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FEATURES
Six honored with ASD Hall of Fame inductions
Laura Nation Atchison
09-26-2006
The Alabama School for the Deaf has inducted six new members into its Hall of Fame for exellence in football, track and leadership.
The Hall of Fame was formed in 1985 and with the new inductees, has 62 coaches, athletes and others who have brought lasting fame to the Alabama School for the Deaf through their exceptional feats.
Induction ceremonies were held Sept 16 with a luncheon in the Teague Student Center.
The new members are Davis Timms, Wyatt J. Wolfe, Roger Bell, Joe Faulkner, Benjamin Onderdonk and Kelley Smith.
Timms, from Royston, Ga., enrolled in Alabama School for the Deaf in 1954 at age 7. In 1963, he joined the ASD football team and became one of the greatest linemen in ASD history and wasknown as the “awesome fearsome.”
Running backs, pass protection defense during the next football seasons, ASD defeated stronger and larger area teams. As a running back in 1965 and 1966, Timms was one of the 11 All County Team members in Talladega.
After graduating, Timms worked with the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. He is married to the former Martha Warlick. The couple has a son,
A native of Mobile, Wolfe lost his hearing at age 3 due to a high fever,
Wolfe was one of the most athletic players in ASD sports history and played football and basketball and also ran track. He excelled in all sports.
Wolfe played football from 1958 until 1961 and was a member of the 1953 Mason Dixon championship basketball team. He also set a new county record for the mile run.
After graduation, Wolfe worked as a printer in Fairhope and at the Mobile Press Register, later for The Washington Post and for the Government Printing Office for 27 years. Today, Wolfe is known as the best athletic player at ASD.
Roger Bell was born in Lincoln and entered ASD at age 5. He was a versatile lineman and guard for the Warrior Football Team. Bell was team captain for two years and was named to the All County Team in football his senior year.
After Bell graduated, he worked for First National Bank’s printing department in Birmingham and as a job coach for deaf consumers in Mobile. He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Russell.
Born in Chatom, Ala., Onderdonk lost his hearing due to fever associated with rubella. He enrolled in ASD in 1939 and participated in football, basketball and track from 1948 until 1953. He was the first Alabamian to take part in the International Olympics for the Deaf held in Brussels, Belguim in 1953. Onderdonk took part in track events, soccer and played basketball.
He graduated from ASD in 1955 and majored in business administration at Gallaudet. Following college, he worked at the Louisiana School for the Deaf, then transferred to Alabama and worked for a local bank. Onderdonk married Suzanne Donald and they had two children. He was involved with deaf and community organizations. Onderdonk died in 1989.
Cook Springs resident Joe Faulkner became deaf following an ear infection and started school at ASD in 1932. During his years in school he played guard and running back. During his second year, Faulkner also played as an end. He was “Most Valuable Player” in 1945 and 1946.
Faulkner was a member of the ASD Track and Field Team and was the fastest sprinter in the 100-yard dash.
Faulkner married Betty Poole in 1961 and had a son, Edward. He worked at a PellCity newspaper and then at The Anniston Star until retiring in 1992.
Faulkner died in 2003.
Born in Birmingham, Kelley Smith was deaf as a result of spinal meningitis. He entered ASD in 1933. Smith joined the football team and was known as a star quarterback, defensive back and halfback in 1945 and was the team captain. He also played basketball.
After graduating from ASD, Smith worked for The Birmingham News for 35 years and retired in 1990. He is married to Lillie Ruth Smith and has four children and five grandchildren.
Members of the ASD Hall of Fame Board of Directors are Jerry Smith, chairman; Charles Chappell. vice-chairman; Peggy Estes, secretary-treasurer; Patrick Robinson, member at large; and Simmie Slay, executive director.
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About Laura Atchison
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Laura Nation-Atchison is The Daily Home features editor.
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