For many, what it means to be an alumnus only requires that one graduates from an institution.

But for Fort Dale Academy, that definition extends to four individuals whose influence continues to be felt long after they darkened their school’s doors for the final time.

FDA will honor the class of 2013 Hall of Fame inductees on Friday, Oct. 11, as part of the homecoming festivities before the football game against Pike Liberal Arts School.

This year’s inductees are Meredith Mosley Bryan, Maryanne Hancock Burdg, Tim James Jr. and Harry Manning, and their contributions to Fort Dale Athletics continue to be felt to this day.

“We look for people who have made significant contributions athletically to our program in years past,” said Fort Dale Academy Headmaster David Brantley. “And so we looked for significant contributions that have been made to the athletic program through athletic achievement and, in Mr. Harry Manning’s case, due to his exceptional service that he’s provided to our athletic program over the years in filming of games and the support he has been for years to our program.”

Though Manning is a graduate of Georgiana School, his family has attended Fort Dale dating back to 1971.

He currently has four granddaughters attending the school.

Maryanne Hancock Burdg is a 2006 graduate whose numerous athletic accomplishments and honors at Fort Dale cover basketball, track and tennis, including leading the Eagles to a 2004 AISA state championship in basketball.

Meredith Mosley Bryan, a 2001 graduate, was a member of five tennis state championship teams, and she also helped bring in one junior varsity basketball championship as well as a varsity basketball championship to the school.

Tim James Jr. won several nationally recognized honors, including U.S. Army National Scholar Athlete Award in 2004 and the Wendy’s Heisman Scholarship Award in 2005.  Despite their numerous and varied accomplishments, Brantley’s position as headmaster has given him the unique opportunity to know them all on a personal level.

“They’re just very special people that made good contributions to us but are now productive citizens in their own right and are doing well as adults,” Brantley said. “This is a great group and we’re excited that they will be able to be with us on Oct. 11, and we look forward to seeing them and their families, and we hope we have a good crowd at our reception and later at the game.”

The new inductees will be honored at the Hall of Fame reception at 6 p.m. in the Fort Dale library.

They will be formally inducted on the football field at approximately 6:45 p.m., just before the kickoff of the homecoming game against the Patriots.