April 13, 2011
Former Commodores Bob Dudley Smith Sr., Walter Overton and Shelton Quarles were among eight individuals inducted into the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday at LP Field.
The group was part of the seventh class to be inducted into the hall of fame, which recognizes the names and accomplishments of outstanding athletes and other sports personalities who are native to Davidson County or who have competed in Davidson County Schools, Nashville City Schools and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools.
Joe Fisher, voice of the Commodores, emceed the ceremony, which honored the three Vanderbilt greats.
Smith prepped at West High School (’48) before lettering in baseball and basketball for the Commodores in the 50s. In 1951, Smith was named All-SEC in basketball. Following time spent in the Naval Reserve, Smith returned to baseball, where he played in the minor league system for the New York Giants.
Since the early 80s, Smith has been active in amateur tennis and has won numerous Southern Senior Championships. He has been very active in many charitable, civic and church organizations. Smith is married to Jeanne Haun Evans Smith, and they have four children, Bob Dudley Jr., Bradford Evans, Randall Boyd and Darrell Hamilton, who passed away in 1981.
Overton prepped at Pearl High School (’70) before receiving a football scholarship to Vanderbilt, where he became the first African American scholarship football player to graduate. In 1972, Overton was named second team All-SEC as a wide receiver and later played in the 1974 Peach Bowl team.
Overton is a member of many Nashville community and civic groups, serving as a board member for the Boy Scouts of America of Middle Tennessee, Our Kids, the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc. Middle Tennessee Chapter.
He is currently in his sixth year with the Tennessee Titans as General Manager of LP Field. Walter and his wife, Laura, have two children, Janean Overton and Jordan Ward.
Quarles prepped at Whites Creek High School (’90) before receiving a football scholarship to Vanderbilt. Quarles was named to the SEC All-Freshmen team in 1990 and earned All-SEC honors in 1992. He played professionally in the CFL and NFL, most notably with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he won three division titles (1999, 2002 and 2005) and Super Bowl XXXVII.
In 2010, Quarles completed his fourth season as a pro scout for Tampa Bay, and this past January he was named Coordinator of Pro Scouting. Quarles remains a philanthropic figure in Tampa through the work of his foundation: the Shelton Quarles IMPACT Foundation. The foundation has raised over $500,000 and impacted the lives of over 3,000 at-risk, single-parent homes in Tampa.
Shelton and his wife, Damaris, reside in Tampa with their daughter, Gabriela Nicole, and sons, Shelton Eugene Jr. and Carlos Antonio.
Also inducted into the class were Jonathan Quinn (McGavock ‘93), Carolyn Aldredge (Glencliff ’92), Brenda Moon Davis (Goodlettsville ’65), Brian Ransom (North ’79) and the late Doug Hall (Hume-Fogg ’43).
