CRESTVIEW — Five best of the best Crestview High School’s athletes were honored Friday in an induction ceremony into the Crestview High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Members of the Class of 2015 are Ray Bolton, the late Dr. Bobby Fountain, Dale Rice Jr., Shawn Todd and Becky Wells Tomlin. Bolton joins his son, Rodney Bolton, a 2014 inductee into the hall and Rice joins his father, Dale Rice Sr., a member of the inaugural 2012 class.
Fountain was a three-year starter on the CHS football team in the mid-1950s and played college ball at Florida State alongside Burt Reynolds and Lee Corso.
Bolton was a three-sport star in baseball, basketball and football at Crestview in the 1950s and played two years of junior college basketball. After college Bolton returned home to Crestview and served as a teacher, coach and official. He called two state championship football games.
“I’m just happy and overjoyed,” Bolton said. I just feel honored because I’m in it with my son and all these other great people that are going in today and have gone in in the past.
Rice, a 1977 CHS grad, played football, baseball and basketball for the Bulldogs. He went on to play junior college baseball at Enterprise State Junior College and Troy State University. He remains active with Bulldog athletics.
Rice was touched to be inducted with his dad.
“My dad was such a positive influence on so many people,” he said. “I saw him support kids whose parents didn’t and grandparents didn’t come and he was their dad too. He was just such a great player and great encourager and for me to be side-by-side with him now, that’s very special.
Todd was a standout offensive guard and defensive end on Crestview’s 2002 Class 3A state runner up football team. He also played basketball at CHS and attended Troy University where he played defensive end for the Trojans. He is currently a captain in the Air National Guard.
Todd said the honor ranked high in his many athletic achievements.
“It’s right there at the top any time you get to be honored and recognized,” he said “I’m very appreciative of the committee for voting me in.
“I had a lot of really good teammates and coaches. All I did was listen to their advice and do what the coaches told me to do and give my all and it worked out for me.”
Todd has plenty of good memories from the 2002 season, but one game stand out the most.
“The Pace game I had an interception and helped block a punt that helped us get into the playoffs,” he said. “For me that a was a really special game because I got to score a touchdown and for a lineman that’s always a big thing.
Wells Tomlin, a 2004 graduate, excelled on the Bulldog cross country and track teams. In 2002 she finished ninth in the state, the highest finish ever for a Crestview runner. Her time of 19:06 in the 5K is believed to still be the school record.
She ran collegiately for Valdosta State University.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Hall of Fame welcomes newest members