Jacksonville State announced this week that Mr. and Mrs. Bob and Lou Kennamer, along with Mrs. Miriam and the late James B. Haywood, have been selected as this year's recipient of the Jimmy Bryan Award, which will be presented at the Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet next month.

The Jimmy Bryan Award is selected by members of the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and honors individuals for their contributions and years of dedication to the success of Jacksonville State University Athletics and is named for the long-time Birmingham News sportswriter.

The Kennamers' have been associated with Jacksonville State University for more than 50 years. Mr. Kennamer enrolled as a student at Jacksonville State Teachers College in September of 1955, serving as the Student Government Vice President and President before graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in August of 1958.

Mr. Kennamer dedicated himself to a 33-year career with State Farm Insurance, during which time he continued to render exemplary service to Jacksonville State University, and served as a member of the University's Board of Trustees for more than 26 years.

Mrs. Kennamer is the retired owner of the former Lou's Dress Shop on the square in Jacksonville.

The couple made a gift during the JSU Capital Campaign for the Bob and Lou Kennamer Hall, which houses the Williams Taylor Stewart Strength and Conditioning Center, the athletics department's administrative offices, and offices for the coaches of baseball, softball and golf.

The Haywood's association dates all the way back to 1942, when Mrs. Haywood attended Jacksonville State Teachers College. The couple met and married in 1946 and became lifelong Jax State fans.

Mrs. Haywood graduated from Jacksonville State in 1945 with a B.S. in education and worked for the University for 35 years, before retiring in 1979. She worked for Dr. Ernest Stone as secretary while he was serving as director of extension. She then became assistant business manager, a position in which she served for 15 years before being appointed director of personnel services and payrolls.

Mrs. Haywood was cheerleader sponsor for almost 10 years, and she and James designed and purchased the first Cocky uniform for the university mascot.

Mr. Haywood, who also played football for the Gamecocks, received his B.S. in education from Jax State in 1950, was assistant football coach at Jacksonville High School. In 1960, Mr. Haywood was hired at JSU as the director of food services, until his retirement from the University in 1979.

The couple has willed their estate to Jacksonville State for the construction of a Bell Tower on the campus.

Two All-Americans, one record setting basketball player and most prolific softball pitcher in Gamecock history comprise the 2008-09 Class of the Jacksonville State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Gary Angel, who led the Gamecocks to four-straight conference championships in basketball, Joe Billingsley, a two-time All-America offensive lineman, Ann Shelton, JSU's all-time strikeout leader in softball and Robert Lee Sanders, JSU's all-time leading scorer in basketball will be inducted as the 2008-09 Class of the Athletic Hall of Fame.

The banquet will be held on Friday, November 20, at the Gamecock Center and tickets are available by calling the JSU Athletic Department at 256-782-5368.