The City of Prichard

Sports Leadership Hall of Fame 2008

	Patricia Gentry Edington was born in Mobile, AL. Her family moved to Chickasaw, Alabama during World War II where they remained until 1968. Mrs. Edington is a proud gradute of Vigor High School and Auburn University. She has received two Presidential appointments. In 1979, Former President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 1995 and again in 1997, Former President William J. Clinton appointed her as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference in Paris. In 1998, Edington was named First Lady of Mobile for her work with battered women, the Airport Authority and for her efforts in the field of Historic Preservation.
	Rev. Norvel Glover is a gradute of E. L. White Theological Seminary and Oakdale Bible College. His ministry began at St. Joseph Baptist Church in Prichard, Alabama where he was licensed, ordained and served as an Associate Minister. In 1979, he became the Assistant Pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. One year later in 1980, he was appointed as the Pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Rev. Glover worked for several private industries such as Alcoa Aluminum, L. L. & E. and Shell Chemical, all of which he retired from in good standing. Within the community, he has established many ministries and partners with various organizations to provide quality services to the community.
	Edna Bonner Rhodes was born in Camden, Alabama and moved to Prichard, Alabama in 1942 with her husband Virgil. She received a Bachelors Degree from the Alabama State Teachers College and a Masters Degree from Alabama State College. She also studied at Auburn University. She began her career with the Mobile County Public School System as a classroom teacher at Mobile County Training School where she taught for two years and Whitley Elementary School for nine years. She later served as the Assistant Principal at Trinity Gardens High School for a little over nine years. During the desegregation of the MCPSS she served as a curriculum and teacher placement supervisor at Barton Academy until she retired in 1983. A new elementary school in the Eight Mile area of Prichard was named in her honor. Collins– Rhodes Elementary School is named after former Mobile County Public School System Superintendent Harold Collins and Mrs. Rhodes.
	Dr. Lemuel Taylor Jr. was born in Prichard. He is one of twelve children and is a product of the Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS). He was the first member of his family to earn college degree by receiving an Associate Degree from Bishop State Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree from Alabama State University, a Masters Degree from Iowa State University and a Doctor of Education Degree from the University of Alabama. Dr. Taylor worked for the MCPSS as an educator, an Assistant Principal and a Principal. In 1971 he became the first African-American Assistant Superintendent for the MCPSS where he provided leadership in developing and implementing federally funded programs. He retired from the MCPSS in 1987 after 35 years of service. After retirement he was called to be the Senior Pastor of the Highpoint Baptist Church in Eight Mile, AL. As the Pastor of Highpoint Baptist Church, one of his main priorities was to provide quality programs to help the youth of the community become productive citizens. Under his leadership the church partnered with Volunteers of America and was awarded a $4.37 million dollar HUD grant which was used to build a low income 58 unit senior apartment complex that was opened in 2002. Dr. Taylor retired as Senior Pastor of the church in 2005. In honor of his hard work and dedication to the church and the community, the church bestowed upon him the title of Pastor Emeritus. Dr. Taylor continues to serve the community by serving on the University of Mobile’s Board of Governors for the RAM Kids Program which is a faith based mentor-oriented intervention program geared towards at-risk children in the City of Prichard.
	Ralph J. Taylor, III is a native of Mobile, Alabama and a graduate of Central High School. Taylor attended Alabama State University where he was selected each year to the All-Conference Baseball Team of the SIAC, as a second baseman. He signed professional baseball contracts with the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians. Taylor went on to a teaching and coaching career that spanned 36 years and 20 years respectively. He was selected as the High School Coach of the Year at Blount High School. Taylor was a baseball scout for the Houston Astor's and the Atlanta Braves. He has also served as host of the WALATV Sports Program, “Supportively Speaking.” He was the president of the Mobile County Basketball Association and the chairman of the prestigious John L. Finley Award for forty-two years. He earned a Distinguished Service Award in 2004 for forty-seven years of service as an AHSAA Official. Taylor is a member of The National Association of Sports Officials, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame and the Blount High School Hall of Fame.