The Russellville High School Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame, now in its tenth year, inducted two new members, cousins Andre Morris (Class of ’91) and Michael Morris (Class of ’00), on Friday, January 2, 2015, during the Clash of the Cats.
Andre Morris was a senior and a scoring leader on Coach Ken Barrett’s 1990 state championship football team. He scored 164 points, rushed 1350 yards on 186 carries, caught 19 passes for 317 yards, made 84 tackles, and pulled in 4 interceptions. In the state championship game, he ran for 75 yards, scoring a touchdown at Cardinal Stadium against Bellevue. In track, he won the state 400-meter championship and the state 4x400-meter relay championship. He was also state runner-up in the 200-meter dash and the 4x100 relay.
Michael Morris helped the Panthers win two regional championships and, as a sophomore, was part of the first RHS team to make it to the Sweet Sixteen, where he was named the Kentucky National Guard’s “Guard of the Game.” In his senior year, he was named to the All-State Tournament team and was Player of the Game in the Panthers’ two wins at Rupp. In his four years at RHS, he scored 1727 points in all. Michael also played football, leading the Panthers in receiving as a senior.
A reception for family, friends, and alumni was held prior to the induction ceremony, which took place between the girls' game and the boys' game. During the ceremony, the Morris family, most of whom were wearing black and gold t-shirts that said "Panther Strong, Morris Strong," joined the honorees on the court as they received their awards.