Darby was no stranger to the concept. A near legendary former sports editor and writer for many years at the Columbus Ledger Enquirer, he had covered games and athletes from the University since its earliest efforts as a junior college. He was, himself, a member of the South Atlantic League Baseball Hall of Fame and was on the verge of induction into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame. "Mr. Earl" was a long time benefactor and supporter of athletic programs often travelling on the team bus to remote destinations over the years and was a director of the Columbus State University Athletic Fund. Jimmy Griggs,a standout college athlete in multiple sports, had been a Broadcaster for much of his career and for many years was the "Voice of the Cougars." Herbert Greene had been the Athletic Director and head basketball coach at the University since the early 1980's. John Roper was an attorney and businessman in Columbus, and had been a member of the 1964-65 basketball team which produced the school's second State and Conference Championships following the 1963-64 effort and was the only member of the original group to have actually attended and graduated from the institution.
Each had a continuing interest in athletic excellence, and each shared the belief that the time had come to try to pay back the men and women whose efforts and sacrifice at the time contributed, in great measure, to the fine product that came to be known as Columbus State University Athletics.
The five formed a steering committee, and Roper was assigned the task of drafting operating standards. When the skeletal document was in place, a full Board of Directors was elected and it immediately elected the Steering Committee Five to head the project and then set about developing input for the final draft of the Columbus State University Athletic Hall of Fame Operating Standards. Committees were organized for Selection, Awards, Ceremony and Finance. Numerous committee meetings and full Board meetings were held.
The fundamental premise was that if this was a desireable project then it should become part of the overall operation of the University at some level. That, of course, meant internal funding, and that took some time to get in place, given normal budgeting procedures and parameters. The Athletic Fund stepped in and provided operating money and substantially contributed to the final effort. The athletic department assisted immeasurably. Words cannot adequately express the debt of gratitude the project owes Don Andrae, then President of the Athletic Fund and Herbert Greene, Athletic Director, for their single minded comittment to making the project work.
On April 13, 1996. the first induction ceremony took place at an elegant dinner at the Columbus Iron Works Trade and Convention Center with attendance of approximately 200.The event was an unqualified success, unforgettable in its presentation and ambiance. The memories were largely owing to the efforts of Diane Andrae and her assistants who created a world class setting for the function.The group meticulously documented their findings and procedures as they evolved, applying post mortem analysis to each step as it became complete and making recommendations for adjustment as needed. As a result, the 1997 project was much less stressful and much more efficient. It is hoped that the project has become a permanent part of the University's event calendar. It has enjoyed the service of quality individuals on its Board of Directors and should be a viable, and vital, influence in Columbus State University athletics for years to come.
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