MILTON — Three more names appear in the Milton High School Hall of Fame: Adam Allen, Jose Waitman and John Young.
While Allen and Young with family members attended a Friday night reception for the occasion, loved ones of Jose Waitman honored the 1982 graduate by wearing memorial T-shirts. Waitman died in 2013 due to complications from a stroke.
Allen, Young and one of Waitman’s brothers, Gallard, shared their thoughts about the honor:
How does it feel to be a Hall of Famer?
Allen: It’s an incredible honor. Growing up I always wanted to follow in my father’s (Randy’s) footsteps and I wanted to go play in the NBA. I had high goals for myself. My career didn’t end up the way I wanted it to with the injuries. I never got to reach my full potential. To be honored on this night, it really makes me think that everything I did wasn’t necessarily a waste and I really impacted people around here. I love this community and I love this town. For the people around here to do this, it really is humbling.
Waitman (speaking on behalf of his brother): It’s a great honor; this is something we know that is going to be here for as long as the school is here. We can bring the kids and grandkids to see it.
Young: It’s overwhelmingly humble. I have three brothers, all of (whom) played basketball, baseball and football. When Murry (Rutledge) called me and told me this, I said ‘No, this can’t be right, you got the wrong guy,’ because I played around some really, really phenomenal teammates and they were really good people. A really good group of people came through (the school), especially the group of guys I got to play sports with. The class ahead of me was just loaded with talent. When all of this came about … it was shocking, to be honest about it.
What did you learn from your experience at Milton High School?
Allen: One thing I reflect back on is just the brotherhood. Even though we did not win the state championship, we did everything we could; we poured our hearts into it. We were such a close group — that is what I look back on the most.
Waitman: (Jose) started playing pick-up ball in the yard probably when he was about 8 years old. He worked hard and wanted to win. I think he got most of his skills from playing at Mary Street Park, just playing with older guys. Just the hard work, I think, that is what made him exceptional. The biggest contributor here (at MHS) was learning the skill sets and applying it on the court.
Young: One of the things I am proud of at Milton, I remember watching “Remember the Titans” and in the movie the transformation of the integration of schools happened in a year. Here it happened over a decade or more. In 1962 or ’63, we started integrating schools and, the time that came about, when I was in high school with all of the tension and all of that, we were already past that. We got to play with a great combination of talent and skills and heart and soul and it made a culture in what I think was really successful.
What do you believe led to your success?
Allen: Just the whole competitive nature we had in football, baseball and basketball. We just had so many great guys here that made everybody better. I always attributed a lot of my success to the football team — they had some special talent. They would always come and practice with us (in basketball). Those were tough, physical hard-nosed guys. They always made me better. Every single one of those guys would challenge me. I attribute my success to the culture in general around here and winning mentality.
Waitman: He was a strong-willed guy. Just to give you a quick story: Jose had a stroke, a massive stroke, back in ’06. (Doctors) actually told him that he probably would not walk again. He had had that strong will and that work ethic to walk again — that is first thing that comes to mind.
Young: The one thing about Milton was what you were on paper really didn’t matter. How hard you practiced and how hard you played, you could earn a spot, and I am living proof of that. The coaches would give you every opportunity if you tried.
JOHN YOUNG
John Young lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He played defensive back on the 1972 football team that played in the state championship game that lost to Belle Glade 14-7.
He also played on the basketball and baseball teams that advanced to the final four in both sports in 1972-73.
Young graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
JOSE WAITMAN
Jose Waitman, who died April 17, 2013, is a 1982 graduate who helped lead the Panthers to the Final Four in basketball in 1981-82 and a record of 25 wins and three losses.
He was an All-State Selection and signed a full basketball scholarship to the University of South Alabama. After playing at South Alabama, Waitman played professionally in Europe for 15 years.
He was named the MVP of the Dutch League for 1986-87.
ADAM ALLEN
2007 graduate Adam Allen led the Panthers to the basketball state championship game in 2006 and was named the Pensacola News Journal Player of the Year for both his junior and senior seasons. He was also runner-up in Florida for the Mr. Basketball Award.
Allen signed a basketball scholarship to the University of Florida and pitched for the Gator baseball team. He finished his playing career at Rollins College.
He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from UF and a master’s degree from Rollins College in Human Resources.
MEET THE INDUCTEES
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: MHS's newest Hall of Famers reflect on Panther days