WEDNESDAY’S LIST . . . of beans ‘n greens ‘n other things: THE HUNTSVILLE-MADISON County Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2011 Monday night at the Von Braun Center and a familiar name from Calhoun County and Saks High was at the head table.

Try Buster Douthit.

Douthit, who left Saks High in 1966 for Huntsville, was a Special Achievement Award winner.

During his first tour at Saks, it was still a junior high and a “feeder” school for Anniston and Alexandria. It was during that time Douthit made a name for himself as a basketball coach. He was also the founding father of the old Sixth District Junior High Basketball Tournament and coached the Wildcats to that championship in 1958.

After a stint as Ohatchee’s head coach, Douthit returned to Saks where he did very well in basketball, but not so well in football. His leaving in 1966 was acrimonious to say the least.

The late Jack Stewart became Saks coach while Douthit moved to Huntsville where he taught and coached, early on, at the junior level.

As a sports writer in those years, I had considerable interaction with Douthit and he was never anything but nice and accommodating.

The story on Douthit a few days back in the Huntsville Times says very well the man contributed much to the Madison County community.

*** BIRTHDAYS: Apr. 13 – Carson McChristie; Apr. 15 – Flossie Gibson; Apr. 16 – Dennis Gibson; Apr. 18 – Rich Burke; Apr. 20 – Monica Sparks; Apr. 22 – Kaitlin Watson; Apr. 23 – Nolen Sims and Michael Erwin.

*** THE GUY on the phone was looking for work. He said he could paint, do siding, fix gutters, all sorts of stuff.

I listened, told him I needed none of the above, but I was polite.

Guess what. In the middle of my politeness, he hung up; no “thank you” for listening, zilch.

And yes, I have his name, but I doubt he really wants people to know how rude he can be.

*** IN MY next life I’ll probably be a Baptist preacher in that good fried chicken melts my socks.

But a couple of breasts I picked up at one of the more noted chicken “cafes” in town last week were simply awful. A chain saw would have had trouble with them.

They were also about the size of an underfed bantam hen.

I will tell you it was not Jack’s which has, in my taste, the best in town.

I’ll leave it at that.

*** TOP TEEN: The folks at Sacred Heart Catholic School would like for you to meet one of their finest, young lady by the name of Maggie Kerper who carries a 3.8 GPA and will deliver the salutatorian address at graduation exercises later this spring.

Maggie has been vice-president of the Beta Club (honor society) for two years, is a member of Mu Alpha Theta (math honors), and is a Girls’ State representative. She hasn’t been on the easy road, either. She is in dual enrollment English and math with physics, anatomy, and calculus in the mix.

Come play time, Maggie excels there, too.

She is All-County and All-Area in volleyball, catcher on the softball team and an excellent gymnast.

“Maggie is an amazing young lady,” says Sandra Pullen, senior English teacher. “She is very bright, independent, highly motivated, focused, and has an incredible work ethic.”

Proud parents are Dr. Tim and Tracie Kerper, Foxmoor Place, Anniston.

Take a bow, Maggie . . .

George Smith can be reached at 256-239-5286 or e-mail: gsmith731@gmail.com.