The Gazebo Gazette

GULFPORT (GG) — The Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its 2026 class of inductees. . This is the 11th class in the history of the Gulfport Sports Hall of Fame.  Of the 12-member class, 7 played college football, 5 were coaches, 5 played college basketball.

  • Donald Buckley (Harrison Central HS, Class of 1978): Played football at MS Gulf Coast Community College and Southern-Baton Rouge
  • Ronald Buckley (Harrison Central HS, Class of 1978): Played football at MS Gulf Coast Community College and Southern-Baton Rouge
  • Irvin Favre (Gulfport HS, Class of 1963): Played baseball at Perkinston Jr. College and Southern Miss. Coached football and baseball for 28 years at St. John HS and Hancock North Central HS.
  • Oswago Harger (Gulfport HS, Class of 1993): Played basketball at Mid-Plains Community College and the University of Tennessee-Martin.
  • Levorne Hawthorne (Gulfport HS, Class of 1970): Played football at MS Gulf Coast Community College and Jackson St.
  • Barry Jenkins (Gulfport HS, Class of 1978): Played basketball at Southern Baton Rouge. Current Assistant Basketball Coach at GHS.
  • Dolene Magee (Gulfport HS Class of 1981): Played basketball at the University of New Orleans.
  • David McKay (Harrison Central Class of 1975): Played basketball at MS Gulf Coast Community College and Mississippi College. Coached basketball for 23 years at Clinton, East Central, D’Iberville, Long Beach, and Pass Christian.
  • Howard McNeill (Gulfport HS Class of 1971): All-American punter at Tulane University. Coached football, soccer, track and golf for nearly 40 years at Harrison Central, St. Stanislaus, St. Martin, Moss Point, and Gulfport.
  • Brad Palazzo (Gulfport HS Class of 1994): All-Conference USA kicker at Tulane University.
  • Gene Smith (Gulfport East HS Class of 1976): Played football at Mississippi College. Coached football for 17 years at Southern Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi St., Houston, and the Birmingham Fire of the World League of American Football.
  • Porsha Tims (Harrison Central HS Class of 1997): Played basketball at William Carey College.

The ceremony for this 12-member group will be inducted on June 20th at the Lyman Community Center in Gulfport, Mississippi.