ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

The UMS-Wright Athletic Hall of Fame induction was held on October 29, 2021. We were proud to induct (L to R) Paul Williams '81, Allen Aubin '05, Robert Willett '11, Alex Reaves Shirley '11, Parker Shearer '11, and Jeff McGowin '75 for their outstanding contributions to UMS and UMS-Wright sports programs as well as their athletic successes in college and career.

As a member of the UMS-Wright Class of 2011, Alex Reaves Shirley’s contributions to UMS-Wright’s Athletics were numerous, varied and influential. Her most memorable achievements in sports centered around her excellence in track and field. She was a member of the Team State Championship in Track and Field and won the Individual State Championship in pole vault in 2009, 2010 and 2011. At the 4A State Championship in 2010 and 2011, she set both the school and state records in the pole vault competition. Her numerous awards include: Little Big Dog in 2007, Arlene Jones Award in 2010, Lisa Drew MVP in 2010 and 2011, and the US Army National Scholar Athlete Award in 2011. She then attended Auburn University, where she competed as a collegiate pole vaulter as a member of their Track and Field Team.

Paul Williams graduated from UMS in 1981 after excelling in track and field as well as achieving high honors in academics. Paul joined the UMS Cross Country and Track and Field teams his freshman year. He was All-State and All-County in Cross Country in both his junior and senior years. During his senior year, the UMS Cross Country team won the 1980 State Championship, the first such championship for UMS. Although Paul performed well in Cross Country and Outdoor Track, Indoor Track’s more tactical environment is where he truly excelled. He won the Alabama Indoor State Track Championships two-mile run in 1980 and 1981, while setting a state record. The 1981 team won the state championship in Indoor Track, the first UMS team to win a track state championship. He set the record for the two-mile run in indoor track and won medals at numerous events, including bronze medals at the 1980 Alabama Outdoor State Track Championships two-mile run and one-mile relay and gold and bronze medals at the Southeastern Relays. After graduation, Paul attended the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1985. He earned his wings as a Naval Flight Officer and served on active duty until 1995. Dr. Jeff McGowin, a member of the UMS Class of 1975, has been the team doctor for UMS-Wright for over twenty years. Since 1988, UMS-Wright has enjoyed a period of extraordinary success in athletics. While outstanding coaches, dedicated athletes, and remarkable facilities have played a prominent role in the many successes; one great contributing factor has been the exemplary, dedicated work of the medical and training staff. Team doctors in particular have been a major asset that has separated UMS-Wright from rivals. In particular, Dr. McGowin has served in this capacity in a manner that has left a lasting impression on UMS-Wright athletes, the athletes’ parents, and numerous coaches. Even after his elder son Joseph had finished playing football and his younger son Alex played basketball instead, he continued to serve as the football team’s sideline physician as well as serving the other UMS-Wright teams. Impressively, he has been a fixture at both home and away football games throughout his years of service.

Robert Willett graduated from UMS-Wright in 2009 and excelled at both cross country and track and field. As a member of the UMS-Wright Varsity Cross Country and Outdoor and Indoor Track and Field teams, he was both an individual and team state champion. He is part of two record-holding relay teams, 4x400 and 4x800, at UMSWright. His numerous awards at UMS-Wright include: Outdoor Track and Field MVP in 2008 and 2009, 3A-5A Optimist Club Runner of the Year, Mobile Press Register Athlete of the Year, Cross Country Team Captain in 2006 and 2008, Track Team Captain in 2009, Former 4A Outdoor State record holder in 800M, and most points scored in outdoor track in 2008 and 2009. Robert’s impressive achievements on the track at UMS-Wright preceded his very successful cross country and track and field career at Birmingham-Southern College from 20092013. During his time at Birmingham-Southern, he became the Indoor Track Division III NCAA All-American in the 800m in 2012 and 2013 and the Outdoor Track Division III NCAA National Champion in the 800m in 2013. He also holds the college record in the 800, 1500, mile, and 4x400 meter relay. In 2013, he received the Larry D. Striplin Athlete of the Year Award, an honor given annually to one male and one female student-athlete. In 2018, he was inducted in Birmingham- Southern’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Parker Shearer '11 contributed immensely to the school’s athletic program as a two-sport athlete. He excelled in basketball and had a highly successful career for which he is fondly remembered. His numerous achievements on the basketball court as a three-year letterman include: AllArea from 2009-2011, All-County from 2009-2011, Top Rebounder Award 2009-2011, Optimist Club 4A Player of the Year in 2011, and the Beverly R. “Ruff” Wilson MVP Award in 2011. For four years, Parker lettered in varsity track and field. He was All-State in high jump his junior year and All-State in four events his senior year. He finished second place overall in the decathlon his senior year, and he still holds the school record for this event. All his successes and achievements on the track and field team led him to receive the Coach Galle Top Dog Award and the Press Register AllRegion First Team in 2011. The full range of Parker’s athletic skills was further displayed when he moved on to Auburn University, where he received a scholarship for track and field during his sophomore season. In addition to this, he also finished in the top eight in the multi events and scored in six of the seven SEC Championships in which he competed. He was on the 2014 All-SEC Second Team for indoor track and field after finishing third in the heptathlon at the SEC Championship. Parker also received the Coaches’ Award after the 2015 track season and was voted as team captain his senior year.

As a member of the UMS-Wright Class of 2005, Allen Aubin participated in both football and baseball. In football, Allen was the team’s quarterback and he was a member of the 2001 and 2002 Football State Championship Teams, and also received the Mobile Register All-Region Football First Team in 2003, and the Bruce Filippini Award in 2004. In baseball, Allen played the demanding role of catcher. In addition to setting a career RBI record, he won the James Red Leachman Award, was a ASWA All-State Honorable Mention and on the AHSAA North South All-Star Team in 2005. He attended the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he was a member of the UAB Baseball Team from 2007-2009 and was on the Big South Conference Championship Team in 2008.