Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame to induct 12

The 2022 class of the Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame will be honored with a banquet at the Lyman Community Center on June 11.

The annual banquet is returning after a two-year absence because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 class includes 12 members representing Gulfport-area high schools as either an athlete or coach. The class, which includes one woman and 11 men, will be presented their coveted Hall of Fame jackets during the ceremony. One member will be honored posthumously.

“This is another great class,” said Prince Jones, GSHOF vice president. “There are some outstanding athletes and coaches in this class, and their accomplishments speak for them.”

Of the 12 inductees, six are graduates of Gulfport High High School: three football players and three basketball players.

Robert Miketinas was a three-sport athlete at Gulfport High, who participated in track and baseball but excelled in football. A graduate of the class of 1978, he was named All-Big Eight, All State, Burger King All Gulf Coast and played in the Mississippi North/South All Star Game. A highly-recruited defensive tackle, Miketinas was a four-year letterman at Mississippi State University. He was captain of the 1981-82 football team. He played in the 1981 Sun Bowl and the 1982 Hall of Fame Bowl.

Miketinas started his professional career with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. He was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys, but an injury in rookie camp ended his professional football aspirations.

“It’s an honor to be included in the GSHOF with Coach Hardy and Coach Austin, Coach Loiacano, Coach Cuevas and Coach Glen Collins,” said Miketinas. “Coach Cuevas was my coach my senior year with Coach Loiacano. Coach Loiacano changed everything for me with the weights and taking care of ourselves.”

Roderick Caples was a two-sport athlete, excelling in both track and football. Caples recorded a time of 9.5 seconds in the 100-yard dash, and his mile relay team held a record that lasted for 15 years. On the football field, he was a member of the 1977 State Championship team. He earned a scholarship to Jackson State University, where he was a two-year starter at defensive back.

Brian Garriga was a member of two state championship teams at Gulfport High. In four seasons, his team lost only four games. He played in two Shrimp Bowl games and was nominated All Big Eight. He signed a scholarship with Northeast Louisiana University where he played for four years.

Francisco “Boo” Hardy was a standout basketball player at Gulfport High. He was a member of the 1987 state championship team. He played two seasons at Mississippi Valley State University. As a freshman, he scored eight three pointers in a game against Southern University. He transferred to William Carey College for his junior year, scoring 11 three-pointers in a game against Tougaloo College, a record that still stands. He is currently the head basketball coach at Harrison Central High School where he has been named Sun Herald “Coach of the Year” three times.

“It’s a great and humbling experience,” said Hardy. “First of all, all glory goes to God. I give him the glory. It’s a great accomplishment to be inducted into the GSHOF. All those guys, from Ray White to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to Prince Jones and Bobby Jones. It’s a great honor to join the GSHOF family.”

Leonard Bennett played on two Gulfport High School basketball championships (1987 and 1988). As a junior he was an All State selectee. Bennett had 15 scholarship offers, committing to The University of New Orleans, where he played in the NCAA tournament as a junior. He is listed as one of the Top 100 Players at UNO.

Chester Fairley was a three-year letterman of the Gulfport High Admirals. He was a member of two state championships, leading his team in assists and steals. Fairley earned a scholarship to Tougaloo College where he led the Bulldogs in assists and steals. He was recognized as the Bulldogs’ MVP, and he was named “All Conference.”

Leroy Allen Hardy came to Gulfport Public Schools in 1972 after playing football at Alcorn College. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers, but a preseason injury ended his professional football career, which allowed him to begin a vocation of developing young people. He led the Gulfport Admirals baseball team to a state championship in 1985. He was also the defensive backs coach for the Admirals football team. Coach Hardy passed away in October 2021 and is being honored by the GSHOF posthumously.

Carolyn Graham Lewis was a standout basketball player at Harrison Central High School during the Van Chancellor era. She was named to the All State Team. She was also named South All Star in 1978, Gulf Coast All Conference Team and All District. She continued her playing career at Xavier University under Coach Dale Valdery.

In addition to Graham Lewis, another former Harrison Central athlete is being inducted for his athletic contributions on the diamond. Marcus Lawton was a high school baseball All American. He was drafted by the New York Mets in the sixth round of the major league draft. He played in 10 major league games for the New York Yankees.

Jimmy Parker coached football, baseball and softball at Harrison Central High School. He enjoyed his greatest success as a softball coach, leading the Red Rebels to four state championships, nine south state titles and 31 district titles. In 2015 he was named National Federation Coach of the Year. He has also been recognized as Mississippi Association of Coaches Coach of the Year and Region Coach of the Year. He also coached in six high school All Star games.

Two 1976 graduates of Gulfport East round out the 2022 class of the GSHOF: Glen Dewease and Danny Pringle.

Dewease was a three-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball and baseball at Gulfport East. He played baseball for two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, followed by two seasons at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was team caption during his senior year. He coached high school baseball at Forrest County, Harrison Central, Gulfport, Terry High School and in Texas. He has been inducted into the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Hall of Fame.

Pringle was a three-year starter on the Gulfport East football team. He earned All Big Eight honors and played in the Mississippi High School Football All Star game. He earned a scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University and was a three-year starter for the Indians.