Eight to be inducted Saturday into Florence Athletic Hall of Fame

By: Lou Bezjak | SCNow
Published: January 09, 2010

FLORENCE — Ken Lester wasn’t born in Florence but never hesitates to answer where he is from.

“Florence has always been my hometown,” Lester said.

Lester, who moved to Florence from North Carolina when he was in fifth grade, starred in football and basketball at McClenaghan High School before playing at South Carolina.

For his accomplishments, Lester will be enshrined tonight in the Florence Athletic Hall of Fame along with seven others.

“Getting inducted to the Hall of Fame exceeds any honor I have received,” Lester said.

Lester also excelled playing handball in the 1980s and played in seven national tournaments.

Lester credits his athletic career with helping him in his career after sports. He has been named as the Top 100 Family Law Trial Lawyers in the country by America College of Family Trial Lawyers.

Other members of this year’s class include Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, Post 1 baseball coach and former minor leaguer Derek Urquhart, golfer Bert Atkinson, Paine College president George Bradley, coach Glenn Rector, softball player Kristi Anderson and pitcher Larry Alexander.

“Being recognized by your hometown is about as proud a moment as you can get,” said Urquhart, who played in the minors with the Angels and Expos for 6 ½ seasons.

And Urquhart has stayed true to his hometown roots by returning to take over the Post 1 American Legion program.

“There was never a doubt of where I wanted to settle down after I was done playing,” Urquhart said. “Florence has always been a special place for me.”

Timmmons, 23, is the youngest member to be inducted in the Hall. The former Wilson standout, who won a Super Bowl last year with the Steelers, just finished his third season and finished the season in the NFL and had a career-high 78 tackles and seven sacks.

Atkinson, a former All-America golfer at Francis Marion, still plays regularly in various senior state tournaments and has qualified for the past two U.S. Senior Opens.

“Tonight is an opportunity to say thank you to the people for helping you along the way,” Atkinson said.

In addition to the inductees, Post 1 will be given a citation by the Hall of Fame. The team has won more than 800 games and two state titles since its inception in 1932.

S.C. State coach Buddy Pough is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.