The Cherokee County Museum and the Historical/Preservation Society has announced that Cherokee County Herald Sports Editor Shannon Fagan is the recipient of the first Baker-Dean Media Award.

This award was presented by the museum and historical society in tribute to the careers of WEIS Radio Station Manager Jerry Baker and Cherokee County Herald Editor Terry Dean.

The award will be presented bi-annually to a member of Cherokee County’s local media who has demonstrated outstanding coverage to the community as well as having a minimum of five years of service. The award will also be prominently displayed in the museum’s sports room.

(Cherokee County Herald Sports Editor, Shannon Fagan)

For the past decade, Fagan has chronicled the stories and accomplishments of local athletes.

A 1995 graduate of Piedmont High School and 2000 graduate of Jacksonville State University, Fagan began writing for the Herald in February 2008. Prior to joining The Herald staff, Fagan had a near four-year stint as a prep sports writer for The Anniston Star. He also had a short stint working with The Gadsden Times’ sports department under Alabama Sports Hall of Fame member Jimmy Smothers.

Like many of the players and coaches he’s covered during his tenure as The Herald’s sports writer, Fagan has been honored numerous times for his columns, features and game stories.

In June 2014, Fagan received the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame’s Meritorious Service Award as well as the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Bill Shelton Award. The Shelton Award, named for long time Cullman Times Sports Editor Bill Shelton, is given annually to an individual who goes above and beyond with service in sports journalism.

Fagan’s crowning career achievement came in June 2015 in Mobile when he earned the coveted Herby Kirby Memorial Award for his article entitled “A Starr at Cinderella’s Ball”, which told the story of Cerebral Palsy advocate and Centre native A.J. Starr receiving the “No Excuses” award in Washington. D.C.

The Museum plans to add former Sand Rock Head Football Coach Russell Jacoway to its sports room exhibit, some three months after Jacoway was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Jacoway retired from Sand Rock Feb. 12, 2015 with an overall record of 228-132, including a Class 1A state championship in 1985. His induction into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame was March 20 in Montgomery.