Alton Shell scored 20 touchdowns his senior year at Georgiana High School in Alabama. The all-state high school halfback transferred to PRC and played for Dobie Holden.  He scored 32 touchdowns for the Wildcats during his two years in 1952-53. 

The 1953 Wildcats were 9-0-1, while scoring 295 points and allowing only 41. Shell caught 27 passes in 1953 for 423 yards. At the time of his 1990 induction, Shell was third on the Wildcats' all-time receiving list and second for most receptions in a season. Shell scored four touchdowns in a game twice. He scored four touchdowns in a game twice, against East Central in both 1952 and '53.

At the time of his induction, Shell had the college's eighth longest punt return, which was 75 yards against East Central in '53. 

Shell left PRC and signed with Auburn. Playing football, he averaged 5.2 yards per carry on the 8-2-1 team. 

Shell also played baseball at PRC, batting .436. 

In 1990, Shell had been head football coach and athletic director at Americus High School in Americus, Georgia since 1971. During the mid-70's his teams won 33 straight and two state championships. He has had nine regional championship teams and has been to the playoffs 16 times. Between 1971 and '90, Shell had only one losing season. At the time of his induction, Shell had won 206 games, lost only 65, and was one of just 18 Georgia coaches to ever reach the 200 victory plateau. His record in 1990 was 6-1.