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Lots of orange, some red at Hall of Fame
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Orange mingles with red Thursday at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Big Red Machine icon Johnny Bench gets a crash course in "Big Orange Country" lore and legend at the 27th annual Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Bench is the featured speaker, but the night belongs to 10 new inductees. Included is a heavy contingent of former University of Tennessee greats and one current head coach.
About to begin his 17th season as football coach at UT, Phillip Fulmer headlines the 2008 class along with former UT teammates Tim Priest and the late Jackie Walker.
Two other UT football players, Ron McCartney (1973-76) and Mack Gentry (1962-66), are among the inductees.
They are joined by former Cincinnati Reds player Buddy Gilbert; Lady Vols basketball player Lisa McGill Reagan; Furman and UT distance runner Coppley Vickers and golfers Ricky Gregg and Randy Wylie.
Don't be surprised by the Jason Witten sighting either. The former UT star and Pro Bowl tight end with the Dallas Cowboys will be there to accept his Professional Athlete of the Year award.
Jackie Coward of West High School and Glory Johnson of Webb are the Female High School Athletes of the Year.
Will Coley of West and Brandon Tarr of CAK are the Male High School Athletes of the Year.
Former Reds manager Dave Bristol will introduce Bench, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and considered one of the best catchers of all time.
Bench was a 14-time National League All-Star and league MVP in 1970 and 1972.
Proceeds from the GKSHOF dinner and induction ceremony go to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.
An auction is also planned with some of the items up for bid including two tickets each to the SEC and BCS championship games, a Peyton Manning signed Colts' jersey, and other autographed items supplied by Fulmer, Johnny Majors, Pat Summitt, Bruce Pearl and Chad Pennington.
The event is sold out.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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