SPRINGFIELD–There are life changing moments in sports that I consider “commonly rare.” Hitting game winning shots, or, successfully completing a hail mary doesn’t happen often, but enough to have a hint of regularity. However, moments of immortality still remain few and far between.
But if you were at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Sunday, you got to witness an immortal moment as the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inducted 17 new members for the class of 2024.
Headlining the honorees were three of the Ozarks very own – Kickapoo basketball star and 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Tolliver. Lebanon lineman Justin Britt, who spent 8 years in the NFL.
And Ozark High School flame thrower and former MLB pitcher Lucas Harrell.
These three “Show Me” state champions humbly appreciated the great honor and fondly recalled their roots that helped them attain their dreams and lead to this moment.
“The Hall of Fame really wasn’t on my radar. It wasn’t,” said Anthony Tolliver. “It wasn’t about that. It was about me, maximizing what I could do, as an individual, with the sport of basketball. And I wasn’t even sure if that meant the NBA, I didn’t know. But i knew that if I maximized my opportunity, I wouldn’t have any regrets.”