National News

 September 29, 2009

East Central Community College will add two members to its Athletic Hall of Fame during homecoming activities scheduled Saturday, Oct. 3 on the Decatur campus.

Joining the prestigious group are Wanda Blackwell McPhail of Collinsville and Don Acton of Knoxville, Tenn.

McPhail, a 1971 ECCC graduate, has led her Meridian Community College men's and women's tennis teams to several state and region championships and has garnered various coaching honors in the process. She has received Region 23 and MACJC Tennis Coach of the Year on several occasions and was named 2007 recipient of the Hershel Stephens Men's Tennis National Coaching Award. She was also a standout member on ECCC's basketball, tennis and volleyball teams and helped lead the Lady Warriors to state titles in basketball and volleyball. She was also an athletic standout at Union High School.

Acton, a 1953 ECCC graduate, was a lineman and kicker on the 1951 and 1952 Warrior football teams and served as co-captain. He was also captain of the 1952 and 1953 Warrior baseball teams, posting batting averages of .335 and .356. He continued his athletic career at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn., where he again excelled in baseball and was a member of the tennis team. Acton coached football, baseball, golf, softball, basketball and track mostly on the high school level in Kentucky and Alabama and won 87 percent of all games played. His teams also earned regional and state titles. Acton continued his athletic career by participating in the Senior Olympics and winning several gold medals. He is a native of Vincent, Ala.

For more information on the 2009 ECCC Homecoming, contact Stacey Hollingsworth, executive director for foundation and alumni relations, 601-635-2111 or call toll free, 877-462-3222, ext. 327. Her e-mail address is sholling@eccc.edu.