Special to the WJH
In 1964, Center High School introduced a new sport — track and field. That same year, the program quickly produced its first standout athlete when junior Jerry Paulk emerged as one of the state’s most talented distance runners.
As a member of the inaugural track team at Center High School, Paulk helped establish a program that was still finding its footing in Waycross athletics. Under the leadership of coach Alvin Poller, Paulk wasted no time making an impact.
During his first season competing in track, Paulk captured the Class A state title in the one-mile event. His remarkable performance helped make Center High’s new track program the talk of the state in distance running.
In many ways, Paulk became the flame that lit the fire for the strong track tradition that would follow at Center High School. At a time when distance running programs were still developing across Georgia high schools, Paulk’s success quickly placed Center High on the map among the state’s competitive track programs.
The following year, under the guidance of coach Manuel Rivas, now a Hall of Fame honoree himself, Paulk continued to build on that success. Center High had moved up to compete in Class AA, but the higher classification proved to be no obstacle.
At the Class AA state meet in 1965, Paulk captured state titles in the twomile event and finished second in the one-mile race. With those performances, he accomplished a rare feat, winning individual state titles in two different classifications — Class A and Class AA — during his short two-year high school track career.
This distinction made him one of the few athletes of his era to achieve state championship success while competing against two different levels of competition.
Paulk’s success earned him a fouryear scholarship to Florida A&M University. The scholarship was reputed to be the largest awarded to the graduating class of 1965 at Center High School, even surpassing academic scholarships.
For a young athlete from Waycross during that time period, such an opportunity represented both athletic recognition and the promise of higher education through sport. At Florida A&M, Paulk continued his impressive running career. As a freshman competing in the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), he placed first in the two-mile event, second in the mile, and third in the 880-yard race. During his sophomore season, he again excelled winning both the one-mile and two-mile events at the conference meet. His performances at Florida A&M confirmed that the success he achieved at Center High School translated to the collegiate level as well.
Paulk’s collegiate running career concluded after his sophomore year when he left Florida A&M to begin his family life. He later moved to Miami, where he worked and raised his family while remaining connected to the sport he loved, even helping coach his son to an impressive high school record of accomplishment in track and field.
Paulk passed away on October 19, 2023. He leaves behind daughters Larhonda Deveaux and Jerrie Paulk (deceased), sons Marcus and Damon Paulk, his brother Kenneth Paulk, and two sisters, Julia Paulk Glover and Jackie Paulk.
Paulk’s achievements helped establish Center High School’s track program and remain an important part of Ware County’s proud athletic history. His accomplishments represent an important chapter in the early development of competitive track and field in Waycross and Ware County.
