Hall of Fame
Below you will find the members who have been inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame, along with their year of induction and accomplishments on the field of athletics.
Kathryn Aspinwall
Inducted: 2024
2024 Player
Kathryn Carter Aspinwall starred in the circle for the Liberty County High School softball and the Valdosta State University Blazers. She ended her LCHS career with an earned run average of 1.87, 277 innings pitched and 317 strikeouts in 74 games. As a senior, she posted an ERA of 1.46, with 111 strikeouts in 91 innings. She also hit .420, with 13 home runs and three doubles in 88 plate appearances.Aspinwall was named first-team all-region all four years at LCHS and was named all-Greater Savannah for all four years. She was named region pitcher of the year following her junior and senior campaigns. At Valdosta State, she was named all-Gulf South Conference second team as a freshman. She pitched 152 2/3 innings, posting an ERA of 3.35 and striking out 41. She went 19-4 with four shutouts and 12 complete games, starting in the circle for 22 of her 33 appearances. She was named second-team all-Gulf South Conference as a sophomore, going 17-4, with seven complete games and one save. She had an ERA of 2.85 in 130 1/3 innings, striking out 46. She went nine innings against Tampa and struck out six for a season-high against Columbus State. Aspinwall redshirted in 2019 and her 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kareem Bacon
Inducted: 2018
2018 Player
A 1990 BI graduate, Bacon lettered in football, baseball and track, with his most notable highlights coming on the gridiron in 1989 in which he was voted team captain and played quarterback and free-safety recording 147 tackles, 4 interceptions, and throwing 6 TD passes. He was 5 time player of the week, Defensive MVP, and received a full scholarship in football to Clark Atlanta University where he was a 4 year starter in football earning First Team All-SICA honors in multiple years as well as being a Division II All-American nominee. He graduated in 1995 with a BA in marketing from Clark Atlanta University. Bacon also played professional football for the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League and later the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League where he was a member of their 1995 CFL Grey Cup Championship Team. Bacon is currently a District Manager for a re-insurer of large automobile dealerships and lives in Atlanta.
Derrell Baker
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
Derrell Baker, a member of Bradwell Institute’s class of 1977, was a tremendously gifted all-around athlete who starred in football, basketball, and baseball.
As a child, Baker played the first organized little league baseball game in Hinesville in 1971 at Troop Field. He played for American Legion and was coached by the late Bill Durrence. Baker was a member of the Little League All-Star Team that won the State Championship. He also played on two Liberty County Recreation Department All-Star Basketball Teams that won State Georgia Recreation and Parks Association titles in 1972 and 1973.
As a senior at Bradwell Institute in 1977, Baker was named MVP of his football, basketball, and baseball teams. Baker was the first African-American to start at quarterback at BI and in baseball he hit the game-winning home run to give BI the 1976 State Class AA Baseball Championship. Baker was offered a football scholarship by East Carolina University, but decided he would rather play baseball.
Baker went on to star at Middle Georgia Junior College, where he was a member of the baseball team that in 1979 won the Junior College National Title in Grand Junction, CO. Baker was an All-American Selection and signed with Georgia Southern College, where as a third baseman, he was named the Trans American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1981 and was a second-team All-American. Baker still holds the highest single season batting average in Georgia Southern history when he hit .462 in 1981 and his career batting mark of .425 is still the highest mark recorded at GSU. Baker also was chosen to be a member of the U.S. College all-star team that toured Seoul, Korea, to play the Korean All-Star team in 1980.
In, 1981, he was drafted in the second round by the Montreal Expos. Baker played and coached in the Expos organization for eight years and made it as high as AAA before retiring from baseball. Baker was named the Topps Minor League Player of the Month in June 1981. Baker was inducted into the Georgia Southern University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
Faye Baker
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
Faye Baker is now the respected basketball coach of the Bradwell Institute Lady Tigers and led the team to the Class AAAAA Final Four in 2003.
But Baker was an accomplished athlete as a youngster; she was a member of the Liberty County Recreation Department’s basketball All-Star teams every year from 1973-1977 and was a member of the LCRD Midget team that won the State Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Title in 1974. She was a league scoring and hot shot champion.
In track, Baker won the State GRPA Shot Put Title and held the record from 1976-1978 and was the state’s best high jumper in 1976. She qualified for state in the shot put from 1979-1981 and was the team’s MVP.
In softball, Baker made LCRD All-Star teams from 1973-1977 and was on the state runner up team in 1974.
As a high school basketball player at Bradwell Institute, Baker was named the Lady Tigers’ Rookie of the Year as a freshman and earned All State honors for the 1977-78 seasons. She was BI’s top offensive player in 1978-79 and team MVP during her junior and senior years (1979-1980, 1980-81). Baker averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game for the Lady Tigers during her high school career and had a career high of 41 points.
Baker attended Georgia Southern on a softball scholarship and started for GSC from 1982-1983 before switching to basketball, a sport she played her last two seasons at GSC.
H.C. Baker
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
H.C. Baker starred on the Liberty County High 1965 boys basketball championship team and played for five years in the Boston Red Sox chain.
In a 1966 Liberty Tigers' football 106-0 win over Central High of Sylvania, he caught 17 passes and scored six touchdowns. He followed that with 14 receptions and four touchdowns against Lyons. Baker caught 79 passes and had 12 touchdowns in 1964 and had 83 catches and 16 touchdowns in 1965. He averaged four touchdowns a game during his career and was a state all-star game participant in 1967. In basketball, Baker averaged between 26-29 points per game during his 1963-67 career. He was also on the state title runner-up team in 1966.
He signed a football scholarship with Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA. After red-shirting, he decided to go out for baseball. He was named an All American in 1970-71 as a third baseman and hit .487 in 1970. Baker was the Adirondack “Big Stick” award winner for NAIA Area II with eight homers and drove in 43 runs his senior season.
He was taken by the Red Sox in the seventh round of the June 1971 draft. He originally had been drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1967, but opted to go to Southern instead.
O.C. Baker
Inducted: 2023
2023 Player
Oliver Baker was a standout coach and player and was the first athlete from Liberty County High School to receive a full athletic scholarship. During his playing days in the early 1960s at Liberty County High School, he averaged between 25-30 points and 7 rebounds per game. He led the Tigers to district championships in 1961 and 1962. He was co-captain in 1961-62 and captain in 1962-63. He also ran track, running the hurdles and was a member of the 4x110 relay team. Baker signed to play basketball at Savannah State College. He started as a freshman and averaged 15 points per game. He was team co-captain his junior year and was seventh in the nation in field goal percentage. As a senior, he was team captain and was fifth in the nation in field goal percentage. He was teacher and coach for 33 years, retiring in 2001, and was a longtime basketball coach at Brunswick High School.
John Barbee
Inducted: 2000
2014 Player
A 1968 graduate of Bradwell Institute, Senior class president, Mr. Bradwell 1968, 9-letter winner, John was an Atlanta Constitution Journal Honorable Mention All-State running back for BI in 1967, a 3-year football, track, and tennis letterman, and a member of the 1965 BI State Championship football team who received a 4-year Army ROTC scholarship to Davidson College where he started at roverback for the Wildcats for three seasons (1969-71) and was a part of the 1971 Tangerine Bowl team.
He was president of his fraternity and graduated in 1972 at which time he received a commission in the US Army, advanced his career as Army chaplain and infantryman and retired at the rank of Colonel in 2002.
Since his retirement John as served as a Baptist pastor in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. He and his wife recently moved back to Hinesville.
Dominique Blasingame
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Dominique Blasingame is a 1980 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where he played football and baseball.
As a running back, Blasingame was named the Tigers’ most valuable player in 1978 and he was the team’s offensive MVP in 1979. He was named All-Coastal Empire in 1978 and 1979 and made All-State in 1979. He was selected for the Georgia North-South All Star game in 1980. In baseball, Blasingame was named the Tigers 1978 Rookie of the Year.
As a youngster, Blasingame was a member of numerous Liberty County Recreation Department championship teams in football, baseball, and basketball. He was named LCRD’s best offensive back in 1975 and was LCRD’s top scorer in 1976, when he was name MVP, as well. In basketball, Blasingame was the 1972 LCRD Playoff MVP and in 1977 was a member of the LCRD team that won the GRPS State Title. That year, Blasingame was named the junior boys MVP and in 1978, he made the junior boys state All-Star Team in Class B.
In baseball, Blasingame was a member of the team that won the 1972 LCRD Little League Title and was named an All-Star. He made the All-Star Team again in 1973 and in 1974, Blasingame was honored for having the most LCRD pitching victories that season and the LCRD batting champion as his team won the LCRD Little League Title. Blasingame also was a member of LCRD’s junior team that won the District 2 Championship in 1978 and was MVP of the GRPS Class B Junior Tournament that same year.
Blasingame played fullback and tight end for the University of South Carolina. He was awarded the Gamecocks’ Ben Ray Center Award in 1981 and was named the team’s best offensive player of the week three times – Nov. 6th, 1982, Oct. 22, 1983, and Nov. 19th, 1983. He also was awarded the Rex Enright Captain’s Cup as a co-captain in 1983. Blasingame finished with 594 yards rushing and 532 yards receiving.
Blasingame went on to coach at Lexington High from 1996 – 2003. He currently lives in Irmo, South Carolina.
William Boyd
Inducted: 1976
2007 Player
William B. Boyd graduated Bradwell Institute with the class of 1960. His athletics included football; 4 year letterman – baseball; 4 year letterman – track; 2 year letterman – basketball; 1 year letterman. His Athletic honors include:
High School - football; Captain – Junior and Senior Year, All-State Honorable Mention - Senior Year, Atlanta-Journal Honor Roll (State wide) 8 out of 10 weeks for the season. Stats- football; 3 year starter, Senior year rushed over a thousand yards and scored 13 touchdowns. (may have been the 1st thousand yard rusher in school’s history). Played full-back and linebacker; punted and kicked off. Baseball; Outfielder and short-stop; leadoff batter. Track; Ran leadoff leg in the relays; Qualified in both the low and high hurdles for state.
College – football; walked on at the University of Tampa with a earned scholarship. (Ronnie Brett was the 1st to ever sign a football grant-in-aid at Bradwell and Boyd was the 2nd). He started at running back Junior year, Senior year went both ways at running back and rover back. His secondary led the nation that year in interceptions. Boyd made Smith and Street preseason magazine in 1963. Coach Pancoast’s commet was that “Boyd had the guts of 20 men and the number was expected to grow.†Coach Bailey’s commet was that “if Boyd was 6 feet tall he would be an All American.â€
William Boyd’s honors also include Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities as a Junior and Senior; Tampa Lithograph Academic Award Senior football player with highest average. He was selected as Young Man of the Year in Georgia in 1975, as well.
Following his high school and college athletic endeavors, Mr. Boyd coached high school football for 34 years. He was selected as Coach of the Year 5 time (3 times as an assistant coach and twice as the head coach). He was also selected several times as Macon Area Coach of the Week for outstanding wins.
He won 5 region championships and coached in the Georgia North/South All Star game. He had several players to play in the North/South All Star game in Atlanta. Coached two All Americans and many, many All Staters. He had two to play in the pros and signed numerous players to colleges sending players to Georgia, Florida, Ga. Tech., South Carolina, Citadel, E. Carolina, Troy, U. of Illinois, Oregon, Fla. State, Western Carolina, Merchant Marines Academy, Newberry, Colleg of the Desert (JC), Taft (JC), and others. Tommy Smoak and Mke Washington were All Americans. Tommy signed with UGA and Mike signed with USC. Jarvis Coursey (FSU) was the MVP in the Orange Bowl his Junior year vs Oklahoma. Earnest Byner (E. Carolina) played for the Browns and the Redskins. Henry Taylor (FSU) played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Mr. Boyd’s civic activities include teaching Sunday school for over 25 years at Methodist Church. He has been in charge of logistics for the Relay for Life in Jones County several years. His efforts have put them in the top ten in monies raised for communities their size in the USA several times (including 2006).
He is a past member of the Chamber of Commerce in charge of Tourism and the treasurer for his Mayor in his successful bid for reelection in the last election. He presently serves on a committee to rewrite the City Charter (a process that will require about a year and will totally reshape city government and the way city business is handled).
When Mr. Boyd left Bradwell, he left to make a name and place for himself. He never forgot where he came from or the great people that instilled integrity, honor, pride, and work ethic in him. He states that he owes a great debt of gratitude to Hokey Jackson, Ed Edwards, Toby Fountain, Faye Darsey, Willie Stafford, B.A. Johnson, Albert Rogers, William Cox and many others. He has always taken the name, honor, and legacy of Bradwell Institute and Hinesville with him and tried to give back to the youth he has taught and coached for 38 years. He is very proud to call Hinesville his home!
Candler Boyd, Jr.
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
Candler Boyd graduated from Bradwell Institute in 1966 and is one of the most talented all-around athletes to ever play for the school.
He earned 15 letters — still the most in BI history — and would have earned 16 were it not for a broken ankle. Boyd earned four letters in football, four in baseball, four in basketball and three in track. He was unable to letter his freshman year in track because of the broken ankle, which Boyd suffered while he was playing baseball and which kept him out of the region track meet.
In track, Boyd set a school record his senior year when he won the 180-yard low hurdles. Boyd finished fourth in the state. Boyd really stood out most in football where as a junior running back he rushed for 1,110 yards on only 110 carries, a 10.1 yards per carry average, which is still a school record. He scored 22 touchdowns and had eight interceptions that season, as Bradwell Institute finished 11-1. As a senior, Boyd did even better, gaining 1,301 yards on 139 carries (9.4 avg.) scoring a school record of 25 touchdowns. He got another school record that season by picking off 14 passes as the BI Lions went 14-0 and won the Class B State title.
During his career at Bradwell Institute, Boyd played in 37 games – he missed 12 games due to injury – and holds the school’s career record for touchdowns scored with 54 and the Lions compiled a four-year record of 42-5-2. As a junior, Boyd was named all state honorable mention by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and led the state in scoring. He was named the team’s Best Back Award. As a senior, Boyd was a first team AJC All-State pick and was named to the Parade All Southern team and Parade All American Honorable Mention as he led Georgia in scoring and interceptions — a feat which has never been equaled. Boyd played in the GHSA North-South All-Star game and was a captain on the only undefeated, untied state title football team in BI history. He signed a football scholarship with the University of South Carolina.
At Carolina, Boyd was a three-year letterman at strong safety and on Nov. 15, 1969 he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Athlete of the week for his performance against Wake Forest. In that game, he had 15 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. The 1969 Gamecocks won the ACC title, the only one in USC football history and played in the Peach Bowl. Boyd went on to earn a BS in business administration in 1971 and his masters in teaching in 1974, both from USC. He earned a Specialist Degree in Supervision and Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2000 and a Doctor of Education Degree in Supervision and Leadership from Nova Southeastern in 2001.
Boyd also has a distinguished coaching career. After serving from 1973-74 as a graduate assistant football coach at USC he became head coach of Bradwell’s baseball team in 1975. The BI Tigers won the Region 2AA title. In 1976, Boyd was head coach of the BI team that won the Region 2AA and state Class AA titles and he was named both Region 2AA and State Class AA Coach of the Year. Boyd, who taught, coached, and served as an administrator at Bradwell, is still the only person in BI history to win a state title as a football player and as a baseball coach.
Ronnie Brett
Inducted: 2009
2009 Player
Brett was a BI Tiger football player from the class of 1960 and was the first in the school’s history to receive a football scholarship to the University of Tampa. Brett lettered three years in football and baseball and lettered a year in track and basketball. On the Tiger football team, he was a three-year starter at guard, tackle and linebacker and was the team’s co-captain during his senior year. He was selected outstanding lineman of the year in his senior season and won the Frazier Rambo Sportsmanship Trophy. Brett made the all state first team as a tackle and was named outstanding lineman in the Southeast area of Georgia. As a Tiger baseball player, he started three years as a first baseman and had a 400 plus hitting average in his junior and senior seasons. He was a shot-put thrower for the Tiger track team. At the University of Tampa, Brett was a three-year starter at the guard and linebacker position and played baseball for one year on the same team as Lou Piniella. Brett majored in math and worked for 32 years as a computer system analyst with the Department of Defense before retiring. He was the president of his local chapter of the Retired Federal Employees.
Allen Brown
Inducted: 2009
2004 Player
Allen Brown is a member of the Bradwell Institute class of 1965. His accomplishments include lettering and starter for four years in football, baseball and basketball. Brown lettered for two years in track and was a team captain in football, baseball and basketball.
He led the baseball team in batting average three years and led the baseball team in home runs all four seasons. He was the second-leading scorer and leading rebounder on BI’s basketball team during his junior and senior year and was the team MVP in football. Brown was a starter in the 1965 Georgia High School All-Star game and an All-State selection.
As a junior, he played quarterback and safety on the BI team that lost the state title by two points. As a senior, Brown passed for 860 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 781 yards and nine touchdowns, leading an offense that scored 450 points — the most ever at BI. He was also a starting safety for a defense that allowed only 17 points during the regular season — the least ever at BI.
Brown was invited to numerous tryouts for pro-baseball during his junior and senior year. He received a football scholarship to the University of South Carolina, where he lettered in 1968. Brown continues to support area athletes by attending games and through personal and business contributions to athletic programs.
Brown, owner of Century 21 Action Realty, is a past President of the Harvey Overton Bradwell Institute Booster Club, the Hinesville-Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, Hinesville Rotary Club, AUSA, Hinesville Area Board of Realtors along with leadership positions in numerous charitable organizations. Brown also served one term on the Hinesville City Council and two terms as Hinesville mayor. For the past 12 years, Brown has been on the Liberty County Development Authority, where he currently serves as Chairman. He is a member of First United Methodist Church of Hinesville.
Rion Brown
Inducted: 2015
2015 Player
Brown, a 2010 graduate of LCHS was a star basketball player for the Panthers under Coach Willie Graham, Brown garnered numerous accolades including Class AAA South Player of the Year by the Georgia Athletics Coaches Association and was chosen to play in the senior All Star game.
During his senior season Brown set school records with 42 points in a game and 660 points for the season. He also averaged 22.8 pts per game and helped lead his team to the State playoffs. Brown was named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Second Team All-State Class AAA.
Brown received an athletic scholarship to the University of Miami where played for the Hurricanes for four years in the ACC. Brown finished his Canes career fourth all time in minutes played, was named Third Team All Atlantic Coast Conference his senior season, and lead Miami in scoring that year at 15.5 pts per game.
Brown is currently playing professionally with Brussels, Belgium of the EuroBasketball League.
James Brown
Inducted: 2012
2012 At Large
In 1937 when Bradwell Institute formed its first football team, known then as the Lions, James Allen Brown was the team’s first quarterback. It was his senior year and he played only one season, but his touchdown pass to receiver John Collins against Emanuel County Institute was BI’s first touchdown pass in the history books. Brown, who had a deep passion for sports, also played basketball and ran track. A notable sprinter, high jumper and pole vaulter, he helped the Bradwell track team earn a second-place finish at the state meet with only five participants. After graduating from BI in 1937, he attended Georgia Teacher’s College, where he played one season of football. As notable as Brown was on the field, many Liberty County residents remember him for his off-the-field contributions. Brown helped to form the Harvey Overton Bradwell Institute Booster Club, which provided a foundation for the school’s athletic programs. He served as a personal advisor and confidant to Hokey Jackson and later Clifford Johnson, both known as legendary football coaches at BI. As a loyal Bradwell football fan, Brown attended nearly every game until his death in 1987, watching three of his sons start at quarterback and one of his grandsons start for BI. Brown also coached Little League baseball for several years and later served as a commissioner. James Brown Park was named after him and was dedicated to his deep devotion to the community and his love of sports. Brown also served in World War II, worked as a postmaster for more than 30 years and was the mayor of Hinesville for four years.
Neal Brown
Inducted: 2023
2023 Player
Neal Brown graduated from Bradwell Institute as one of its most accomplished and decorated athletes. He earned four letters in football, four letters in basketball, four letters in track and two in baseball – both coming when the school restarted the baseball program in his junior year. In basketball, he averaged 14 points a game as a junior and 12 as a senior, leading BI to a state playoff berth his senior year. In football, as the starting quarterback, he led Bradwell to an 11-1 record and was also a starting defensive back as a junior and a senior.In track and field, Brown qualified for the state meet in both the high hurdles and the pole vault, and he finished sixth in the state in the pole vault. Off the field, Brown was named student council president and was awarded the Harvey Overton Booster Christian Athlete Award. Since graduating from Georgia Southern College, Brown has been in the ministry.
Ivan Bullard
Inducted: 2019
2019 Player
Bullard graduated BI in 1989 and was a standout running back and punter for the Tiger football team as well as the 1988 Georgia state champion in the shot put in his junior year. Bullard was named All-Region 3-AAAA in 1987 and 1988 in football and was Honorable Mention All-State in 1988 per the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Bullard also lettered one year in golf for BI. Bullard accepted an appointment to the US Naval Academy where he played running back for the Midshipmen.
Robert Campbell
Inducted: 2011
2011 Player
A native of Hinesville, Campbell played guard from 1997-2001 at Armstrong Atlantic State University and was a two-time Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year for the Pirates’ basketball team (1999, 2000). He finished his four-year career ranked second all-time in NCAA Division II history with 357 steals. Campbell also earned NCAA Division II All-America honors as a junior and senior and ranks third on the Armstrong all-time scoring list with 1,537 points, behind only fellow Armstrong Athletic Hall of Famers Sam Berry and Ike Williams. Campbell attended BI from 1993-97 and played four years of basketball under then-varsity coach David Jones. In his senior season, he averaged 19 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. He was named to the all-region first team in the 1996-97 school year. Campbell recently was inducted to the Armstrong Atlantic State University Hall of Fame.
Rose Carr
Inducted: 1976
2006 Player
Rose Watkins Carr began high school cheerleading in 1949 and 1950 then played girls basketball, starting forward, in 1950 through 1953. She set a school record for most points scored in a single game (47 points), in 1953. Also, during high school, she was a Hinesville Pool lifeguard at the Liberty County Recreation Department in 1950 through 1952. Mrs. Carr was Swim Instructor, as well, at the Hinesville Pool in 1950 through 1952.
Rose Watkins Carr attended Georgia Teachers College in 1954 and participated in Intramural Basketball and Softball that same year. Following completion of college she continued recreation involvement as Score Book Keeper at Cochran High School for boys and girls basketball in 1958 and 1959. She was a member the South Cobb High School Booster Club in 1961 through 1965. In 1962 and 1963 she was the 1st baseman for Statesboro Recreation Department Intramural Softball program and all-star nomination both years.
Her connection remained closely involved with Statesboro community athletics and in 1977 she sponsored the Statesboro High School Football and Basketball Cheerleading.
Mrs. Carr was a member of the Forest Heights Country Club Ladies Golf Association from 1969 to present day, serving as Treasurer from 1993 through 2003. She was the Chairman for Fall and Bluebird Tournaments from 1993 through 2003, Ladies Tournament Winner in 1978, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1997, and 2003, and Ladies Club Champion Net Division in 1986, 1997, and 1998. In 1992 Mrs. Carr was presented the prestigious Career Appreciation Award for Outstanding Support of Statesboro High School Athletics.
Rose Watkins Carr resides in Statesboro, Georgia. She is being inducted as an athlete.
Quintunya Chapman
Inducted: 2017
2017 Player
A 2011 graduate of Bradwell Institute, Chapman-Hamilton was a standout in several fields.
At BI, she was a 2011 state champion in the long jump, state runner up in the long jump in 2010, third in the 400-meter at state in 2009 and runner-up in the 400 at state in 2008. She was region champ in the long jump and 400 in 2010 and the girls track and field athlete of the year from 2009-2011, along with being the Best of Preps girl runner of the year in 2011.
She was a HOPE Scholar and a track and field scholarship athlete at the University of Georgia, where she was a four-time all-American. In 2014, she was runnerup at the Southeastern Conference heptathlon, third in the heptathlon at the 2015 SEC Indoor Championships and third at the NCAA outdoor heptathlon.
She was third at the 2014 North American, Central American and Caribbean heptathlon, finished sixth in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in the heptathlon and the 2016 Pan American Combined Events Cup champion in the heptathlon.
She also was the recipient of the 2015 all-academic student athlete award, a member of the dean’s list and the SEC academic honor roll from 2011-15.
She also was the 2016 College of Public Health commencement speaker.
She graduated in 2016 with a bachelor of science in health promotion and behavior and is currently the assistant director for youth sports and fitness at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia.
Charmaine Clark
Inducted: 2000
2012 Player
Charmaine Clark lettered in basketball four times and in volleyball three times. She played her freshman and senior seasons of basketball at Bradwell Institute where she was named to the all-state first team and all-Coastal Empire first team. She graduated in 2006 and earned a full scholarship to play basketball a the University of Miami. During her freshman year, she played in all 30 games and registered 20 starts as a true freshman, including 13 of 14 ACC contests. She was among six freshman to rank among the ACC’s top-five freshman in three or more statistical categories. She averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and 8.3 points and 5.4 boards in ACC games. Clark finished her career by playing in 35 games her senior year with 30 starts for a total of 1,029 minutes played, 144 rebounds, 104 assists, 15 blocks, 40 steals, and 240 total points.
Spencer Clark
Inducted: 1976
2006 Player
Spencer V. Clark, while attending Bradwell Institute, has a career rushing of 3000 yards from 1973 through 1975. He was awarded Most Valuable Player in football in 1974 and 1975, was the leading rusher with over 1000 yards during 1974 and 1975 seasons, started offense (RB) and defense (CB & FS) and on all Special Teams, received over ten awards for Best Offensive Player, rushing 100 yards minimum in each game for two years.
Also, during his BI years, Mr. Clark participated in track and field with the following acclaim: Awarded MVR 1974 through 1976, on the 400 x100m relay team that set a school record with time of 42.0 seconds, on the 400 x 400m relay team that set a school and State record with a time of 3:18:00 in 1976 (called the mile relay during his years at BI). In 1976 the old record was 3:20:00 for the State of Georgia. He also set a school record in the 400m and 200m. Lettering all four-years in track and field, he participated in regions (in 1972 making region as a freshman) and state meets in 1974 through 1976, placed 2nd in both the 400 x 100m and the 400 x400m relay in the State of Georgia Meets in 1975 & 1976, and placed 3rd in State during the 1976 400m.
Mr. Clark received a football scholarship to the University of South Carolina in 1976 upon graduation from BI. While at USC, 1976 through 1980, he was a three-year letterman, currently No. 15 on Career Rushing Record with 1,652 yards (was No. 8 after USC senior year). Also, in his senior year, he won 8 games, the first time in USC history.
In USC school history he was No. 11 in Yards per Carry Career (5.2 yards), No. 14 in Most Yards in One Year (777 yards), and No. 17 in Yards per Game One Year (71 yards). Mr. Clark has had 100 or more yards rushing in one game four times, was the Second Leading Scorer with nine TDs and 5.8 yards per carry in 1977 (2nd only to kicker), was the USC Leading Rusher in 1977 (777 yards), and Co-Offensive Recipient of the George Terry Best Attitude Award in 1979.
Following Mr. Clark's high school and college sports endeavors he continued to participate in athletics, facilitating individual and small group parent meetings and workshops, provided career counseling/planning, academic advising, admission assistance and financial aid assistance to traditional and nontraditional students. Also, he was very active in public relations serving as college liaison, developing community partnerships, and promoting needed workshops. He served in community service from 1993 to present day as a high school coach, youth advocate, community organizer, and mentor. He has been a member of Concern Black Men of Columbia, SC, University of SC Letterman Association, Richland High School Shelter Program, and Big Brothers & Sisters of Greater Columbia.
Spencer V. Clark lives in Columbia, South Carolina. He is being inducted as an athlete.
Bradwell Institute Class of '65
Inducted: 1965
2005 Team
Under Coach Hokey Jackson on Dec. 3, 1965, the Bradwell Institute Lions knocked off Manchester 13-9 at Olvey Field to cap a perfect season and win the Georgia High School Association Class B football State championship. It capped a magical season for the Lions, who outscored opponents 479 – 75 also putting an exclamation point on the careers of many BI seniors.
During that 1965 season, the Lions had a combined 42-5-2 record, three region titles, two South Georgia championships and the state title. It remains the county’s only state football championship title to date. Assistant coaches were Clifford Johnson, Frank Bagley, and Ron Purdey. Players were Frank Adams, Clay Sikes, David Lee, Glenn Fox, Randy Whilden, Steve Sikes, Larry Howze, Bob Adams, Hardy Cone, Joe Street, Jimmy Teague, Dicky Whitfield, Herbert Stacy, Moe Gill, Dan Gay, Howard Primo, Ralph Welborn, Thomas DiGiovianni, John Conklin, Danny Sikes, Freddie Fairman, Jimmy McCullough, Dwayne Smiley, Ricky Dykes, Lin Stanford, Richard Wilson, Phil Lindsey, Tuck Saul, Billy Caines, Warren Brown, Charlie Mixon, Candler Boyd, James Purcell, Ronald Gillis, Fred Brimmer, Peyton Floyd, Gilbert Sapp, Rodney Carter, Henry Lancaster, Earl McGinley, Bill Stanford, Kelsey Busby, Dewitt Norby, and John Barbee.
LCHS Class of '65
Inducted: 1976
2005 Team
Coached by Samuel B. Harris, the Liberty County High School Tigers downed Covington by 12 points to claim the 1965 Georgia Interscholastic Association basketball State Championship title.
The Panthers finished the regular season 24-4. They downed Calhom High and archrival Todd Grant High School of Darien to win their region and Pike County in the state play-offs before beating Covington to win the GIA Title.
It was the first state championship for anyLiberty County high school and to date remains the only Liberty County High School basketball team to win a State title.
Team members were Arnell Anderson, Peter Walthour, Melvin Lecounte, Henry C. Baker, Jessie Varnedoe, Richard Singleton, Ralph Singleton, Saul Hargrove, Charles Harris, and Richard Bacon.
Bradwell Institute Class of '76
Inducted: 1976
2006 Team
The Bradwell Institute Tigers baseball team captured it’s first Effingham Invitational Tournament by knocking off the Effingham Rebels, who had won in previous years. After finishing the regular season with a 9-2 record, 14 tournament games followed based on the Tigers’ regular season performance. The Tigers were top seeded in the four team sub-region tournament winning the sub-region by defeating Screven County 11-1, Statesboro 9-2, losing to Effingham County 7-6, and defeating Effingham County 12-2 in the Championship game.
The Tigers won their second consecutive region title by defeating the talented Swainsboro Tigers in three thrilling and sharp hitting ballgames. Scores were 5-4, 8-17, and 14-7 in the Championship game. In the double-header at Swainsboro, there were ten homeruns, five by each team. The tournament then continued in Atlanta to face the Lakeshore Lancers. The Tigers defeated Lakeshore 2-0 at Georgia Tech Baseball Field. The series continued in Hinesville, the Tigers won the first game 7-0 to advance into the South Georgia Championship and captured the championship after losing the opening game 4-3. The Tigers came back to win by the scores of 13-3 and 7-5 to capture the title. This moved Bradwell into it’s first berth in the state baseball Championship finals.
The team responded with a doubleheader sweep before a large crowd of approximately 700. The Tigers won the State AA with 4-3 and 5-3 wins over Lakeview. In game one, the visitors took a two-run lead in the third, but Bradwell answered with one run in the bottom as Derrell Baker singled and Andy Anderson hit into a force at second, Dan Seitz then ripped a single to right, moving Anderson to third, Mark Bitzer then hit a shot off the right field fence scoring Anderson.
In the fourth inning, Bradwell evened the score when Keith Fordham scored on a single to center by Derrell Baker. Lakeview went ahead 3-2 in the fifth, but it was short lived as Bitzer singled to left and Kenny West ripped a double to right field, moving pinch runner Hank White to third. Keith Fordham singled, Baker doubled, and pitcher Andy Anderson singled Baker home for the final score of 5-3.
Anderson retired the Lakeview Warriors in order in the 7th inning for his 12th victory of the year against only one loss. Seven of those wins came in the tournament. The 12-hit attack was led by Baker with 3 hits and 2 each by Bitzer, Fordham, and West.
The Tigers won the second and deciding game of the championship in a dramatic and memorable fashion. They went ahead in the 2nd inning when Dale Berland reached base on an error and pitcher Derrell Baker unloaded with a two-run homer.
The Warriors tied the score in the 4th inning, however, in the 7th inning Dale Berland reached on another error with two outs. This allowed the hot hitting Baker an opportunity to win the game, with the count one ball and two strikes, Baker ripped a low, fast ball over the left field fence giving Bradwell a 4-3 win and the State Championship.
That gave Baker the pitching victory for his 3rd tournament win and a 5-2 season record. The Tigers played in 14 tournament games and finished the season with a 20-5 record.
During the 1976 season, in twelve home games, the Tigers played before approximately 4,800 fans. The team batting average was a healthy .324, averaging over 8 runs per game, and just under 10 hits per contest. The hitting was potent and explosive and the base-running was aggressive, forcing many errors by the opposition. Every starter had a stolen base to his credit. The pitching staff combined had an impressive 2.97 ERA.
1976 Bradwell Tigers Baseball Team members:
Andy Anderson, Derrell Baker, Dale Berland, Mark Bitzer, Mike Brewer, Paul Cates, Elvis Cruz, Keith Fordham, John Mull, Dan Seitz, Mike Seitz, Jeff Shives, David Stevens, John Thompson, Kenny West, Hank White.
Coaches: Candler Boyd and Tom Bigwood
Public Relations: Al Rogers
Keith Colson
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Keith Colson is a 1973 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where he was a three-year letter winner in track and field and a three-year letter winner in football. In 1973, Colson was named the most valuable player for the Tigers' track team and set a school record in the 100-yard dash that year, running it in 9.9 seconds. Colson represented BI at the state track meet three times. In 1971, he advanced to state in the 220-yard dash in 1972, Colson went to state in the 100-yard dash, and in 1973 he competed at state as a member of BI's mile-relay team.
After graduating, Colson earned a football scholarship as a walk on at the University of South Carolina, where he was a three-year varsity letter in football. Colson played defensive back and returned punts and kickoffs and participated in the Tangerine Bowl during his playing career at USC. He graduated with a BA from USC in 1988 and earned his MBA from Kennesaw State University in 1989.
From 1977-78, Colson served as Defensive Coordinator at BI before becoming a graduate assistant coach at South Carolina. He was a part time assistant coach for the Gamecocks in 1979-80 and became a full time assistant from 1980-82. Colson was an assistant coach at Georgia Tech from 1982-85 and an assistant coach at Alabama in 1986. As a coach, he participated in the Gator Bowl and All American Bowl. He has coached an all-American, Rick Sanford of the University of South Carolina, and Canadian Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year, Harry Skipper. Colson also coached Cleve Pounds, a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and the Georgia Tech career record holder for most tackles by a defensive back.
Colson currently lives in Smyrna, Georgia. He is being inducted as an athlete.
Hardy Cone
Inducted: 2018
2018 Player
A 1966 graduate of BI, Cone lettered 4 years in football and 3 in track. Cone was best known for his prowess on the football field as a bone-crunching, hole opening, bull-dozing offensive lineman as evidenced by his numerous accolades: All-State Honorable Mention in Football in 1964 and 1965, participant in the North-South All-Star Football Game in 1966, BI’s Best Lineman award and Headhunter award in 1965, and vital member of three (3) Region Championship teams, two (2) South Georgia Championship teams, and the 1965 State Championship Team. After his playing days ended, Hardy became a member of the Georgia National Guard completing over 30 years of service as an aviation mechanic. He is currently retired and living in Statham, Georgia.
Victoria Davis
Inducted: 2000
2013 Player
Victoria Standard Davis participated in swimming, track, basketball, softball, and on Bradwell Institute's 440-meter relay team that set a school record in 1977. "The team was also Bradwell's first team to ever go to state," she said, adding they finished fourth overall.
Davis, who lettered in track from 1976-78, also recalled how proud she felt when she was named to the varsity basketball team while only a sophomore in 1977. The Lady Tigers basketball team went to the Georgia High School Association State Basketball Tournament that year, as well.
Davis was also on the Lady Tigers' inaugural softball team in 1978 and earned letters during her junior and senior seasons on the team. That opened the door for Davis to play softball at Georgia Southern and made her the county's first female to earn a sport scholarship for softball.
She said sports are something everyone can use in their professional careers. "Participating in sports helps you build self-confidence. You learn to adapt and prepare to handle different situations," Davis said. "You also learn social and organizational skills and other life lessons. You experience firsthand how being part of a team, each person contributing to the best of their ability, works in unison to achieve a mutual goal. That same practice is applicable in the business world; now your teammates are called co-workers."
Jeff Deloach
Inducted: 2025
2025 Player
Jeff Deloach earned three varsity letters in cross country and two in basketball at Liberty County High School, but it was on the golf course where he planted his flag.
Deloach earned three letters in golf at LCHS and also earned many accolades on the junior golf circuit. He was one of eight named to the 1994 American Junior Golf Association scholastic all-America team and played in the 1994 U.S. Junior Championship at Echo Lake Golf Club in New Jersey. He won the 1993 Ping Gulf Coast Junior Classic in Pensacola, Florida, and won back-to-back Okefenokee Country Club Junior Invitationals in 1993 and 94.
He was top five at the 1995 AJGA Raymond Floyd Junior in Aventura, Florida, and top five at the 1995 AJGA Ping Myrtle Beach Junior Classic.
Deloach played collegiately at Furman University, becoming a four-year letter winner for the Paladins. He helped Furman win four team titles during his career, including the 1997 Southern Conference championship. He holds one of the top individual rounds in Furman golf history with a 66 in the first round of the University of Virginia’s tournament at Keswick Golf Club in 1997.
He competed on Furman’s team in the 1997 NCAA East Regional at the Homestead in Virginia, and led the Paladins with a stroke average of 73.5 for the 1997-98 season. A co-captain of Furman’s 1998-99 team, he had one top-five and two top-10 finishes in his collegiate career.
A 1995 graduate of Liberty County High School, Deloach also played on several Hinesville Gators GSSA state championship teams and now resides in Athens.
Gerald DeLoach
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
Gerald DeLoach was named all-state in football and baseball during his senior year at Bradwell Institute. DeLoach played running back and linebacker and defensive back in football and was a center fielder all four years. He lettered four times in baseball and basketball and three times in football. As a sophomore in 1956 he scored 30 points against Claxton when BI scored over 100 points. He hit .450 as a sophomore, .551 as a junior and .461 as a senior and hit .487 over his final three seasons. He played in the North-South all-star game in 1958 and was selected to catch the first pitch from Miss Georgia in pre-game ceremonies.
DeLoach, who was team captain in 1958, was all-state honorable mention in 1957, when he played offensive and defensive end.
He was also basketball team captain in 1958 and led the team in scoring. He played guard his senior season after two years at forward. In 1958, the Lions won the region title and DeLoach had 24 points in the championship game.
DeLoach also lettered four years in track, taking second in the broad jump at the 1958 district championship and competing in the high jump at the state meet in 1957-58. He ran 3rd leg of 440X4 relay team that won the first district Championship in 1957. The team went on to compete at State level.
He attended Piedmont College from 1959-60 on basketball and baseball scholarships. He lettered twice in basketball and played guard and forward. He played center field for two years in baseball and was a two-time unanimous first-team all-conference selection. He was also a member of the J.S. Greene Society helping to promote & improve college programs, facilities, and campus life at Piedmont College. DeLoach completed Bachelors of Science Degree from Georgia Southern College in 1963, Major – Recreation Administration.
DeLoach worked for 34 years in many positions in Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield recreation programs, including intramural sports director, sports director, youth activities director, HAAF recreation director, Fort Stewart recreation director and Deputy Director of Personnel and Community Activities. He received the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, the highest civilian employee award, in November 1990.
Other Notables:
* First athlete to be selected All State in two sports
* 1958 Senior Superlative “Most Athletic”
* 1958 Senior Superlative “Mr. Bradwell Institute”
* 1958 Awarded Fraser Rambo Sportsmanship Award
* Attended 12 consecutive years of public school with zero absences.
* Earned 15 of 16 possible “Letters” in sports
* 1960 Voted King of the Valentine Ball
Community Activities
Member of 1st United Methodist Church, Sunday School Teacher, Church Administrative Board, Head Usher, Served on Evangelism Committee, Chairman of Building Committee, coached many different sports leagues at the Liberty County Recreation Department, Member of Counsel on Ministries, Member of Pastor of Parrish Committee, Chairman of Outreach Committee, Member of AG Overman Bible Class.
Barbara Derrick
Inducted: 2017
2017 Player
A 1965 graduate of Liberty County High School, Barbara Baker, now Barbara Baker-Derrick, was a four-year letter winner for the Lady Tigers and was their leading scorer in 1964-65, helping guide the team to three district championships, two region championships and one state tournament.
She was co-captain her junior and senior years and averaged 28 to 30 points game throughout her career with her quick release, deadly long-range shooting before the 3-point line came into existence. Behind Baker, Liberty County scored at least 100 points in a game eight times.
She attended Savannah State College and has been the pastor of God's Abundant Covenant Full Gospel Church in Chicago, Illinois for many years.
And as a note of interest, she became the fourth member of the illustrious and legendary athletic Baker family to be inducted into the HOF, joining her siblings H.C., Derrell and Faye.
Vicki Devine
Inducted: 2000
2012 Player
No biography available
Cedric Dickerson
Inducted: 2009
2009 Player
The Canadian league professional football player is a native of Hinesville and a graduate of Liberty County High School. Dickerson is in his second season as the Lassiter High School defensive backs and corners coach. Before going to Lassiter, he coached the secondary squad at Texas A&M-Commerce in 2007, where he had two players named all conference and one named to the Daktronics All Southwest Team. Dickerson graduated from Valdosta State University, earning a degree in business administration management in 2002 and a marketing degree in 2004. At Valdosta, he was a four-year starter and three-time team captain. He was a member of the Blazer Football Team that won three conference titles (2000, 2001 and 2002) and was a part of the first team to advance to the National Championship. Dickerson was all conference three times, Daktronics All South twice and Daktronics All South All American in 2002. After Valdosta, he played professionally in the Canadian Football League for three years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As an LCHS Panther, he was named team captain for the football, basketball and track teams. He was named to the All Coastal Empire football team in 1998. He was an All Coastal Empire basketball team honorable mention in 1998 and also made the all region team the same year. In 1998, Dickerson set a school record for the triple jump, which stood for four years. He was a member of the 4x400 relay team that set the school record still in existence and was part of the Panthers’ first championship winning track teams in 1998. That same year, Dickerson was named Liberty County High School athlete of the year. He started the Cedric Dickerson Football Camp for Kids in 2006, which is held at the Liberty County Recreation Department. The camp reaches out to underprivileged and at-risk youth.
Nick Dowd
Inducted: 2015
2015 Player
Dowd, a 1975 graduate of Bradwell Institute was an all-around athletic star earning 12 letters: starting 3 years as quarterback in football, 3 years as starting catcher / pitcher in baseball, starting guard his junior and senior years in basketball, and a 4 year letterman in track recording BI records at the time in the 880 yd run (2:04), mile (4:18), and two mile (10:15) events.
Dowd won the prestigious Hokey Jackson Award, won 3 individual events at the Statesboro relays (880, mile and 2 mile), and helped lead the basketball, baseball and track teams to region championships and the State playoffs his senior year.
Nick was also named Offensive Player of the year in Football and MVP in basketball his senior season.
Nick went to Georgia Southern where he played basketball for the Eagles as a walk- on, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and holds a CPA certification.
He currently lives in Dallas, Texas where he is President of Metal Sales Manufacturing with 21 locations and 1700 employees throughout the United States.
William Downs
Inducted: 1976
2004 At Large
William H. Downs graduated from Bradwell Institute in 1943, where he played all school sports and excelled in baseball, going on to play Semi-Pro baseball. But Downs, who served 26 years in the Air Force and Army, has officiated high school, college, and recreation sports for more than 50 years throughout the US and overseas. He has spent the last 34 years refereeing in Hinesville, Liberty County, and around Georgia.
Downs helped establish the Hinesville Officials Association in 1970 and has been president of the HOA for the last 29 years. He instituted, through the HOA, an annual program where outstanding athletes in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and softball are presented awards as the best players in their respective sports. Many Bradwell and Liberty County student-athletes have received these awards.
In 1982, Downs refereed Georgia Southern's first football game of the modern era and in 1985 he refereed the Eagles first game in Paulson Stadium.
He has received numerous awards from military sports activities, the Georgia High School Association and the HOA for outstanding service.
Edgar Edwards
Inducted: 1976
2005 At Large
Edgar Edwards participated in football and baseball in high school and made the all-star team in flag football at Georgia Teacher’s College, now Georgia Southern University. Edwards came to Bradwell Institute in 1950 at the encouragement of his principle. He was Instrumental in starting football at BI in the early 1950s and from the mid-1950s to 1959; serving as head baseball coach and assistant football coach.
In 1957, Edwards’ BI baseball team won the district championship. In 1958, the Tigers won the subregion in baseball and they put together a winning season in 1959. For three consecutive seasons, three of Edwards players—W.L. Hall, Gerald DeLoach and Paul Crowley—competed in the North-South All-Star Game in Atlanta.
In 1959, Edwards became BI principal and continued to advocate a strong athletic program because he believed it made for a more disciplined and academic student body.
In the 1960s, Edwards was the representative for Region 2B on the State Executive Committee of the Georgia High School Association and continued to serve on the GHSA after becoming Liberty County school superintendent. Edwards served the GHSA until he retired as superintendent in 1989 and pushed hard for girls sports before the advent of Title IX.
Because of his loyalty to BI and his love for players and the student body, Edwards has seen more Bradwell football games than anyone else. At one point, he went 38 years without missing a game. In the 1970s, Edwards contracted to have the first of the present-day stands built on the north side of the field. In the 1980s, a home playoff game meant Olvey Field had to seat 8,000 fans. The additions to the southside stands are the reason the home side is now the south side of Olvey.
Edwards was named Georgia’s Principal of the Year and in 1987 was named Georgia’s Top School Superintendent. He also has received a distinguished education award from the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, but is the most appreciative of the Georgia High School Association Distinguished Service Award.
Edgar Edwards lives in Hinesville, Georgia. He is being inducted as an at large member of the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Ricky Fabian
Inducted: 2016
2016 Player
A 1983 BI graduate and all around spectacular athlete, Fabian earned eight varsity athletic letters: four in football, two in basketball, and two in baseball.
During his senior year he was Team Captain and Team MVP for the Tigers in football, basketball, and baseball.
Fabian led the Tigers in rushing and passing yards, touchdowns, points, assists, and batting average.
Fabian received an athletic scholarship to Albany State College where he started as a freshman running back in football.
Fabian also earned All SAIC first team honors for the Rams baseball team playing shortstop and hitting .435 with 14 home runs.
Fabian is a lifetime Liberty County resident and long-time employee of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation team at Fort Stewart.
Candace Ferrel
Inducted: 2000
2014 Player
A 2002 graduate of Bradwell Institute, Candice was a basketball and track standout for the Lady Tigers garnering numerous awards to include region champion in the 400 meters and being named to the Savannah Morning News All-Coastal Empire Basketball Team. (Junior and Senior years)
Candice accepted a 4-year athletic scholarship to Valdosta State University where she had a fabulous career being named to multiple All-Gulf South Conference teams, receiving the team VMP award and finishing with several impressive statistics at VSU, including 56.7% in field goals (1st), 5.8 rebounds per game (2nd), an average of 11.1 points per game her senior year, as well as becoming a member of the VSU 1000 Point Club.
Candice graduated from VSU and currently lives in Liberty County.
Dale Fillingame
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Dale Fillingame is a 1956 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where his prep athletic career included a lot of firsts for BI.
Fillingame was BI’s first All-State basketball player and played in the North-South game in Atlanta. He set a school record of 54 points in a game. His teams won district three years and advanced to the state tournament three years, as well.
As a pitcher for BI baseball, Fillingame threw two no-hitters and led BI to their first district title.
In track, he was the first athlete from BI to win a state title in a track event when he won the discus competition.
In football, he also excelled, and was a member of Bradwell Institute’s first football team and received honorable mention honors.
Fillingame currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kenneth Fussell
Inducted: 1976
2008 At Large
Mr. Fussell is a 1971 Graduate of Bradwell Institute. While attending Bradwell Institute, he was Co-Captain of his football team during his senior year, a three year starter, and letterman.
He has been a member of the Harvey Overton Bradwell Booster Club (H.O.B.B.C.) since 1973 and a two time President and twice Vice President. He has raised a tremendous amount of support (in excess of $10,000.00) in donations over the years. In 1998 he received the H.O.B.B.C. Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Support.
Mr. Fussell was a football coach for the Liberty County Recreation Department for 28 consecutive years. He has also coached basketball, T-ball, baseball, and track & field. He received a Gold Medal in 1976 for his work on the Bicentennial Sports Program for Liberty County.
Mr. Fussell was a Sports writer for the Georgia High School Sports Magazine, Savannah Morning News for eight years, and columnist for the Coastal Courier for ten years.
He produced the game programs for 5 seasons of football at Bradwell Institute between 1989 and 1993. As a broadcaster for WBLU92 he broadcasted 25 years of Bradwell Institute’s Football with over 250 wins, 5 season’s of both boys and girls basketball, including Delisha Milton’s 1-loss Senior Season, and 3 years of baseball with the longest game in Bradwell history (a 12 p.m. win over Glynn Academy). Locally syndicated Football Broadcast Program - Voice of BI Tigers was a 5-year highest rated program. Voice of BI Tigers, Blue 92, was also a top-rated program. He also received Top rated program for 104.7 in 2000 and covered Bradwell Football with Allen Brown on a Cable TV Channel.
In 1989 he was Chairman of the Fort Stewart & Liberty County Basketball Game for the American Cancer Society and in 1990 he was Chairman of the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. He has also served as a First Presbyterian Christian Academy Board member.
In 2000 he received Certificate of Appreciation BI Tiger Pride for Outstanding Support. In 2002 he received Certificate of Appreciation Law Enforcement Football Game American Cancer Society.
Charmain Gatlin
Inducted: 2025
2025 Player
Charmaine Milton Gatlin is a 1991 graduate of Bradwell Institute and starred in both basketball and softball.
She was a four-year letter winner in both basketball and softball and was a two-time captain in each sport and was MVP her senior year. She also was named to the North-South all-star team her junior and senior years.
She was named to the Savannah Morning News all-Coastal Empire basketball team as a senior. She led the Lady Tigers to the state quarterfinals her junior and senior season and she averaged 10 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a senior, leading her to sign a scholarship with Stetson University, becoming the first female athlete in Liberty County to sign a four-year scholarship.
Off the court and the field, she was named vice president of her senior class and was secretary of the FBLA, winning a state competition.
She was named to the conference all-academic teams her freshman and sophomore seasons at Stetson but suffered a season-ending ACL and meniscus tear as a freshman. She transferred to Florida before her junior season, joining her baby sister DeLisha Milton-Jones on the roster, but her knee injuries relegated her to a player-coach role.
Charmaine graduated with a degree in French from Florida and also was named the student-athlete representative at Florida and was a member of the Southeastern Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
She has had a remarkable career in sports after graduation, becoming the first female to run the FedEx Orange Bowl, which she did for seven years. She also spent 11 years planning and coordinating the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl youth clinics across the continental U.S. and Hawaii.
She is currently the co-president of Jackson Health Foundation, which raises funds for Jackson Health System, the largest public hospital in Florida. She and her husband Dr. Arthur Gatlin have three children, Artese, Alexis and Trey, and Alexis has received a full scholarship to play softball at Alabama A&M.
Bryant Gilliard
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Bryant Gilliard is a 1980 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where he was a four-year letterman in track and a three-year letterman in football, baseball, and basketball.
As a football player, Gilliard was named All Coastal Empire and All State in 1979. He was named defensive back of the week by the Atlanta Journal Constitution for his performance against Brunswick. In that game, Gilliard had 12 individual tackles, two fumble recoveries, caused two fumbles, intercepted a pass, a returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown. Gilliard finished the 1979 season with nine interceptions, 133 tackles, and returned three punts for touchdowns. He had 12 career interceptions for BI.
In 1980, Gilliard set a school high jump record by clearing 6 feet, five inches. He went to the University of South Carolina, where he was a 3-year letterman as a defensive back.
Among his accolades were the Most-Improved and Harvey Overton awards in 1981 and the team’s Hustle Player of the Year award in 1983. Gilliard was the Sports Illustrated defensive player of the week in 1984, when he had four interceptions against Florida State to tie the South Carolina school record. Gilliard was all state in 1983 and 1984 and that same year he was the Gamecocks team captain. Also, in 1984, he was named to the All South Independent team and selected as a Football News All-American, as well as being named an AP and UPI honorable mention All American. Gilliard finished his collegiate career with 11 interceptions.
He currently lives in Union, New Jersey.
Rickey Gilliard
Inducted: 2013
2013 At Large
Gilliard, an employee of the Liberty County Recreation Department for the past 29 years, plays a dual role at the LCRD, serving as the sports director and assistant director. Gilliard’s LCRD career has produced 18 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association state-championship teams and 196 GRPA state championships won by individuals in track and field. He coached state-championship women’s softball teams in 1992 and 2000 and LCRD championship youth-basketball teams in 1977 and 1978. In 2005, Gilliard received the GRPA District 2 Sonny Miller Award for Sports Programming, and in 2007 served as the GRPA District 2 treasurer. In high school, Gilliard played for the state-championship winning junior boys’ basketball team in 1973 and lettered in basketball for three years at Bradwell.
2009 First Presbyterian Christian Academy GISA State Championship Baketball Team
Inducted: 2017
2017 Team
The First Presbyterian Christian Academy Highlanders followed up their first boys state basketball championship in 2008 with a perfect 26-0 and a second straight title in 2009.
The Highlanders beat Bethesda 77-63 to claim back-to-back Georgia Independent Schools Association crowns.
During their run, the Highlanders won 23 of their games by double digits and averaged 80.5 points per game. Joey Bell paced the offense with 20.6 points per game while Arthur Ansley scored 16.1 points per game with Michael Brown adding 12.8 points per game. Hakeem Golden averaged 10.4 rebounds per game.
Coached by Darrell West and David Linderman, the team consisted of T.A. Alston, Jamal Anderson, Arthur Ansley, Timothy Ashmen, Joey Bell, Matthew Brown, Garrett Crissman, Michael Brown, Kaelan Dorr, Michael Farrior, Hakeem Golden, Jose Martinez, Preyen Patel, Joshua Rodgers and Ryan Smiley.
Deborah Gregory
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
Deborah Collins Gregory still holds the all-time scoring record for Bradwell Institute Girls basketball. Her foul shot percentage was 78%, making 28 consecutive foul shots – S.E.B. and Savannah Country Day.
Gregory lettered all four years from 1965-69. She averaged 19 points per game as a freshman, 31.5 points per game as a sophomore, 31.7 points per game as a junior and 31.7 points per game as a senior. In 99 games, she scored 2,829 points. She topped the 30-point mark in a game 47 times and three times scored 50 or more points in a game.
In the first game of the 1969 state tournament in Macon, she scored 39 of Bradwell’s 41 points. The next night, she scored 48 points in a loss to Cairo. Among some of her credits were Christmas Tournament MVP, member of the All-State Team, and received the Fraser Rambo Sportsmanship Trophy.
Her jersey was retired on May 27, 1969.
Raymond Gross
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
Raymond Gross was a feature athlete at Bradwell Institute participating in football and basketball. He had 875 yards and 11 touchdowns on 156 attempts as a senior; also completed 56 of 132 passes for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns. Gross went 13-1 in his only season as starting quarterback and ran for 127 yards, throwing a career-high 215 yards in win over Effingham. As a senior he also led BI basketball team to State tournament.
With his successes in high school behind him it was in college Gross really began to establish himself as a stand-out earning four letters at quarterback for Georgia Southern College from 1987-1990. He led back-to-back NCAA Division 1-AA National Championships in 1989 and 1990. Gross posted a 44-8 record as a GSC starter and holds the school record for rushing attempts in a career of 695 still ranking top five in season rushing attempts (194 in 1988) and career yardage of 2,290. Gross is among the leaders in every passing category. His best season through the air was in 1990 when he completed 108 of 109 attempts for 1,534 yards and six touchdowns. He ended is career second in completions (265), attempts (507), yards (3,806), and touchdowns (18) tossing just two interceptions in 108 tries, another school record low 1.8 percent during the 1989 season.
Gross' career mark of 3.3 percent of passes intercepted (17 in 507) is also the best ever. He rushed for more yards on 11 occasions including a career-best 173 against Maine during the 1987 NCAA playoffs passing for 200+ yards three times.
Top aerial afternoon came against Eastern Kentucky in 1990 with 246 yards. Gross finished 14th nationally in passing efficiency as a college senior with 132.94 rating. He led the Eagles to national statistic rankings in rushing offense (first), scoring offense (second), and total offense (twelfth) during his junior campaign. Gross went on to play professionally in Italy following his collegiate career.
Gary Guyton
Inducted: 2000
2009 Player
Entering his second season in the NFL, New England Patriots linebacker, Gary Guyton, a Bradwell Institute alum, started in two games in his first year as a pro and has started in every games this season so far.
In 2008, Guyton had 25 tackles, nine assists and defended three passes. This season, he has accumulated 37 total and 13 assisted tackles to date.
His football career began as a Bradwell Institute Tiger where he lettered in football for three years and was name to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's list of the top 50 high school players in Georgia. Guyton made 56 tackles, three saces. three fumble recoveries, defended five passes and blocked a kick during his senior year. He tallied a career-high 59 tackles as a junior.
Guyton play four seasons at Georgia Tech where, as a senior, he finished second on the team with 78 tackles. He started all 13 games. Guyton had a career-high five sacks and averages more than one tackle-for-loss per game. As a junior, he had 29 tackles and made 12 starts at outside linebacker. As a sophomore, he had 19 tackles, one sack and one pass defended.
This season, he started at outside linebacker in the Patriots' 25-24 comback victory over the Buffalo Bills. He made his second straight start at inside linebacker against the Jets, leading the team in tackles and contributing a single-game career-high 13 tackles. Against Atlanta, Guyton had a team-high six tackles in the Patriors' 26-10 victory over the Falcons.
His biggest game came against the Ravens. He teamed up with Nice Wilfork and Brandon McGowan to stuff Willis McGahee for no gain on a crucial fourth-and-one attempt in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs. Guyton also batted down a Joe Flacco pass in the first quarter, resulting in an 8-yard loss as Ravens' tackle , Michael Oher, came down with the ball. Buyton broke up a Flacco pass intended for Todd Heap in the third quarter and tallied a single-game, career-high three quarterback hits.
In 2008, Guyton played in 14 games with two starts and recorded 26 tackles.
W.L. Hall
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
W.L. Hall won 14 letters at Bradwell Institute before he graduated in 1957, then earned four at Brewton-Parker College and two at the University of Georgia. During Hall's career at BI he played as a starting guard for two district championship basketball teams and was a pitcher and infielder on one district championship baseball team. Hall also was a pole vaulter and relay team member on one district championship track team. He was voted most athletic for the class of 1957 and named basketball team captain. Hall was an All State Honorable Mention in football and won district in the pole vault, 440 relay, and the mile relay in track. He pitched two no-hitters and one one-hitter for the 1957 baseball team and never allowed more than four hits in any one game. He was selected as captain and starting pitcher for the 1957 Georgia All Star baseball team.
Hall earned a full scholarship to Brewton-Parker College, where he was a two-sport standout in baseball and basketball. He started as a pitcher and outfielder for BPC in 1958, compiling a 5-2 record for a team that placed second in the state. In 1959, Hall was starting guard for on the basketball team that went 19-6 and won the state title. He also started as pitcher, outfielder, and third baseman for the 1959 baseball team that won the state championship. Hall's record was 6-1 and he allowed only three hits in his only loss. He was named in 1958 to the All Georgia-Florida Region Tournament basketball team and in 1959 he was selected All American Honorable Mention in baseball. Hall was selected by students and faculty as Mr. Brewton Parker in 1959. He is a member of the Brewton-Parker Athletic Hall of Fame.
Upon graduation, Hall received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Georgia. At Georgia, Hall went 4-3 in 1960 as a starting pitcher and led the Bulldogs in games won, earned run average, innings pitched, and strikeouts. In 1961, Hall finished 3-3 as a starter on a Georgia team that finished 10-11. He led the team with a 3.03 ERA, 60 innings pitched and 55 strikeouts. After graduating from UGA, Hall signed a bonus contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961. During a minor league career that lasted from 1961-1965 and was limited by arm injury (1961) and active duty military service (1962), Hall tossed 33 complete games, 12 shutouts, two one-hitters, and several two- and three-hitters.
In 1963, Hall was named to the Western Carolina League All-Star Team while pitching for Salisbury (NC). He led the league in shutouts with four and his 208 innings pitched and 187 strikeouts were second in the league. In 1964, while playing for Grand Forks (ND), he was named to the Northern League All Star team after compiling a league-best 1.71 earned run average and six shutouts. He was second in strikeouts with 142 and winning percentage (.700). That season, Hall was named the Minor League Class A pitcher of the year. In 1965, Hall led the Albuquerque Dodgers, winners of the Texas League championship, in innings pitched, shutouts pitched, and was runner-up to baseball Hall of Famer Don Sutton in wins, ERA, and complete games.
Sam Harris
Inducted: 1976
2004 Coach
Sam Harris coached basketball at the old Liberty County High School, where he was an assistant during the 1963-1964 school year and was then named Head Coach in 1964 and the Liberty County Tigers won the Georgia Independent Schools Association State Title in 1965 and finished third in 1966 and 1968. In 1969, Liberty County HS was combined with Bradwell Institute during integration and Harris coached BI to a region championship during the 1969-1970 school years.
Harris also officiated in the GIA from 1961-1971 and has officiated Georgia High School Association games since 1971.
Harris earned his B.S. from Savannah State College and attended the University of Colorado and Georgia Southern. He has a Masters Degree from Atlanta University.
Jake Hines
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Jake Hines was a 1930 graduate of Bradwell Institute and Hinesville was named after one of his ancestors. Hines, who was inducted in 1985 into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, is considered by many to be one of the greatest all-around athletes to ever come out of Liberty County.
Much of what follows is taken from information on Hines compiled Charlie Roberts for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame:
Hines moved to Statesboro to attend what was then Georgia Normal School (1930-31) and then South Georgia Teachers College (1932-35), where he played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track for coach Byron L. “Crook” Smith, a 1979 inductee into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Hines earned 16 letters during his time at SGTC, which is now Georgia Southern University. Smith later said Hines "developed into what I consider the best running back in the South, the best basketball and baseball player in the state of Georgia."
Hines played tailback and led SGTC in scoring every season. In basketball, he was a three-year All-Georgia State Conference performer. In basketball, he was remembered as a player who always scored in double figures, though in those low scoring days there was a center jump after each basket. In baseball, Hines batted .394 as a senior and went 2-0 with a three hitter as a relief pitcher.
Accolades are plentiful regarding Hines' athletic ability. Bill Hartman Jr., a 1983 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, was an All-American fullback at Georgia in the 1930s who went on to play for the Washington Redskins and later serve as a member of UGA’s football coaching staff. Hartman remembered how Hines led SGTC to a 12-9 win over Wally Butts’ Georgia Military College team in 1933. "We had been Southern Prep Champions, and Hines ran repeatedly from tailback and we found him simply unstoppable. In my experience in prep school, Georgia and pros, he was one of the best running backs I ever played against."
Veteran South Georgia columnist Ric Mandes said Hines was, "a civic leader and model citizen, who is still revered here as a folk hero," and noted that Butts called Hines "the best player I ever saw in my life."
He was very modest, according to Joe Axelson, former president and general manager of the NBA Kansas City Kings and once the Sports Information Director at Georgia Southern. "He was an incredibly modest man. I literally had to wring more information out of him. And his football and basketball exploits were phenomenal."
Former Statesboro Mayor J. Thurman Lanier called Hines the best running back he ever saw and recalled how Hines selflessly volunteered to coach his high school team all year when the regular coach was stricken. Hines was a budding star as a professional third baseman, having played for the minor league teams in Savannah, Augusta, Palatka, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Arkron, and Newark before he was hit in the left eye by a bad-hop ground ball in 1939.
That ended his baseball playing career, though he managed Statesboro pro teams in the Georgia State and Ogeechee leagues in the 1940s and 1950s. His reputation as an athlete spread and continued over such a long period that in 1945, when Hines was 32, he got a letter from the Chicago Bears suggesting he try out for the NFL team.
Hines is deceased. He is being inducted as an athlete.
Kenneth Howard
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Howard is a 1980 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where he was a 3-year starter and a 4-year letter winner on the football team and a member of BI's first-team 4x100-relay team. Howard scored two defensive touchdowns in the first three games of his junior year and led BI in tackles, blocked punts, and fumble recoveries as a senior. He was also defensive captain for the Tigers during their undefeated regular season. He was voted the team's top defensive back and the team's most valuable player during the Tigers' 1-0 loss to Benedictine in the 1979 Region 3AAAA title game.
Howard earned a football scholarship to Fort Valley State University, where he was a three-year starter and defensive captain his senior year. Howard led FVSU's secondary in tackles as a senior and was an all Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player as both a junior and senior. Howard led FVSU's Blue Death Defense to six shutouts and helped the team win 17 straight games and three consecutive SIAC crowns. For the past decade, Howard has been Hinesville's Assistant City Manager and the city's Community Development Director for the past 13 years.
He has been a member of the Liberty County Board of Recreation for 15 years, including six years as vice chairman and four years as chairman. Howard also revitalized, designed and coordinated the development of Briar Bay Park in his home of Riceboro and coached the Riceboro Yellow Jackets for 10 years. He led an effort to build a community center in Riceboro which in now complete and operating as the Riceboro Youth Center under the Liberty County Recreation Department. He is coordinator of the Team Hinesville Olympic weightlifting program, as well as, the founder and President of Riceboro Community Churches, a nonprofit organization that provides tutorial services, computer training, and mentoring and summer enrichment activities to help enhance the quality of life for Riceboro youth.
Howard is a board member of 11 Black Men of Liberty County, Fraser Counseling Center and has spent 15 years as assistant cub master for Cub Pack 581. He is a member of New Zion Baptist Church in Riceboro, where he was formerly the president of the youth department and continues to serve as church clerk, deacon, Bible study teacher and Sunday school teacher.
Kenneth Howard continues to reside in Liberty County and is being inducted as an athlete.
Marty Hutchinson
Inducted: 1976
2008 Player
According to fellow county men and past coaches Mr. Hutchinson began his athletic history as a ball boy for Coach Clifford Johnson's ladies basketball team. He was one of the brightest students and solid offensive lineman to ever play at Bradwell Institute. After high school and advancing on to the University of Georgia he continued academic and athletic excellence.
High School - 4 year letter in baseball earning MVP in his senior year, 1973. 3 year letter in basketball and 3 year letter in football named Best Offensive Player and All State. He received honorable mention in 1973 as a senior. A member of many civic organizations and clubs he was noted as Student Council member freshman year, Beta Club junior and senior years, French Club freshman and sophomore years, elected Senior class Vice President, and graduated with honors.
College - Played junior varsity football in 1973 at University of Georgia and graduated with Bachelor of Business Degree from UGA in 1978 with honors (cum laude).
Hokey Jackson
Inducted: 1976
2004 Coach
Hokey Jackson led the Bradwell Institute Lions to the Class B State Football Championship in 1965.
Jackson attended Tech High in Atlanta and lettered in baseball, football, basketball, and track. He attended spring training with the Atlanta Crackers baseball team in 1942 when he was only 17 years old.
He served for three years in the U.S. Army and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1951 having lettered in baseball and track.
Before taking over at Bradwell, Jackson coached at Jesup High School, which won the 1954 State Championship. Jackson was football and track coach at Bradwell from 1957-70. The Lions were state runners-up and region champs in the two seasons before their state title. Jackson was named Class B Coach of the Year from 1963-65.
Jackson won 100 games in 13 seasons as head coach. He was named South All-star Assistant Coach in 1965 and Head Coach the next year.
He went on to coach at University of Georgia and retired in 1981. Although, Jackson resides in Athens, Georgia he will always consider Hinesville to be his home.
Ulrick John, Jr.
Inducted: 2016
2016 Player
A 2010 BI graduate, John has the distinction of being the first every high school graduate from Liberty County to be drafted into the NFL, going to the Indianapolis Colts in Round 7 of the 2014 NFL Draft.
John was a two-time, First Team All Region 3AAAAA selection at offensive line for the Tigers as well as First Team All Coastal Empire per the Savannah Morning News.
John received a full football scholarship to Georgia State University where he played for Bill Curry competing in 36 games with 25 starts as GSU’s top offensive lineman.
Clifford Johnson
Inducted: 1976
2004 Coach
Clifford Johnson is a 1954 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where he lettered in basketball, football and baseball and played on district championship teams from 1952-1954.
Johnson was quarterback on the first football team in Bradwell’s modern history in 1953 and was regarded as an excellent athlete.
But Johnson’s career path lay elsewhere, he attended Georgia Southern University (then known as Georgia Teachers College) from 1954-1958 and received a BS in physical education, then returned to BI as a teacher, coach and Athletic Director.
Johnson was BI’s baseball coach from 1985-1986, when the Tigers won the region championship. He was an assistant boy’s basketball coach in 1959 when the Tigers won the Region Championship. Johnson was the girls’ Head Coach for basketball from 1960-1971. His teams compiled a 220-48 record, winning several region championships during that span. Hall of Fame recipient Deborah Collins Gregory played for Johnson and is still the career scoring leader for BI.
In football, Johnson was an assistant coach from 1958-1970. In 1963 and 1964, the Lions reached the state semifinals and in 1965 the team won its only state title to date.
During Johnson’s time as an assistant coach, Bradwell Institute won several region titles as well. Johnson was named Head Coach in 1970 and his 1976, 1985 and 1986 teams reached the State semifinals. Johnson coached several teams to region titles, winning 67 percent of the games he coached. Johnson won nearly 250 games while coaching at BI, where he was a Region Coach of the Year five times and was the Head Coach for the South All Stars in 1980. Johnson also served BI as Athletic Director from 1970-1987.
Ronald Johnson
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Ronald Johnson is a 1989 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where he had one of the most memorable senior years as a football player in the school's history. During the 1988 season, Johnson recorded 253 tackles, 10 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and 18 sacks. Johnson rang up 20 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and notched a sack during Bradwell Institute's 16-14 play-off win over Valdosta, the only time BI has ever beaten the Wildcats on the football field.
Johnson went on to play in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game and then went to Georgia Southern University on a football scholarship. He had 131 tackles in three years at GSU, where he played strong safety, outside linebacker, and defensive end. Johnson had 10 career sacks, including a team-high six in 1992, when he was named honorable mention all-America by The Sports Network, that season. Johnson had 72 tackles and recovered two fumbles.
Johnson currently lives in Powder Springs.
Jordan Johnson
Inducted: 2017
2017 Player
A 2011 graduate of First Presbyterian Christian Academy, Jordan Johnson led the Highlanders to the 2010 GISA state boys basketball championship and was named to all-region and all-state in 2010-11. Johnson continued to excel at the collegiate level, playing junior college basketball at East Georgia State College in Swainsboro and leading the Bobcats to the GCAA state championship. He was named the national JUCO player of the week, the conference player of the year and a NJCAA all-American. Johnson and the Bobcats reached the NJCAA national quarterfinals before losing to the eventual national champions. He transferred to Tennessee Tech and played with the Golden Eagles for two seasons, playing in 61 games and starting in 24. In 2016, he led H.R. Portoviejo to the Ecuadorian National Basketball League championship and was named most valuable player. He currently plays professionally in Chile.
Edward Jones
Inducted: 2019
2019 Player
The 1987 BI graduate was a pivotal gridiron competitor who played key roles on BI’s 1985 Region Championship team (11-2-1) and 1986 Region Championship Team (13-1), both of which made the South Georgia Championship game, the final four. Jones was a star wide receiver, defensive back, punt and kick returner his junior and senior years. He was the leading scorer for the Tigers’ basketball team his senior year leading the team to the state playoffs. Jones received scholarship offers from Valdosta State University, Savannah State, Georgia Southern, West Georgia and Clark College. He accepted a football scholarship at Clark College, now Clark-Atlanta University, where he was named to the All-AUC Freshman team, All-AUC Honorable Mention (as a junior) and helped lead his team as a senior to the SIAC Conference Championship.
David Kunda
Inducted: 2011
2011 Player
Kunda was named to the All-Region 3-AAAA first team and was an All-Coastal Empire linebacker in 1996 and ’97 as a BI Tiger. During his senior season, he registered 86 tackles, 58 assists and was the Harvey Overton Defensive Player of the Year in 1997. He received an all-state honorable mention from the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 1997. Kunda received a four-year football scholarship/appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he played for all four years for the Navy football team. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002.
Kashien Latham
Inducted: 2011
2011 Player
Latham finished his four-year college career as Georgia Southern University’s all-time leading shot-blocker with 112, according to GSU archives. He became the 29th member of the Eagles’ 1,000 point club. Latham played all four years, starting 96 of 114 games and registering 33 career double-doubles. As a senior, he averaged 11.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He finished second in the Southern Conference in rebounding and scored in double figures 16 times. He grabbed double-digit rebounds in 13 games and led the team in rebounding the last 10 games of the season and 20 times overall. Latham recorded a career-high 33 points on 13-of-18 shooting while pulling down 15 rebounds against Gardner-Webb during his senior year. As a junior, Latham averaged 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game and started all 30 games. He led the team in rebounding, ranking second in the conference and 15th in the nation. He recorded 15 double-doubles and scored a season-high 22 points in the season opener against North Georgia. He earned second team All-Conference honors and was named to the postseason all-tournament team. As a sophomore, Latham averaged 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, starting all 28 games. He was ranked sixth in the conference in rebounding, pulled down double-digit rebounds in 11 games and led the team in rebounding 15 times. As a freshman, he averaged 6.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22.2 minutes a game, starting 15 times. Latham was tied for 10th in the conference in rebounding while leading the Eagles’ rebounding 10 times, and he led the team in scoring twice. He registered double-digit rebounds in five games, including a season-high 12 rebounds against Appalachian State in the second round of the Southern Conference Tournament. As a Bradwell Institute Tiger, Latham was named to the All-Region 3-AAAA first team and was a member of the Georgia-Tennessee and North-South all-star teams. He averaged 22.4 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Latham went undrafted in the 2002 NBA draft but later was selected to the Greenville Groove of the NBA-Developmental League and also played with the Birmingham Bullets in the European League.
James Latimer, Jr.
Inducted: 2000
2013 Player
A 1985 graduate of Bradwell Institute, James was a three-year letterman in football and a 1984 Team Captain.
A dominant force on the Tigers' defensive line, James garnered First Team All-State honors from the Atlanta Journal Constitution and received a 4-year football scholarship to the University of South Carolina where he was awarded 3 letter in varsity football, while accumulating 26 tackles and a quarterback sack.
He received his degree from the University of South Carolina in 1990.
Several years ago, James passed away due to complications from diabetes. He will forever be remembered as one of Bradwell Institute's great football players and most dominating defensive lineman.
His mother and father, James Sr. and Laura, live in Liberty County and his sister (Carmen BI-'86) resides in Charlotte, NC.
Robert LeBlanc
Inducted: 2019
2019 Player
The 1997 Bradwell Institute graduate, was an All-Region football and was nominated to play in the GACA All-Star game after his senior season at BI. He was also named to the All-Coastal Empire Team as a senior. LeBlanc had 8.5 sacks as a senior helping BI to a 10-2 record and was also a goalie for the Tiger soccer team. LeBlanc received a football scholarship at Georgia Southern University where he was a key defensive tackle on two NCAA 1-AA National Championship teams. He was a Southern Conference All-Team selection his senior season finishing his GSU career with 132 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and 6 deflected passes.
Rodney LeCounte
Inducted: 2011
2011 Player
LeCounte played four years of baseball and football for Bradwell Institute. In 1985, he received the Best Offensive Lineman Award. As a tight end, he had six receiving touchdowns. On the diamond, LeCounte had a .596 average for his high school baseball career. He hit nine home runs and drove in 55 runs his senior year. LeCounte earned a scholarship to Brewton-Parker College, then transferred to North Florida Community College in 1987, where he compiled a .353 batting average, hit eight home runs and drove in 26 runs. LeCounte then signed with Columbus State College, where he hit .426 with 75 hits, 52 RBIs and six home runs in 52 games. LeCounte played in the Division II College World Series and was named to the All-South Atlantic Region 151 team in 1989 and ’90, and his .388 career batting average is a record for two-year players at Columbus State College.
Alfred Lester
Inducted: 2016
2016 Player
A 1994 BI graduate, Lester started two years as quarterback and garnered three varsity letters in football and three varsity letters in basketball, winning team MVP honors his senior year in football and receiving the acclaimed Hokey Jackson award in 1995.
Lester had football scholarship offers from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), the US Naval Academy, and West Georgia.
He chose to attend VMI as he believed this was the best chance he had to start and play early. His decision proved to be true and he became the first freshman at VMI to ever start at QB, in the first game of the season.
Lester was a four-year starter for the Keydets and ranks in the top five in several career categories including second in total plays (1,061), third in pass attempts (746), fourth in total yards (4,212), fifth in passing yards (3,717), and fifth in completions (336).
Lester received a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from VMI and is currently a Construction Engineer/Project Manager for CarMax, the largest used car company in the United States.
Quinton Lewis
Inducted: 1976
2007 Player
Quinton Lewis excelled in all sports earning all star accolades in baseball, football, basketball, and track every year until 1976. In earlier years he won local & State Punt, Pass, & Kick competition in 1973, participated in Regional at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida and won numerous MVP awards at the Liberty County Recreation Department while participating in several State Championship games.
Mr. Lewis' accomplishments are as listed:
High School (1977-1981)
Football - A 3 year letterman in football, baseball, and track & field. In football he was starting running back sophomore year, back up quarterback junior year, and starting quarterback his senior year. His senior year he had over 1,000 yards rushing and passing and lead team to the 3-AAAA Championship. In 1980 he was All-State quarterback and that same year GACA All Star game throwing 2 touchdowns. He was the Coastal Empire Player of the Year and MVP.
Track and Field Region 3-AAAA champion, 2/3 time Region Champ in Long Jump, 2/3 time Region Champ in the Triple Jump, and 4x400 meter Region Champ. At State Track he placed 4th in Long Jump in 1980, 4th in Triple Jump in 1981, and was a member of the 4x400 relay team qualifying for State those same years.
College (University of South Carolina 1981-1984)
4 year letterman in football, instrumental part of Best Team in school history (1984) with a 10-1 season record. Co-starter 1983 and 1984, team MVP for Navy Game, and George Terry Best Attitude Award in 1984.
Mr. Lewis stats consist of rushing; 199 attempts for 1,021 yards, 5.1 yard average, with 9 touchdowns – passing; 8-15, 207 yards, with 2 touchdowns, receiving; 23 receptions, 191 yards, with 1 touchdown. In the Gator Bowl Mr. Lewis had 6 rushing attempts for 36 yards, 1-1 passing, 24 yards, with 1 touchdown.
Phil Lindsey
Inducted: 1976
2008 Player
Mr. Lindsey's high school days included lettering in football, basketball, baseball, and track & field. He played quarterback and defensive back on the 1965 State Championship team and was selected All State Honorable Mention. He received the Most Improved Award in football his senior year and was selected Most Athletic for Senior Superlatives. Leaving high school days behind he applied himself to college achieving Associate Bachelor (Health and Physical Education) at South Georgia Junior College in 1968, Bachelor of Science (Health and Physical Education) at Georgia Southern University in 1970, and Masters (Health and Physical Education) at Georgia State University in 1978.
Mr. Lindsey taught at Liberty County High School 1971-1972, Bradwell Institute 1972-1973, Lakeside High School 1973-1999, Tucker High School 1999-2002, and Tallassee High School 2002-Present. His coaching experience is expansive, coaching football 3 years as eighth grade Head Coach, 9 years Varsity Assistant Coach, and 23 years Varsity Head Coach. His Head Football Coaching encompasses Lakeside High School 1983-1997, Tucker High School 1999-2002, and Tallassee High School 2002-Present with 181-84-2 record. He had an average of 8 wins per season, competed in State Playoffs 17 out of 23 seasons as Head Coach, 8 Region Championships, 6 Region Runner-Up titles, 4 State Quarter-Finalists, 1 State Semi-Finalist, 1 State Runner-Up title, and 1 State Championship.
His head football coaching honors include Region Coach of the Year 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 2001, the DeKalb County Touchdown Club Coach of the Year - 1986 and 1991, State AAA Coach of the Year and Atlanta Touchdown Club Coach of the Year -1991, Atlanta Touchdown Club/NFL Coach of the Week - 1996 and 1997, Georgia North/South All Star Game Assistant Football Coach – North Team – 1990, Georgia North/South All Star Game Head Football Coach – North Team – 1992, Georgia/Florida All Star Game Assistant Coach - 1994, National Federation Coaches Association Coach of the Year - 2000, and Montgomery Advertiser 3A/4A Coach of the Year - 2005.
Other coaching experience is Head Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis (AAAA Region and State Coach of the Year-1984, Region Coach of the Year 8 times), Head Varsity Boys and Girls Golf (State Tournament two times), Head Varsity Baseball, Junior Varsity Baseball, Head Varsity Wrestling, Junior Varsity Wrestling, Junior Varsity Boys Basketball, and Junior Varsity Girls Basketball.
Record by Year:
Lakeside High School
1983 (7-3)
1984 (5-5)
1985 (6-5)
1986 (12-2)
1987 (11-2)
1988 (9-4)
1989 (8-3)
1990 (11-1-1)
1991 (14-0-1)
1992 (10-1)
1993 (7-4)
1994 (5-5)
1995 (9-3)
1996 (13-2)
1997 (7-4)
Tucker High School
1999 (6-5)
2000 (10-3)
2001 (10-1)
Tallassee High School
2002 (0-10)
2003 (1-9)
2004 (6-5)
2005 (9-3)
2006 (5-5)
Delano Little
Inducted: 2009
2009 Player
"Delano Little was a wide receiver and a kick return player at Bradwell," Stafford said. "He was very fast and he was a very bright guy who went on to play at Georgia Southern. There he played on two of the National Championship teams with Tracey Hamm in 1985 and 1986. Now he is a sportscaster for a news station in Charlotte, N.C."
Little attended Bradwell from 1978-1982. He was a member of the Beta Club and was the junior class president in 1981. He was senior class president and voted most likely to succeed by his classmates. He graduated with honors.
Little lettered in football for four year and was the MVP in 1981 and 1982. During his junior season he was selected to the Savannah Morning News’ All-Coastal Team and was an honorable mention to the Georgia high School All-Classification Team. Little also lettered in basketball, track and baseball.
He signed a scholarship to GSU where he played as a wide receiver. In his five years as an Eagle he caught passes for a total of 1,125 yards.
Little worked as a videotape operator at WTOC briefly before moving in front of the camera as a sportscaster at WJCL. He continues his anchoring career at WBTV.
John Long
Inducted: 1976
2007 At Large
While growing up in Washington, Georgia, John H. Long was a star football player and had lots of drive. After graduation from college and moving around a bit, he landed in Hinesville in 1962. His love for football gave him the drive to put in place something special in his new home in Liberty County. Before having children of his own, he started the steps necessary for recreational football for the children of Liberty County. Mr. Long first worked with the Harvey Overton Bradwell Booster Club to raise money needed for the program. He actually administered the program for the first five years which involved storing all the football equipment in his home attic. During this time he solicited the County Commissioners to officially establish a recreation program with staff. In 1968, the County Commissioners did establish the Recreation Board and the Liberty County Recreation Department and subsequently hired Mr. Charles Shuman as Director.
Mr. Long coached recreational football and baseball for many years, having several championship teams (he even donated his two front teeth to the cause of teaching a young lineman how to properly block). He was a steady influence for the Liberty County Recreation Department for many years.
In the late 1970's and 80's, he stayed busy on Friday nights providing the coaching communication headsets at Bradwell Institute football games. This involved getting to all the games early and staying late to make certain the equipment functioned properly throughout the games.
Liberty County honored John H. Long by naming the recreation football and track stadium in his honor along with Winford Bell. The facility is officially called Long-Bell Stadium . He made a positive impact on countless athletes from the early 1960's up through the 80's. Most athletes who graduated from Bradwell Institute during those years were touched in some way by Mr. Long. He exemplifies the great pride and spirit that athletics can bring to a community. His significant contribution has helped make Liberty County a great sports county!
Jimmy Martin
Inducted: 2000
2012 At Large
Jimmy was hired as the Liberty County Recreation Director in 1996, and continues in that capacity at this time. Prior to working at Liberty County, and after earning a degree in Public Recreation from Georgia Southern College, he worked in the Recreation Services program on Fort Stewart for 20+ years. He also participated in recreation programs in Liberty County from childhood to adult and earned letters in baseball and football at Bradwell Institute.
As the Liberty County Recreation Director, he oversaw huge program expansions, development of new programs, and construction of new facilities. Program expansions included new programs for children as young as 4 years of age, and large increases in the number of participants in many existing programs. New programs include youth and adult volleyball, flag football, Tae Kwon Do, basketball cheerleading, spring soccer, fall baseball, summer day camp, after-school program, summer sports camps, swim team, disc golf, tennis, wrestling, and adult fitness programs.
New facilities include the Charles Shuman Recreation Center, Recreation Office, Maintenance Office & Yard, Riceboro Youth Center, Eve Park, Holmestown Park, Hillery Park, Jesse Stevens Park, Riceboro Boat Launch & Fishing Pier, Midway Swimming Pool, tennis courts, skate park, disc golf course, and batting cages. Renovated facilities include Stafford Pavilion, Hinesville Swimming Pool, Gum Branch Park, Briar Bay Park, Sunbury Boat Ramp & Fishing Pier, baseball fields, track & field event area, walking trails, playgrounds, and outdoor basketball courts.
He is very active in the Georgia Recreation & Parks Association, having served on the District level as Commissioner and Treasurer, and on the State level on the Board of Trustees and the State Athletic Committee. He was named the GRPA District 2 “Distinguished Professional” in 2007 and Liberty County was named “Agency of the Year” in 2000.
During his time in the Fort Stewart Recreation Services program, he served as the Post Sports Director, Youth Services Program Director, Youth Services Sports Director, and Pool Manager. As the Post Sports Director, he oversaw all youth and adult sports programs, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and outdoor sports facilities. As the Youth Services Program Director, he oversaw the construction of recreation centers, baseball fields, soccer fields, and football fields.
Over the years, many state champions in basketball, soccer, softball, track & field, and swimming have come from his programs. Of the many thousands of kids that came through his programs, hundreds went on to play high school sports, many went on to play collegiate sports, and a few went on to very successful pro careers, including Shaquille O’Neal and Eric Zeier.
Throughout his career in recreation, Jimmy has strived to implement programs that provided opportunities for all participants to realize the benefits that come from recreation and sports competition, and emphasized good sportsmanship, integrity, and fair play. He has provided the leadership and infrastructure for successful sports and recreation programs in Liberty County for over 30 years.
Don Martin
Inducted: 2009
2009 At Large
Among the five inductees in this year’s Liberty County Sports Hall of Fame is Sheriff J. Don Martin, selected under the at-large category.
Hall of Fame Chairman Craig Stafford said people might be surprised to know Martin played a major role in the community’s athletic program.
"From all accounts he was a very good football player at Bradwell," Stafford said. "But long before he was sheriff, he did a lot for the community. He coached little league sports and he even coached me in baseball when I was in fourth grade. He used to run the chain gang for the football games. But the most influential thing he did for athletics was he headed up the Harvey Overton Bradwell Booster Club in the late ’70s and early ’80s. He ran that for several years and they were responsible for building the baseball field at Bradwell. He had a lot to do with the construction of the concessions stands at Olvey Field. When he ran the club it was a big, thriving organization. They hosted cookouts, fundraisers and a lot of people where actively involved in it and Don was largely responsible for that. He was an outgoing, likeable and productive go-getter and a lot of people only know him as the sheriff."
As a football player, Martin lettered for three years and was the co-captain of the squad for two years. During his senior year, Martin earned an honorable mention to the All-State Team and made the All-Region Team. He was the leading tackler and second leading rusher as a fullback during his last season at BI.
He also played linebacker. the Atlanta Journal Constitution had nicknamed Martin "Chitlins" and considered him to be among the toughest linebackers and the hardest running back in the state.
Martin also lettered for two years in basketball and one year in track and baseball.
Martin went on to volunteer as a coach for the Liberty County Recreation Department, working youth baseball, football and basketball. He was credited as being instrumental for developing the senior sports programs in the county.
Martin also announced Tiger football games for three years and ran the chain crew for five years.
During his tenure as the booster club president he increased membership to more than 300 and organized efforts to expand the fieldhouse.
Cole Martin
Inducted: 2024
2024 Player
Cole Martin played a number of sports at the Liberty County Recreation Department but it was in baseball where he made his mark in high school and college. He was a two-time scoring champ in LCRD soccer and an all-star in baseball for seven years. He lettered four years in baseball at Liberty County High School and three years in football. He was named best defensive player in baseball in 2001, best offensive player in baseball in 2002, baseball MVP in 2003 and also received the Coach’s Award and the Male Athlete of the Year in 2003. He was the left fielder and leadoff hitter for the Chain baseball team that won the USSSA World Series in 2003, along with being named to the Georgia Dugout Club’s Southeast all-star team in 2003 and being named all-Coastal Empire. He played at Gordon College for two years after signing a scholarship. He was a two-year starter, leading the team in batting average, home runs, runs batted in and stolen bases as a center fielder and cleanup hitter in 2005. He was chosen to participate in the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association sophomore showcase and was named to the GJCAA all-conference team in 2005. From there, Martin signed a scholarship with Columbus State University. He missed the 2006 season because of a torn labrum and was a member of the Cougars team that lost in the NCAA Division II championship game in 2007. He finished his CSU career as the team leader in most of the offensive categories his senior year in 2008.He now resides in Fleming Island, Florida.
Greg McCormack
Inducted: 2019
2019 Player
McCormack was a 1972 BI grad and four-year letterman in football, two-year letterman in track and one year in baseball for the Tigers, culminating his senior football season by being named Honorable Mention All-State running back by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. McCormack played iron-man football seeing time on the offense as a running back and on the defense as a linebacker. He rushed for close to if not more than 1,000 yards in 1971.
Raekwon McMillan
Inducted: 2023
2023 Player
The former Liberty County High School football star was the nation’s 2013 Butkus Award winner as the best high school linebacker in the nation. He was rated as a 5-star prospect and named the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect in the nation in 2014. He was a 2013 USA Today first-team all-American and named the 2013 Georgia Defensive Player of the Year. At Liberty, McMillan had 456 career tackles, averaging 12 per game. He had 159 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior, along with 10 fumbles caused and three interceptions. He finished his career as a four-time all-state selection. McMillan signed with the Ohio State University and played in 41 games, starting 26. He led the team in tackles each of his two years as a starter. For his Buckeyes career, he had 270 tackles, six sacks, one interception, 10 passes defended and two forced fumbles. As a sophomore, he was named a starter and recorded 119 tackles, the most for a Buckeyes sophomore since 1990. He was named team captain as a junior and was named second-team all-American and first-team all-Big 10 after his sophomore and junior seasons. As a freshman, he played in all 15 games, helping Ohio State to a Big 10 conference championship and a national championship. McMillan was chosen in the second round as the 54th pick overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed with the New England Patriots in March 2021 and scores his first NFL touchdown this past season in a Week 14 win over the Arizona Cardinals, a 23-yard fumble return. He finished the 2022 campaign with 25 solo tackles and a sack.
Josh McNair
Inducted: 2424
2024 Player
Josh McNair was one of the most decorated track and field athletes in Liberty County High School history. He was a two-time state champion in the discus and received a full track scholarship to Kennesaw State University. While at LCHS, McNair was team captain for three years, along with being named to the all-region and all-state teams for three years. He was never beaten in any meet in the discus during his high school career. He was first team all-Atlantic Sun Conference for indoor track and field in the shot put in 2010 and second team in the weight throw. He was second team all-conference in the shot and weight throw in 2009, first team all-conference in the shot put and weight throw in 2008 and third team all-conference in the weight throw in 2007. McNair still holds the best, third-best and fourth-best shot put result in KSU indoor track history and is seventh and eighth all-time in the weight throw. He has the No. 2 and No. 3 best distance in KSU in the shot put in outdoor track and field and is second and sixth all-time in the discus. He also still holds the 10th best mark in KSU history for the outdoor hammer throw. In the 2009-10 season, McNair took first in the shot put at the Atlantic Sun Conference indoor and outdoor championships.
Jordan McRae
Inducted: 2015
2015 Player
McRae, a 2010 graduate of LCHS was a star basketball player for Coach Willie Graham and the Panthers amassing numerous honors and awards including First Team All AAA State by the Atlanta Constitution Journal his senior season.
As a senior Jordan averaged 24 pts, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks per game leading the Panthers, along with teammate Rion Brown, to the Georgia State Playoffs.
Jordan was a 1st Team All-State pick by the Georgia Sportswriters Association and had a game high 25 points and was the South MVP for the GACA Allstar game.
Jordan enjoyed a spectacular career at the University of Tennessee playing in over 100 games for the Vols and, in his senior season, starting all 37 games, averaging 18.7 pts., 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and earning First Team All SEC honors while leading the Vols in scoring in 4 games in the NCAA tournament averaging 19.8 pts per game.
Jordan was selected as the 58th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs who traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jordan has also played professionally in Australia and currently is in the NBA Developmental League.
Sandy Miller
Inducted: 2023
2023 Player
Sandy Miller excelled on the field and in the classroom at the re-born Liberty County High School.She was STAR student and the valedictorian of the school’s first graduating class. She was also named the school’s female athlete of the year and in basketball, she was the team’s captain, its leading scorer and a four-year starter. Miller was also captain and a four-year starter for the Lady Panthers’ softball team. She received multiple academic scholarships to attend Agnes Scott College, and she was a four-year starter for the Agnes Scott basketball team. After graduating from Agnes Scott, she worked in the Directorate of Environmental and Natural Resources on Fort Stewart. She later graduated from Georgia Tech with an environmental engineering degree. Miller is currently a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service.
DeLisha Milton-Jones
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
DeLisha Milton-Jones, a native of Liberty County from Riceboro, Georgia, formed a name for herself in various sports, but especially in basketball.
As a senior at Bradwell Institute she averaged 21 points and 16 rebounds per game receiving the MVP award in 1992 and 1993 and was so impressive throughout her high school basketball endeavors that her jersey was retired upon graduation.
Ms. Milton led the BI high school team to a 29-1 record and a runner-up finish in the Georgia State High School Championship Tournament. She also earned the Garnered Coastal Empire Player of the Year Honors, C.E. Most Valuable Player accolades (1992 and 1993), and was selected to the C.E. All-Tournament Team three consecutive years. She was a member of the Georgia All-Star Team and competed in the annual Georgia vs Tennessee game, played on the AAU Georgia Peaches, which won the state championship in 1993, and played on the International Basketball Opportunities United States team overseas.
In Venezuela, she was recognized as the team’s leading scorer during her out-of-country basketball experience. Ms. Milton was not only an outstanding athlete in basketball, but lettered all four-years in track and softball. As a sophomore she won the state championship in the high jump, clearing her personal best 5-6 in the finals assisting the BI track team to a region title in 1993.
As a freshman at UF she was an unanimous SEC All-Freshman first-team selection, received the Gator Award of overall excellence for the 1993 & 1994 season, made her mark in UF record books during her first collegiate season, she was the only UF player to start all 29 games, averaging 27.1 minutes per game, and led the SEC in rebounding at 11.5 rpg. Ms. Milton was the top freshman rebounder in the nation, and recorded the first triple-double in Lady Gator history with 11 points. She was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year as the best women’s basketball player in the best conference in the nation. She also received the SEC Player of the week three times in one season and is only one of six players to ever have received this award that number of times. Ms. Milton led the SEC in shooting percentage and was second in the SEC in scoring, having scored double numbers in 41 consecutive games and 97 of 120 in her career in 1997. She was also second in blocks, second in steals, and fourth in rebounds in the SEC that same year.
As a senior at UF, she was co-captain honored as UF’s first ever recipient of The Wade Trophy, first ever UF athlete (male and female) to earn basketball first-team All-American honors, collected many honors and awards with the Kodak All-American team, Associated Press Outstanding Performer of the NCAA Tournament, All-SEC first-team honors, named Philadelphia Online Women’s Hoops National Player of the Week, and also the Dial Classic MVP Honors. Ms. Milton was the most decorated Lady Gator in the 23-year history of the program. She has a wing-span of 84-inches, which is equal to a person that is 7 feet tall and credits Florida Coach Carol Ross for helping her basketball skills development while a player at UF.
Upon graduation from UF Ms. Milton was no. 4 WNBA draft pick and continues to play for Los Angeles Sparks. To Ms. Milton-Jones’ (married in 2003) credit she was also a member of Gold-medal winning US Olympic team in 2000, 1994 through 2002 was a member of various USA basketball teams that clinched another gold medal finish at the USA World Championships later that same year, and assisted in earning a total of six gold medals, the only color of medal Milton-Jones has ever known, overall. She earned the 2001 WNBA Champion Title while completing a degree in sports management with a minor in mass communication.
Travis Mobley
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
Travis Mobley continued an already impressive sports history during his four years at Liberty County High School in 1996 through 1999 playing baseball, football, and golf. Mobley was a four year letterman Varsity, one year letterman Junior Varsity in baseball. In football he was a two year letterman Varsity, was a member of the Junior 1st team all region punter and 2nd team all region place kicker. In golf, however, is where he chose to polish his athletic skill. He lettered all four years beginning with a strong Sophomore season: Region Medalist and AAAA State Medalist; Junior season: Region Medalist and AAAA State Participant. Mobley won the Panther Invitational four consecutive years, was selected MVP all four years and received many academic awards for not only golf, but baseball and football, as well. He was also inducted to the Liberty County High School Athletic Wall of Fame.
Mobley went on to Georgia Southern University receiving the Bo Hook Golf Scholarship and lettering GSU all four years, once again, in golf. He was a Hope Scholarship Winner four consecutive years at Georgia Southern, and received the Donald Martin Academic Scholarship all four years at GSU. He graduated 6th in his class. Mobley played 40 consecutive tournaments; contestant in two NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships (Duke & Ohio State), and also, contestant in three NCAA Division I East Regional Men’s Golf Championships.
Mobley was a member of the 1st GSU All Southern Conference team in 2003 winning All Southern Conference title that same year. He was elected GSU Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2002 - 2003, NCAA Academic All American in 2003. Mobley graduated GSU with Bachelor of Science in Business Education (Cum Laude) receiving eight Southern Conference Honor Rolls prior to completing his degree. He returned to Hinesville upon graduation from GSU and plans to make this his home.
Artis Morrison
Inducted: 2016
2016 Player
A 1978 graduate of BI, Morrison was an exceptional football player winning the team Best Offensive Lineman award his junior and senior years.
In 1979, he won the prestigious Hokey Jackson award. Morrison also received accolades while making his way up to BI varsity football, when the won the MVP of BI’s junior varsity football team.
Morrison also lettered multiple years in track at BI, placing second and third at the Region track meet in shotput his last two years. He also competed in the 100 yard dash, discus, and was a member of the 440 relay team.
Morrison played football at Fort Valley State College.
Morrison is currently a Captain with the Georgia Ports Authority Security/Police Department where he has been a distinguished employee/officer since 1981.
Pat Parris
Inducted: 2018
2018 Player
A 1994 graduate of BI, Parris was a three (3) year letterman in soccer for the Tigers earning the 1994 Region Player of the Year Award while serving as Captain and also being named Coastal Empire Player of the Year. Parris later starred at Georgia Southern earning four (4) varsity letters with the Eagles while playing in 75 games with 15 goals and 10 assists leading Georgia Southern to a 14-4-2 record and its first ever national ranking. Parris has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sports management from Georgia Southern and has been the head coach of the University of North Georgia’s Men’s soccer team for the past eleven (11) years, leading them to the conference tournament on numerous occasions.
Will Pettis
Inducted: 2000
2010 Player
Pettis attended Bradwell Institute and was a graduate of the class of 1996, making an impact on the Tigers' football team. In his junior season Pettis had 38 solo tackles and 11 assists. He also picked off three passes.
After graduating, Pettis briefly attended Middle Georgia Junior College where he tallied 54 tackles before transferring to the University of Houston where he was the starting cornerback as a junior. Pettis transferred to Midwestern State University for his senior year and finished his college career with 42 tackles and three interceptions for MSU.
After graduating college, Pettis returned to football in 2002 as a member of the Pensacola Barracudas, an Arena Football League 2 team. As a Barracuda, he finished second on the team with 55 receptions for 791 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively, he led the team with nine interceptions and was third on the team with 36.5 tackles.
In 2003, Pettis made his Arena Football League debut with the Dallas Desperados and had one of the league's best seasons by a rookie, earning All-Rookie and Second-Team All-Arena honors. He finished the season with a rookie club-record 1,562 all-purpose yards; 798 receiving, 640 on kickoff returns, 93 on missed field goal returns, 22 on interception returns and nine rushing, while finishing fourth on the team with 34.5 tackles.
Pettis stayed with the Desperados until the AFL franchise shut down in 2009.
As a Desperado, Pettis accumulated 639 receptions for 6,516 yarsds and scored 142 touchdowns. Pettis also had 187 solo tackles, 23 assists and 21 interceptions. As a punt returner, he returned 378 kicks for 7,335 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He is a two-time recipient of the AFL's Iron-Man of the Year Award, winning in 2007 and 2008. He was named to the All Iron-Man Arena team four times in his career and the All-Arena Team three times.
As prolific as he was on the field, Pettis also volunteered his time to several youth organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the Salvation Army and the Boys and Girls Club. During the off season, Pettis mentored at-risk youth about the game of football and his belief in Christian values and the importance of staying drug-free.
When the AFL reorganized in 2010, Pettis returned to indoor football as a member of the Dallas Vigilantes on June 2.
The Hinesville native will celebrate his 32nd birthday Saturday. He lives in Texas with his wife Akiah and their children, Heaven-Leigh, 8, William, 6, Gabriella, 4, and Christian, 17 months.
During the off-season and brief AFL hiatus, Pettis opened a personal training business and began to help mentor young athletes. He also started a career in the tele-media industry .
Jimmy Porter
Inducted: 1976
2008 Player
Mr. Jimmy Porter graduated with the Bradwell Institute class of 1964. He lettered 4 years in baseball, 3 years in football serving as Co-Captain and voted Best Back his senior year. He also lettered in basketball 3 years and 2 years of track & field. Mr. Porter earned the distinct privilege of being voted Senior Superlative Most Athletic.
After graduation he went on to play 4 years of collegiate baseball lettering 2 years at Brewton Parker Junior College at shortstop. His freshman year he batted a .318, making All Conference that year, and sophomore year batting a .301 as Captain of the team.
Mr. Porter went on to West Georgia College his junior and senior years. As a junior he was All NAIA Conference batting a .327 and again to All NAIA Conference as a senior batting a .320, making team Captain, once again. He was voted West Georgia's Baseball MVP his senior year.
He returned to Hinesville and coached 2 years at Liberty County High School. Coaching locally he was an Assistant Football coach, Head Baseball coach, and coached 1 year at Bradwell Institute as Assistant Football coach.
Mr. Porter claims the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame induction is such an honor because those athletic years were so special and taught him so much. He feels great joy in joining the people and athletes that he has admired in his athletic endeavors and who have played a role to helping him become the man he is today.
Jackie Roberts
Inducted: 2024
2024 Player
Jackie Roberts played football at Liberty County High School from 1964-67 and started at fullback and middle linebacker from 1965-67. As the coaches separated the team into groups by position for their first practice, no one answered the call for fullback. So Jackie Roberts, who started out trying out for offensive line, was reading how professionals were playing the position and he eventually took the position. Coach James Hall had players play other positions to maximize their potential and to help the players find themselves. He was co-captain for his final two seasons and was known for being a hard-hitting linebacker and for having many big games running the ball as a fullback.Roberts was named to the All-State Football Game in 1967 and received a full scholarship to Clark in Atlanta and lettered all four years there in football. A retired department manager for Giant Foods, LLC, Roberts now lives in Waldorf, Maryland, and is chairman of the deacon board at First Rock Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., where he is involved in many church activities. He is a grandfather of two and great-grandfather of two.
Raymond Roberts-Blake
Inducted: 1976
2007 Player
During college at Georgia Tech Raymond Roberts-Blake was a veteran lineman with 31 career starts, at both left guard and right guard. He was one of the strongest players on the team and elected one of Tech's permanent team captains for 2002. In 2002 he started every game at right guard and provided very steady play and moved to the right side in the spring after playing left guard the previous two years. In 2001 he shared starting duties at left guard with Leon Robinson starting seven games, including the first six contests, also, earning the starting nod against Wake Forest. In 2000, started every game at left guard and helped Tech run in the Top 20 nationally in total offense, passing offense, and scoring offense, as well as, in the top three in the ACC in rushing. Part of an offensive line that led the ACC in fewest sacks allowed with 16, including only 14 by the starting five. He played his best game of that season against 19th –ranked Georgia. He was Tech's second-team right guard in 1999 that played in four games off the bench.
In earlier high school athletic endeavors he was an honorable-mention All-American by USA Today publication and was one of the top 50 prospects in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He was name the No. 69 prospect in Dixie by Super Prep post season magazine and rated a 9.25 by Deep South Football. He received an Honorable Mention offensive lineman in the SEC blocks as a junior and tabbed AAAA All-State Honorable Mention. Mr. Roberts-Blake was named the 3-AAAA line of the Year, and named to the All-Coastal Empire team selected by the Savannah Daily News.
He lettered four times in football and twice in track & field playing for Jim Walsh at Bradwell Institute.
His full name is Raymond Antwionne Roberts-Blake, parents are Tonnie and Carolyn Roberts. He was born September 6, 1979 and majored in Management. His resume includes being an honorable man that’s had many achievements in his life. He was mentioned often in newspapers about how outstanding he was a person and athlete. He was a powerful, well mannered, team player and has a wealth of athletic abilities.
Mr. Roberts-Blake was an honor graduate, won the Good Citizenship Award, and was the Grand Marshal for the City of Walthourville receiving a key to the city in 2002.
Bryan Sears
Inducted: 2011
2011 Player
Sears was a four-year track athlete at Liberty County High School. In 1996, he was the USA National Champion in the 200-meter dash. In 1998, he was the Region 3-AAAA 100-meter and 200-meter champion. That same year, he took his second USA National Champion in the 200 and also won the title in the 100. Sears was the 1998 Coastal Empire Male Track Athlete of the Year and the 1999 world champion in sprint medley at the World Youth Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. In 2000, he was the Region 3-AAAA 100-meter champion, and in 2000, he was elected to the National High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Sears received a full track scholarship to the University of Florida and later transferred to the University of Texas EI Paso, where in 2003 he was a member of the conference-champion 400-meter relay team.
Charles Shuman
Inducted: 1976
2004 At Large
Charles M. Shuman served as the Director of the Liberty County Recreation Department from its inception in 1970 to 1997.
He helped design and construct the American Legion softball/baseball field on Memorial Drive in the 1950s. The field was used for fast-pitch softball and youth baseball. He also designed and built the American Legion baseball/softball field on Oglethorpe Highway in 1962. The field was used for baseball and adult slow-pitch softball. Shuman designed and built the softball/baseball field at Jaycee Park in Hinesville in 1966-67. The field was dedicated in his honor in 1967 and was named Best Project of the Year in the State that same year. He was named outstanding Recreation Director in 1970 and the LCRD was named the Best Department that year.
Shuman also started the Hinesville Athletic Association in 1960 and served as President and Treasurer. He helped organize the first Little League football program in the county in 1960, coached football, baseball and softball from 1956-69 and served as Little League Director from 1961-67. He was the Adult Softball Director for men and women from 1962-67. Shuman played slow pitch softball from 1962-69, led the league in batting in 1965 with a .581 average. Finished second in 1963 with a .556 average, finished second in 1964 with a .580 average, and set the league record in 1964 with 20 homeruns. Shuman also coached the First Methodist basketball team from 1958-60. He played and coached the Hinesville Braves fast-pitch softball team, the only fast-pitch team from the county to take part in a state tournament
While he was Director of the LCRD, county teams won 262 individual and team State championships. The 1996 junior soccer team dedicated their District and State championships and their entire season to Shuman. The 2000 senior boys State Championship, the 2003 Summer Slam, was dedicated to him, as well. The multi-purpose building at James Brown Park was named for Charles M. Shuman in March 2000.
Shuman played basketball and baseball for Bradwell Institute from 1952-53. He later played with the Hinesville Ramblers baseball team and had a .438 batting average in 1958. He played baseball in the South Georgia League from 1959-61 and batted .407 in 1959, .320 in 1960 and .588 in 1961. He had a league-high 26 RBIs, led the league with 21 runs scored and was named league MVP in 1959. He was named to the all star team in 1960.
Shuman resides in Hinesville and to this day continues to lend his experience, knowledge, and energies enhancing local recreational programs.
George Shuman
Inducted: 1976
2004 Player
The late George Shuman was a member of Bradwell Institute’s class of 1956 and though few records are left of his playing days he is regarded as a gifted multi-sport athlete.
He played and lettered in basketball from 1954-56 as a starting guard, leading the Tigers to region titles in 1955 and 1956. Shuman also played and lettered in baseball as a shortstop and catcher from 1954-1956.
In football, Shuman played running back and linebacker, lettering in 1955 and 1956. He frequently was named most outstanding player during games and once returned an interception 97 yards for a score. Shuman played basketball at South Georgia Trade School and led the team in scoring in 1956-1957.
After returning from the military in 1960, Shuman played baseball for Hinesville in the South Georgia League as a shortstop and catcher. He hit .320 in 1960 and .409 in 1961. He was hired by Western Electric in 1961 to play basketball for their company team. Shuman played for five years and led the team in scoring each year.
Sadly, Shuman lost a kidney due to an injury he sustained during a Bradwell alumni football game in 1966 and retired from playing. In 1967 he started coaching youth teams in Florida, which he did for several years. Shuman lost his life to a heart attack in 1996 at the age of 60.
Eddie Smith
Inducted: 2023
2023 Player
A 1970 graduate of Bradwell Institute, Smith was an extremely accomplished pole vaulter for the BI track team. Smith was the region champion in the pole vault in 1968, 1969 and 1970 and the state champion in 1970.
Jerome Smith
Inducted: 2010
2010 Coach
Smith is a member of Liberty County High School’s class of 1959. As a Tiger he lettered in basketball for three years and lettered in baseball for one season. Smith averaged 15 and 23 points per game and was the boys’ basketball team captain his junior and senior year. He went on to graduate Savannah State University and returned to his alma mater as the girls’ basketball coach. Smith led the girls to four consecutive District II-A titles and the runner up position in 1969-70. In 1972 he guided the team to a region runner up position in Region 3-B. Smith was also a football coach at Liberty and guided the team, along with coach Donell Woods and James Hall, to a 9-1 record in 1965. It’s still considered the best season in the program’s history. After eight years coaching at Liberty, Smith coached the girls and boys basketball teams at Bradwell Institute. As the girls coach he took the team to the state competition and coached current Lady Tiger coach Faye Baker during her school years at BI. Smith was also involved in the Liberty County Recreation Department using his athletic knowledge to develop young players. He took his LCRD girls basketball team to a district championship in 1979 and the junior Fort Stewart championship in 1982.
Michael Sparks
Inducted: 2010
2010 Player
Michael Sparks is a member of Bradwell Institute’s class of 1969. As a Tiger, Sparks played football for two years and was named to the Class A All-State football team in 1968 and 1969. He received the most improved football player award for both seasons. Sparks was also talented on the hardwood and played basketball as a Tiger for all four years. He went on to play basketball in his freshman year at Georgia Southern University. He then played basketball at South Georgia College. Sparks was also a track athlete who was among the runners in Bradwell’s run at the Class A state track title in the 1968-69 school year where he placed fifth in the 220-yard dash. In 1969, he was the region champion in the 100- and 220-yard dash. He ran for the Tigers’ track team for four seasons. In 1969 he was the recipient of the Fraser Rambo Award and was named Senior Superlative at BI. Sparks served in the Georgia Army National Guard from 1971-77 and earned a bachelor of science in education from Georgia Southern in 1974. Sparks went on to become an educator at Southeast Bulloch High School in Brooklet where he coached track and cross country. Under his guidance the girls won nine region track championships and the boys won a region championship. He led the Southeast Bulloch girls to a state championship in 2003 and they were state runners up in 1997. Sparks was named the girls’ region coach track of the year 10 times in his career. He guided the boys’ track team to a region championship and was named their coach of the year in 1981 and 2001. Sparks took the boys’ cross country team to a region championship in 1992, the same season he was named the school’s cross country coach of the year. Sparks is currently serving as director of the W.W. Mann Retreat and Conference Center in Brooklet.
Harold Stafford
Inducted: 1976
2005 Player
Harold “Hal” Stafford is a 1961 graduate of Bradwell Institute, where he participated in all major sports for four years and earned 13 letters. Stafford wasn’t just on teams, he played varsity football, basketball, baseball, and ran track each year. He was a three-year starting quarterback while also playing defensive back and returning punts and kickoffs. He was voted most valuable player by his teammates his junior and senior year at BI. As a senior, Stafford was team captain and All-State Honorable Mention.
In basketball, Stafford started at guard for two years and was co-captain his senior season. He was a four-year starter on the baseball team, playing infield positions for three years and pitching as a junior and senior. While on the track team, Stafford ran on the 440-yard and mile-relay teams. He ran the 100 and 200 yard dashes as a junior and senior, qualifying for state his senior year. He finished fourth in state in the 220.
As a senior, Stafford received the Fraser Rambo Sportsmanship Award. He attended Middle Georgia College for two years, where he lettered in basketball and baseball. He is a past president of the Harvey Overton Bradwell Boosters Club.
Craig Stafford
Inducted: 2015
2015 Player
Stafford, a 1986 graduate of Bradwell Institute , lettered in 5 different sports at BI and was a 2-year captain and 3-year starter at quarterback helping lead the Tigers to the 1985 Region 3-AAAA Championship and the South Georgia Championship game.
Stafford was also named the 1986 Georgia Male Scholar Athlete of the Year by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and maintained the highest GPA for any BI athlete from 1982 - 1986, earning the BI Academic Athletic Award each year.
Stafford also won the Hokey Jackson Award and was his graduating class salutatorian. Stafford played every sport growing up in Hinesville through the Liberty County Recreation Department and in 1978 was a member of the first 4 x 100 relay team from Liberty County to win 1st place at the Annual Georgia Parks and Recreation Track Meet.
Stafford received an Appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point and was a member of the 1986 Army Football Team which won the Commander and Chiefs Trophy for victories over Air Force and Navy.
Craig currently is a lawyer locally with the firm of Arnold & Stafford in Hinesville.
George Stagmeier
Inducted: 2018
2018 Player
A 1973 BI graduate, Stagmeier lettered 4 years in football and track, scoring 17 touchdowns and rushing for over 2,000 yards while playing both ways (running back and linebacker) on the gridiron in his junior and senior years. Stagmeier was named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution Prep Honor Roll and the All-State Checklist as a junior and was Class AA Prep All-State Honorable Mention as a senior. In track he excelled in the 880yd run (placing 1st in the region in 1971) and on the Mile Relay Team. Stagmeier also was BI’s player of the week numerous times during his 4 year career and was Team captain his senior year while also winning the Team MVP award. George received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia Southern University in 1977 and shortly thereafter returned to his native Liberty County to pursue a career in law enforcement. George recently retired after more than 40 years of law enforcement service, the most notable being the last 18 years in which he served with distinction as the Chief of Police of Hinesville, Ga.
Jerome Standard
Inducted: 2010
2010 Coach
The lifelong Liberty County resident began his sports career as a youngster at the Liberty County Recreation Department where he played baseball and football. During his early years at the LCRD, Standard won several batting titles and represented the Liberty team in All-Star games. As a student at Bradwell Institute, Standard lettered all four years in baseball and was the only freshman to start on the school’s baseball team just one season after BI won the state championship. During his freshman year, Standard hit .6oo in limited action. He posted a .450 batting average his junior year and earned the team’s MVP award his junior and senior years. Standard was credited for many years by the late coach Albert Rogers as having hit the longest home run in Bradwell history estimated at 450 feet. After graduating from BI, Standard received a scholarship to play at national junior college powerhouse, Middle Georgia College and later Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College. After college, Standard brought his passion and knowledge of baseball back to BI, where he coached for seven years. He also coached track at Hinesville Middle School and led the team to an undefeated season. Standard then went to coach the baseball team at Liberty County High School for six years. He also coached the boys’ golf team for nine years and is credited with starting the girls’ golf program. He’s coached the girls’ team for six years, taking them to one state tournament. In addition to golf, Standard has been the fast pitch softball coach for the past five years — improving the girls’ record from six wins per season to 13 and earning a berth in the region playoffs. In addition to his formal coaching at the high school level, Standard for years has given back to the LCRD by offering his coaching ability and focusing on the fundamentals of the game. Standard is known by many for instilling life lessons and self discipline in his players to help them in all aspects of their lives. He believes and teaches that, although sports are important, it’s far more important for his players to learn teamwork, leadership and fellowship because those skills will be useful to them off the playing field for the rest of their lives.
Bill Stanford
Inducted: 2025
2025 Player
Bill Stanford was a multi-sport star athlete at Bradwell Institute and returned to coach dozens of young athletes in football and track.
Stanford also participated in several fine arts at Bradwell, including being in several plays and in chorus. He also was elected senior class president by the class of 1966.
In athletics, Stanford earned 13 varsity letters, including four each in football, baseball and track, and one letter in basketball.
As a senior in track and field, he ran the 440-yard dash, anchored the 4x110 and 4x440 relay teams and threw the shot put and the discus. In football, he ran for more than 1,000 yards his senior year and scored 135 points on 14 touchdowns and 51 PATs. He was voted best back and elected a team captain. He also was named all-state honorable mention.
Stanford ran for 219 yards in the South Georgia championship game against Pelham and was named to the North-South All-Star Game. He signed a letter of intent with Memphis State (now Memphis) University and played freshman football there before transferring to Lees-McRae Junior College. He led Lees-McRae in rushing and helped lead the team to a spot in the Junior College National Championship Game.
After graduating from Georgia Southern College, he returned to Bradwell and coached football and track for several years before entering private business.
2008 First Presbyterian Christian Academy State Championship Basketball Team
Inducted: 2016
2016 Team
The 2008 FPCA basketball team is the fourth Liberty County team to be inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Coached by Darrell West and David Linderman, the Highlanders compiled an impressive record of 25-4 and defeated Bethesda Day School (Savannah) for the 2008 GISA A Championship.
On the court, FPCA was led by Joey Bell (20 pts/game avg.), Hakeem Golden (10 rebounds/game avg.), and T.A. Alston (8 assists/game avg.).
The team consisted of the following: Head Coach Darrell West, Assistant Coach David Linderman, Joey Bell, T.A. Alston, A.J. Ansley, Mike Brown, Josh Rodgers, Hakeem Golden, Preyen Patel, Tim Ashmen, Sunny Patel, Kyle Weinerth, Garrett Chrissman, and Jose Martinez.
Joe Stevens
Inducted: 2000
2012 Player
Stevens as the captain of the 1974 Tiger football team and was voted best defensive player that same year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution name him to the 1974 all-state football team as selected by the newspaper and the Georgia High School Athletic Association.
Stevens also ran track and was a member of the undefeated 440-meter relay team that won the sub-region and region and finished second in the 1974 state track championships. He also earned several awards in the 100 and 200 dashes, discus, and shot put.
In his senior year at Bradwell, he was voted "Mr. Bradwell 1974" due to his athletic and academic achievements. He was a member of the Tigers boys' varsity basketball team for the 1974-74 season and was inducted into the nationwide "Who's Who Among American High School Students."
Stevens received an athletic scholarship to Savannah State University, where his graduated in 1979 with a bachelors degree in criminal justice.
He served in the United States Army for 24 years and was a military police officer and investigator. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medals. Stevens was an adjunct law enforcement instructor at Central Texas College and University of Maryland, European Campus.
At Central Texas College he was recognized as the school's instructor of the year-European campus (law enforcement/criminal justice 1991) and regional instructor of the year (1990). Stevens is employed with the Department of the Army, Fort Gordon, as an anti-terrorism officer/physical security specialist.
Derek Stewart
Inducted: 2015
2015 Player
Stewart, a 1989 graduate of Bradwell Institute was a star basketball player for Coach Willie Graham and the Tigers being named to the 1989 Region 3-AAAA Team.
Stewart received a basketball scholarship to Augusta State University where he was a four year starter averaging 14, 15, 16, and 20 per game, respectively.
His senior season he led the Peach Belt Conference in blocked shots, was named to the First Team All-Tournament Team and was named the Peach Belt Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
He is Augusta State University's all-time leading shot blocker and second all-time leading scorer.
Derek played 9 years professionally in Germany, Israel, France, and China.
Derek currently lives in the Los Angeles, California area and works in the motion picture, television and film industry.
John Stewart
Inducted: 2024
2024 Player
John Stewart was one of the most dominating offensive players in Georgia during his career and rewrote the Bradwell Institute record books. His career rushing mark of 5,145 yards still stands as the school’s all-time standard, as does his single-season record of 2,186 yards, set during his junior year. As a sophomore, he ran for 1,321 yards and 13 touchdowns. During his junior year, he ran the ball 333 times and scored 20 touchdowns, helping lead the Tigers to a Class AAAA South Georgia championship appearance. He was also named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s offensive player of the year for the 1986 season. His single-game record for rushing yards – 238 – stood for 32 years. As a senior, “Big John” amassed 1,521 yards rushing and finished his BI career with 50 touchdowns and again helped lead the Mighty Tigers to the South Georgia championship game. As a senior, “Big John” amassed 1,521 yards rushing and finished his BI career with 50 touchdowns and again helped lead the Mighty Tigers to the South Georgia championship game. He was a two-time all-state selection and his career rushing yards were the most in Class AAAA history when his high school career ended. He signed with Auburn University where he played for two years before injuries ended his football career. Although football was over for John, he remained on scholarship and obtained his degree from Auburn University.”
Tom Sukaratana
Inducted: 1976
2007 Coach
In the early 1980s a soccer program started and developed in the Hinesville/Liberty County area due in a large measure to the efforts of Tom Sukaratana. The goal was for the children to have something to do, teach them the value of life and all based on a Christian foundation. This was possible through this his involvement with the Liberty County Recreation Department and his formation in 1983 of a club soccer program called the Hinesville Gators.
In the early years, the Liberty County Recreation soccer program and the Hinesville Gators provided a venue for all interested young residents to compete locally and at Fort Stewart. However, game and practice facilities were limited. With the growth of these programs under the direction of Tom and the Shumans (Charles and Jackie of the Liberty County Recreation Department), there became an increasing need for improved facilities, hence, the birth of James Brown Park. In 1984, Tom received a merit award from then Major Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf for his services to the soccer program.
Tom Sukaratana led the Liberty County all star teams to eight Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) State titles, as well as one State runner up, in various age groups.
The first Hinesville Gators team (under 14) had 14 players and was formed as a traveling team to allow more opportunities for competition. The Gators grew into 16 teams with over 176 players. The teams have had 35 undefeated soccer seasons in the various age groups, as well as, 15 sportsmanship awards.
Examples of the numerous invitational soccer tournaments the Hinesville Gators teams have won include: U.S.A. Cup, Cocoa Beach Expo, Georgia Games, Concord Invitational, Disney International, Kingsport Invitational, Canterbury, Augusta Shootout, Deerfield Classic, Thomasville Rose Tournament, Charleston Soccer Shootout, Savannah Classic, and Ormond Beach Invitational. He also coached his Gators teams (in various age groups) to ten Georgia Youth Soccer Association (GYSA) State championship titles. Consequently, many of his former players are coaching at the high school level, club level, and in the division 1,2,3 and NAIA colleges.
In addition to working with the youth through the recreation department and club ball, Tom also coached high school soccer at Bulloch Academy in Statesboro where his team won the 2004 GISA State championship. Here Tom also earned three Region Coach of Year titles, as well as, Coach of the Year for 2003.
Tom has directed numerous soccer tournaments and day camps for Liberty County youth. The tournaments have brought more than eighty teams and families to Hinesville for weekend competitions that were highly praised by participants.
Since 1983 Tom, as founder and Chairman of the Board of the Hinesville Soccer Association and Director of Coaching, has been devoted to Liberty County soccer and the lives of his young players. He led by example, and with determination and patience was able to make soccer an exemplary athletic program for our community. While his contribution to the development of soccer in this county is monumental, his positive influence on the lives of hundreds of local youth is even more impressive.
Tom and his wife, Debra, have worked tirelessly and unselfishly these many years to make a difference in the Hinesville community. And so it is with great pleasure that he has been awarded a spot in the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame.
Ronnie Waller
Inducted: 1976
2008 Player
High School - Bradwell Institute
Mr. Waller lettered in track & field for four years and was the Captain of his team during his senior year. He lettered in football for four years and was the leading scorer during his senior year. He lettered in baseball for two years.
He was 2nd or 3rd in the 100 yard dash during the State Track meet.
1st - 100 yard dash Region Finals, 1957
1st - 220 yard dash Region Finals, 1957
1st - 220 yard relay Region Finals, 1957
1st - 880 yard relay Region Finals, 1957
1st - Broad Jump Region Finals, 1957
His track & field team won Region championship in 1957 and in 1957 he also ran in the Florida Relays.
He was a member of the team that won Bradwell Institutes 1st District championship in baseball.
Mr. Waller was Senior Class Vice President in 1957 and Advertising Manager for the Yearbook Committee. He received the Dansforth Award for Salesmanship and the Women's Society of Christian Service Outstanding Senior Award.
He was President of the Senior Sunday School Class for First Methodist Church and President of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, as well as, Secretary of District Methodist Youth Fellowship.
College - University of Georgia
He participated in track & field with Coach Spec Towns. He was Secretary of Inter-Fraternity Council. He was also a member of the ODK Honor Society, Greek Horseman Honor Society, and the X-Club Honor Society and President of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He received the Outstanding Senior Award of Sigma Nu Fraternity and was finalist for the National Man of the Year Award for Sigma Nu.
Mr. Waller was a member of the United States Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Captain. He was also Company Commander and served in Vietnam.
Metra Walthour
Inducted: 2000
2013 Player
A 2007 graduate of Liberty County High School, 4-year starter at point guard on the basketball team, 4-year All-District, 2007 All-State Honorable Mention, and a member of the National Honor Society, Metra received a 4-year athletic scholarship to the Georgia Institute of Technology.
While at Georgia Tech, Metra starred for 4 years at the Yellow Jackets point guard position, finishing in the top ten in several Lady Jackets categories, including 3rd in all-time games played, 5th in all-time assists, and 7th in all-time steals.
She earned All-ACC Tournament team honors in 2012 while leading the Jackets to their first ever appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16 and being a part of the senior class to set several Georgia Tech records, including most wins in a season (26), most ACC wins (12), and most overall career wins (97).
Metra graduated from Georgia Tech in 2012 and played for one year professionally in the Czech Republic and is now pursuing her master's degree at Georgia Tech.
Ernie Walthour
Inducted: 2010
2010 Coach
Many people recognize Ernie Walthour as founder of the Coastal Crew Rebels AAU basketball program and sports director for the St. James Center. But Walthour has done much more for the youth in Liberty County. Now he’s earned the honor of being inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame this year in the at-large category. Walthour graduated from BI in 1985 and went on to become the recreation assistant at Youth Services on Fort Stewart until 1996. During that time, he coached boys basketball at Youth Services, guiding teams to five straight championship titles. Walthour also volunteered at the Liberty County Recreation Department, where he announced the kids football games from 1985-2007. He also coached LCRD boys basketball teams to five championship titles. Seeing a need for more youth recreation, Walthour started a yearly event known as Summer Slam in 1989. The event began as a free basketball and softball tournament featuring local teams and has grown to offer local vendors and musicians a place to showcase their wares and talents. In 1993, Walthour founded the Coastal Crew Rebels AAU program, which has produced 42 college scholarship signings to date. Last year, the Rebels expanded their program to include girls teams in an effort to expand local athletes’ exposure to potential scouts and college recruiters. Walthour has always emphasized education before athletics and makes sure his student athletes attain good grades and pass all the required exams necessary to get into higher education programs. Walthour continues his association with the folks at Fort Stewart as head basketball coach for the Youth Challenge Academy, a role he has held since 1994. Under his leadership, the YCA basketball team has won seven national titles. In addition to the LCRD, Walthour aided the youth sports programs at the Liberty County Armed Services Family YMCA from 1999-2004. Walthour became the sports director for the St. James Sports Center in 1996 and continues to work in that capacity, serving the community of Holmestown with youth sports programs, after school programs and special events. He was selected by Savannah TV station WTOC as a Home Town Hero in 2006. In addition to running the center and AAU programs, Walthour has volunteered with the First Presbyterian Christian Academy Highlanders basketball program since 2005, seeing the team blossom and earn three straight Georgia Independent School Association state titles.
Kirk Warner
Inducted: 2025
2025 Coach
Kirk Warner was the head coach at Liberty County for 20 seasons, leading the Panthers to 11 state playoff berths and three region championships. He had more than 1,000 players during his tenure, including two – Raekwon McMillan and Richard LeCounte – who went to the NFL.
Off the field, Warner was active in the community and was a deacon at Emmanuel Christian Church for 10 years, assisting in a number of ministries, especially those for the underprivileged.
Warner also had been an assistant basketball coach. He came to Liberty County as an assistant football coach at Bradwell Institute and served as an assistant basketball coach. He later left to coach at his alma mater, Bleckley County, before being offered the head coaching spot at LCHS.
He led the Panthers to their first state playoff appearance in 2006. In 2016, he led the Panthers to a 11-2 record, the best in school history, and to the first of two consecutive appearances in the state quarterfinals.
Warner played tight end at the University of Georgia, playing in 42 games and catching 50 passes for his career, with an average of 14.7 yards per reception. He was a star athlete at Bleckley County High School, where he was named Class AA basketball player of the year as a senior. He was also an assistant coach on Liberty County High’s 2016 state championship basketball team.
He and his wife Kimberly had three sons – Kelzey, Kameron and Karrington.
Warren Washington
Inducted: 2000
2013 Player
Washington, a member of the Bradwell Institute Class of 1981, lettered in track and football all four years at Bradwell, where he was a defensive back for the 1979 undefeated football team and 1980 region 3-AAA championship-winning squad. Washington received numerous Coastal Empire Player-of-the-Week awards.
In track and field, Washington was second in the region high jump during his freshman season. As a sophomore, he finished second in the region long jump and was part of region-title-winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams his junior year. He conquered the same two relay races to win the championship in his senior year and also was region champ in the 200 yard dash.
At Savannah State, he played football under scholarship all four years, lettering each year and starting 44 games at defensive back. He was a team captain in his junior and senior seasons, averaged 10 tackles per game and was the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play-of-the-week multiple times during his freshman, sophomore and junior years.
Washington also lettered four years for the SSU track team. In his freshman year, he finished among the top three in the conference in the 100 run and among the top two in the 200 run. He was among the top three in the long jump, 100 and 200 yard dashes his sophomore year and placed among the top two in the Division II qualifier in the 200-yard-dash his junior and senior years.
Washington graduated SSU with a bachelors degree in sociology and psychology. He became an assistant track and field coach at Benedictine from 1989-91 and assistant track and field coach at St. Vincent's from 1990-91. He served as a church youth minister and was selected to coach international athletes training in the United States for the 1996 and 2000 Olympics.
Washington was employed as a Savannah police officer, had a federal assignment with the Drug Enforcement Agency and was a criminal justice instructor at Armstrong Atlantic State University. He also worked at Pitney Bowes and currently is employed as a major accounts manager with IKON in Atlanta.
George Waters
Inducted: 2024
2024 Player
George Waters was a star in the late 1960s for the Bradwell Institute Lions. A member of the class of 1971, Waters was a four-year letterman in football and a four-year starter for the Lions. He was named an honorable mention all-state Class A selection in 1968 and was named to the Class A all-state first team offensive line in 1970 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also named best defensive player. He attended Cumberland Law School at Samford University and was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1979. He lives in Richmond Hill, where he has his law practice.
James Watson, Jr.
Inducted: 2016
2017 Player
Jimbo was a 1980 graduate of BI and a stellar athlete earning nine varsity letters over his four-year high school career.
Watson was a three-year football letterman and hard-hitting linebacker who was the Captain of the 1979 sub-region champions that went 10-0 in the regular season.
Watson also received four varsity letters in tennis, leading the Tigers to the Region Championship in doubles and the State Quarterfinals in 1979.
Watson also earned two varsity letters in track, participating in the shotput and the 440 relay.
Watson walked onto the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) football team and earned a full scholarship after his first month on campus. He started three games as a freshman, was a full-time starter for 2+ year, a four-year letterman, and was Captain of the 1984 Conference Championship Team.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science & Public Administration from UTC in 1985.
He is the founder and CEO of HIP Brad Development, Inc. and resides in the Denver, Colorado area.
Rick Wege
Inducted: 2025
2025 Player
Rick Wege was a star on the soccer field from early on.
He played for the Hinesville Soccer Association’s Gators from the time he was 6 into high school, and joined the Savannah Wave traveling team. At Liberty County High School, he earned four varsity letters in soccer and was named all-region his junior and senior years. He also was named MVP as a junior and was a three-year team captain.
He scored 30 goals in an 11-game season during his senior year and finished his LCHS career with 64 goals, which then was the most goals in county history. He also led the region in points and goals.
He also lettered in baseball for four years and lettered in cross country as a sophomore and a senior, qualifying for the state meet as a sophomore. He also earned a letter in football and a letter in track.
Rick was named the Liberty County High School athlete of the year for 1999 and received the Golden Panther Award for excellence in academics and athletics.
He earned a soccer scholarship to University of South Carolina-Spartanburg, and the Rifles won two Peach Belt Conference championships in his time there. They also qualified for the NCAA Division II national tournament. Rick won the coaches award at the USCS athletic banquet for soccer and was awarded the USCS athletic player of the week. He also was on the dean’s list every semester.
After graduation, he moved to Australia in 2007 for his job and played club soccer there for several years until his cancer diagnosis and bravely battled the disease until his passing in December 2018 at just 38 years old.
Warnella Wilder
Inducted: 2023
2023 Player
Now the athletic director at Liberty County High School, Wilder was a standout athlete at Bradwell Institute. She played several sports but made her biggest impact in basketball. On the court, Wilder helped lead the Lady Tigers to the Class AAAA state runner-up finish in 1993 as a senior. She averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game her senior season. Wilder help guide the Lady Tigers to two region championships and she was a two-time first-team all-Region 3-AAAA selection. She was also a second-team all-region pick during her career. Wilder played varsity all four years and was a three-year starter in basketball. She was also a four-year varsity player and three-year starter in softball and lettered for four years in track, where she competed as a freshman in the state high jump and competed at the state meet in shot put and discus her junior and senior years. Wilder signed a basketball scholarship with Georgia College and State University. She redshirted her freshman season after a knee injury, a torn ACL, and returned to play all four years. She was named team captain as a junior and senior. After graduating with a degree in exercise science, Wilder served as an assistant coach at Bradwell in basketball and softball and she has been the athletic director at Liberty County High School for the last 16 years. She also has been a GHSA softball official for five years, a basketball official for 16 years and a baseball official for three years. She was selected to officiate four GHSA state championship basketball games and to officiate in two GACA all-star basketball games.
Donny Woods
Inducted: 2000
2013 Player
Donell “Donny” Woods Jr. graduated from Bradwell Institute in 1990 and went on to earn a BS in General Business and an MBA from Mercer University. He was a three year starter in basketball at Bradwell where he averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds a game as well as earning All Coastal Empire, All Region, and All Region Tournament Team as a senior while leading the team to the Region Championship. He was also the recipient of the Hokey Jackson Award in 1990. His accolades at Mercer University include being a starter in all 112 games of his career, 1991 TAAC Conference All Freshman Team, 1993 TAAC All Conference Defensive Team, 1994 Preseason TAAC All Conference, 1994 Academic All Conference, 6th all-time in steals, 5th all-time in blocked shots, and 6th all-time in field goal percentage.
Donell Woods
Inducted: 1976
2004 Coach
The late Donell Woods graduated from the old Liberty County High School in 1957 and received a BS degree from Savannah State College in 1961 and his Masters from Indiana University in 1972. He was one of Liberty County’s most respected and beloved high school coaches at both the old Liberty County High and Bradwell Institute.
Woods played varsity basketball at the old LCHS from 1954-1958 and played basketball at Savannah State College from 1958-1961 before returning to his alma mater to coach football from 1962-1972.
When the old LCHS was integrated with Bradwell Institute, Woods became basketball coach at Bradwell Institute and coached the Tigers until his death in 1980. He also served as defensive coordinator for Bradwell’s football team in 1979, when the Tigers went 10-0 during the regular season.
Woods was an official for the Hinesville Officials Association from 1972-1980 and earned several honors, including HOA Official of the Year. He also was a member of the Allenhurst Blue Devils baseball team. The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association named Woods Coach of the Year in 1974-75. The Donell Woods Memorial Tournament is played every year at Bradwell Institute in honor of Woods legacy. It is the only postseason tournament for sub-varsity teams in the area, and annually draws teams from around the Coastal Empire.
2016 Boys Basketball Team
Inducted: 2023
2016 Team
The Liberty County High School 2016 AAAA State Champion Boys basketball team was an exciting team to watch filling up every gym and arena they played in. They beat 2-time state champion Jonesboro 58-52 to claim the school's first state championship in school history. Averaging 78 points a game, the team finished with a 28-1 record only losing in a triple overtime game by 1 point. The team was coached by Julian Stokes in his first year at the helm and assisted by TyRedmon and Kirk Warner. Players that led the team include Davion Mitchell, Richard LcCounte, Will Richardson, Jaalon Frazier, Tyriq Reece, Tyreon Freeman, Jishaun Harris, Comer Kite, Tracy White, Tyler Thomas, Charell Roberts, Antonio Roberts. The Managers were Mi'Angel Wallace, Olivia Wallace, De'jah Smith and Jarquel Richardson. Camera work was done by Trayvon Munjim and Josh Washington.
FPCA
Inducted: 2024
2024 Team
The First Presbyterian Christian Academy boys basketball team made it two in a row with their 2010 GISA Class A state championship. And for the second year in a row, the Highlanders topped Bethesda to win the title. Senior A.J. Ansley and juniors Jordan Johnson and D.J. Felder were named to the GISA Class A all-state team and coach David Jones was named Class A coach of the year. Ansley, Johnson, Felder and seniors Hakeem Golden and Michael Brown were named to the all-Region 2A team. Brown and Ansley also were chosen for the Team Georgia Class A-AA All-Stars, along with Coach Jones and Coach David Linderman.FPCA beat Praise 94-28 in the first round of the state tournament and then beat Terrell Academy 64-39. The Highlanders beat Oak Mountain 60-50 in the semifinals and topped Bethesda 55-46 in the championship game. Bethesda handed FPCA one of its only two losses in the regular season. FPCA finished 26-2 and topped the 100-point mark in three games. Their two losses each came by two points, and their average margin of victory in their 26 wins was 38 points per game.