2019 inductees in the Todd County High Schools’ Hall of Fame were announced this week by the hall of fame committee, said Fred Harper, chairman of the committee. They are Howard Gorrell, William Claude Hightower, Henry C. Malone, and Verbena Beanie Groves Miller.
Harper said the names were chosen by an anonymous selection committee. The nominations were solicited publicly this year and last year.
The recipients or their families will receive the awards at an event early next year.
Individuals who were nominated but not selected this year will remain eligible indefinitely for selection. Anyone can nominate a person for the hall of fame by getting a nomination form from the Todd County Board of Education or emailing Fred Harper at [email protected]
2019 inductees:
Howard Gorrell
Mr. Gorrell was a 1955 graduate of Elkton High School. During his time at EHS, he played basketball for 4 years, scored over 2,000 points, made All District Tournament team his sophomore, junior and senior years. He attended Austin Peay State University where he lettered 4 years, scored over 1,000 points, was selected to the All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference team twice, and named conference MVP in 1960. He helped lead the Governors to 4 consecutive VSAC championships, appearance in the NAIA, and NCAA tourneys, and was selected to All-NAIA tourney team 1960. Howard finished fifth in the nation in free throw shooting. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from APSU. In 1960 he entered the field of education as teacher and coach winning 8 district championships, and runner-up twice in the region. Mr. Gorrell was principal of Auburn High School, first principal of Logan Co. High School before serving as superintendent of Todd County Schools 1987-93. His love of sports continued as a high school basketball official in KHSAA, then college level for the OVC and NCAA tournaments. Howard served as a Todd Co Fiscal Court magistrate, member of the Todd Co Board of Education and a member of Pleasant Hill Methodist Church.
William Claude Hightower
Mr. Hightower attended Claymour School and Vanderbilt Training School of Todd County. He received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Western Kentucky State College. Upon graduating from college, taught and became principal of Sharon Grove, Kirkmansville, and Guthrie schools. At age 31, Claude was elected Superintendent of the Todd County School District. He was once the youngest school superintendent in the state of Kentucky. After a merge of districts, he became the first and longest tenured superintendent of the Todd County Board of Education, 35 years. Claude oversaw a mass consolidation of county schools through construction of new schools; grades 1-12, in Clifty, Elkton, Guthrie and Trenton, mostly funded through the WPA of President Franklin Roosevelt and the final phase of Todd Training School. He later became principal of Belmont Elementary School in Hopkinsville. He was president of Rotary, a member of KEA, NEA, Kentucky Elementary Principal’s Division, served on Todd/Logan Water District, chairman of the Todd County Bookmobile Committee, and a member of Petrie and Pleasant Hill United Methodist churches.
Henry C. Malone
Mr. Malone attended Guthrie school, grades 1 – 12. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy spending time in the Pacific theater during World War II. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Science from Austin Peay State University and a master’s degree from George Peabody College. Mr. Malone served as Principal of the Guthrie school for seven years before taking over as Superintendent of Todd County Schools for seven years. As Superintendent, he was instrumental in a consolidated high school, TCCHS, as well as taking the school system through the period of desegregation. He continued in education as the Assistant Director of Field Services, and Director of Alumni Affairs at APSU until retirement in 1987. His service continued with a four-year term on the Todd County school board. He and his wife continue to enjoy their lives in Guthrie, today.
Verbena “Beanie” Groves Miller
Mrs. Miller attended school in Todd County until her graduation from Elkton High School in 1945. Beanie attended both Transylvania University and Western Kentucky University declaring physical education as her major. While attending Transylvania she served as playground director in a lower-income section of Lexington. Beanie also taught at Clifty Elementary School while completing her college degree. At WKU she assisted in the Physical Education Department. Her love of sports, lead to the idea of the Todd County Recreation Center and a youth baseball program. She was instrumental in organizing the Food Stamp program of Todd County. Following her retirement from the Kentucky Department of Human Resources, she continued serving her community as treasurer of the Milliken Memorial Community House project, member of the Todd Co Health Board, volunteer at Elkton Senior Citizens, head of Todd County Sesquicentennial and the first woman deacon of Elkton Christian Church.