Louis Edward Berry Sr. will be inducted into the 22nd class of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame on March 19 in Montgomery.

Berry said he was very “excited” to become a part of the hall of fame.

“I was very excited,” he said when he heard the news. “Andalusia will always be my home. I give thanks to all of the teachers that have worked down there, especially Kim Dyess, and C.C. Baker, who was at one time the president of Alabama State University.”

Additionally, Berry said Mary Stone and Jim Rabren were instrumental in his career success.

Berry, spent 32 years as a coach in the Andalusia School System before retiring in the late 1990s at Andalusia Middle School.

His former colleague and current Andalusia High School boys basketball coach Richard Robertson nominated him for the prestigious honor.

“I nominated him for what he has done for the junior high school and the community,” Robertson said.

Robertson also nominated Berry for the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame, in which he was inducted in July.

Berry’s first coaching job came at George Washington Carver Junior High School in Florala, and from there, he coached and taught at Ralph Bunche Junior High School in Andalusia and at Carter G. Woodson High School before finishing his career at AMS.

It was at Woodson where he coached with Robertson, who would help in his coaching duties.

“The two of us coached everything,” Berry said.

Berry coached the boys and girls basketball teams at Carver, Woodson and AMS, and compiled a 250-72 record. Additionally, he coached other sports as well.

Additionally, Berry coached city and school league baseball.

Former player and current AHS coach Marshall Locke said he enjoyed playing for coach Berry.

“He was a very personable guy to all of his players, and he went the extra mile for his students,” Locke said. “He was firm and fair.

“He always told us to give everything, whether you were at practice or at the game,” he said.

Throughout his illustrious career, Berry received numerous awards for his dedicated service at the schools he taught and coached.

After graduating from Covington County Training School, Berry went to Alabama A&M University, where he lettered in basketball and baseball. He played basketball for three years at the school.

Berry said back then, the transition for integration went real smooth because of the school staff.

“Over there at the middle school, integration went smoothly because we were together on everything,” he said. “I give coodos to Mrs. Dyess for keeping the pack together down there.”

Berry is one of 12 new members that will be inducted into the AHSAA Hall of Fame in March.