The Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame will induct seven individuals at their banquet on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The seven individuals to be inducted are Tonya Hester Bogle, Ebonie Ferguson, Brandon Clark Greer, Raymond “Bogie” Kell, James V. McArthur, Mark Nix and Andy Urban.
Tonya Hester Bogle
Tonya Hester Bogle played basketball at Gaston High School from 1977-79, at Gadsden State Community College from 1979-81 and at the University of North Alabama from 1981- 83. After graduating from UNA, she served as a graduate assistant at Jacksonville State University before becoming girls varsity head basketball coach at Gaston High.
From 1984 to 2017, Bogle won over 500 games while guiding the Lady Bulldogs to 11 Etowah County championships, 13 regional tournament appearances, six Final Four berths, three state finals and one state championship.
Bogle was voted Etowah County Coach of the Year nine times and was selected 1988 Alabama Coach of the Year. Twenty-one of Bogle’s players signed college scholarships and 10 of her former players became coaches.
Ebonie Ferguson
While competing in girls varsity basketball at Gaston High School from 1997-2001, Ebonie Ferguson made the All-Area and All-County team in 1997-98 and 1998-99, was named All-State Honorable Mention in 1998- 99 and was All-Area, All-County and second team All-State in 1999-2000. Also, during the 1999-2000 season, Ferguson won the Alabama Power 3- Point Shooting Contest and was selected to play in the AHSAA North/South All-Star game.
During her senior season of 2000-01, Ferguson was All-County and All Area MVP, was selected to the Northeast Regional All-Tournament team, was named first team All-State, won the Alabama Power 3-Point Shooting Contest and was selected to play in the AHSAA North/South All-Star game.
Upon graduating from Gaston, Ferguson signed a basketball scholarship with Mississippi State University, where following her season of 2003-04 she received the Lady Bulldogs’ Most Improved Player Award. She graduated as the program’s seventh all-time career 3-point percentage leader at 35 percent.
Ferguson is a member of the Antoich Missionary Baptist Church Campus.
Brandon Clark Greer
While competing in football at Westbrook Christian from 1996-99, Brandon Greer set state records in receiving yards in a single season (1,735, still held), receiving touchdowns in a single season (30), career receiving touchdowns (52, ties for first) receiving yards in a single game (312), career receiving yards (3,270) and receiving touchdowns in a single game (6, still held. He was selected as a member of the 1998 Super All-State Team.
Following his senior year of 1998-99, Greer was named American General Player of the Year, Gadsden Times Player of the Year, and AHSAA Class 1A Back of the Year while being selected to the Class 1A All-Area 12 Team and the Class 1A All-State team.
While at the University of Alabama from 1999-2003, Greer played under five head coaches. He was a three-year letterman who was a member of the Crimson Tide’s 1999 SEC championship team, was selected to the SEC All-Academic Team, was the recipient of the Ray Perkins Award in 2003 and was featured in the Game Day Program.
Greer is married to Meredith Rich. The couple has three children – Cooper, Avery and Ella. The family are members of the Church of the Highlands.
Raymond “Bogie” Kell
Baseball was Raymond “Bogie” Kell’s first love at Etowah High School. Manning third base for three years for the Blue Devils, he finished with a career batting average of over .300. After graduation in 1958, drag racing became his challenge. Kell wound up competing in drag racing for 32 years, starting with the C/Gas class with his best buddy and friend, Larry Boley.
Racing in the Top Gas dragster class from 1962 to 1968, Kell set a national record while posting numerous wins nationwide in the division competition. Bogie held NHRA and IHRA national records in the Pro-Alcohol dragster class, winning the prestigious NHRA Gator Nationals, IHRA Winter Nationals and IHRA Dixie Nationals and was runner-up in the NHRA Cajun Nationals.
Kell was the winner of 11 NHRA and IHRA Winston Points events. From 1975 to 1981, he finished in the top 10 NHRA and IHRA World Points Standings. From 1982 to 1987, Kell moved to the highly competitive Pro Alcohol Funny Car classification, winning the NHRA Winston Division II championships for two consecutive years while also winning the IHRA World Nationals. During the same period, Kell won eight Winston Points events and was runner-up in four national events. He was selected to the TRW All-Star Team in 1986.
From 1988 to 1990, Kell was driver and part owner of the Ellis-Organ-Kell All-Pro Auto Parts Funny Car sponsored by the partnership he formed with Tennessee businessmen Gary Ellis and Rick Organ. Driving the 1988 Ford Thunderbird, the team was selected for the IHRA Best Appearing Crew Award and NHRA Best Appearing Car Award. The team qualified in all nine events it entered.
Kell’s crew was consistent and supportive throughout his career. Crew members included Crew Chief, wife Carol (deceased 1998) sons Greg and Lee Kell, Phillip “Red” Jarrett and Bill Garret.
In 1998, Kell was inducted into the Southeastern Drag Racing Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into the NHRA Southeast Division Hall of Fame located in the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida.
James V. McArthur
James V. McArthur graduated from West End High School in 1969. While playing fullback and linebacker for the Patriots in the 1968 season, he rushed for 1,094 yards and 13 touchdowns. Following the season, he was named to the All- Etowah County team and the Associated Press All-State team.
In 1969, McArthur was selected Etowah County MVP, Birmingham News First Team All- State, Birmingham Post-Herald First Team All-State and was selected to play in the AHSAA North/South All-Star Game after rushing for 1,473 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also started at linebacker and punter. McArthur was also an All-County and All- District selection in basketball in 1968 and 1969. All told. McArthur earned 15 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball.
Following his career at West End, McArthur signed a football scholarship with the University of Georgia. Playing at linebacker, he earned varsity letters in 1971 and 1972 and was selected as Defensive Captain his freshman year. He played in the 1971 Gator Bowl and graduated with a BS in Education in 1973.
He is married to Pudden Petri McArthur. They are members of the Church of Resurrection in Rainbow City.
Mark Nix
Mark Nix graduated from West End High School in 1977. A four-year starter at quarterback for the Patriots, Nix was named to the Class 2A All-County, All-Area and All-State teams and was named The Gadsden Times Player of the Year in 1977. He also played at running back, defensive back and kicker. Nix was the recipient of the Etowah County Foot Skeen Memorial Award in both 1976 and 1977 and was named to the Gadsden Times All-Century Team. He was selected to play in the AHSAA North/South All-Star Games in 1977.
Nix earned 16 varsity letters while at West End while competing in football, baseball, basketball and track and field. In 1977, he was a Class 2A All-County selection at pitcher and shortstop in baseball and an All-County and All-State pick in basketball. In track, Nix set Etowah County records in five events- the 440-yard dash, 200-yard dash, shot put, discus and as the anchor of the Patriots’ 1600-meter relay team. He qualified for the state meet in the 440-yard dash, shot put, discus and 1600-meter relay.
Nix received a football scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he played for the Crimson Tide from 1977 to 1981 and earned varsity letters in 1979, 1980 and 1981. He was a member of the school’s 1978 and 1979 national championship teams and UA’s 1977, 1978 and 1979 SEC championship teams; played in the 1979, 1980 and 1981 Cotton Bowls. Nix was a member of Bear Bryant’s team that recorded the coach’s 315 career victory and blocked for Linnie Patrick’s game-winning touchdown. Following the 1981 season, Nix received the Dr. Joseph E. Hirsch Memorial Trophy, awarded to the senior UA athlete for outstanding leadership and academics, and the Charlie Compton Character and Leadership Award presented annually to the senior player who exemplifies Christian Leadership and Character.
Nix received permission from Bryant to get married to Cindy Esslinger during his junior year (he said ‘yes’!). The couple have two sons, Joel and Jacob, and five grandchildren – Junior, Mabrey, Eli, Paul Austin and Lucy. The family are members of Trussville First Baptist Church.
Andy Urban
Andy Urban lettered in baseball, football and basketball at Southside High School. In the 1991 season in baseball, Urban was named All-Etowah County MVP, Team Captain and Team MVP. In football in 1991, he was All-Etowah County at quarterback and received the Rodney Long Athlete of the Year Award.
While playing baseball at Wallace State-Hanceville from 1991-93, Urban was named Team Captain, was selected All-Region in both 1991 and 1992 and was named All State his freshman season. In 1991, he was named MVP of the state tournament and played in the College World Series. He batted .340 with 20 home runs and 96 RBI.
While playing at the University of South Alabama from 1993-96, Urban was named Team Captain, made the All-Tournament Team at the South Regional and was selected to the Winn-Dixie Showdown All-Tournament Team. Also, while at South Alabama, Urban was co-chairman of the Student Advisory Committee, the Youth Awareness Program Committee and made the Dean’s List. He graduated USA with a Bachelor of Arts and a degree in Physical Education.
At UAB, Urban earned Master of Education, Educational Leadership and Administration degrees. He taught at Hoover High School from 2007-14 and served as the school’s Athletic Director from 2014-23. He currently is the Athletic Director at Mountain Brook High School.
He is married to Christa Smith. The couple have two children, Brayden and Anna Kate.
