Family business: Hart joins father in Hall of Fame

Brandon Walker/staff writer
The Meridian Star

JACKSON — It is a speech that Lou Hart still remembers.

It was in this place, 24 years ago, that Hart beamed with pride while watching her father, H.G. Weddington, as he gracefully accepted his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame following a legendary career in amateur golf.

"I just remember how he accepted his award. He was humorous and he was extremely humble," Hart remarked of her father's induction. "It was a wonderful time for our family."

Weddington's memorable acceptance only added to his charming legacy, crafted through years of excellence on and off the golf course.

If Hart has been recalling that speech in her own mind, it's with good reason. Now, the time has come for H.G. Weddington's only daughter to give a speech of her own.

Returning to the very spot where she proudly watched her father receive his honor 24 years ago, Hart returns this weekend. This time around, the stage belongs to her.

Beginning last night and continuing through tonight, the Miss. Sports Hall of Fame has opened its doors for the annual induction of a new class of state legends -- including Hart, a Meridian native and nine-time state amateur champion.

"It is such a wonderful honor to be able to be inducted with such an extraordinary class," Hart said. "All of the inductees have done so much for the state of Mississippi through sports. It is really special to be able to enter the Hall of Fame with them."

Along with Hart, this year's HOF class includes Crawford native and NFL great Jerry Rice, former Houston Oilers' linebacker Robert Brazile, legendary Wheeler basketball coach Troy Arliss Ricks, and former major league first baseman George Scott.

The hometown girl...

Growing up in a golfing family, it seems Hart never had a chance to avoid the game -- nor did she want one.

"As a kid, playing golf with my dad and brother Alex, it was just a great, great time for me," Hart said.

From the very beginning, Hart was involved with the game, whether riding in a golf cart around Northwood Country Club while watching her father play or working on her own game, which started to take shape after she became active in playing the game at the age of eight.

For Hart, growing up in Meridian and being around Northwood made for a perfect environment.

"Northwood is a true golf course in every sense of the word," Hart said of her home course. "It is a great place to play golf, but more importantly, there are great people there. Being a young girl who played golf when there weren't many girls playing golf, I had the benefit of the people of Northwood. They took me under their wing and really helped me develop as a golfer."

After honing her craft at Northwood, Hart has moved on to win titles across the country. Despite the success, the Meridian native has remained true to her home.

"To me, Meridian is such a wonderful golfing community," Hart added. "Meridian is full of great golfers and supportive people. My dad and I like to say that Meridian is the golfing capitol of the state and I think people are proud to see one of their own achieve something like this."

The resume

At a time when she was often the only female on the golf course, Hart excelled, tearing up Northwood's 18-hole track along with her brother and father.

That trend continued after high school. In 1972, Hart became the first woman to play for the men's golf team at Meridian Community College, helping the team claim a state junior college championship in 1972.

Following her stint at MCC, Hart's development continued at Florida State University before becoming a mainstay on the state amateur circuit.

Hart's nine State Amateur titles is more than any other woman in state history, more than doubling the total of anyone else. In addition, Hart has six second-place finishes in the State Am.

Hart parlayed that success into a return to MCC, this time as the person in charge. Hired in 1998, Hart helped revive MCC Golf, paving the way for a program that has won six NJCAA Region 23 crowns.

"When I got into coaching, initially I didn't really know what I was doing," Hart noted, "but I felt that I've been blessed with the ability to teach golf and it helped me to mentor to young men. I really enjoyed coaching after I realized that."

These days, the Meridian native has continued to excel, claiming a pair of Miss. Senior Women's Amateur titles, brining her total to more than 100 amateur championships.

Getting the call

Hart, never one to shy away from speaking, acknowledges that she has rarely been caught speechless.

Then again, she hasn't gotten many phone like the one she got from HOF director Michael Rubenstein nearly a year ago.

"When I talked to Michael, I was just blown away," Hart said. "He told me that I was being inducted, and I was totally speechless.

"As an amateur golfer, I feel extremely blessed to have had the success that I've had and to be honored by the Hall of Fame is truly unbelievable."

Making the honor even sweeter for Hart is the ability to share the honor with her father, making the pair the first father-daughter combination to ever be inducted into the Miss. Sports Hall of Fame.

Weddington was a featured part of the festivities last night, leading the HOF inductees into the ceremony as the oldest living HOF member.

"My dad is such a wonderful man and a great golfer," Hart stated. "To have him lead the procession in on the night I get inducted is a dream come true."