Nine individuals and three special teams have been selected for enshrinement into the 2026 Class of the Madison County Sports Hall of Fame during the induction dinner that will be held at 5 p.m. on May 16th in the EKU Perkins Building.

 

Lee Anne Browder, the new chairman of the MCSHoF Executive Board, announced the names of the inductees and teams following the board’s December meeting. With the induction of the 2026 Class, the Madison County Sports Hall of Fame will include 46 individuals and 18 teams.

 

This fifth class includes (listed in alphabetical order):

• Jeff Cruse--Is a former outstanding baseball pitcher for Madison Central High School and Eastern Kentucky University in the 1980s. 

• Larry French--Retired this past December as the third winningest high school football coach in Kentucky History. 

• Damien Harris--Was the first 5-Star recruit in Kentucky high school football history after being selected a two-time high school All-American at Madison Southern.

• Goebel “Tex” Ritter- -Was a native of Richmond and excelled in football, basketball and baseball at Madison-Model from 1939-42.  He played for the New York Knicks before coaching high school basketball and leading Hazard H.S. to the 1955 KHSAA State Title.

• Benny Roop--Made his name as high school baseball player at Madison Central as a power-hitting catcher. He helped lead the Indians to an appearance in the 1964 KHSAA State Tournament. 

• Bill Maupin--Was a two-sport star at Waco High School from 1951-55.  He signed with the Detroit Tigers and played over six seasons in the Tigers’ system. 

• Luke Stocker--Was a standout tight end for Madison Southern High School who went on to play for the Tennessee Volunteers before being drafted in 2011 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• Sylvia (Tracy) Powell--Is recognized as the pioneer for starting girls’ sports at Madison Central High School. In the early 60s she organized and coached the first girls’ basketball team at Central.

• Ray Vencill--Was an outstanding high School basketball coach for 16 years and led two different Kentucky schools to the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen. He is remembered in Richmond for leading the 1969 and 1970 Madison High Royal Purples to the state tournament.

 

• The three teams that will be inducted are the 1960 Madison-Model football team, the 1961 Madison High football team, and the 2012-13 Madison Central boys basketball team that won the school's first State Championship.

 

The starting date for ticket sales will be announced this spring through the media and via the Hall of Fame website (MadisonCountySportsHoF.com). The price of tickets will be $25.

 

Tickets can also be secured as a benefit by becoming an official sponsor of the Madison County Sports Hall of Fame. Individuals and businesses are invited to join at one of three levels-- Fan Level ($100-249), comes with two banquet tickets; the All-Star Level ($250-499), comes with four tickets; or the MVP Level ($500 and above) comes with a full table with eight tickets. To become a sponsor, visit the official website to complete and return the sponsorship form that can be found on the website.