Six former outstanding local athletes were recently elected by the Waycross-Ware County Sports Hall of Fame (SHOF) Board of Directors to take their place of honor among the other 213 individuals chosen over the past 39 years.
The 40th Hall of Fame Class includes basketball greats Willie “Bill” Cobb, Debbie Nugent Taylor, and Erin Ethridge Harvey, who also was an accomplished track athlete. Also selected were two of Ware County’s greatest coaches in Fred Willocks and former WCHS Athletic Director and Coach David Shields. Legendary track superstar Jerry Paulk will be honored posthumously.
“The Board of Directors did an outstanding job this year and we’re looking forward to inducting this amazing group into the Hall of Fame,” SHOF president Tony Tanner said. “It’s an extraordinary class of great athletes and amazing coaches.”
The class will be honored during the 40th annual Waycross-Ware County Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet at 7 p.m. March 27 at the Waycross City Auditorium.
Banquet tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through Friday March 20 at Prime South Bank, 530 Memorial Drive.
The banquet is open to the public. “We invite the public to join us for a great meal, a night of reminiscing with old friends, and most importantly a night of celebration honoring the inductees athletic accomplishments,” Tanner said. “It’s always a delight to hear from each of them during their acceptance remarks. You never know what they might say, but based on previous years, we will likely be treated to a bit of reminiscing that takes us back to the day.”
