The Department of Athletics hosted the 2021 Hall of Fame induction ceremony June 12 in Trustmark Arena in the McChesney Student Activity Center honoring former Falcons who made a lasting impact, whether from athletic accomplishment or meritorious service. The 11-member Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame committee was tasked with selecting some of the best individuals to ever wear the purple and gold. The 2021 class joins an elite group of Montevallo Hall of Famers that now includes 128 individuals and six teams.
The evening began with a welcome from Brett Batchelor, a former golf student-athlete who graduated the month prior to the event, and sports radio personality Jim Dunaway ’88 served as the event’s emcee.
The following inductees were named to the Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021:
Troran Brown ’15 was a three-year member of the men’s basketball team from 2012-2015. The Phoenix, Arizona, native led the Peach Belt Conference with 19.6 points with 6.1 assists per game in 2014-2015, ending his career with the all-time assists record for Montevallo and the conference. During his senior season, Brown was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year for the second time in his career. He was also named an NABC All-American, Basketball Times First Team All-American, Division II Bulletin Second Team All-American, Daktronics Third Team All-American, Conference Commissioners Association Third Team All-American, the Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year and an NABC First-Team All-Southeast District selection.
Buffie Burson ’89, M.Ed. ’91, a two-year letter winner as a member of the women’s basketball team, began her legendary coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Montevallo. After her time at UM, the St. Louis, native spent three years as an assistant coach at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. In 1994, Burson was named head coach at the University of North Georgia where she has remained since. In 26 years as the North Georgia head coach, Burson has posted 21 winning seasons, 12 national tournament appearances and four NCAA tournament appearances.
Robert C. “Bob” Chapman ’63 was a member of the inaugural club basketball program at Montevallo and a former UM Foundation Board member. He completed his bachelor of science in chemistry with minors in biology and math and graduated from Alabama College in 1963. After receiving his master of science degree in Hospital and Healthcare Administration at UAB, he began a 37-year career in healthcare administration. Chapman is a former president and CEO of Eastern Health System in Birmingham.
Kevin Fowler ’91 was a pitcher for the UM baseball team from 1986-1989. Fowler made history on March 23, 1989, when he threw the only perfect game in Montevallo history against Baldwin Wallace University. His time at Montevallo is reflected throughout the record books with multiple achievements including first in career innings pitched with 311.1, second in career wins with 26, second in career strikeouts with 201, second all-time in career appearances with 74, second in career games started with 46 and third in career complete games with 18. Fowler went on to be selected by the Texas Rangers in the 37th round with the 948th pick in the 1989 MLB Draft.
Brendan Ledgeway ’13 was a goalkeeper for the UM men’s soccer team for four years. During his time at UM, Ledgeway established several season and career records that still stand today including the lowest career goals against average, the longest scoreless streak in a season, most career shutouts and most career wins in Falcon history. In 2013, Ledgeway’s senior season, he was named Second Team Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region and Third Team NSCAA Division II All-Southeast Region.
Tammy Richardson ’80, a graduate of Selma High School, was a student assistant for the volleyball team from 1976-1980. Richardson has become the winningest high school volleyball coach in the history of Alabama high school athletics. She has earned more than 1,400 victories and played a key role in the development of the AHSAA Volleyball Elite Eight tournament. Richardson has spent more than three decades in the sport of volleyball with coaching stints at several high schools in Alabama.
Chris Stewart ’92 has been a broadcaster since 1988. In 2009, he was honored with the UMNAA Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award for his exceptional career in the broadcasting field. Stewart is in his 19th season as The University of Alabama’s men’s basketball play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide Sports Network. In addition to his role as the voice of Crimson Tide basketball, the Fairfield native also serves as the broadcast host for CTSN’s radio coverage of Crimson Tide football and is the television host of “The Nick Saban Show” and “The Nate Oats Show.” He is also the play-by-play announcer for UA baseball.
