The Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame recently announced its 2024 class, featuring several notable legends from the area. On Saturday, June 8 at 6 p.m., the class will be formally inducted into the hall during a banquet at the Venue at Coosa Landing. Prior to the banquet, there will be a meet and greet event for attendees to mingle with the inductees.
Leading the class is Patrick Nix, a former star athlete from Etowah who is also the father of NFL and former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix. Currently serving as the head coach of Central-Phenix City, Nix led his team to victory in the Class 7A state football title in 2023. During his time at Etowah, Nix received All-state honors in 1990 and 1991, and went on to play at Auburn from 1992 to 1995.
The other headline inductees of the class are the Dudley brothers, all of whom excelled at Gadsden High School. Keith Dudley earned varsity letters in three sports and garnered all-state honors in basketball during his time there from 1986-88. James Dudley played for Gadsden High from 1977-79 and received an all-state honorable mention in basketball before helping lead Jacksonville State to the 1984 Division II National Championship. Anthony Dudley also played for Gadsden High and Alabama, achieving success on the court and playing professionally overseas.
Anne Renfrow, a local equestrian, will also be inducted into the hall for winning the Amateur Ladies Open World Grand Championship four times. Joining her in this year’s class is her sister Alburta Lowe, who won Amateur Celebration titles in both 1968 and 1969. Rounding out the class is Steve Copeland, known for his remarkable career at Gadsden High School and his later success at Georgia Tech, where he earned All-SEC honors in football in 1965
