NATCHEZ — Hugh Green was supposed to be the first Natchez native inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

But after unexpectedly not showing up for last Friday’s induction ceremonies, Green is, for now, no longer welcome in the Hall.

Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Director Michael Rubenstein said Tuesday that since Green did not attend his induction ceremony Friday, he has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame and is not a member.

“To be an inductee you have to be inducted, and he was not present for that,” Rubenstein said. “He is not a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2009.”

Green could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Rubenstein said Green had informed him that he would be attending Friday’s ceremonies, but then didn’t turn up Friday night.

Rubenstein said Green did not and still has not contacted the Hall of Fame giving a reason for his absence.

However, Green did host a celebrity golf tournament in Natchez Saturday morning, featuring former teammates Dan Marino and Mark Duper, and his former coach Jackie Sherrill.

“I don’t know what could have happened,” Rubenstein said. “If it was an illness in the family or a circumstance beyond his control, we would be understanding of that. But apparently that was not the case since he had a golf tournament the next day.”

Rubenstein said he did not know if Green would be eligible to be nominated again, and would wait for the Hall of Fame’s next board meeting before commenting.

“There are many potential options,” Rubenstein said. “I’ll wait to sample the board’s opinion on that.”

Green came out of Natchez and was a three-time All-American at the University of Pittsburgh. He won the Lombardi Trophy and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting his senior year in 1980, the highest finish ever for a purely defensive player.

He was drafted seventh overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with the Bucs and Miami Dolphins.

Green’s absence from Friday night’s induction ceremony disappointed Miss-Lou chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame President Terry Estes, especially since it robbed Natchez of its first native in the Hall of Fame.

“I’m disappointed he didn’t show up for the banquet recognition, and I really don’t understand why,” Estes said. “I think if an athlete gets that honor and they put everything in the paper showing how great that player was, and he fails to show up without an explanation or reason, that looks bad for everybody.”

While there is no Natchez native in the Hall of Fame, there is a Natchez connection.

Current resident Joe Fortunado, who is a native of Mingo Junction, Ohio, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978 after a standout football career at Mississippi State and the Chicago Bears.

And unlike Green, Fortunado was honored and thrilled at his induction.

“I thought it was great,” Fortunado said. “I appreciated it very much. I guaren-darn-tee you I took great pride in it.”

Estes said it was a shame that Green did not seem to share Fortunado’s attitide about being inducted.

“He may be bitter (about having to wait so long to be inducted) but you don’t fight back like that,” Estes said. “It’s not right. It’s an honor for what he got. Maybe it’s time delayed, but he should appreciate it.”

But apparently now, Green won’t have the chance to appreciate the honor whether he wants to or not, thanks to his actions on Friday.

“Right now, Hugh Green is not a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame,” Rubenstein said. “And it’s apparently by his own choosing.”