By Doug Ireland
Central Louisiana has had a strong presence in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame for many years, but never like this year.
Alexandria’s Clifford Ann Creed was the first woman inducted in the Hall. The golf great, who won five state amateur titles and represented the USA in Curtis Cup competition before she joined the LPGA Tour in 1963 and won 11 titles, was enshrined in 1985.
Local names joining the ranks through the years include Billy Allgood, Charles Smith, Sheila Thompson-Johnson, Bobby Lowther, Janice Joseph, Russ Springer, Marie Gagnard, and sports journalists Bill Carter, Al Nassif, Lyn Rollins, Bob Tompkins and Philip Timothy. That’s not a full list but you get the idea – Cenla has star power.
The 2026 inductees include four local heroes – Bolton’s Warren Morris, Plainview High graduate Dewain Strother, and Tioga’s Kathy Holloway, and an hour up I-49, Mike McConathy of Northwestern State.
Add in other stars in the Class of 2026 like Saints’ receiver Joe Horn, LSU basketball icons John Brady and Sylvia Fowles, Tiger football standout Todd McClure, and MLB All-Star Jonathan Lucroy along with four-time Pro Bowler Pat Williams, and the induction festivities June 25-27 in Natchitoches will have plenty of sparkle.
Not to forget the now-traditional Friday, June 26 stop at All-Star Lanes in Alexandria for the annual BOM Bowling Bash, which will showcase the 2026 inductees along with a collection of other LSHOF members and state sports celebrities.
But there’s a new and rapidly approaching addition to the local events calendar – the LSHOF Foundation’s annual spring golf classic is coming to Links on the Bayou on Tuesday, May 12.
It will be officially announced soon, with entry info available at the LaSportsHall.com website. Induction weekend activities and ticket info is already there.
The event is not only an 18-hole golf scramble on The Links, but also features a Monday night tee party open to golfers and paid guests that will include an array of food and festivities, along with celebrities, all-stars and silent and live auctions of not only sports items and experiences, but some alluring merchandise, dining outings and other events that are uncommon but top-notch – and affordable in the auction format.
For quick insight on the May 11-12 festivities, reach out to Greg Burke, the LSHOF Foundation’s business and marketing man, based in Natchitoches but extremely familiar with Alexandria-Pineville and all of Cenla. He can be reached at gregburke@lasportshall.com or 318-663-5459 (cell).
The museum, at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches, will also putting its best foot forward in a few weeks. The Billy Cannon Trust has provided a vast collection of items from the life of LSU’s first Heisman Trophy winner.
“Billy Cannon: They Called Him Legend” has been on display at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge since December 2024, and recently closed at that state facility. It is making its way to the Natchitoches shrine and a grand opening will be announced soon for mid-May, with the exhibit expected to be displayed through the 2026 college football season.
That could pair very well with a trip to Natchitoches for next month’s Natchitoches Jazz Festival, or the weekly series of Front Street festivities that Louisiana’s oldest city stages for the enjoyment of visitors. Check the Natchitoches.com website operated by the City of Lights’ CVB that offers information on all upcoming attractions along with lodging and dining links.
While a trip up I-49 is highly recommended, with the Hall of Fame Golf Classic coming to the Links next month and the LSHOF Bowling Bash set for June 26, it’s an easy trip to get a first-hand personal experience rubbing elbows with sports stars and having a fun time doing it.
