Theo received a basketball scholarship to the University of Wyoming where he earned his degree and played in 111 games. He finished college with 1,142 points, 655 rebounds and 425 blocked shots. When he graduated, he was the second leading shot blocker in NCAA basketball. His career scoring average with the Cowboys was 10.3 points per game. He was also named First Team WAC, and was the league’s defensive Player of the Year.

After college graduation, Theo was selected in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He went on to play with nine teams, scoring a total of 5,809 points, 4,596 rebounds and 1,968 blocks. He was voted into the NBA All-Star game in 2001, and was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice. He is ranked 18th all time in career blocks and 13th all time in career blocks per game.

Involvement with kids has always been one of Theo’s passions, and he is the founder of the Theo Ratliff Activity Center in his hometown of Demopolis. After recently retiring from professional basketball, he, his wife Kristina, and their six children are presently making their home in Atlanta.

The fourth inductee, FRED SCHOENROCK, also hails from Demopolis by way of Meridian, Miss. Fred graduated from Meridian High School, where he played on state championship baseball and undefeated football teams in 1957. He was a four year letterman in football, baseball and basketball, as well as running track. He played football and baseball at Louisiana College, and even played one year of basketball in college.

Fred came to Demopolis in l974, after having been head football and baseball coach in Tylertown, Miss., for four years. During his 14 seasons at the helm of the Demopolis Tiger football program, his team compiled a record of 109 wins against 48 losses. He was selected as Coach of the Year in Region 5 in l974, 1975 and 1976. His team won eight region titles, competing in three different Regions, five coming his first five seasons. His Regional record was 58 wins and 9 losses. Demopolis made the payoffs nine years, and his best years were in 1983 and l984 where the Tigers made it to the semi-finals both years, and finished 11-2 and 10-3 respectively. In l984 his team was ranked No. 3 in the final 5-A standings. He was selected to coach in the l977 All-Star game.