Lee Trawick
Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Suwannee High School (SHS) athletics has a long rich history of producing great athletes. From State Championship teams to individual State Champions, many of the program's athletes have gone on to have professional athletic careers. To honor alumni who have left their mark in Suwannee's history, SHS inducts high-ranking individuals into the school's Hall-of-Fame. Although the Hall-of-Fame's Class of 2022 was announced in July, Russell Johnson, Frankie Stankunas, Bruce Johnson and Daniel Tillman were officially inducted on Thursday, Oct. 13.
The ceremony was conducted by Hunter Abercrombie and was accompanied by SHS Athletic Director Frank Allen, as well as football head coach and fellow Hall-of-Fame class member Kyler Hall. A host of other Hall-of-Fame class members also assisted with the ceremony. Each new member honored was given the opportunity to talk about their careers at Suwannee and express their gratitude to those who helped contribute to their success. Abercrombie began the ceremony by explaining what it means to be a Hall-of-Fame class member, then took the time to honor members in attendance. He then passed the torch over to those whom were chosen by the inductees to introduce them into the Hall-of-Fame. These individuals held important roles throughout each of the inductees' careers.
First was Jimmy Jackson, who had the honor of introducing 2022 Hall-of- Fame inductee Bruce Johnson, a SHS Class of 2004 alumni who starred on the football field, as well as on the track for the Bulldogs. Bruce was a three-time All- State selection in football and accumulated countless other accolades, such as being ranked as the 19th best corner in the nation, as well as the 208th overall player coming out of high school. On the track, Bruce was a member of the 4x100 State Champion team. He also holds individual school records in the 100-meter, 200- meter, 110 high hurdles events, as well as a record in the the 4x400 team event. Bruce went on to play football and run track for the University of Miami, before signing an undrafted free-agent contract with the New York Giants. In his rookie season with the Giants, he earned a starting position for Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. Bruce went on to play four years in the National Football League (NFL), before playing four more years in the Canadian Football League.
Arron Box took time to introduce the next 2022 Hall-of-Fame inductee, Russell Johnson, who was a member of the 1955 Northeast Conference Championship team with a 7-6 win over Columbia High School. Russell was also a four-year starter for the Bulldogs' basketball team. His football play earned him attention from the likes of West Alabama University and East Mississippi State Junior College. Upon graduating from Suwannee, Russell continued to contribute to the Bulldogs' football team as a member of SHS's Quarterback Club for more than 60 years. He even served as president in 1972.
Following Russell was Jason Sullivan, who honored and introduced 2022 Hall-of-Fame inductee Stankunas, a Class of 1986 alumni. Stankunas was instrumental in the culture change of Suwannee's football program. He is remembered by many as making the 1985 game-winning catch against the Santa Fe Raiders in overtime. Suwannee had seen many close games slip from their grasps up until that point; they quickly began changing the tide following this game-winning catch. Teammates who went on to win multiple State Championships in the late 80s point to that very play as changing the program forever. In 1985, Stankunas was selected to the All-State offensive team. Then, in 1986, he was selected to the All-State defensive team. Over his high school career with the Bulldogs, he racked up over 3,000 yards of offense and collected 50 touchdowns. He was also a five-sport athlete for Suwannee, including track, where he also dominated. Stankunas went on to play football at the University of Auburn, where he became a three-time Southeastern Conference (SEC) Champion.
Rounding out was 2022 Hall-of-Fame inductees' was Tillman, a SHS Class of 2007 alumni, who was unfortunately unable to attend. Tillman dominated the pitcher's mound for the Bulldogs, racking up 100 innings. He holds Suwannee baseball records for the lowest career earned run average (ERA) with .88, the fewest earned runs allowed with 17 and the fewest walks with 32. In 2006, Tillman allowed only six runs that calculated to a season ERA .67, both measured up to be second all-time on the SHS list. In his junior season, Tillman was selected to participate in the North Florida All-Star game. He went on to pitch in college for Florida Southern College (FSC), where he was a three-time all-conference selection. He collected 30 saves at Florida Southern College, a stat that placed him second all-time in the Sunshine State Conference. Tillman was then drafted in the second round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Angels. He would go on to play professional baseball for eight season for three different organizations reaching Double-A (AA). He then returned to SHS, where he became a pitching coach for the 2019 Final Four baseball team, which was only the second team to ever reach the Final Four in school history at the time. Although Tillman was unable to attend, he will participate in the 2023 induction ceremony.