About Inductee

Al Lankford, a native of Madison County, played basketball with great distinction at Chapman Middle School, Lee High School and Jacksonville State University. Lankford now works as a security official for the Huntsville School System. He often assists young men and women in their development as basketball players, and many call him Coach Lankford. A role model and a community leader, Lankford is remembered as one of the best basketball players in Lee history. He was a first-team all-city performer as a sophomore in 1974. In the 1978-79 season, Lankford led Jacksonville State to a big season. The Gamecocks, coached by Bill Jones, opened the year by winning the Cystic Fibrosis Classic in Valdosta. Lankford scored 33 points in the opening game and was named the tournaments most valuable player. Over the holidays, the Gamecocks won the Montgomery Tip-off Club Tournament, beating Huntingdon and then Auburn-Montgomery. Lankford scored 32 and 29 points to win his second straight tournament MVP award. During Lankfords years at Jacksonville, the Gamecocks went 17-8, 20-7 and 22-8 under coach Bill Jones.