CCHoF Class of ’24
- Updated: February 23, 2024
Former Anniston standout Caver, part of six-member 2024 class, shares emotional Hall call with Howard, Grissom.
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD — Hall-of-fame inductee notifications can get emotional, and all involved had a moment during the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame’s call to Quinton Caver.
Emotion started with the former Anniston High football and basketball standout who went on to play football for the University of Arkansas plus three NFL teams and one CFL team. Hearing on the other end of the call, his former high school coach felt something in his eye.
Same for CCHoF board president Ken Grissom, also on the call.
“He was just so humble and grateful that we selected him,” said Brenard Howard, a CCHoF board member. “It brought both of us to tears.”
Caver is part of a six-member class that also includes:
—Jimmy Dew: Basketball player for Bethune High School (in Piedmont), Alabama State University, two NBA teams and the Harlem Magicians, later called the Globetrotters.
—George Hoblitzell: Piedmont High School football coach.
—Daphne Mobley Johnston: Volleyball standout for Donoho School and LaGrange College.
—Aaron Kelley: Basketball player for Oxford High School and Jacksonville State University.
—Schuessler Ware: Anniston High School basketball coach.
The 2024 class is the 19th, dating back to 2005. There was no class in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The six-member 2024 class will bring total inductees to 118. Induction is June 15 at the Oxford Civic Center.
Inductees have to be retired at least three years or at least 62 years old and still active. Ware came out of retirement to coach one season at Faith Christian and coached his last game in 2021.
Caver, Hoblitzell, Kelley and Ware were selected in their first year to be nominated.
Nominees come from the community, and the board selects inductees. The board’s bylaws do not allow members to make nominations.
Caver starred in football and basketball at Anniston. He played linebacker for Arkansas then with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys and the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats.
Caver’s hall call left an impression on Grissom.
“The moment with Quinton and Brenard was priceless,” Grissom said. “Just how Coach Howard impacted his life, and here we are, 20-30 years later, and it’s still coming up.
“Quinton made allusion to ‘not only me, coach, but my teammates and how you invested in us. You look at Quinton today, and he’s such a successful individual.”
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