Eddie Pierce may forever be the only golfer inducted into the Chattanooga State Athletic Hall of Fame. He certainly always will be the first.
The community college that began 50 years ago as a technical institute didn't have golf very long, but Pierce was on the links team coached in the late 1970s by athletic director and men's basketball coach Don Green, and he was part of the school's sixth induction class Sunday afternoon in the Berry Auditorium on campus.
Joining him were two diamond personalities, Bob Brotherton and Jada Pescatore. Brotherton, who previously coached at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, coached the baseball Tigers from 1988 until 2000, and Pescatore starred in softball at Chattanooga State in 2000 and 2001 before continuing her career at UTC. The Pelham, Ala., product played for coach Frank Reed at both local schools.
Making the day extra special for all three inductees was the presence of multiple family members, and that included the people introducing them.
Brotherton's presenter was his son Jeremy, who starred in baseball at Chattanooga State between NCAA Division I stints at Georgia and Kennesaw State and who followed his father into coaching. Jeremy most recently has been the baseball coach at Georgia Perimeter College, but Perimeter athletics are being eliminated by the state.
Said "J.B." about his dad: "My father, my best friend and my role model."
Pescatore, now a personal trainer living in East Brainerd, was introduced by her wife, Rachel Pescatore, and Pierce had the double pleasure of being introduced by twin brothers Jimmy and John, who followed him as Tigers athletes. They were baseball players who went on to Tennessee Temple and Tennessee Wesleyan, respectively.
The day's honors began with Chattanooga State basketball coach Jay Price presenting a distinguished service award to neighbor manufacturer BASF, represented by Clark Bingham, and former athletic director Kim Smith giving a DSA to math professor David Stanislawski.
Dr. Fannie Hewlett, the school's interim president, extended the official welcome, and Jed Mescon served as emcee.
Bob Brotherton, 61, revealed he is shifting from administration at North Whitfield Middle School to an assistant principal position at Coahulla Creek High School. A former Rossville High School and Carson-Newman athlete, he said of his coaching career, "All the years I was doing it, it was always about we, not I, but this is a great honor."
Jada Pescatore echoed that sentiment, saying she always cared about the team first but that being singled out years later for her part in the Lady Tigers' achievements was "very, very honoring." She was a two-time junior college All-American and the Canada Cup most valuable player after her sophomore season.
Eddie Pierce was introduced to golf by his dad, Ed, who was a First Flight equipment representative before owning the Athletic Shop in Red Bank -- where Eddie still works while serving as a Red Bank city commissioner. He pointed out the tremendous growth of Chattanooga State in 50 years and said it's "quite an honor just to be able to say I'm part of the history here."
"He's a Hall of Famer with us -- he always has been -- and now he's a Hall of Famer with Chattanooga State," Jimmy Pierce said.
"It's his attitude, and he's a servant," John Pierce added. "He's been a servant his whole life, and today's he's getting his (due). To all the inductees, you've given to others and now you're getting back."
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.