The origin of the Alabaman A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame can be traced to the efforts of Erskine McKinnon, Tommie Summerville, Condredge Holloway, Sr., and George “Hoss” Hobson in 1989. These efforts stemmed from earlier discussions focusing on the establishment of an association to honor the achievement of selected individuals affiliated with the University’s various athletic programs.
Organizers gathered as early as September 1988 and continued to meet on such occasions as the Magic City Classic and Founder’s Week to garner additional support for the athletic association. Mrs. Bernice Williams joined the group in 1990 and served as its first secretary.
A group met on December 2, 1991 to draft the initial constitution and bylaws that would govern the association, later to become known as the “Alabama A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame” (AHOF). Consultation and direction was offered to the group as it was modeled after the Tuskegee University Football Hall of Fame. Coach Haywood Scissum (Tuskegee Head Football Coach) along with McKinnon Mr. Jerome Saintjones, then a Tuskegee employee. Some of the original organizers were Robert Bell, Louis Cunningham (then athletic director), George Hobson, Condredge Holloway Sr., John Humes, Arlester McBride, Erskine McKinnon, Erskine Valrie, Georgia S. Valrie and Bernice Williams.
The group made plans to conduct the first induction ceremony and set the date for the night before the Homecoming game in September 1992. Erskine McKinnon was selected to spearhead the first induction ceremony, which was held September 25 in the T.M. Elmore Building on the AAMU campus. Thirteen persons were inducted during the inaugural ceremony.
The induction ceremony has been held annually since the inception. The second event was also held in the Elmore Building, while the third, fourth and fifth AHOF induction ceremonies were conducted in banquet style and moved to the Mamie Labon Foster Complex on the AAMU campus. In 1997, the program was moved to the newly constructed West Campus Living/Learning Complex in a banquet area later named for AAMU 1953 alumnus Ernest L. Knight. Currently, there are over 100 members of the AAMU Athletic Hall of Fame. The first ten years of the organization’s operation were administered by Dr. Arlester McBride. In 2002, Erskine Valrie, the long-time treasurer of AHOF, became Chairperson. Elected in 2010 and leading the AAMU Athletic Hall of Fame serving as Chairperson is Randolph Flakes was elected in 2010 as Chairperson, while Sandra Lyles-Jackson currently serves as the chair.
The AAMU Athletic Hall of Fame aims to establish and maintain a permanent location at the University for the preservation of artifacts, memorabilia and historical information about the distinguished athletes, coaches/administrators and special contributors who support AAMU’s athletic programs and has contributed to the recognition of the University as an outstanding educational institution. Additionally, the Athletic Hall of Fame stimulates students, particularly those with exemplary athletic skills, to seek higher educational pursuits at AAMU.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Induction Class of the Alabama A&M University Athletic Hall of Fame. Established in 1992, the Athletic Hall of Fame was created to formally recognize outstanding contributions to the legacy and tradition of Alabama A&M University's athletic programs.
Nominations for the 2025 class are due by Monday, May 26, 2025 and can be filled out electronically and submitted through the athletic website or by email to: aamuahof2025@gmail.com
