6 to be inducted into Tiger Trail

Bob Dumas remembers what it was like to get the call — “I was really surprised,” he said. “I was very humbled and very surprised. It’s a big honor.”

In 2006, Dumas was one of the few inducted into the Auburn Trail, a group of select former Auburn University athletes who are chosen to join the plaques on downtown Auburn sidewalks.

On Saturday, six more will join the Trail as they are inducted at an 8 a.m. breakfast at The Hotel at Auburn University.

Dumas, an Auburn native, played golf for AU from 1972 to 1976.

The Tiger Trail was started in 1995 by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the university to honor those who were outstanding athletes at AU, said Jennifer Dodson, vice president of communications for the chamber.

“We look at the people who really reflect the spirit of Auburn, both while they were here and after they left — people who deserve to be honored,” Dodson said.

The induction ceremony is a fun event where honorees make speeches and reminisce about their time at Auburn, she said.

This year’s inductees are Maggie Bowen, who swam for AU from 2000 to 2003; Becky Jackson, who played basketball from 1981 to 1984; Mike Kolen, who played football from 1966 to 1969; Morris M. Slingluff, who played golf from 1961 to 1963; Sonny Smith, who coached men’s basketball from 1979 to 1989; and Paul Susce, who played baseball from 1953 to 1956.