JIMMY HITCHCOCK AWARD
2024 HITCHCOCK AWARD
The YMCA of Greater Montgomery will present the prestigious Jimmy Hitchcock Awards to two exceptional high school students this year.
Each year, student athletes are nominated by their schools for the Jimmy Hitchcock Award. Nominees are chosen based on their embodiment of strong personal character, dependability, effort, and leadership in their teams, churches, and schools.
The award honors the memory of Jimmy Hitchcock, a phenomenal athlete, community leader, and devoted follower of Jesus Christ. After his passing, friends established the award to recognize high school athletes who exemplify outstanding Christian leadership in athletics.
This year’s recipients are Isabella Johnson from Montgomery Academy and Will Hardin, also from Montgomery Academy.
Isabella Johnson excels in volleyball and track & field. She is a member of Prattville First Methodist Church.
Will Hardin is a multi-sport athlete, participating in basketball, baseball, and football. He attends First Baptist Church – Montgomery.
A total of 35 high school seniors were nominated at the 65th annual awards banquet held at Frazer Church Tuesday night. Wesley Britt was the keynote speaker. Wesley, was an American football tackle who played in the NFL for four seasons with the New England Patriots. He also played football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Jimmy Hitchcock Committee honors young athletes for Christian leadership. Students are nominated by their coaches and administrators to set a Christian example of moral fitness in their athletic development.
The Jimmy Hitchcock Award is a program of the YMCA of Greater Montgomery. Hitchcock was the first All-American football player at Auburn University. Hitchcock played 3rd base for the baseball team and later signed with the New York Yankees. He also started little league baseball in Montgomery.
2024 JIMMY HITCHCOCK AWARD CEREMONY
FRAZER CHURCH
MAY 7, 2024 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.










Parents: Ashley & Clay Aaron
School: Trinity Presbyterian School
Church: Church of the Highlands
Sport: Baseball, Basketball
Parents: Lee Burt & Elizabeth Whitehead
School: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School
Church: Woodland Methodist
Sport: Football, Wrestling
Parents: LaBarron & Lori Boone
School: LAMP Magnet High School
Church: Resurrection Catholic
Sport: Basketball
Parents: Jason & Tiffany Button
School: Eastwood Christian School
Church: Trinity Presbyterian
Sport: Cross Country, Basketball, Tennis, Soccer
Parents: Will & Lorrie Carter
School: Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School
Church: Rock City
Sport: Basketball
Parents: Derrick & Park Cobb
School: Jefferson Davis High School
Church: First Baptist of Greater Washington Park
Sport: Softball, Cross Country
Parents: Derrick & Park Cobb
School: Jefferson Davis High School
Church: First Baptist of Greater Washington Park
Sport: Softball, Cross Country
Parents: Eric & Jennifer Duggan
School: Alabama Christian Academy
Church: Frazer United Methodist Church
Sport: Soccer, Cross Country
Parents: Charlie & Erin Edwards
School: Saint James School
Church: St. Peter's Catholic Church
Sport: Volleyball, Basketball
Parents: Southern & Shanna Lausane
School: Park Crossing High School
Church: Better Covenant
Sport: Basketball
Parents: Cameron & Honey Ernest
School: The Montgomery Academy
Church: Holy Spirit
Sport: Tennis, Volleyball
Parents: Terry & Daphne Essex
School: Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School
Church: Northview Christian Church
Sport: Track, Cheer
Parents: Bryan & Tonya Farrington
School: Alabama Christian Academy
Church: The Salvation Army
Sport: Football, Basketball, Track
Parents: Tracy Grice
School: Evangel Christian Academy
Church: Lighthouse Baptist
Sport: Basketball, Track
Parents: Jeff & Susan Hammond
School: LAMP High School
Church: Grace Pointe Church of Christ
Sport: Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Swim
Parents: Angela Hooks
School: Jefferson Davis High School
Church: Passion Church
Sport: Volleyball and Tennis
Parents: Bryan & Shannon Horne
School: Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School
Church: ReCreation Church
Sport: Volleyball
Parents: William & Posey
School: Carver High School
Church: Rosa Parks Ave Church of God
Sport: Football, Basketball
Parents: Cathenne Jackson
School: Carver High School
Church: Shiloh Baptist Church
Sport: Cheer
Parents: Jimmy & Lisa Johnson
School: BTW Magnet High School
Church: Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Sport: Softball and Cross Country
Parents: Watkins and Jamie
School: Trinity Presbyterian School
Church: Trinity Presbyterian
Sport: Football, Soccer
Parents: Ted & Catherine Kenny
School: Pike Road High School
Church: Church at Pike Road
Sport: Baseball, Cross Country, Track
Parents: Glynn & Michele Lott
School: Macon East Academy
Church: Church of the Highlands
Sport: Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
Parents: David & Middleton
School: LAMP High School
Church: Frazer United Methodist
Sport: Softball, Basketball
Parents: Adrienne Lessitte
School: Robert E. Lee High School
Church: Old Elam Missionary Baptist Church
Sport: Basketball
Parents: Mike & Katie O'Connor
School: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School
Church: Holy Spirit
Sport: Softball, Volleyball
Parents: Paula Pierce
School: Robert E. Lee High School
Church: New Living Way
Sport: Cheer
Parents: Doug & Cathryn Robertson
School: The Montgomery Academy
Church: Trinity Presbyterian Church
Sport: Football, Basketball, Tennis, Track
Parents: Corey & Anetha Robinson
School: Jefferson Davis High School
Church: Progressive Baptist Church
Sport: Football, Basketball
Parents: Brazil & Carolyn Rudolph
School: Sidney Lanier High School
Church: Greater Harvest Apostolic Church
Sport: Cheer
Parents: Paul & Allison Russo
School: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School
Church: Holy Spirit
Sport: Soccer, Football
Parents: Mark & Ashley Sadie
School: Saint James School
Church: Holy Spirit
Sport: Football, Basketball, Tennis
Parents: Adonica Heard
School: Robert E. Lee High School
Church: Frazier
Sport: Football, Track
Parents: Roderick & Chicketta Smith
School: Sidney Lanier High School
Church: Word of Life
Sport: Softball
Parents: Jeff & Pam Stevenson
School: The Montgomery Academy
Church: St. John's Episcopal Church
Sport: Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer
Parents: Michael & Kimbela Stinson
School: Sidney Lanier High School
Church: Consuming Fire Ministries
Sport: Basketball, Football
Parents: David & Susan Strahan
School: BTW Magnet High School
Church: Montgomery First Assembly
Sport: Soccer
Parents: Chris & Lane Sullivan
School: Saint James School
Church: Church of the Highlands
Sport: Equestrian, Volleyball
Parents: Jack & Wanda Temple
School: Hooper Academy
Church: Evangel Christian
Sport: Football, Baseball
Parents: Mark & Lisa Thornton
School: Alabama Christian Academy
Church: Dalraida Church of Christ
Sport: Volleyball, Basketball
Parents: Terry & Kim Tyson
School: Hooper Academy
Church: Church of the Highlands
Sport: Football, Track
Parents: Conrad & Catrina Pringle
School: Pike Road High School
Church: Lilly Baptist Church
Sport: Track
Parents: Pat & McClellan Williams, Jr.
School: Trinity Presbyterian School
Church: Trinity Presbyterian Church
Sport: Cheer, Soccer, Volleyball
Parents: Kelvin & Carla Williams
School: Carver High School
Church: Hutchison Missionary Baptist Church
Sport: Football, Basketball, Baseball
Parents: Jimmy & Jill Wyrosdick
School: Macon East Academy
Church: First Baptist Church
Sport: Baseball, Football
EXPLORE NOMINEES
ADDITIONAL INFO
Shortly after the death of Jimmy Hitchcock, a few of his friends and admirers expressed to each other a mutual desire to be a party to some movement to perpetuate his memory in an appropriate way. These friends invited others to join them in forming a committee for this purpose and the Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award Program was born.
The objectives of the program are to recognize Christian Leadership in athletics and to encourage and inspire others to emulate the man whose memory is perpetuated by this award. In 1959, the need for this recognition was not nearly as great as it is today. The Hitchcock Award has grown stronger each year in expressing the true Christian principles of the YMCA. The current status of the Hitchcock Award is stronger than ever before and is held in high status in this community. Each year the respective coaches of each athletic squad of the Senior High Schools of Montgomery County nominate the athlete who has displayed the most outstanding qualities of Christian Leadership in that sport. These qualities are:
- Strong Personal Character
- Dependability
- 100% Effort
- Team Leadership
- Church Leadership
- School Activities Leadership
- Scholastic Leadership
From this group of outstanding athletes, one female and one male are chosen to receive the coveted Jimmy Hitchcock Memorial Award.
The key to the success of the Hitchcock Award is volunteer leadership. Each of the 400+ members pays dues to be a part of this important program. Officers are elected and serve. In addition, the program is supported by the principals, headmasters and coaches of the schools in Montgomery. For more information call (334) 229-0033.
Jimmy was born in Inverness, Bullock County, Alabama, on June 28, 1911. At the age of 18, he entered the college he was to help make famous football wise; and as an Auburn freshman, he was under the tutelage of Montgomery’s “Bull” McFaden. He was Auburn’s first All-American on the football field. Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” column records that Hitchcock punted 232 times in his college career and never had one of his kicks blocked. He led the Southern Conference in scoring his Senior year, literally racing across the goal line for 71 points. He was also All-American in baseball at Auburn for his fine play there in the Spring of 1933. His baseball prowess eventually led to a big league career. He played short stop for the Boston Braves, and he also played in the Yankee system with Columbus of the American Association and with Chattanooga of the Southern Association. In between seasons, he acted as Assistant Football Coach to Head Coach Jack Meagher at his beloved Auburn.
Jimmy’s athletic career brought him many rewards, not the least of which was the hand of lovely Dorothy Shawkey, daughter of former Yankee pitcher and manager, Bob Shawkey. Dorothy and Jimmy were married in 1938. Two fine sons were born of this union, Jimmy, Jr., and Bobby Gordon. Jimmy’s interest in and devotion to youth athletics led to the introduction in Montgomery of Little League baseball. He served as Little League Commissioner in Montgomery from that time until his death on June 24, 1959.
2019 PHOTOS
View photos from last year's 2019 award banquet
2022 PHOTOS
View photos from 2022's award banquet
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SELECTION COMMITTEE
Selection Committee Members: The following links provide information and forms for the interview process of award candidates.