Clifford Eugene Copeland is officially a member of the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame.

The 1949 Cullman graduate was one of 11 honorees inducted into the CCSHOF’s 20th class during Saturday’s banquet at the Civic Center.

His remarkable résumé speaks for itself.

Copeland, who passed away in 2017, played baseball and basketball for the Bearcats and earned a scholarship to Illinois State University in both sports.

Beginning in 1951, he spent four years in the U.S. Air Force as a Korean War intelligence officer in Germany, where he also helped the U.S team win the European Basketball Championship.

After leaving the Air Force, Copeland played for the Fargo-Moorhead Twins and Vidalia Indians — minor league affiliates of the Cleveland Indians at the time — before returning to Alabama to complete his education.

Copeland also played in the World Amateur Championship and attended St. Bernard College.

He received a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Howard College — now McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford University — and eventually established Copeland Drugs, Inc. in Huntsville (1960) after working for Liggett Rexall Drugs for a spell.

He opened 42 discount drugstores in all, including  Hospital Discount Pharmacy in Cullman.

Outside of work, Copeland enjoyed coaching his children, deep sea fishing, golf and birdwatching.

Copeland’s daughter, Cynthia Hodge, and son, Clifford Copeland Jr., attended the banquet.

“My brother and I were warmly welcomed by the committee members of the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame,” Hodge said. “We thoroughly enjoyed meeting other inductees as well as past honorees. Jackie Satterfield did a fantastic job bringing to life the unique story behind each of the inductees. My father, were he here today, would be humbled and sincerely honored to be included in such an esteemed group.”