Gadsden council supports drive to place local golfers in state sports hall of fame

Solomon Hughes

The Gadsden City Council is supporting a drive to put two hometown golfers in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.  The council passed a resolution tuesday endorsing the nomination of Solomon Hughes Sr., and Warren Smith.
Hughes,
known as "Gyp," died in 1987, and was a leading figure in the desegregation of the PGA Tour. After several years of attempting to compete, Hughes finally took part in the 1952 St. Paul Open.
He was also a friend of boxing champion and Alabama native Joe Louis, and gave him golf lessons while Louis was stationed at  Fort McClellan. 
Smith, who is a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame and the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame, once held a PGA tour record with seven consecutive birdies.
He was named PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 1973.