FHS inducts first Hall of Fame recipients

Ed Richburg, Bodie Hammond, Cassie Lassiter and Bo Brantley were inshrined into the inaugural Flomaton High School Athletic Hall of Fame during pregame festivities Friday night.

FHS Principal Mark Harbison said the plan is to induct a new class to the Hall of Fame each year during football season. In addition to the presentation the school's homecoming court and crowning of the 2023 queen during pre-game festivities this Friday night, the Hurricanes' 1973 state baseball championship team will be recognized.

The Hall of Fame is designed to honor people for not only what they did while in school but their continued dedication and support of the school.

Richburg

Ed Richburg graduated from Flomaton High School in 1958 having lettered in football, basketball and baseball his sophomore, junior and senior years. He received all-state honors as a quarterback his junior and senior year. He also took home the Most Valuable Player award and was named team captain his senior year.

Under head coach James Gorum, during Richburg's senior year the Hurricanes posted a 9-1 record with its only loss against to T.R. Miller.

After graduating from FHS, Richburg declined an offer to play football at the University of Alabama and visited Auburn where he met Coach Shug Jordan and quarterback coach Vince Dooley.

Richburg is married to Nell Butler Richburg and the two will soon be celebrating their 65th anniversary. The Richburg's have four sons, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Richburg retired from Container Corporation/Jefferson Smurfit after 43 years.

Hammond

Bodie Hammond graduated from Flomaton High School in 1960. He played varsity football for four years and was part of the 1957 team that went 9-2 with Hammond being known as a hard-hitting, aggressive player.

Hammond has been married to his wife Lou Wanda Hammond for the past 56 years and they have three sons, Ronnie, Scott and Jeff, who are all Flomaton High School graduates and all won first team All-State football honors while at FHS.

Hammond retired after 33 years from L&N Railroad/CSX Railroad.

He has also spent most of his adult life committed to Flomaton athletics, having worked at the park for 15 years, has been a member of the Flomaton Quarterback Club for more than 50 years, helping with fundraising, working the concession stand and is known for his boiled peanuts.

Lassiter

Cassie Lassiter led the 2005 FHS girls' softball team to a 43-8 record and the Class 2A state championship and was crowned the 2A Player of the Year by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

During that historic 2005 season, Lassiter ended the season with a 0.76 earned run average and 268 strikeouts. She also hit 18 home runs and recorded 76 runs batted in. She was also named to the Mobile Register's Super 12 Team and the Alabama Sportswriters Association's all-state team. That same year she was named to the Super All-State Team and the state softball tournament's 2A Most Valuable Player.

Lassiter grew up participating in T-ball alongside male peers due to the absence of fast pitch softball for girls. She began her fast pitch softball journey in 1996 in Atmore. As an eighth grader in 2000 she jointed the Escambia County High School team and transferred to Flomaton in 2003 entering the 10th grade.

In addition to softball, Lassiter participated in varsity volleyball and basketball during her time at Flomaton High School.

She earned a softball scholarship to Chipola Junior College in Mariana. During the 2006 season she pitched 18 games and had a .463 batting average. The next year Chipola won the NJCAA Division 1 National Championship.

After Chipola, Lassiter went to Troy University and concluded her softball career at Brenau University, leading the team to its first conference title and a run in the NAIA softball championship tournament.

After softball, Lassiter joined Wind Creek's hospitality direct marketing department. While not playing softball any more, she was a volunteer softball coach at FHS and continues to coach young athletes in softball and basketball.

Brantley

A native and lifelong resident of Flomaton, Brantley has been married to Dorothy Courtney of McCall for 65 years. He has three children and six grandchildren who grew up participating in sports, band and cheerleading at Flomaton.

During his senior year at Flomaton High School in 1955, Brantley was approached and convinced to be the public address announcer at Flomaton's home football games. He occupied that seat in the press box for 55 years with his famous saying "Hold the deal, there's a flag on the field" that echoed every time that yellow flag hit the ground.

Known as the 'Voice of the Hurricanes', Brantley was also the public address announcer for Pee Wee football and prom promises. He also hosted radio shows such as the 'Coaches Corner', 'Pigskin Preview', 'Fearless Friday Forecast' and 'The Bo & KO Show'.

After putting down the microphone, Brantley has remained active in the Flomaton community. As a retired Woodman of the World representative, he continues to distribute American flags to the schools, fire departments and other civic groups throughout the county.

He serves on the board of directors of the Flomaton Area Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Escambia County Health Care Authority.

Brantley is active in Gideons International, Little Escambia Baptist Church and was recently honored by being named an honorary lieutenant with the Flomaton Volunteer Fire Department, with the call number 32.