A former Cardinal Newman football All-America has become one of the 10 newest members of the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Alonzo Jefferson
Alonzo Jefferson, a standout tailback for the Crusaders who was named the Sporting News National Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, is part of the FHSAA’s 26th Hall of Fame class announced Tuesday.
He will join nine other student-athletes, coaches, administrators and officials from the state of Florida at an induction ceremony Sept. 25 in Gainesville.
“It’s a great honor,” said Jefferson, who played college football at Notre Dame before his career was derailed by a serious knee injury. He later coached football in the state for 23 years.
“I could not have done it without my friends and teammates at Cardinal Newman, and coach (Sam) Budnyk, who supported me over the years,” he added. “Coaching-wise in the state of Florida, it’s been a great thing for me. I’m very happy that the FHSAA honored me in this way.”
Jefferson totaled 7,647 all-purpose yards during his career at Cardinal Newman, and he earned All-State honors three times. He was the Post’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1982, and was inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Jefferson continues to teach in the Palm Beach County School District, and also works in real estate. He’s back on the sidelines this spring, working with new Lake Worth football coach Micah Mays.
Here is the 26th FHSAA Hall of Fame class, with local inductees highlighted in bold:
• Bernard Arnette, a contest official who for more than 30 years epitomized professionalism and class in officiating. He worked 600-plus football games and 1,000-plus basketball games, including multiple appearances in the Final Four and the FHSAA Final Series.
• Ronald Balazs, an administrator in Dade County who for more than 35 years improved schools and athletics in the Miami area. The FIAAA Executive Director is a member of the NIAAA Hall of Fame and is a former FIAAA Athletic Administrator of the Year.
• Wallace Barnette, who served as the executive director of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association for 30 years and grew FACA membership from 1,200 to more than 6,000 active members. Known as “Wink,” Barnette helped emphasize coaching education in the state of Florida using FACA clinics which were attended by as many as 4,000 coaches annually.
• Joy Becker, a pioneer for volleyball in the state who recorded a head coaching record of 645-273-1. Becker is a 2001 inductee of the FACA Hall of Fame and was the FACA Coach of the Year three times.
• Raymond Bellamy, a trailblazer on the gridiron who in 1966 became the first African-American to sign a football scholarship with a major university in the Southeastern part of the United States. Bellamy is also a member of the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
• Steve Hutchinson, a two-time high school football All-American in Coral Springs, as well as a two-time All-American offensive guard at the University of Michigan. Hutchinson played in the National Football League for 12 seasons, earning seven trips to the Pro Bowl and was voted All-Pro five times.
• Alonzo Jefferson, one of the greatest speedsters in Florida prep football history who totaled 7,647 all-purpose yards. He earned All-State honors three times and was the Sporting News National Offensive Player of the Year his senior season at Cardinal Newman High School.
• Jeff Sommer, a track & field coaching legend at Estero High School who also served nine years as its director of athletics. Sommer won eight state championships and received multiple Coach of the Year honors.
• Bob West, one of the most successful baseball coaches and director of athletics in FHSAA history. West went 532-129 as a baseball coach at Bishop Kenny High School and since 1989 has won 25 state titles and added eight sports to his athletic program.
• Floyd Williams, an official who for the past three decades has represented the highest level of officiating in both basketball and baseball. Williams worked 30 FHSAA Final Four events total.
