Charley Hannah Goes Into ASHOF

BIRMINGHAM - Former University of Alabama and NFL veteran lineman Charley Hannah will be one of ten to be inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 30.

A native of Canton, GA., Hannah played collegiately at The University of Alabama, where he was elected permanent co-captain of the 1976 squad. He started his career as an offensive lineman and was shifted to the defensive line where he excelled. He was a two-time winner of the spring training Billy Neighbors Most Improved Defensive Lineman Award and in his senior year was named to the Associated Press All-SEC Team.

He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1977, the first person in the third round. He played two years at defensive tackle for the Bucs before a knee injury influenced his coaches to shift him to the offensive line. He played four more years with the Bucs before being traded to the Los Angeles Raiders. He was part of the offensive line that sparked the Raiders run to the Super Bowl XVIII, culminating in victory over the Washington Redskins. He played six seasons with the Raiders and was elected to the NFL Films All-NFL Team in ‘85.

Charley joins his brother John Hannah (Class of 1988) as members of the Hall of Fame. They now join an elite group of six brother combinations in the ASHOF. The other five brother combinations are: Bobby and Donnie Allison, Bobby and Jimmy Bragan, Al and Frank Lary, James and Joseph Sewell, Dixie and Harry Walker.

Other members of the Class of 2009 include: Larry Blakeney (football), Steve Bolt (track), Tommy Brooker (football), Janelle Kirtley Godfrey (water skiing), Jimmy Key (baseball), Lee May (baseball), and John Mitchell (football). The Distinguished Alabama Sportsman is Ronald G. Bruno and the Distinguished American Sportsman is Nicholas J. "Nick" Bollettieri.

To order tickets for the Saturday, May 30 Induction Banquet at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel call the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame toll free at 877-323-6665.