CLASS OF 1961
GEORGE GARDNER
George Gardner was an Atlanta native and a prominent figure in sports in the state of Georgia for a better part of the 20th Century. He was a Georgia Tech football letterman from 1921 to 1924 and Team Captain in ’24. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1925. He officiated high school and SEC football from 1925 to 1973 and was a consultant on officiating for the Commissioner of the SEC from 1973 to 1981. He was a founder and past president of the Atlanta Touchdown Club. He was a member of the Georgia Tech and the National College Football halls of fame.
THOMAS GREENE
Tom Greene is considered one of the greatest lineman to ever play at Macon’s Lanier High School. He went on to the University of Georgia where he lettered three seasons in 1939, 1940 and 1941. He played all three of his varsity seasons for coach Wally Butts (his first three seasons at the school). The 1941 team finished 9-1-1, beating TCU in the Orange Bowl. Greene was also on the varsity track team being named All-SEC and honorable mention All-American. He is a past president of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame serving from 1971 to 1973.
OLIVER HUNNICUTT
Oliver Hunnicutt played football at Lanier High School in Macon and then went on to attend prep school at Brewton Parker Institute until 1936. He attended the University of Georgia where he ran track and played halfback for the Bulldogs. After graduating UGA, his coaching career began in 1941 when he served as head coach at Gainesville High School. In 1942, he moved to LaGrange, and became head coach and Athletic Director at LaGrange High before leaving for three years to serve in World War II. From 1943-1945. But in 1945, he returned and achieved an impressive record coaching the Grangers during a 28 year coaching career. He led the team to two state championships in 1955 and 1958. He retired from LaGrange High with a record of 187 wins, 96 losses, and 19 ties.
THOMAS PARIS, SR.
Thomas Paris Sr. was from Gainesville where he was an outstanding athlete for Gainesville High School. As the quarterback on the football team from 1923 to 1925, he led the Red Elephants to a 29-0 record. With Paris at quarterback, Gainesville would win three straight North Georgia titles, during a time when there was not a state championship game. He also excelled in basketball, baseball, and track, finishing his high school career with an amazing 16 varsity letters. Paris went on to the University of Georgia where he played football for four years. His greatest moment as the collegiate quarterback was leading the Bulldogs to an upset win over highly favored Yale in 1929 before a then-record Sanford Stadium crowd of 33,000. After college, he came back Gainesville where he was a successful businessman and community leader. He served many years on the UGA Athletic Board.
ALFRED SCOTT
Alfred Scott, a Macon native was considered one of the state’s best high school athletes when he played at Boys High School in Atlanta. He lettered in football basketball and track. He captained the 1918 University of Georgia basketball team as a center. On January 12, 1918, Scott served as both player and coach when his Bulldogs routed Southeastern Christian College 122-2 in a gymnasium that is now used as the Memorial Hall ballroom. Scott’s 62 points in the game have yet to be surpassed by any basketball player to play for the Bulldogs in more than a century. Alfred was a member of the SEC executive committee from 1956-1958.
KIMSEY STEWART
Kimsey Stewart was a native of Ashburn and was one of the winningest coaches of his era in Georgia high school football. Starting at LaGrange High School in 1943, his team captured the North Georgia Championship. He claimed Region 4A Titles while coaching at Spalding High School from 1948-1952. Stewart was head coach at Griffin from 1953-1955 highlighted by his ’53 team that went 8-2. Stewart also spent time at Americus High School and at Georgia Military College. His career coaching record was an impressive 125-38-5 mark.