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STAFF REPORT
Wayne County’s high schools have fielded many fine football teams over the years.
However, much of Wayne County’s football lore stems from the weekend of Dec. 11-12, 1959, when Jesup High School won a state AA title on Friday night and then Wayne County Training School followed with a state B title on Saturday night. Both games were played at Jaycee Stadium.
The two teams will be honored Aug. 3 at Wayne County High as they are inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame.
The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. in the commons area and is sponsored by the Wayne County Touchdown Club and the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame. The event is open to the public and is free. It is in partnership with the annual Touchdown Club’s barbecue to kickoff the upcoming high school football season.
“It has been several years since we have had an induction banquet,” said Eric Denty, president of the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame. “Before we took a break, we decided we wanted to honor these two teams. We appreciate Ray Davidson and the Touchdown Club’s willingness to let us piggyback on their barbecue. When you think about it, it’s the perfect way to honor these two teams and hopefully to inspire the current players with what these two high school football teams did for the community at the time.”
Denty added that the Hall of Fame is still trying to notify members of both teams. According to news reports and yearbooks, the following are members of the team.
“We are asking that the community spread the word to their friends and family,” he said. “We would like as many to attend as they can,” said Denty.
Members of the Wayne County Training School team included Walter Myles, Don Jackson, Charles Hines, Willie Holmes, Otis Sapp, Willie Earl Johnson, Ulysess Moses, B. Stephens, Leavon Collins, Edward Lee Brown, Simon Holmes, F. Moses, Nathaniel Greene, R. Bryant, Willie Lovett, Allen Scott, Paul Trammel, Tommie Reddish, Herman Latson, Earl Carter, Alfred Kincy, John L. Flowers, Charles Walker, Pete Adams, Dave Walker, Johnnie Carter, Tommie Gaines, Leon Carter, Felton Dickens, Jerry Jones and Joseph Wilcox. The coaches were Arthur Williams, T.J. Toney and Curtis Moreland.
Members of the Jesup High School team included Harry Thompson, Lloyd Anderson, Melvin Gordon, Brooks Purvis, David Conner, Loren Strickland, Jerry Joyner, Kenny Cowart, Mike Priester, Billy Clanton, David Wherry, Bobby Waters, Fred Fender, Wyman Westberry, Marty Fender, Lewis White, Jimmy Parrish, Rodney Kicklighter, Joe Fry, Len Hauss, Eddie Norris, Doyle Watson, Billy Richardson, Raymond Ogden, Jerry Grover, Henry Strickland, Warren Purvis, Tommy Strickland, Richard Harper, Gerald Woods, Jim Buie, Jack Richardson, Hank Waters, Bobby Bailey, Dean Thompson and Van Joyner. The coaches were John Donaldson, Clint Madray, Cecil Reddish and Frank Hammond. The trainers were Kenny Westberry, Phil Hope and John Atkinson.
Courtesy of The Press Sentinel
However, much of Wayne County’s football lore stems from the weekend of Dec. 11-12, 1959, when Jesup High School won a state AA title on Friday night and then Wayne County Training School followed with a state B title on Saturday night. Both games were played at Jaycee Stadium.
The two teams will be honored Aug. 3 at Wayne County High as they are inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame.
The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. in the commons area and is sponsored by the Wayne County Touchdown Club and the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame. The event is open to the public and is free. It is in partnership with the annual Touchdown Club’s barbecue to kickoff the upcoming high school football season.
Denty added that the Hall of Fame is still trying to notify members of both teams. According to news reports and yearbooks, the following are members of the team.
“We are asking that the community spread the word to their friends and family,” he said. “We would like as many to attend as they can,” said Denty.
Members of the Wayne County Training School team included Walter Myles, Don Jackson, Charles Hines, Willie Holmes, Otis Sapp, Willie Earl Johnson, Ulysess Moses, B. Stephens, Leavon Collins, Edward Lee Brown, Simon Holmes, F. Moses, Nathaniel Greene, R. Bryant, Willie Lovett, Allen Scott, Paul Trammel, Tommie Reddish, Herman Latson, Earl Carter, Alfred Kincy, John L. Flowers, Charles Walker, Pete Adams, Dave Walker, Johnnie Carter, Tommie Gaines, Leon Carter, Felton Dickens, Jerry Jones and Joseph Wilcox. The coaches were Arthur Williams, T.J. Toney and Curtis Moreland.
Members of the Jesup High School team included Harry Thompson, Lloyd Anderson, Melvin Gordon, Brooks Purvis, David Conner, Loren Strickland, Jerry Joyner, Kenny Cowart, Mike Priester, Billy Clanton, David Wherry, Bobby Waters, Fred Fender, Wyman Westberry, Marty Fender, Lewis White, Jimmy Parrish, Rodney Kicklighter, Joe Fry, Len Hauss, Eddie Norris, Doyle Watson, Billy Richardson, Raymond Ogden, Jerry Grover, Henry Strickland, Warren Purvis, Tommy Strickland, Richard Harper, Gerald Woods, Jim Buie, Jack Richardson, Hank Waters, Bobby Bailey, Dean Thompson and Van Joyner. The coaches were John Donaldson, Clint Madray, Cecil Reddish and Frank Hammond. The trainers were Kenny Westberry, Phil Hope and John Atkinson.
Courtesy of The Press Sentinel
