During the research for one of my symposium presentations at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York I made an interesting discovery in Savannah, Tennessee.

Hank DeBerry, a former major league baseball player, the subject of my presentation, had been honored with the naming of a sports complex in his name featuring four baseball and softball fields. The bronze plaque honoring DeBerry could use a good cleaning, but the fields and the facilities were immaculate.

I started thinking about what sports facilities could be named here in Bedford County.

There is the basketball court at Shelbyville Central High School which bears the name of former girls’ basketball coach Rick Insell who created a dynasty before moving on to Middle Tennessee State University. The late James Cotham, known simply as “Coach” to most who knew him, has been honored with the naming of the court at Cascade Middle School for his many years of service as a coach, educator and administrator.

But there are so many other facilities which could be used to honor the contributions and accomplishments of those involved in sports in the county.

The accomplishments of the Bedford County Training School football team that posted a 78-0-4 record, including 52 straight shutouts, are honored at the Central High School football field. There were so many legendary players and coaches during that run from 1943-50 that is seems fit to honor them all collectively.

Later the school was renamed to honor Sydney W. Harris. In the early 1960s Jim Mitchell became a local star at Harris High. He went to play at Prairie View A & M. Mitchell played 11 years in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons and won All-Pro honors. He and his close friend and teammate Claude Humphrey, who passed away earlier this month, held free football camps here. Mitchell, whose health had been ravaged by diabetes lived out his last years in Shelbyville.

Charlie Coffey is another option. He played for the legendary General Robert Neyland at the University of Tennessee. He then went on to a distinguished college coaching career which included serving as a defensive line coach at Tennessee, defensive coordinator under Frank Broyles at Arkansas and a stint at Virginia Tech as head coach. Coffey returned to Shelbyville where he started a successful trucking firm.

Naming the field for one and the stadium for the other should be considered as options. Such decisions are left to the Bedford County School Board.

Glenn “Bo” Melson, the longtime sports editor of the Times-Gazette, covered local sports from junior pro and Little League through high school locally. He was a fixture on the sidelines of football games and next to the courts for basketball games and near the action at baseball games with his camera always ready. Naming the press box at Central High School for Melson would be a fitting honor. Naming the sports fields complex at H.V. Griffin Park for Melson would also be a possibility.

Chuck Taylor, from Bell Buckle, pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers. Cascade should recognize him by naming the baseball field in his honor.

There are many possibilities. Naming a list of people is always dangerous and I know there are others who could be considered for such honors. But all those mentioned have passed away. They need to be remembered for what they did.