Renomination year:  2025

Nominated by:  Betty (Melton) Smith

Renominated by:  Rich Buford

Nomination Category:  Heritage

Sport:  Basketball

Years Participated:  1949-1953

Career Summary:

Billie (Buford) Stone was a pioneer of girls basketball in the Upper Cumberland as a four-year starter for the Celina High School Lady Bulldogs from 1949-1953 during the classic three-on-three era of girls basketball, where she led her team to their first-ever regional appearance as an all-district senior forward.

Stone played in an era where all Upper Cumberland teams played in the same district, including Cookeville and Sparta.  She was the Lady Bulldogs star player when they won the district in 1953 and made the regionals with a win over Livingston, before they went on to lose to a powerful Sparta team in the region finals.

Playing both guard and forward, Stone was an excellent athlete with versatility.  Though no official stats are available from her career, she is remembered as one of the most dominant players of her era.

Nominator Comment:

“Billie was a true pioneer of girls basketball and started all four years.  She led them to a district title and was all-district back when it was a supreme honor.  She was a standout all-star in an era when competition was the toughest, which makes her highly deserving of the honor of being inducted into the Clay County Sports Hall of Fame.”