Polk County Sports Hall of Fame

The 2009 Polk County All Sports Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place sometime in June 2008, at 6:15 pm. The event will be held at The Lakeland Center's Sikes Hall. For ticket information, please call 863.534.2500.

A.L. Buck Dawson

When speaking of cross country in Polk County, Buck Dawson's name is closely associated with not only the sport but also some of the best runners Polk... More Info

David Bowden

As a multi-sport athlete at Kathleen High School and at the University of Florida, David Bowden has one of the most impressive track records of any at... More Info

Josh Giles

The late Josh Giles (1942-2002) was raised in the inner city of Detroit, Michigan where he overcame numerous economic and academic challenges. Because... More Info

Nancye Thornberry

Being inducted under the contributors' category, Nancye Thornberry is credited for founding the Polk Senior Games. A resident of Lakeland since 1968,... More Info

Willie Speed

An early love of athletics and a professional devotion to education mark Willie Speed as a prime example of a dedicated leader and mentor. A native o... More Info

As part of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, young stars of today, many who could be future Hall of Famers, are recognized with several awards including Pro Athlete of the Year, Male and Female Teams of the Year, Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, and many more. In addition, the top High School athletes and coaches in Polk County are recognized. All of these accolades are a part of the Polk County All Sports Awards.

Trace the roots of the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame all the way back to our first inductee with this interactive timeline.