Glenda Sneads’ older sister Juanita Ensley Tipton constantly corrected her grammar. Tipton even once traded Sneads for a piece of watermelon as a young child.

But Sneads still believed her sister deserved to be in the Murray County High School Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame.

“She was a loving sister,” Sneads said, adding Tipton decided to get her back after trading her for watermelon. “I sought to emulate her.”

Tipton, a longtime educator throughout several school systems in the state, was one of five people inducted Sunday into the Hall of Fame. Also inducted were retired educator and coach Pete Adams; JoHannah Brown, a nurse; Tim Howard, an educator and local historian; and Pauline Ogletree, another longtime educator, who is now deceased.

“Every one of these folks are so deserving of this,” said Trudy Swilling, who helped with the induction presentation.

Pete Adams

Adams, who graduated from Murray County High School in 1965, said he hopes being in the Hall of Fame is an indication that he has successfully used the talents God has given him.

Adams, who lives in Chatsworth, said he knew in high school he wanted to become a teacher and a coach.

“A teacher asked what I wanted to do... the teacher said go into science because that’s where money is,” Adams said. “I’m glad I didn’t choose money. I’m honored.”

France Adams, who presented Pete Adams during Sunday’s ceremony, said Pete Adams was a basketball “standout,” but he was also a good student.

“I was fortunate to have Pete as a student in my ninth-grade English class,” France Adams said. “Pete was very quiet and said very little... he absorbed all that was said. He made excellent grades.”

Pete Adams was athletic director at Eastbrook High School and for the Murray County schools. He was assistant principal at Chatsworth Elementary and Murray County High School, was principal of Northwest Elementary and was administrative assistant of the Murray County school system before being elected superintendent.

JoHannah Brown