University of Montevallo
Athletic Hall of Fame
Class of 1998

DAVID BAILEY
Baseball

1998 UM Hall of Fame Inductee, David Bailey played first base at Montevallo from 1981-84. As a freshman in 1981, Bailey .375, finishing the season by hitting .571 in the Southern States Conference tournament, District 27 playoffs and Area V tournament. He recorded 54 hits in 57 games in his first season as a Falcon, hitting eight home runs and getting 25 RBI.

As a sophomore, Bailey played in 54 games and accumulated 66 hits in 187 at-bats for a .353 batting average, including 12 homeruns, 54 RBI and 116 total bases as the Falcons posted a 33-21 record. He was an All-District and All-Southern States Conference selection that season.

During Bailey's junior year he collected 66 hits in 48 games, scoring 47 runs and hitting .418 for the season. He had 14 homeruns and a .785 slugging percentage that season as the Falcons posted a 32-19 record. He was an honorable mention All-American that season and had a team-leading eight game-winning RBI. Once again, he was chosen All-District and All-Conference.

In his senior year, Bailey hit .380 as UM went 43-11. He accumulated 54 hits in 54 games with 57 RBI, 17 doubles, 13 homeruns, and a .789 slugging percentage. He also recorded eight game-winning RBI, was All-District, and an NAIA All-American.

Bailey's career average at UM was .380 and he played on teams that went a combined 141-73 over four seasons. Bailey still holds the Montevallo record for doubles in a game (3) and most walks in a season (57).

Bailey was born July 2, 1962 in Tuscaloosa and prepped at Bibb County High School in Centreville. He lives in Brent.

RONNIE BELL
Men's Basketball

1998 UM Hall of Fame Inductee, Ronnie Bell was a member of the 1964 inaugural men's basketball team. He served as captain during his senior year in 1965. The 1967 UM graduate served as an assistant for two years (1972-73) under then UM Head Coach Bill Jones.

The quiet leader of the 1964-65 Falcons, Bell led the team in rebounding during both years at Montevallo despite being undersized at 6'3" 190 lbs. Bell led the team in points and rebounds in the Falcons first-ever game in Myrick Hall, a win over Marshall-Atlanta. Known as a big game performer and great fundamental player, Bell averaged over 20 points per contest against the state's top teams. Playing under Head Coach Leon Davis, Bell helped lay the foundation of athletic success in men's basketball at the University of Montevallo. Bell also ran cross-country at Montevallo.

He is currently the head boy's basketball coach of national power Marist High School (Atlanta, GA) where he has amassed a 481-143 (.771) career record over a 23-year period. He won state championships at Marist High in 1989 and 1994 (ranked #6 nationally) and was named 1995 National High School Boys Coach of the Year by the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association.

PEGGY KEEBLER
Women's Basketball

1998 UM Hall of Fame Inductee, Peggy Keebler transcended what it takes to play the guard position at the collegiate level. The Jasper native, joined Montevallo from Walker County High School where there was no women's basketball team. An outstanding shooter with great court speed, Keebler set the pace for scoring leaders at Montevallo. Her 22.7 points per game during her senior season was the best-ever by backcourt player in UM history. She also earned NAIA second-team All-American honors that season. Keebler's 43 points versus Ohio University during the 1988-89 campaign was her career-high performance. A physical education major, Keebler is currently third on UM's All-time scoring list with 1,503 points.