AD Jordan wants to start Jasper Co. School District Athletic Hall of Fame

Jasper County School District athletics director Michael K. Jordan intends to create an athletics hall of fame for the district.

Jordan said he plans to start the process by first organizing a committee to select and vote on potential inductees. He hopes to have a committee in place by the end of the year, with the first class to be inducted as part of the Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School homecoming celebration next fall.

The hall of fame will be open to anyone who played a significant role in athletics at one of the district's schools. It won't be limited to athletes.

"Cheerleaders, athletes, trainers, coaches, athletics directors," Jordan said. "Anyone who was involved that deserves the recognition."

Jordan initially hoped to put together a committee with two members from each of the district's current and former high schools. But that may be a little ambitious. There are more than 10 current and former schools in the district, including segregated black schools.

Those schools include Matthew E. West, West Hardeeville, Robertville, Jasper County Training School, Grays, Jasper, Jasper County, multiple incarnations of Hardeeville High, multiple incarnations of Ridgeland High and Ridgeland-Hardeeville.

Jordan, in just his second year in Jasper County, said he initially had no idea there were so many schools in the county's history. Still, he thinks the committee can have nomination forms ready by early 2016.

"There are absolutely some people in the community that have knowledge of and remember these schools," he said.

Once a committee is chosen, the committee will decide what qualifications a candidate must have to be elected.

Jordan wants to emphasize taking part in the process won't take a lot of someone's time.

"With the way technology is now," he said, "we may not even have to get together. They may not even have to be in town."

Once a class of inductees is chosen, Jordan envisions a get-together or meet-and-greet on Thursday night before homecoming for food and drinks. The inductees would be introduced at the football game.

Despite a tight budget, Jordan is certain the district can make it happen.

"We're hoping for some sponsors," he said.

"The budget is tight, but we deal with a lot of vendors in the district that I am certain would like to give back and sponsor this event."

Eventually, Jordan hopes the district could award some sort of scholarship in conjunction with the induction for one male and one female student-athlete in the district.

"It's really all about education," he said.

To nominate someone or volunteer to serve on the Jasper County School District Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee, contact Jordan at mjordan@jcsd.net.

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 10:08 AM with the headline "AD Jordan wants to start Jasper Co. School District Athletic Hall of Fame."