2024

Countess Woody Carswell

Springville’s Countess Woody Carswell graduated from Springville High School in 1980. She lettered in volleyball, basketball and track and advanced to state track meets. She was able to accomplish all of that while being in the Tiger Marching Band until her senior year. That’s when she was chosen to be the Tiger cheerleader mascot. Carswell received a full four-year athletic scholarship to Troy University. As a track star at Troy, Carswell accomplished many feats and set numerous university records. She held the Troy high jump outdoor record of 5’10” until 2000, and it is still second best in Troy school history. She graduated from Troy in 1986 earning a BS Degree in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. She and her husband Harold have been married since 1987 and today, live in Troy. They have raised five sons – four of their own and her nephew. They have seven grandchildren from their four children and two grandchildren from their nephew. She was a volunteer high jump coach at Charles Henderson High School for many years. She was selected twice as a State Official for the state track meet held at Gulf Shores.

Terri Duckworth Dicino

Terri (Duckworth) Dicino graduated from St. Clair County High School in 1985. She played varsity volleyball and led the Lady Saints to a second-place finish in the 1984 Class 2A State tournament. She was named All-County, All-Area, and All-State her senior year. She was also on the varsity cheer team her senior year and was named Valedictorian of her class. Dicino went on to play volleyball for Arkansas State University (1985-1986). She then transferred to Auburn University for the 1987-1988 seasons where she was named team MVP both seasons, made the SEC All-Tournament Team, was the team’s season leader in aces and kills, and was nationally ranked in service aces. She continued to excel academically, earning Academic All-SEC, and SEC Honor Roll Scholar-Athlete. She graduated from Auburn with a B.S. in Criminology, then earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Alabama School of Law. After graduating, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and went on to have a 25+ year career with the Phoenix Police Department, honorably retiring in 2020. She and her husband, Marc, live in Arizona with his three children and two grandchildren. Terri and Marc are active in their church, Christ’s Church of the Valley.

Gene Ellison

Gene Ellison graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1960. He won state championships in football and track and was captain of all the sports he played at Sylacauga. He earned a scholarship to play football at Livingston State where he made All-Conference three years and was captain for two years. He graduated in 1964 with a BS Degree in Education. His coaching career started at Choctaw County for one year as an assistant football coach. For the next three years, Ellison was an assistant coach at Woodlawn High and then he was the offensive coordinator at Huffman four years. Ellison’s first head coaching job was at Pell City in 1974. He led the team to a 10-3 record that first year and went to the semifinals in the playoffs. From 1974-79, Ellison had an overall record of 29-25 at Pell City. He also started the Pell City girls’ basketball program in 1975. Ellison was head football coach at Mountain Brook from 1979-1992. He then moved to Florida where he coached at Woodham, Northview and Crestview. Ellison and his wife Anna were married 62 years before she passed in January 2021. They have three children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

James “Monte” Montgomery

Odenville’s James “Monte” Montgomery graduated from St. Clair County High School in 1983 where he lettered four years in football and wrestling and three years in baseball. Montgomery played football for Samford University from 1984- 87. His coaching career started in 1989 and lasted until 2016. Twenty-three of those years were spent in the St. Clair County School System coaching football, baseball, golf and track. Four years were spent coaching football and baseball in the Cherokee County School System. In 2022, Montgomery was inducted into the Samford University Sports Hall of Fame. He and his wife Christy have been married one year. They are members of 180 Church in Springville.

Dennis Ruple

Springville native Dennis Ruple graduated from Springville High School in 1991. He was a member of the SHS Track Team from 1987-1990. He won the 1988 Academic and Athletic Achievement Award. He was named the 1989 MVP of the Section 8 Track; 1988-89 Springville MVP Outdoor Track; and 1990 MVP State Indoor Track Section 3. Pole vault was his specialty as he won a Bronze medal and a Gold medal in the state events. He was named most improved track member. Ruple and his wife Rizza have been married 25 years and live in Crystal, Minnesota. They have two daughters.

Mark Sanders

Ashville’s Mark Sanders graduated from Ashville High School in 2001. He played football his final two years at Ashville making All-County both years, All-State Honorable Mention his junior year and First Team All-State his senior year along with being a CBS Super Prep All-American. Sanders played football for the University of Alabama from 2001-2005. He graduated in 2006 with a BS Degree in Human Environmental Science. His coaching career started in 2009 as an offensive line coach at Coosa Christian. He was head football coach at Victory Christian from 2014-16 and head football coach at Donoho at 2017-2021 with an overall record of 40-42. Since 2022, he has been the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach and head track coach at Westbrook Christian. He is currently youth pastor at Greensport Baptist Church and the FCA leader at Westbrook Christian School. He and his wife Heather have been married 19 years and they have five children.

Tommy Toles

Springville’s Tommy Toles graduated from Springville High School in 1973. He excelled in football, basketball and track & field. He was an All-State wide receiver in football and was the first black kicker and wide receiver on the football team. As a member of the track & field team, Toles was the first athlete to score points at State and finished third in the state in the mile run in 1972. Toles worked for CBI Service from 1974-1993. He then worked for Alpine Notrack for the next 20 years as a track technician. He spent 24 years in the Alabama National Guard from 1973- 1997 and also ran his own car wash for over 40 years in the middle of downtown Springville. He and his wife Cynthia have been married for over 40 years. Tommy has six children and together they have 14 grandchildren. He is an ordained deacon. He loves old cars and loves to cook and loves to tell others about Jesus.