The cafeteria at Fayette County High School was the setting March 15 for six alumni to be honored at the school’s Distinguished Alumni and Sports Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony.
The honorees inducted as distinguished alumni included Fayette County historian Carolyn Cary, Dr. Harriet Smith and contractor Brent Scarbrough. Inducted into the FCHS Sports Hall of Fame were Realtor and former teacher Karen Sagon, Fayetteville Police officer and community baseball coach Robert Mask and materials operations manager Mike Mask.
Having spent the first part of her life in Ohio, Cary ventured south to Fayetteville and in 1981 was named Fayette County’s official historian. The recipient of numerous awards and organizational memberships, Cary was made an honorary member of the Creek Indian Nation and Clan McIntosh for her historical work on their behalf. Cary co-founded the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce in 1967 and co-founded the Fayette County Historical Society in 1971.
Cary at the ceremony received an honorary diploma from Fayette County High School Principal Dan Lane. The Fayette County historian also received a second recognition. She was made a FCHS Distinguished Alumni in a presentation by C.J. Mowell and her coworker John Munford.
“My friends told me they were glad I was getting a diploma,” Cary said with the chuckle, commenting that she received her original high school diploma in Ohio. Now a long time resident of Fayette County, Cary questioned humorously if her original diploma “wasn’t good anymore” south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Board certified in Ob/Gyn and Gynecologic Oncology, Smith is the recipient of a long list of affiliations, awards and recognitions.
Smith was presented the FCHS Distinguished Alumni award by Terry Wilson.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Smith said, thanking the teachers at FCHS for helping her acquire her skills.”You loved me a lot and I’m very grateful.”
The third FCHS Distinguished Alumni award of the evening went to Scarbrough. The presentation was made by his sisters, Dawn and Wendy Scarbrough.
Scarbrough cut his teeth in business sweeping floors at his father’s pharmacy in Fayetteville. He later learned to operate heavy equipment and, while in college, he founded the Erosion Control Company. Today he is the owner of Brent Scarbrough and Company, Inc.
“A lot of people in this room influenced me,” Scarbrough said after the presentation. “If you do something special you don’t need an award for it. You do what you’re supposed to do, and do the right thing.”
Sagon became a member of the FCHS Sports Hall of Fame after being introduced by her long time friend and teacher Janis Green.
While at FCHS, Sagon played softball, basketball and tennis. A Realtor today, Sagon had numerous coaching responsibilities at Fayette County High School and Whitewater High School.
“I’m so humbled to be part of this group tonight,” Sagon said, noting that what is important in life is, “what we do with our gifts and how we move through life.”
Brothers Robert and Mike Mask also joined the FCHS Sports Hall of Fame. Both were presented by their former coach, Joe Brasfield.
An officer with the Fayetteville Police Dept., Robert entered law enforcement in 1994 and began coaching community baseball in 2009. Robert has received a number of awards related to his work in law enforcement.
“I’m very honored to receive this, and to be inducted into the FCHS Sports Hall of Fame,” Robert said. He recalled the family members and coaches that impacted and promoted his love of baseball. “In life we (receive) and we have to give back.”
Mike Mask during his time at FCHS was a hard-hitting baseball player who received a number of recognitions. Among those was the Dugout Club Player of the Week and the Dugout Club South All-Star team. Mike attended Southern Union State Community College on a baseball scholarship.
Similarly, Mike in what he called “short and sweet” comments, thanked his parents, brother and coaches for supporting and nourishing his love of baseball.
