Sarasota High School inducts six graduates and first sports team into Hall of Fame

Sherri Tierney Reynolds may have lectured nationally, but there was one experience for which she was nervous. 

At the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame awards on Sept. 29, her speech wasn't about health and wellness.

"Coming here, it's talking about yourself and what you did, so it was very humbling," she said. 

The ceremony saw Sarasota High School honoring five other graduates — Hugh Yancy, David Daniels, Paul Piuorowski, Adrian Garrett and Dr. Bob Windom — as well as the 1973 State Champion Baseball Team.

Accomplished alumni

The event marked the first time the ceremony was held at Circus Arts Conservatory, which offered current Sarasota High School students a chance to showcase their skills.

The school's Circus Magnet Program with Circus Arts Conservatory provided entertainment, while its marching band and cheerleading squad performed at the entrance.

"The mission of the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame is to preserve and promote the history of what it means to be a Sailor," said Jeana Schmidt, who organizes the event alongside fellow graduate Matt Drews, who led its creation. 

"Matt and I wanted to find a way to bridge the gap between the stories of the past and the stories of the students today, and this event does that," she said. 'It is also a place that allows for forgiveness and a renewal of friendship. What we all have in common is our love for this school and this town."

Inductees included a mix of athletes and non-athletes.

1968 graduate Hugh Yancy was a standout infielder for the school's baseball team. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1968, appearing in 7 games across three Major League Baseball seasons between 1972 and 1976, and also played for the Cincinnati Reds and then-Cleveland Indians minor league teams. 

1948 graduate Dr. Bob Windom, honored in-memoriam, was United States Assistant Secretary of Health, nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University and served Sarasota's community in roles that included Chief of Staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Sarasota Doctors Hospital, and president of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

1988 graduate David Daniels was an all-state wide receiver and defensive back for Sarasota High School in 1987, who played for Penn State University and the Seattle Seahawks. Later, in Sarasota, he founded Devine Designs Landscape & Lawn Maintenance and served as area manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County from 1994 to 2004. 

A 1971 graduate, Sherri Tierney Reynolds worked for over 45 years in health education across Manatee and Sarasota counties, as well as at the state and national levels. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Florida and her masters of science in health education from Nova University, and served as supervisor of pupil support services for Sarasota County Schools.

1961 graduate Adrian Garrett, honored in-memoriam, served as homecoming king and was voted "most athletic." He was an amateur free agent for the Milwaukee Braves and played in 163 games in Major League Baseball between 1966 and 1976 for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and California Angels. While he was playing for Hiroshima Toyo Carp, the team won the Japan Series in 1979. 

Paul Piuorowski, a member of the class of 1976, was one of the most highly regarded linebackers at Florida State University, the fourth leading tackler on the team in 1978 and second in his junior and senior years. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets of the NFL and the Tampa Bay Bandits and Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. 

The 1973 State Champion Baseball Team was the first-ever team to be inducted. While approaching the playoffs, the team lost four of six games, but during the playoffs won 4-2 against North Miami Senior High School in the semifinal game and 1-0 against Pensacola High School in at the State Championships.