Wilcox County's Wade Robinson to be inducted into Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame

WCHS coach Wade Robinson

Twelve contributors to high school sports in Alabama were recently selected for induction into the 31^st class of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame, including a former basketball coach at Wilcox County High School.

Sixty-two contributors to prep athletics were nominated for inclusion in this year’s class, including a record 13 nominations in the “Old-Timers’ Division.” Among those selected in the Old-Timers’ Division was former Wilcox County High School basketball coach Wade Robinson. Robinson passed away earlier this year.

Robinson “made a big impression during his career as a player at Wilcox County Training School,” according to Ron Ingram with the Alabama High School Athletic Association. “That was just the beginning, however.”

Robinson graduated from WCTS in 1965 and went on to graduate from Birmingham’s Daniel Payne College in 1970. Robinson returned to Camden that same year and began teaching at WCTS with the “same tenacity and dedication he displayed as a player during his impressive coaching career,” Ingram said.

Robinson’s career continued at Wilcox County High School, where he led the school to its only AHSAA state title in 1985. That season, WCHS beat a favored Jones Valley High School team, 77-74, in the Class 4A state championship game at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham. Four years later, in 1989, Robinson’s WCHS team suffered an 84-74 loss to LaFayette in the Class 3A state finals in Tuscaloosa.

“He used his own vehicle and own time to help children get home after practice and made it a point to visit homes of his players to encourage parents to take a more active role in supporting their children’s efforts,” Ingram said.

Robinson was also widely known for being active in church and community activities and especially for his efforts to provide positive year-round activities for young people. Robinson was responsible for the organization of Little League Baseball throughout Wilcox County, and he was recognized in 2006 with a Special Civic Service & Merit Award for his efforts to keep children on the right track.

The Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association, the coaches’ wing of the AHSAA, oversees the Hall of Fame. A selection committee made up of coaches, administrators and media representatives made this year’s Hall of Fame selections from a very impressive list of nominations, Ingram said. The 2021 Class will be enshrined at a banquet to be held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Spa Convention Center next March.

As best that I could determine, Robinson coached basketball at WCHS from 1976 to 1989. During that time, in addition to their state title and runner-up seasons, WCHS also won area titles in 1982 and 1984. Robinson passed away earlier this year, and he was laid to rest in the Robinson Family Cemetery at Coy.

In the end, I’m sure that there are many people in and around Wilcox County who still remember Coach Robinson. If possible, I’d like to collect more information about his career, including his overall record and rosters for his 1985 and 1989 teams. With his recent Hall of Fame selection, now is the perfect time to help preserve his memory by collecting as much information on his career as possible.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at leepeacock2002@hotmail.com.)