of athletics in community endeavors.
8) A candidate for nomination can be nominated by anyone, but cannot nominate themselves. Once a person is nominated, he/she will remain on the ballot and does not have to be nominated again if they are not elected in their first year of eligibility.
LCSHOF is accepting nominations for its inaugural class through Oct. 31, but nominees not selected this year will be considered for future classes.
Nominations can be submitted via an online form at https://lowndescountysportshalloffame.com/nominate/ or via paper submission to PO Box 789, Columbus, MS, 39703. Be sure to include as much of the following information as applicable or possible:
Information about nominee
Name
Date of birth
Date of death (if applicable)
Place Of birth
High school attended
Year graduated
Sports played with years lettered
Relevant statistics
College attended
Year graduated
Sports played
Relevant collegiate statistics
Professional career team & years on roster
Relevant professional statistics
Coaching level
Sports coached
Teams coached and record
Coaching honors
Information about nominator
Name
Phone
Relationship to nominee
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