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Banquet honors Hall of Fame inductees

• Five Albany greats are inducted into the city's Sport Hall of Fame.

Derek Barichello

ALBANY — At Monday night’s Albany Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, inductees did not speak of dreams as lofty — they spoke of them as reality.

Of the five athletes who were honored — Teresa Brown, Gordon Dixon, David McIntyre, Lester Sherman and Paul S Stephens — at the 22nd annual banquet, held at the Albany Civic Center, each made it clear through their cain their induction speeches there was nothing that was going to get in their way of making their dreams become a reality.

The running theme of MonCenter with crowded tables of family, old friends and coaches was exemplified from the very beRedskins.

Godfrey, who is from Lowand played football for the University of Georgia, talked about the adversity he had to go through to become the 11-year NFL veteran he is to Godfrey talked about his early days in the league but drew the greatest silence and attention when he talked about playing for the San Diego Chargers, when his dad called him and told him that his youngest sister, Deidra Miller, had been murdered.

“I told him I was done,” Godfrey said of his recollection of a phone conversation with Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer. “I was at an all-time low. For two weeks I stayed home, and the phone calls I received of those who wanted to reach out was un Then he received the most touching call of all from his teammate, LaDainian omlinfootball.

“He said, ‘Randall, you are our defensive captain, you have to come help us finish what we started’,” Godfrey said.

Godfrey responded with one of his best games and went on to help the Chargers to a play “That’s the message I want to give you young people, and some of you older people, you have to be prepared,” Godfrey said. “The true test is how you respond at the lowest point.”

He concluded: “If its believ After Godfrey spoke, Brown took the podium to give her thanks.

The standout Deerfield-Windsor basketball player, who went on to play for the University of Florida, talked about how special it was for the Albany Civic Center to host the women’s SEC Confergrowing up.

“That’s where my dream started,” Brown said. “I had a hospitality pass, so I would go back and see all the players. It was so special, and I knew from those experiences that that’s what I wanted to do.”

With the next speaker, Dixon, who was honored for his outstanding 37-year coaching career at Albany High School, the belief that anything was possible took a different twist.

Dixon talked about how he saw dreams come alive with his players.

“If there’s one thing I can say, it’s to believe in young people,” Dixon said. “I have a lot of kids that are doctors, lawyers, judges ... You might say I’m doing time.”

While Dixon spoke of the ability of young players, McIntyre told a story about just what young people can do, recalling a football game from his past.

McIntyre, who was honored for breaking the naval pole vault record, remembers being a quarterback barking out a play in the last instant that put his team ahead.

Following McIntyre, Joanne Moore spoke on behelf of her brother, Sherman, who was honored for his more than 3,000 yards as a running back at Albany State.

“I know he would’ve loved this,” Moore said. “Football was always his passion. It was always his dream to play foot Stephens was the final in erspec “It’s about going after your dreams,” Stephens said. “Hopeinduction into the Hall of Fame can keep our stoserve as an inspiration for others to reach their goals.”

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