The Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame added four members Monday and honored student-athletes from Floyd County schools Monday at Berry College's Krannert Center.

This year’s new members are Lamar Wright (Professional Athlete), Ray Brown (Amateur Athlete), Hugh Selman (Lifetime Achievment), and the late Nick Hyder (Lifetime Achievement).

“These men and women represent outstanding contributions to sports and the community,” said Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority chairman of the board Jerry Lee. “It’s unsurpassed.”

Wright was honored as a Professional Athlete and recognized for his professional baseball career.

He was drafted upon graduation from Shorter College in 1974 by the California Angels and ultimately reached AAA level.

He made rapid strides through the Angels organization in less than two full seasons.

Brown was honored as an Amateur Athlete and recognized for his outstanding prep career in high school where he was a member of two state-champion football teams in 1977 and 1978. After accepting a football scholarship to Clemson, he became the first player in the school’s history to start at least one game in five different seasons. 

Selman was for Lifetime Achievement. Selman served as a coach at Armuchee High for 27 years and has been recognized for implementing coaching techniques that were way ahead of his time. He coached several championship girls’ softball teams and basketball teams. Selman was also responsible for forming several sports leagues for Armuchee including the school’s baseball team, and football team.

Hyder was honored for Lifetime Achievement to pay tribute to his coaching abilities as a high school coach. He began his coaching at West Rome where his career record was 302-48-5. He left West Rome in 1974 to become head football coach at Valdosta. His accomplishments led him to be inducted into the Carson-Newman College Hall of Fame, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Hall of Fame and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Fame. 

Ron Kennedy, the son of Hall of Fame member Paul Kennedy, accepted the award on Hyder’s behalf.

The event also honored several local student-athletes as nominees for the John Pinson Jr. Student-Athlete award.

Darlington’s Bailey Brock and Rome High’s Trey Turner earned the awards.

Other nominees for the boys were Armuchee’s Jonathan Mason, Model’s Marcus Alford, Coosa’s Barkley Wimpee, Pepperell’s Ben Davenport and Darlington’s Brad Butler.

Other nominees for the girls were Armuchee’s Heather Shore, Model’s Timia Reynolds, Unity Christian’s Mara Bryant, Coosa’s Elizabeth Mullenax, Pepperell’s Breanna Landers and Rome High’s Frannie Wilson.

“These young people are very special,” said Lee. They’re the best of the best.”