Renomination year: 2024

Nominated by: Thomas Watson

Renominated by: Doug Strong

Nomination Category: Heritage

Sport: Basketball

Years Participated: 1937-1942

Career Summary:

The late Fay Brewington was a star basketball player for coach Eddie “Jelly” Watson at Willow Grove from 1937-1940.  Willow Grove was a fertile ground for basketball, and Brewington, hailing from an athletically talented family, was among its best products.

Behind Brewington’s prowess, the Grovers claimed the 18th District title in both his sophomore (1938) and junior (1939) seasons.  Multiple “county tournament” titles were captured by Willow Grove during these years as well.  The Clay County tournament featured all three high schools (Celina, Hermitage Springs, Willow Grove) and to the victors went the yearly bragging rights.

During the 1939 season, Brewington led his team all the way to the “Sweet 16” before being eliminated by Nashville Central.  That season he was named to the All-District and All-Region tournament teams.  He garnered those same honors as a sophomore in 1938.

After suffering from illness during his senior season, Brewington continued his basketball career at Middle Tennessee State.  He was the starting center for the Blue Raiders by the time his sophomore year rolled around in 1942.  Described as a fast-moving center, he was typically the team’s leading scorer night in and night out.  

Nominator comment:

“There are still a lot of great players from Clay County that aren’t in the Hall.  Many of them are from yesteryear like Fay Brewington.  We don’t have as much information and as many stats about him, but any local player who went on to be a starter for a major university in a major sport deserves acceptance in the Hall of Fame.”