Madison County Sports Hall of Fame
2023 Hall of Fame Members
Beverly Acker, Class of 2023, Swimmer
Beverly Acker earned five KHSAA state swimming championships while competing for Model Laboratory School from 1980 to 1984. She captured the 1981, ’82 and ’83 state titles in the 100-yard breaststroke and was a member of the ’80 and ’81 state championship 400-yard freestyle relay teams. She earned a spot on the 1981 USA National Junior Team and set records in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke events. In 1982, she swam for the USA Team in the World Championships in Ecuador and then won the 200-meter breaststroke at the National Championship in Indianapolis with the 2nd fastest USA time and the 9th fastest world time. Following high school, she attended the University of Florida and competed in the 1984 USA Olympic Trials.
Robert Brooks, Class of 2023, Basketball Player
Robert Brooks was an outstanding basketball player for Madison High School and EKU. He led the Royal Purples to the KHSAA State Tournament in 1969 and 1970. His 1970 performance ranks as one of the best in history as he scored 128 points and made 52 field goals to lead Madison High to the championship game. He was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball . He earned a scholarship to EKU where he helped lead the Colonels to the 1972 NCAA Mideast Regional in Knoxville.
Shirley Kearns, Class of 2023, Coach & Athletic Director
Shirley Kearns started the boys’ basketball program at Model Lab School in 1962 and led the Rebels/Patriots for 27 years before retiring in 1989. Prior to beginning his high school coaching career, Kearns played basketball for legendary coach Paul McBrayer at Eastern Kentucky State College from 1948 thru 1953 and helped lead the Maroons to its first Ohio Valley Conference championship in his senior year of ’53. Following graduation, he remained at Eastern and served as coach of the 1955-56 freshman team. In 1977, Model's gymnasium was named for Kearns.
Monty Joe Lovell, Class of 2023, Football Coach & Athlete
Monty Joe Lovell served as the head football coach at Madison High School for 11 years and compiled a 77-48 record while building a KHSAA Class A football power. His best season came in 1972 when the Purples had an undefeated regular season and finished 12-1, losing only in an upset to eventual Class A state champion Trigg County. During his coaching career, Madison captured four KHSAA Class A District II championships in 1971, ’72, ’78 and ’79 and three Region titles in 1972, ’78 and ’79. Lovell was voted Central Kentucky Conference Coach of the Year in 1972 and Class A Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1979.
Edwin Luxon, Class of 2023, Golfer and Basketball Player
Edwin Luxon was the starting guard and leading scorer on Model High School’s first two basketball teams in 1963 and 1964, and had an outstanding amateur golf career. He lettered for three years in golf at EKU and. was an eight-time Madison Country Club Champion, a six-time Madison Country Club Labor Day Invitational winner, and set the Madison Country Club record for lowest 18-hole score with 62. In his honor the top flight of the Madison Country Club Labor Day Invitational is named the Edwin Luxon Championship Flight. . For the past 33 years, he has been chairman of the Gibson Bay Golf Course Advisory Board.
Sandy Martin, Class of 2023, Four-Sport Coach at EKU
Sandy Martin was head coach of four EKU women’s sports teams during a 23-year span. She led the cross country, track and field, tennis and women’s golf teams, and was the first golf coach in school history. She was voted Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year five times, including twice in both track and field (1979 and 1980) and golf (1995 and 1996), and tennis (1992). From 1975 to 1981 Martin led EKU women’s cross country to sixth place in the AIAW National Championships, won four AIAW regional championships, captured four KWIC titles, and led EKU to two OVC crowns. She started the golf program and directed EKU to the 1996 OVC title and finished runner-up four times.
Buddy Roberts, Class of 2023, Basketball Coach and Player
Buddy Roberts started the boys’ basketball program at the newly consolidated Madison Central High School in 1955. During 10 years as the head coach, Roberts compiled a career record of 234-94. Roberts was a standout high school basketball player in Paris under famed coach Blanton Collier. He went on to earn a scholarship to Eastern Kentucky State College where he played for the famous Paul McBrayer from 1946-50. He helped lead the Maroons to a 50-17 record during his varsity career, including a 16-6 record, a No. 11 national ranking, and the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship in 1950. In 1996 he was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame.
Talbot Todd, Class of 2023, Football Player
Talbott Todd was the starting quarterback at Madison-Model High School from 1959 thru 1961 andled the Purples to a three-year record of 31-4 and a school-record 27 consecutive victories. Todd threw 32 touchdown passes, ran for 22 TDs, and kicked or ran for 35 extra points. He capped his career by being selected Class AA All-State by the Courier-Journal, MVP of the Recreation Bowl, and Wigwam Wiseman All-American. He went on to letter four years at Kentucky and led UK in pass interceptions with four in 1964 and made a game-saving fumble recovery to snap Ole Miss’ 22-game winning streak. He was inducted into the KHSAA Hall of Fame in 2001.
Roland Wierwille, Class of 2023, Basketball Coach & AD
Roland Wierwille served as the Berea College men’s basketball coach for an illustrious 30-year career from 1972-2002 in which he compiled a record of 464-334 and led the Mountaineers to the 1999 NAIA Div. II Final Four. He also served as Director of Athletics and golf coach during his Berea tenure. Prior to arriving in Berea, Wierwille served as the Transylvania University assistant basketball coach for seven years under C.M. Newton and Lee Rose. During his Berea tenure, Roland was chosen for the coaching staff of the U.S. Division I Team for the World University Games in Japan and the Jones Cup competition in Taiwan.
2023 Hall of Fame Teams of Distinction
1969-70 Madison High Basketball Team KHSAA State Tournament Runner-up
Front Row, from left : Bobby Griggs (manager), Charles Sweat, Eddie Freeman, Reggie Camp, Frank Parks, Randy Black, Shelby Winkler (manager); .back row: Ray Vencil (head coach), Donnie Catchings, Alex Embry, Howard Miller, Robert Brooks, Jimmy Curry, Tim Harris, Dwight Douglas, Jesse Ward (assistant coach)
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1982 Madison Central Baseball Team KHSAA State Tournament Champions (40-0)
Front Row, from left: Danette Wells (manager), John Mosley, Mike Adams, Marty Hembree, Lloyd Rhodus, Zeke Connor, Larry Gray, Jimmy Connor, Ricky Price; middle row, Tracy Powell (manager), Jimmy Kelly (manager), Jake Fields, David Acker, Jeff Cruse, Larry Agee, Russell Thomas, Karl Lainhart, Pat Black, Tommy Gross, Mike Crawford, Cynthia Tudor (manager); back row, Jimmy Whitaker (Assistant Coach), Cliff Winkler, Jeff Tevis, Scott Ward, Keith Kidd, Greg Jones, Gene Cruse, Greg Stephens, Ken Jones, Rick Congleton, Tim Black, Johnny Covington, Don Richardson (head coach).
