HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Former Alabama A&M University bowling standout Whitney Smith Boggus and former head football coach were among the inductees selected to the Class of 2026 Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
 
The class also includes former Grambling State wide receiver Jeremy "Jerry" Gordon and former Auburn All-America tackle and Green Bay Packer Donnie Humphrey, track standout and former Olympian Toyin Augustus, football official David Bell, sportswriters Mark Bechtel and Reggie Benson, Butler High basketball great Dee Cummings, ex-major leaguer Jeffrey Hammonds, UAH softball All-American Stephanie Pinto, and former Johnson, Auburn and NFL linebacker and long-time coach James Willis.
 
In addition to Boggus and Jones, Benson served as a part-time Sports Information Director at Alabama A&M on two different occasions under Jim Martin. He covered the Bulldogs from 1990 to 2012 and has also filled in as the radio analyst at times for Alabama A&M football games.
 
The Huntsville-Madison County Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be enshrined at a banquet on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the Von Braun Center's Saturn Ballroom.
 
Whitney Smith Boggus
Whitney Smith Boggus is one of the most accomplished bowlers in the history of Alabama A&M University and a distinguished figure in collegiate bowling. A native of Huntsville, Ala., Boggus starred for the Bulldogs from 2004–2008, where she became one of the most decorated athletes in the program's history.
 
During her standout collegiate career, Boggus earned Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Rookie of the Year honors in 2004 and went on to become a four-time All-SWAC First Team selection. She elevated her performance each season, ultimately being named SWAC Player of the Year in 2007. On the national stage, she was recognized three times as an NTCA All-American, cementing her place among the nation's elite collegiate bowlers.
 
Boggus rewrote the Alabama A&M record book, holding marks for career pinfall, career games played, single-season scoring average, career scoring average, and multiple high-series records. One of her most memorable performances came in January 2006, when she posted an extraordinary 728 series (215-247-266) and a six-game total of 1,444, setting multiple single-match school records. She also played a pivotal role in helping the Bulldogs defeat two-time defending national champion Nebraska at the 2006 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship, where she earned All-Tournament Team honors.
 
In recognition of her historic impact on the program, Alabama A&M retired her jersey number in 2010 — making her the first bowler in school history to receive the honor.
Following her collegiate career, Boggus transitioned into coaching and education. She taught Social Studies and coached basketball at Grissom High School before returning to the collegiate ranks. In 2014, she was named the first head bowling coach in Spring Hill College history, where she helped build the program from the ground up and guided it through its early years of competition.
 
Beyond athletics, Boggus has also served in roles in education, instructional leadership, and educational technology, blending her passion for teaching, mentorship, and student development.
 
Anthony Jones
Anthony Jones established the Bulldogs as one of the premier programs in the SWAC from 2002-2013 and remains one of the winningest coaches in AAMU history.
 
Under his direction, the Bulldogs posted eight winning seasons, made four appearances in the SWAC Championship Game (2002, 2005, 2006, 2009), and captured the 2006 SWAC Championship, the first football title for the university since joining the conference. His teams were known for disciplined play, strong defensive identity, and the ability to recruit and develop talent across the Southeast.
 
During his tenure, Jones coached numerous All-SWAC performers, several Black College All-Americans, and multiple NFL-caliber athletes. Among the most notable was defensive standout Robert Mathis, who became an NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion after a storied career with the Indianapolis Colts. Jones' emphasis on academic accountability also produced a steady rise in team APR and graduation numbers throughout the 2000s.
 
After departing Alabama A&M following the 2013 season, Jones continued contributing to football through assistant coaching roles, program consulting, and player development initiatives. His influence across HBCU football, particularly in the SWAC, remains highly respected, and his legacy is cemented as one of the most impactful coaches in the modern era of Alabama A&M Athletics.
 
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