Gray inducted into KHSAA Hall of Fame

Legendary Lady Tiger coach Donnie Gray has been inducted into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame announced Wednesday.
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association will induct its Class of 2025 into the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame presented by Roberts Insurance on Sunday, May 4, at the Central Bank Center Ballroom in Lexington. With the introduction of this year’s 12-member class, the Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame has grown to 529 all-time members since its inception in 1988. Tickets to the Induction Ceremony will be available for purchase at a later date on khsaatickets.org.

Donnie Gray, Clay County (Coach) – Donnie Gray coached the Clay County girls’ basketball team for 21 years. During his tenure, he accumulated a record of 505-142 (.780), 11 District 49 championships and nine Region 13 championships. The crowning jewel of Gray’s career was leading the Lady Tigers to victory in the 1989 Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16®, complemented by runner-up honors in 1992 and semifinalist honors in 1993. Gray was twice named Associated Press Coach of the Year and earned Region 13 Coach of the Year honors four times.

Darren Bilberry, Fort Knox (Athlete) – A three-sport standout and 1985 graduate of Fort Knox, Darren Bilberry contributed to the Eagles’ first-ever state titles in the sports of football and track & field. Behind 1,150 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior, Bilberry helped to guide Fort Knox to its first football state championship appearance and the 1983 Class 2A crown. As a senior, Bilberry rushed for 1,567 yards and 32 touchdowns en route to a 1984 Class 2A runner-up finish. In addition to excelling on the basketball court, Bilberry was a major contributor to the Eagles’ back-to-back Class 1A Track & Field State Championships as an upperclassman, winning the 400-meter dash and anchoring the 400-meter relay winners in 1985. Upon graduation, Bilberry received a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky.

Clark Burckle Jr., St. Xavier (Athlete) – Clark Burckle Jr. is a 2006 graduate of St. Xavier, where he earned 11 state championships as a swimmer. He was a 13-time All-American and two-time Kentucky Swimmer of the Year in high school, capped off by a 2006 national championship victory in the 100-yard breaststroke. In three seasons at the University of Florida and one season at the University of Arizona, Burckle Jr. earned 11-time NCAA All-America recognitions and the 2010 200-yard breaststroke NCAA title. As a member of Team USA, Burckle Jr. claimed sixth place in the 200-yard breaststroke at the London 2012 Summer Olympics.

Robert “Bobby” Curtis, St. Xavier (Athlete) – As a 2003 graduate of St. Xavier, Robert “Bobby” Curtis won 14 combined individual state championships across the sports of cross country and track & field. In addition to his two cross country team state championships, Curtis himself earned three consecutive Class 3A titles from 1999 to 2001 before finishing as runner-up his senior season. Curtis collected 11 more individual state titles in track & field for his efforts in the 800-meter run, 1600-meter run, 3200-meter run and 4×800-meter relay, as well as three consecutive Class 3A team state championships with the Tigers. Curtis received a scholarship to compete in both sports at Villanova University, where he won the 2008 NCAA championship for the 5,000-meter and two Big East individual championships in track & field, as well as two Big East individual championships in cross country.

Phil “Cookie” Grawemeyer, DuPont Manual (Athlete) – A 1952 graduate of DuPont Manual, Phil “Cookie” Grawemeyer led the Crimsons to back-to-back berths in the Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16® as an upperclassman. He was an All-State selection in both seasons, as well as a pitcher on DuPont Manual’s 1952 state championship baseball team. Grawemeyer went on to play basketball at the University of Kentucky under head coach Adolph Rupp.

James “Joe” Hamilton, Dunbar (Athlete) – James “Joe” Hamilton was a 1966 graduate of Dunbar, where he earned All-American and All-State honors on the basketball court behind an average of 24.5 points per game. After high school, Hamilton twice earned Junior College All-American honors at Southwestern Christian College (Texas), where he led the nation in scoring with 31.5 points per game before moving on to a Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year senior campaign at what is now the University of North Texas. Hamilton was drafted in both the ninth round of the 1970 NBA Draft and the fourth round of the 1970 ABA Draft, competing for six seasons as a professional.

Billy Hicks; Evarts, Harlan, Corbin, Scott County (Coach) – With a record of 1,021-268 (.792) over 38 seasons at Evarts, Harlan, Corbin and Scott County, Billy Hicks is the all-time winningest boys’ basketball coach in KHSAA history. Hicks led Scott County to Boys’ Basketball Sweet 16® victories in 1998 and 2007, as well as 14 region championships.

Stephanie Livers, Elizabethtown (Athlete) – A 1992 graduate of Elizabethtown, Stephanie Livers swam to six individual state titles, as well as a team state title, in a two-time All-American career with the Panthers. Livers was an 11-time Junior National qualifier and 12-time Senior National qualifier, earning 13 NCAA All-America selections at the University of Tennessee.

George Randolph, Owensboro Catholic (Coach) – In 22 years as softball head coach at Owensboro Catholic, George Randolph led the Lady Aces to a slow-pitch state championship in 1996 and fast-pitch state championships in 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2009. Owensboro Catholic made four state semifinal appearances overall, finishing as runner-up in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2013. Randolph’s tenure included 13 consecutive and 17 total region championships, as well as 16 district titles. Randolph was a National Coach of the Year finalist in 2018.

Greg Todd; Berea, Lexington Catholic (Coach) – In 14 seasons as a girls’ basketball head coach, Greg Todd amassed a record of 391-80 (.830). Beginning his career at his alma mater, Todd led Berea to an unprecedented 20 wins in each year of his tenure and an appearance in the semifinals of the1998 Girls’ Basketball Sweet 16®. In seven seasons at Lexington Catholic, Todd accumulated the most victories in the Commonwealth of Kentucky over the span and earned state championship crowns in 2001, 2005 and 2006 in addition to two runner-up finishes. The Lady Knights won six Region 11 titles, capped off by a No. 3 national ranking and National Coach of the Year honors for Todd in 2006. Todd went on to coach collegiately at three Kentucky universities, including Transylvania, Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky.

Susan Shields White, Eastern (Athlete) – A 1970 graduate of Eastern, Susan Shields White was a four-year swimming state champion in both the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley. At just 16 years old, Shields White followed up an All-American high school season with a bronze medal in the 100-yard butterfly at the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics.

Beth Vice Barrier, Montgomery County (Athlete) – A 1998 graduate of Montgomery County, Beth Vice Barrier remains her school’s all-time leading scorer in the sport of girls’ basketball. As a five-year starter, Vice Barrier earned her first of four consecutive All-State accolades as a freshman. As a junior, she was the 1997 Region Player of the Year with a scoring average of 22 points per game. She earned Kentucky “Miss Basketball” honors as a senior, as well as back-to-back Region Player of the Year recognition for her averages of 25 points, five assists and five rebounds per game. Vice Barrier became the first girls’ basketball player in Montgomery County history to have her jersey retired and scored over 1,000 points at the collegiate level for the University of Alabama.