Marion County Sports Hall of Fame 2018 honorees inducted

HAMILTON - The 25th class induction of the Marion County Sports Hall of Fame was conducted Saturday, Aug. 4, at the  Bevill Center, in Hamilton. The following are the Phillips High School honorees:

Phillips

• Mark Crumpton attended Phillips High School from 1997-2003. He played basketball for coach Steve Pike for five years and started every game during his junior year. As a football player, Crumpton played for Gary McCarley and Jonathan Raper, Chris Gillum and James E. Glass. He started playing football in the fourth grade and played nine straight years. He won a league championship in youth football and a conference championship in junior varsity. As an eighth-grader, Crumpton started playing on varsity as a free safety and kick returner. He helped the Bears advance to the second round of the state playoffs. In his freshman season, he started at tailback and free safety and rushed for over 500 yards, scored five touchdowns and intercepted three passes. As the starting tailback in his sophomore year, Crumpton rushed for over 1,100 yards and added 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He made the TimesDaily team as a safety and was selected as the team’s most valuable offensive back. As a junior, Crumpton started at tailback and safety while logging time as a linebacker. He rushed for over 1,250 yards and scored 15 times and also led the team in tackles. He was named the team’s most valuable player, a Birmingham News all-state running back and school’s who’s who most athletic. In his final season, Crumpton started at tailback and split time defensively as a safety and linebacker. He rushed for over 1,200 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He added eight interceptions--three of which he returned for touchdowns. He recorded 97 tackles to finish second on the team and made the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s all-state team as a safety. Crumpton was selected as the team’s most valuable player and was voted senior who’s who most athletic. Crumpton’s most memorable game came as a sophomore against Meek. He rushed for 228 yards and five touchdowns on 12 carries while intercepting two passes--one of which he returned for a touchdown, for a total of six touchdowns. As a varsity athlete, Crumpton was 6-foot-1, 185 pounds and was recruited by several schools as a safety. In his high school career, he was a three-time 1,000-yard rusher, two-time all-state selection, two-time TimesDaily team member and three-time Northwest Alabamian All-Star. Crumpton presently works at Component Specialties in Bear Creek, where he has been the last six years. He has helped coach park and recreation football and basketball at Bear Creek and enjoys watching Alabama football. Crumpton enjoys spending time with his two sons: Marcus, 15, and Taylor, 13. He enjoys taking them to numerous football games, working out with them and watching them play football and basketball. As a hobby, Crumpton collects sports memorabilia, especially football.

• Mary Alma Frix is a 2003 graduate of Phillips High School. She lettered four years in four different sports--volleyball, basketball, softball and track and field--from seventh-grade until her senior year. Frix was a member of the 2001 Class 1A state championship team at Phillips and led the team in serving aces during her junior and senior years. As a senior, she was named an honorable mention to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s all-state team as well as being named to the first team for All-Marion County and All-Northwest Alabama Conference tournament teams for two years. As a basketball player, Frix was selected to the Birmingham News all-state girls basketball first team in 2003 and was named to the second team in her junior season (2002). During her final two seasons, she led the She Bears in all major statistical categories and was named as the team’s most valuable player and team captain. She was also named to the All-Marion County and All-Northwest Alabama Conference tournament teams for two years. Frix also participated in track and field at Phillips for five years. She contributed primarily in the field events, such as shot put and discus. In 2003, Frix won first place at the area track meet in Muscle Shoals, which is the qualifying meet leading to the state track and field meet in Troy. She eventually finished fourth overall in the Class 1A girls discus event at the state meet. Additionally, Frix played softball for the She Bears and earned three Golden Glove Awards over four seasons and led the team in RBIs for two years. Frix was the recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman and was a finalist for the National Wendy’s High School Heisman award. She earned her bachelors degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and is employed at the Tuscaloosa Office of Public Defender. She is enrolled in graduate school at Alabama, where she is working on a masters degree in public administration. Frix is married to Josh Jackson and they have one son, Eli Bryant Jackson, who is in second-grade at Walker Elementary School in Northport.

• Sonny Frix is being inducted to the Marion County Sports Hall of Fame in the special category. Frix began his teaching career in 1970, where he taught physical education and served as the track and field coach at Central High School in Courtland. In 1971, he came home to his alma mater and taught social studies while helping coach junior high football. He later became the assistant principal and eventually served as principal from 1986 through 2000. During his tenure, he also served as the elementary principal for a brief time. As principal, Frix attended all athletic events--both home and away games--proudly supporting the Phillips Bears. To this day, he and his wife are advocates for Phillips High School. Frix graduated from Phillips in 1964 with perfect attendance for all 12 grades. He lettered four years in both football and baseball for the Bears. He was a member of the second graduating class at Northwest Alabama State Junior College, receiving an associates degree. He received his bachelors degree in physical education and history from Southeast Missouri State University in 1970. He earned his masters degree in administration and supervision from the University of North Alabama in Florence in 1976. Frix is married to Melinda Herring Frix. They are the parents of Lee (Elaine) Frix  and fellow 2018 Marion County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Mary (Josh Jackson) Frix. They have two grandchildren: Marlee Elaine Frix and Eli Bryant Jackson. He was selected as the Phillips High School Alumnus of the Year in 1992. In 1998, Frix was honored by the Alabama Association of Future Homemakers of America as Administrator of the Year for the state.

• Bart Phillips is a 1997 graduate of Phillips High School. He was a three-sport athlete for the Bears. He lettered in football, basketball and track and field under coaches Gary McCarley, Steve Pike and his father, James Phillips. Phillips was named All-Marion County and all-area for football as well as being named to the Northwest Alabamian All-Star team and an honorable mention selection to the TimesDaily Classes 1A-3A team. He received numerous team awards for his play as a starter on both sides of the ball, starting defensively as a cornerback for three seasons and offensively at wide receiver for one year and his final two seasons at quarterback. He was also named a team captain. Phillips was a utility player for the Bears basketball team. Over his career, he started at all five positions. He received All-Marion County and All-Northwest Alabama Conference honors in

 basketball. He was also named the defensive player of the year, received a leadership award and was named a team captain. He received All-Marion County and All-Northwest Alabama Conference honors in track and field for three years. He was a two-time Mr. Track Award winner and a runner-up for the award. He had over 30 Top 3 finishes and seven Top 10 state finishes. After graduation, Phillips was a volunteer for the Bears’ football team.

He worked in the press box as the play clock operator for 17 seasons. He graduated from Northwest-Shoals Community College and the University of North Alabama in Florence with a degree in marketing. He is a cattle auctioneer and farmer. He currently lives in Mount Hope with his son, Paxton. Phillips is a member of Spruce Pine Church of Christ, where he serves as a Bible school teacher and song leader.