Four athletes who once blazed trails across the Okefenokee area landscape, along with a pair of coaches turned administrators who left their marks, were honored Friday night during the 40th annual Waycross-Ware County Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet.
A large gathering of family, friends, classmates and coaches were in attendance at the special event held March 27 at the C.C. McCray City Auditorium.
The Class of 2026 included Willie F. “Bill” Cobb, Jr. (Waycross High School), Dr. Erin Ethridge Harvey (Ware County High School), the late Jerry Paulk (Center High School), Debbie Neugent Taylor (Ware County High School), coaches/athletic directors David Shields and Fred Willocks.
Bruce Tison’s committment to community service was recognized with the F.J. Beverly Beacon of Light Award.
Ware County seniors Cayden Smith and Matthew Davis were the recipients of the Mickey Rigsby Scholar Athletes awards given each year to a female and male athlete at WCHS. Smith and Davis will receive their scholarships Tuesday, May 19 during Honors Night at Ware County High School.
The Hall of Fame also paid tribute to Coach E.B. Price, a 2001 Hall inductee who passed February 9, 2026, and former board member Ernest Lattimore, who passed away March 14, 2026.
The Hall of Fame recognized two board members who’ve stepped down because of health issues — Hank Aldrich, who was in attendance, and Jay Boyd.
President Tony Tanner welcomed everyone with the Rev. Travis Peavey, Chaplain at Alma Church of God, blessing the food.
Following the meal, Brian Blount read the bio information before each of the seven honorees came to the stage to accept their plaques.
Cobb was the first inductee of the night. He is both a former rec league and eventually a Waycross High standout, who went on to play collegiately at Savannah State College.
He continues to mentor youth and give back to the communities he lives in.
“This is a priviledge and honor to receive this prestigious honor and join this fraternity,” said Cobb, who offered stories bringing laughter to the crowd. “I want to thank everyone.”
Dr. Harvey, who played basketball for the Lady Gators, overcame injuries (ACLs) in high school to play collegiately at Southern Union State Community College (JuCo) before finishing at Alabama State University.
“I would like to thank the committee for this honor and my family for their support through the years,” she said. “I want to thank God, especially. I never imagined this would happen.
“It’s because of my mom (Juanita Ethridge) and dad (the late Lawrence Ethridge) who instilled working hard which afforded me what I was able to accomplish.”
Paulk, who passed away October 19, 2023 at the age of 76, was the first track star at Center High in the 1960s leading to a scholarship at Florida A&M. His son, Marcus Paulk, and daughter, Larhonda Deveaux, accepted the plaque.
“This is an incredible honor for our father,” said his son. “He would be honored. Thank you, the Hall of Fame, for the recognition.”
Shields was recognized for what he did after college with coaching stops at Elbert County, Lincoln County, Georgia Southern and Bulloch Academy, before returning home to Ware County in 2004. He was recognized through the years with various awards and many after becoming athletic director during a 36-year career.
“Bill (Cobb) is the best player I have ever seen,” Shields of his inductee honoree. “I am humbled by this honor and it’s not one I take lightly. The coaches who coached me taught character. I want to thank my fellow Class of 1980 teammates here tonight. It’s not about me, but us.
“I also want to thank my wife, Sophie, my son, Trey, and my daughter, Jessica Shields Tipton. I missed a lot of years of your lives living out what I wanted to do.”
Taylor, a star Gatorette in the early 1970s, has taken the coaching she received and worked with youth in the recreation program serving as a coach.
“My coaches taught us discipline, teamwork and to always hustle,” she said. “What we accomplished as players was because we were like a family. I learned early coaching youth can make a difference.”
Willocks made the longest journey traveling back to Ware County from his home in Tennessee.
“I’m glad to be here,” he said. “This is a great honor that I’ll share with my friends back in Tennessee. They’ll be happy.”
Willocks spoke of faith, family, football, other sports and fishing. He thanked his wife, Barbara, for their marriage and moving with him from stop to stop.
“We moved our mobile home five times,” he said.
Willocks, who served as athletic director for the middle school programs after the merger, was credited with starting a weightlifting program at Ware County High School in 1973.
“The railroad helped us by welding plates so we could have weights to lift,” he said. “From that point forth we became a stronger team.”
Tison has been involved in community activities since returning to Ware County after his graduation from Valdosta State.
“Being last I have to be the fastest,” he quipped. “I’m honored to receive this award. I also would like to congratulate all of the inductees.
“If I can walk down Rev. Beverly’s path then I will be happy. I didn’t know him, but from what I’ve heard he was a tremendous man.”
