For more than 20 years, Tony Smith has shared a surreal and lasting connection with a guy he barely knows.

Smith, a former Warren Central star, played two seasons with Brett Favre at Southern Miss. In 1992, the two were essentially traded for each other when the Atlanta Falcons sent Favre to the Green Bay Packers for a first-round draft pick that they then used to take Smith.

Favre, of course, went on to have a hall of fame career in the NFL while Smith’s ended after three seasons. Ever since, Smith said, he’s gotten calls from reporters about the trade, his place in NFL history, the “what if?” scenarios, and Favre. The only problem, he said with a chuckle, is that he hasn’t spoken to Favre in more than 20 years.

“It is a little weird. Right before Brett went to the Hall of Fame I was getting lots of calls. Outside of being teammates, I didn’t have much of a relationship with him,” Smith said. “I think Brett and I had one conversation in Atlanta the year after I was drafted.”

Smith’s pro football career didn’t go as well as Favre’s, but he can now claim to be a hall of famer in his own right. Smith will be one of five members of the inaugural class of the Vicksburg Warren School District Athletic Hall of Fame.

Smith, along with Warren Central football players Sean Brewer and Carl Blue, Vicksburg High basketball star Cynthia Hall, and VHS tennis great Barry Hassell, will be inducted Thursday in a banquet at Roca Restaurant and Bar. The banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $20 and available at the VWSD athletic office on Mission 66.

All five Hall of Fame members will also be recognized at Friday’s Warren Central vs. Vicksburg football game at Memorial Stadium.

“It’s a pretty big honor. It’s a little overwhelming. Humbling. I’m pretty excited about it,” Smith said. “It means you made a lasting thought for somebody.”

Smith was selected by the Falcons with the 19th overall pick in the 1992 NFL draft. Nearly two dozen people from Warren County have played in the NFL, but he’s the only one ever selected in the first round of the draft.

“That’s a neat little place in history. That’s a cool thing,” Smith said. “I’m absolutely proud of it. It definitely was a blessing to be drafted in the first round. It was one of those things I would never change.”

Smith was a running back and kick returner for the Falcons. He scored three touchdowns — two rushing in 1992, and another on a kickoff return in 1993 against Pittsburgh — and finished his career with 329 rushing yards.

Smith moved to Charlotte, N.C., in 1999 and has lived there since. He has a number of business interests including real estate, cattle and construction.

He said he travels back to Mississippi often, and was looking forward to Thursday’s hall of fame banquet.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to be part of this, and looking forward to being part of that induction ceremony,” Smith said.