WEST PALM BEACH – Held at the Palm Beach County Kennel Club earlier this evening (March 24), eight special individuals were inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.
For the 47th Annual Awards Ceremony, each of honorees were highlighted for their respective lifetime accomplishments in the sports world. One of the eight hail from the Muck.
Pahokee legend Antone Smith (running back) excelled on the high school level, as he led the Blue Devils to the Class 2B state title in 2004 by rushing for 276 yards and three touchdowns. He would go on to earn the Florida Mr. Football award, a very prestigious honor that fellow Pahokee legend and Palm Beach County Hall of Famer Anquan Boldin (2012 honoree) earned six years prior in 1998.
Smith (2,814 yards, 44 touchdowns as a senior in 2004; 6,000 total yards for his high school football career) also helped Pahokee win the FHSAA’s first 2B state title in 2003, giving him two state rings with the Pahokee Blue Devils.
The Muckstepper would then go on to excel at Florida State University, where he amassed more than 2,000 rushing yards and 26 total touchdowns from 2005-2008.
After college football, Smith would star for four teams (Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and New York Jets) over a span of seven seasons from 2009 to 2016. One NFL highlight was a 54-yard touchdown reception when he played for the Falcons in a game against the Lions.
Watch everything that transpired for Smith right below.
Here is a full list of the 2024 Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame honorees:
Eric Call
Matt Elam
Rich Fleming
Jacoby Ford
Kylee Hanson
Maria Marino
Cassandra Rahming
Antone Smith
FUN FACT: There exists a total of 327 Palm Beach County Hall of Fame Members, which dates all the way back to 1977. With that said, there is only one thing our area cares about.
How many are from the Muck?
Let us take a look right below.
1. 2024 – Antone Smith (Pahokee)
2. 2023 – Eric Moore (Pahokee)
3. 2023 – Johnny Rutledge (Glades Central)
4. 2022 – Willie Bueno (Glades Day/Glades Central)
5. 2022 – Pierre Garçon (John. I Leonard/from Belle Glade)
6. 2018 – Byron Walker (Glades Day)
7. 2017 – Ja’Juan R. Seider (Glades Central)
8. 2014 – Reidel Anthony (Glades Central)
9. 2014 – Blaze Thompson (Pahokee)
10. 2013 – Louis Oliver (Glades Central)
11. 2012 – Anquan Boldin (Pahokee)
12. 2012 – Jessie Hester (Glades Central)
13. 2011 – Remuise Johnson (from Pahokee)
14. 2010 – Fred Taylor (Glades Central)
15. 2008 – Brad Banks (Glades Central)
16. 2008 – Donald Thompson (Pahokee)
17. 2001 – Andrew Waters (Pahokee)
18. 2000 – Willie McDonald (Glades Central)
19. 1997 – Jay Seider (Glades Central)
20. 1994 – Antoine Russell (Pahokee)
21. 1992 – Eddie Rhodes (Pahokee)
22. 1988 – Rickey Jackson (Pahokee)
SIDE NOTE: Other honorees tonight included:
HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR – Fred Ross (Dwyer; 2023 state champion in Class 6A)
BUD NEWKIRK COACH OF THE YEAR – Dusty May (FAU; 2023 Final Four berth)
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Eric Ford
OUTSTANDING SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR – The Miracle League of Palm Beach County
HIGH SCHOOL MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Jack Schulte (St. Andrew’s Lacrosse)
HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Lily White (Benjamin girls soccer/football)
AMATEUR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Jordan Travis (Florida State quarterback; Benjamin alum)
FINAL NOTE: The sponsors for the 47th Annual Palm Beach County Sports Commission Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony were:
Baptist Health South Florida
Boca Raton Bowl
ESPN West Palm
Orange Bowl
Jetty Productions
Muck City Media Enterprises 
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