ICC announces 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

ICC announces 2015 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

FULTON – The 2015 class of the Itawamba Community College Athletic Hall of Fame features a pair of former standout athletes that each were named champions during their careers at ICC.

Standout tailback, Bobby Straughter, and ace pitcher, Tim Dillard, will join an elite group of Indian hall of famers.

Straughter, a native of Aberdeen, was a multi-sport athlete playing football and baseball in 1977 and 1978 at then Itawamba Junior College.

As a freshman, his late-game touchdown run propelled IJC to a 7-6 victory over Northwest to help the Indians earn the North Division Championship. He later ran for 71 yards and the eventual game-winning touchdown of the 1977 State Championship game to help the underdog Indians upset No. 2 Jones County, 13-12.

In his final season in Fulton, Straughter cemented his legacy with 178 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 17-0 Homecoming win over Holmes. He closed his career at IJC by returning a fumble for a touchdown and hauling in a touchdown catch to help the Indians defeat Co-Lin, 39-23.

Straughter earned MACJC All-State and All-Star honors while being named Outstanding Back in the North Division.

At IJC, he was a member of the Industrial Education Club and Student Government Association as well as selected to Who's Who as a sophomore.

Straughter has been the Assistant Commissioner for Community Supervision for the Tennessee Department of Corrections since 2013.

Dillard, a native of Saltillo, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, but opted to play baseball for Coach Rick Collier and the Indians in 2002 and 2003.

Dillard, who signed with former Indian skipper, Chuck Box, spent most of the time behind the plate following a shoulder injury during the playoffs of his senior season with Coach Johnny Bolen and the Saltillo Tigers.

As a sophomore, Dillard won all 11 games he pitched during the 2003 season including victories in the NJCAA Region 23 tournament, the Super Regional and the NJCAA World Series over the defending national champion, Parkland College. That season he earned MACJC All-State, MACJC All-Region 23 and NJCAA Player of the Year honors. He shares the record for most wins in a season with 2012 NJCAA First Team All-American, Ben Hudspeth.

Once again drafted by the Brewers in 2002, Dillard began his professional career in 2003. He first played at the Rookie Level before a breakout season in 2005 for the Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees. In 28 starts he went 12-10 with a 2.48 ERA to earn a spot on the Florida State League postseason All-Star team and the Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

In 2006, Dillard had 25 starts and four relief appearances for the Double-A Huntsville Stars. He went 10-7 with a 3.26 ERA and was selected a Southern League mid-season All-Star.

Dillard was called up to the majors in May of 2007 while playing for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. In 2010, he was optioned back to Nashville and completely overhauled his pitching delivery from over-the-top to sidearm. He received an invitation to spring training with the Brewers in 2011 and it was there he stole the show with his now infamous impersonation of ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian.

The second-generation big leaguer, who was called back to the show in May 2011, is currently with the Triple-A Colorado Sky Sox in Colorado Springs.

Straughter and Dillard will be honored with a special ceremony at the David C. Cole Student Services Building at 1:00 p.m. and an on-field presentation at 3:00 p.m. as part of ICC's Homecoming celebration on October 3.

For more information on the ICC Athletic Hall of Fame and the 10 intercollegiate follow ICC Athletic on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).