Too often, the clubs and associations that Americans join are as segregated — by race, gender and status — as the Sunday morning worship hour. We often congregate with people like ourselves, with whom we find comfort. It's a fact of life.

In that way, diversity remains an elusive goal.

Tonight, however, the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame will shine a momentary light on the possibilities that exist when diversity is not only welcomed, but is placed on display.

Among the hall's six 2009 inductees who will be honored at the Anniston City Meeting Center is a quintessential cross-section of Calhoun County. Jimmy Pettus, Jennifer Chandler, Council Rudolph Jr., Carlton Rankin, Harold Warren and Robert Motley are a collection of all us — whites and blacks, men and women.

Athletically, all are undeniably worthy of admission to this hall of fame. Granted, the hall's first class of 2005 included the county's irreplaceable sports heavyweights, from Anniston football coach "Chink" Lott to Jacksonville State's duo of Rudy Abbott and Bill Burgess, to the voice of Malcolm Street, and to the leadership of Lou Scales, Robert Mosby, Louise Marbut and Van Deerman. And that's not even all of that heralded list.

But this class may rank with the original inductees as among the best. That it includes a gold-medalist from the 1976 Montreal games, a standout baseball umpire from the Negro Leagues, a former NFL starter and several noteworthy high school coaches and players gives this group special weight.

Yet, this class, and the hall's previous inductees, as well, represents many of the splendid things about Calhoun County, a diverse county whose past is tinged with examples of people seeing differences in race, ideology or background as reasons to disassociate instead of come together.

That may not be the goal of this hall of fame's directors, but it is a feather in their cap that this class represents a mirror image of Calhoun County. It's a reflection of who we are, of what we should be. Accomplished athletes and coaches. Teachers of a countless number of our youth. A mixture of men and women across several boundaries.

Calhoun County should celebrate its opportunities to be inclusive to all, to show the possibilities of diversity, teamwork and equality. This is but one example of many. Yet it's one worthy of support, for the betterment of us all.