2023 Inducties
Read More about the Inductees below.
Cedric Saunders
Cedric Saunders built an accomplished football career beyond Sarasota High, starring as a four-year starter at Ohio State University and earning Second-Team All–Big Ten honors before playing professionally with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and in NFL Europe. After his playing days, he rose through the NFL ranks as a scout, Director of Player Development, and eventually Senior Vice President of Football Operations with the Detroit Lions, later becoming an NFLPA-certified contract advisor.
Fred Atkins
Atkins, a 1969 graduate, was the first Black mayor of Sarasota and a city commissioner for 18 years. Atkins is a founder or a board member of several organizations, including Newtown Little League, the Greater Newtown Community Redevelopment Corporation and the Sarasota NAACP.
Mollie Cardamone
Mollie Cardamone, a 1954 graduate, ran the retail business Children's World for 37 years at its Sarasota location and for 19 years at its Bradenton location. Cardamone also became involved in Sarasota politics, serving eight years as a city commissioner and two years as mayor.
Tom Whitehurst
Tom Whitehurst, a 1966 graduate, played football and baseball at Sarasota and went on to play football at the University of Florida, where his career was cut short by injury. Whitehurst returned to Sarasota High as a football and assistant baseball coach, and succeeded Charlie Cleland as the head football coach in 1984. He led the Sailors to eight consecutive winning seasons and five playoff appearances.
Scott Dunlap
Scott Dunlap, a 1981 graduate, was the class valedictorian and a member of the Sailors golf team. Dunlap played golf at the University of Florida before turning professional. He has had status on the PGA Tour and is still active on the PGA Tour Champions; he has earned more than $12 million in his career.
Carl Luer
Carl Luer, a 1966 graduate, earned a master's degree in zoology from the University of South Florida in 1974 and earned a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Kansas in 1978. In 1979, he created a marine biomedical research program at Mote Marine Laboratory. Luer has published more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles.