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Charles ‘Babe’ Howell

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Charles Babe HowellPix 1A brief glance at the coaching resume of Charles ‘Babe’ Howell will tell the most casual observer that his was an exceptional career. A Hall of Fame worthy career. In fact, prior to this year Babe was inducted into eleven different athletic and education Halls of Fame in Georgia and North Carolina. His selection to the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame makes twelve.

Babe had a 44-year career in athletics, 39 of those in coaching. As a baseball coach, he and his teams won 628 games. As a football coach, his victory total is 301 games. That means that on 929 occasions Babe Howell and his athletic teams left the field of battle bathed in the sweet sense of victory. Not many athletes or coaches have experienced that level of success.

Along the way, his teams at Sylva-Webster High School, now Smoky Mountain High School, won seven North Carolina state championships, five in football and two in baseball. In 1973-74 both his football and baseball teams won state titles. He retired in 1997 as the winningest high school football and baseball coach in North Carolina history.

It was at East Fannin High School, however, that Babe Howell began his coaching odyssey. He came to the school in the autumn of 1956 and stayed on to guide the Wildcats football squads for four seasons. He also coached the boys basketball team for one season.

Four seasons does not sound like a lot, but it was during the four-year tenure of Babe Howell that East Fannin High School football reached its zenith of success. The school fielded 20 football teams between 1956 and 1976 when East and West Fannin were consolidated into the new Fannin County High School. Throughout those years, East Fannin was only able to win a total of 33 football games. 16, or roughly half, of those victories came when Babe Howell was leading the teams. His 1958 and 1959 teams posted an aggregate record of 13-4-2 and won two class 4C sub-region titles. The 1958 team finished at 8-2, which was the best season record for any football team in Fannin County until 1991.

Babe Howell was born in Monroe, North Carolina in 1928. He left home at the age of 17 to join the war effort. He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1949. It was in the Navy that Babe was first introduced to organized football. After his discharge, he returned home and played on a high school championship team. He was also a standout baseball pitcher. His athletic prowess gained him a scholarship to Western Carolina College where he competed for four seasons. His high school coach, Jim Gudger, also moved from Monroe to Western Carolina at the same time and Babe considered Gudger as his greatest mentor in life.

Babe’s goal was a career in coaching and he signed on as an assistant at Sylva-Webster after graduation from Western Carolina. Shortly thereafter he moved on to Morganton and the challenge of coaching a small group of boys who had never played the game of football before. He faced a daunting task. He was met by 20 or so young men who wanted to try their luck at the game of football. Most of the boys weighed in at 120 pounds or less. Also, the school initially did not even have a football field upon which to practice and play games.

Ben Smith, one of Coach Howell’s first team members recalls that “the first time we met him was in August, 1956 at the hay field near Ralston’s Sawmill on Highway 76 near the Union County line”. It was on this hay field that Howell began his efforts at putting together a football team. An acceptable field was not ready that first season of 1956 so the Wildcats played all of their games on the road. The closest thing to a home game came in the season finale against Sprayberry High School in a game played at the West Fannin field across the county. The only victory that season was over White County, another school that had recently started a football program.

By 1958, Coach Howell had put together the finest team that would ever don East Fannin uniforms. He did have some talent with which to work. One of his players, junior end Aldon Farmer made the Georgia Class C All-State team that season. Farmer, along with running back David Turner, also a junior in 1958, would make the All-State team again in 1959. Those were the halcyon days of football at East Fannin.

In talking with men who played for Coach Howell the two words that seem to recur are ‘teacher’ and ‘respect’. Babe was not a ‘rah’ ‘rah’ type coach and he was not prone to fits of screaming at players who made mistakes. He was a very effective teacher who treated his players with respect and who, in turn earned the respect of his players. He believed in conditioning and preparation. He seemed to be able to get the very best that his players had to offer. Again, to quote Ben Smith, “Coach Howell knew what he was doing”.

Perhaps the best example of Babe Howell’s character came during the last two months of his life. The fledgling Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame selected its inaugural class of inductees in 2012 and honored those inductees at a banquet in April, 2013. Two of the inductees, Aldon Farmer and David Turner, played for Coach Howell at East Fannin some 55 years previously. Babe Howell, and several members of his family, wanted to show his respect and affection for his two ‘boys’ so he made the trek to Blue Ridge to be there when they were honored by their home county. Babe was obviously proud that evening and was beaming as a number of his former players gathered around his table.

Less than a month after that banquet, Babe Howell passed away in Asheville, North Carolina at the age of 84. He was quite a man who was devoted to his players, friends and family. He made a deeply positive impact on many lives and the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame is fortunate to have such a man as a member.

 

Garry Patterson

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Garry Patterson 1Garry Patterson

Garry Patterson has been elected to the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame class of 2016.

Garry began his sports career with a couple of advantages over the other boys in Fannin

County. First, he experienced the inevitable growth spurt in youngsters very early in life. As a result, when he entered Epworth Elementary School in the fall of 1962, he was a head or more taller than all of the other kids. Second and more importantly, his athletic skills were considerably more proficient than those of his contemporaries. Garry was not big and clumsy, Garry was big, strong, agile and fast.

Garry was a dominant force in local athletics during his grade school years. He was a perennial winner in the local punt, pass and kick contests and the best player around in the Dixie League baseball competition. He gained local and area notoriety as an 11 year old in 1967 when he pitched a perfect game for his American League all-star team against the Copper Basin National League all-star team in a tournament in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Lots of other boys caught up with Garry in size by the time high school rolled around. Garry stabilized at about 6’ 2”, 185 pounds making him a shade above average in the size department. His athletic skills, however, continued to outpace most of the other kids against whom he competed at West Fannin High School. He capped his first year of high school athletics with an outstanding performance in the Region 6A West basketball tournament held at Murray County High School in Chatsworth in February, 1971. Garry was named to the all-tournament team and as the Most Valuable Player in the tourney, leading the Yellow Jackets to a 54-51 victory over homestanding Murray County in the championship game.

Injuries plagued Garry during the remainder of his career at West Fannin. He suffered a broken ankle in a football game vs Pickens County in 1971 and also suffered a rotator cuff tear. Undaunted, he persevered and continued to shine in athletics. His basketball teams at West Fannin posted a 75-24 record during his four years, including a sterling mark of 22-2 in his junior season of 1972-73. Garry was the leading scorer for that team with an average of 15.75 points per game. His classmates recognized his abilities and voted Garry as the Most Athletic senior boy in 1974.

As high school graduation approached, Garry knew that he wanted to continue to compete in athletics. Several possibilities were available to him. He attended an Atlanta Braves tryout camp in Gainesville. His rotator cuff injury had taken its toll, however, and Garry had lost an estimated 10 mph from his once dominating fast ball. He was not offered a contract by the Braves so then Garry’s search began for a college to attend. T.J. Thompson, one of Garry’s high school coaches, felt that he was good enough to play basketball at the college level, so he arranged for Garry to try out for the Lagrange College team. Garry was offered a full basketball scholarship and the most productive chapter of his athletic career began at Lagrange.

Garry Patterson was a 4-year basketball starting guard at Lagrange College. He played in 122 games and scored 1,095 points during his career, ranking him 7th on the school’s all-time scoring list when he graduated. He ranked 12th nationally in free throw shooting during his senior year, hitting 85% from the foul line. He led the team in scoring as a senior averaging 12.9 points per game and was named to both the GIAC All-Conference and to the NAIA All-District teams. He received the Delma Fowler Alumni Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior.

Garry also won four letters in tennis while at Lagrange. He had taken lessons and played as much as possible growing up in Epworth at the Sugar Creek Tennis Courts. He was active in campus affairs and was named as one of the school’s Outstanding Seniors in his final year there. His athletic accomplishments resulted in Garry Patterson’s election to the Lagrange College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Local sports observers, coaches and players, are quick to say that Garry Patterson was one of the most talented natural athletes in the history of Fannin County and the Copper Basin area. His natural talent was so dominant in athletics that was able to succeed without always bringing his ‘A’ game to the table. Garry himself admits that from his earliest recollections, he had a ‘knack’ for athletics. Achieving excellence at the college level was another matter entirely. The competition was tough and mental and physical preparation was necessary to excel. Garry was pushed to succeed at that level and he responded with a Hall of Fame worthy career.

Garry graduated from Lagrange College in 1978 with a degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Business. Initially his goal was a career in coaching. He began that career at West Point, Georgia High School serving as head baseball coach, assistant football coach and as a mathematics teacher. After a year at West Point, he returned home to coach and teach at Fannin County High School. It was at Fannin County High that Garry met his wife, Pam. They tied the knot in 1982 and remain happily married 33 years later.

After coaching for 10 years or so, Garry and Pam recognized that the demands of the coaching profession made achieving a normal family life difficult at best. Garry went back to school and earned his Master’s degree from the University of Georgia in 1994. He graduated with a degree in Instructional Technology and soon began his career as a Library Media Specialist. He and Pam settled in the community of Ball Ground, in Cherokee County and began raising their two children, Timothy and Laura.

Both of the Patterson offspring are grown now and Garry retired a couple of years ago. He and Pam stay busy traveling, walking and enjoying the outdoors. Garry was a formidable amateur tennis player for years, but gave up the game a while back. He now stays fit and trim with hiking and lifting weights three times per week. Garry Patterson looks as though he could lead a fast break as he nears the landmark age of 60.

Casey Willis

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Casey Willis 1Casey Willis

Casey Willis has loved the game of basketball for as long as he can remember. When he was a youth, his idol was Pistol Pete Maravich. He tried to pattern his game after that of the flamboyant Maravich, which gives you some idea of the kind of player Casey became. He loved the no look passes, behind the back dribbles and overall arsenal of basketball wizardry that defined the game of Pistol Pete.

When he was a 5th grader, Casey attended a basketball camp at the University of Tennessee. He had this to say about his time at the camp: “Instead of shooting, I spent all my time practicing my dribbling”. Fred Jenkins, an ex-Vol guard and coach at the camp had this to say about Casey: “My favorite camper. Very good and advanced player for his age. Excellent in all phases of the game”.

As his ball handling skills developed, Casey also found that he had exceptional leaping ability. Although his height topped out at around 6 feet, Casey became known around the area for his ability to dunk the basketball with relative ease and lots of style. The final piece of the hardcourt puzzle, the ability to shoot the basketball, came with hard work and Casey finished his high school career with a shooting percentage of 46%, not bad considering that many of his shots were from 3-point range.

Casey Willis got a late start in his basketball career at Fannin County High School. Two injuries, first a broken arm and then a broken ankle sidelined him during his freshman and sophomore seasons. He made up for lost time during his last two seasons, 1993-94 and 1994-95. As a junior, Casey was selected as the team Playmaker of the Year and then as a senior he was elected the FCHS boys basketball team Most Valuable Player.

Casey averaged 21 points, five assists and four steals in 1994-95. For his two-year high school career, he scored 675 points for an average of more than 15 points per game. He was selected to the Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club Team of the Year in 1994-95 and was also selected as the club’s Player of the Year for that season.

Media praise for Casey’s performances at Fannin County could fill a large book. A typical description of his skills came in the News Observer after the Rebels defeated Hiwassee Dam, a team that entered the contest with a perfect 19-0 record. The Eagles returned to North Carolina with a 19-1 mark as Casey Willis and his teammates recorded an 84-64 victory in their regular season finale. The News Observer described the happenings thusly: “FCHS senior Casey Willis bounced off walls, the floor, and anything else near the basketball court as he slammed his way to a whopping 27 points. Willis’ two dunks were the most electrifying, energetic and powerful of his career. There was no doubt that Willis ruled the floor Friday night”.

While at Fannin County High, Casey also found time to win varsity letters in cross country and tennis.

Following his high school graduation, Casey accepted a full scholarship to continue his basketball career with the University of North Alabama Lions in Florence, Alabama. Casey played at North Alabama from 1995-2000 and earned four varsity letters. He was the team captain in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. He was selected as the team Playmaker of the Year in 1999-2000.

Casey’s dazzling Maravich-like play continued throughout his career at North Alabama. Another newspaper quote, this time from the Huntsville Times probably describes the play of Casey Willis in college best. The January 23, 1998 Times had this to say about Casey’s performance in a game played in a hostile environment at Alabama A&M: “Alabama A&M won the basketball game but Casey Willis won the fans. He beat the press with dazzling spin-move dribbles. He threw look-off passes, blind passes, behind-the-back passes. He nailed 3s. He skied for rebounds. He drove recklessly to the basket. He sprawled face-first on the floor for loose balls. Once he even flashed the ‘raise the roof’ signal, pushing his uplifted palms toward the ceiling. The crowd loved it. The raucous fans in the ‘Dawg Pound’, the A&M student section in the end zone behind the goal on the south end of the gym, were cheering and high-fiving his every move. Casey was The Man”.

Toward the end of his college career, Casey made a non-basketball move that continues to drive his life today. He describes himself as being ‘off the chain’ until his conversion to Christianity in 1999. He devoted the first 10 years or so of his life after college to his work with Campus Outreach first at Georgetown, Kentucky College and then at the University of Kentucky. In that endeavor he shared his faith with others through evangelism and discipleship in a higher education environment.

Casey also found time to get married and raise a family. He has been married for 11 years now. His wife is Erica and the Willis family now includes four children, one boy, Reed, and three girls, Emory Claire, Mary Etta and Maggie.

Casey Willis and his family make their home in Lexington, Kentucky where Casey is currently employed by UTG Timberland Acquisition, a faith-based company that buys and sells large tracts of timber land around the country. Casey points out that his company donates 10% of its earnings to a variety of worthy causes. Casey spends most of his work time travelling around the country looking for tracts to purchase.

Casey Willis is another outstanding Fannin County athlete who is also the personification of the term ‘solid citizen’. The Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to call him a member.

 

1998-99 FANNIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

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1998-99 FANNIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

Amy Bundy Hightower, Melissa Flowers, Tina Grice Bath, Jessica Holloway, Crystal Jeffers Greer, Christy Kay, Leah Nelson, Amanda Newton, Rachael Nicholson Collis, Stacy Parris, Roxie Reed Trovato, Leslie Taylor Riddoch, Jamie Thomas, Cindy Williams, Melissa  Weeks (Mgr.)  and Betty Jean Raper Jones  (Mgr.).

-Won the Region 7AA Championship.

-Won the Georgia State girls basketball class AA Championship with a record of 29 wins and 1 loss.

-Had a regular season record of 24-1 and defeated Monroe Area, St. Pius X, Westminster, Dodge County and Putnam County (81-64) in State Tournament play to win the title. Smallest margin of victory in the State Tournament was 15 points.
When they won the 1998-99 Georgia Class AA girls state basketball championship, it was a fitting way for Fannin County High School’s Lady Rebels to conclude a spectacular four-year run of success. It is also fitting that 15 years later, the team will be inducted into the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame’s class of 2015.

That team was Fannin’s second state champion of the decade, following the 1992-93 team that was inducted into the hall of fame last year. Those remain the only two team state championships in the history of Fannin sports. While the 1998-99 team had to wait until after their predecessor to join the hall in this year’s class, their credentials take a back seat to no one.

Both teams were coached by Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame member Johnny Farmer, who was in his19th season with the Lady Rebels when they won his second title in 1999. Long-time Fannin teacher and athletic director Eddie Payne was the assistant coach on the 1998-99 team.

If the first title hadn’t already achieved Farmer’s goal of “putting Fannin County on the map,” the ‘98-99 team left no doubt about where the capital of Georgia basketball was located.

The ‘98-99 team posted a school record for victories with their 29-1 mark. The only blemish on the season was a 64-60 loss to Pickens in the seventh game of the year. Even then, the state’s second-ranked Dragonettes barely escaped with the win despite holding a 19-point lead with four minutes left in the game. Fannin rallied to get within eight points at the 1:33 mark, and they missed on two chances to tie the game in the final seconds.

The Lady Rebels went on to win their next 23 games in a row, culminating with an 81-64 victory over Putnam County in the state championship game at the Macon Convention Center. Along the way, the Lady Rebels avenged their lone defeat to rival Pickens twice, once in a regular season overtime rematch and then with a 70-61 decision in the Region 7-AA championship game.

The region title was the third one in four years earned by the seniors on that squad. The five seniors on that team, Stacy Parris, Melissa Flowers, Leah Nelson, Roxie Reed and Tina Grice, were part of an incredible four-year run that saw them post an overall record of 103 wins and nine losses, a winning clip of 92 percent.

Parris led the 98-99 Lady Rebels in scoring with 18.5 points per game, and she had a career-high 40 points in the championship game against Putnam County.  Parris will also be one of the 12 individual inductees at the Hall of Fame’s 2015 banquet in April.

Flowers averaged 12 points per game and her deadly outside shooting was a key part of the Lady Rebels’ balanced attack. She had six 3-pointers and 24 points in the team’s 68-52 win over Monroe Area in the first round of the state playoffs.

Reed was the team’s starting point guard, and she finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in assists after averaging 12 per game in the ‘98-99 season.

Nelson returned from a knee injury for her senior season, and the defensive specialist was an essential component of the Lady Rebels’ success.

Grice was the team’s most physical player, and the power forward led the team with 10 rebounds per game and was second in scoring with 15 points per game.

Junior Cindy Williams was the “sixth man” and filled in ably for inside players Nelson and Grice. She made especially critical contributions in the state title game when early foul trouble hampered the two senior starters.

Junior Amanda Newton was a key reserve at guard for the Lady Rebels, giving quality minutes while running the offense in relief of Reed or Flowers.

Other key components for the championship squad were Christy Kay, Crystal Jeffers, Jessica Holloway, Amy Bundy, Jamie Thomas, Leslie Taylor and Rachael Nicholson.

The team and the rest of the 2015 class will be officially inducted at the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame’s banquet in April.

98-99 Girls Basketball Team Bio

Video at FCHS HOF Game

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98-99 Girls Basketball Team Banquet Video

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Clarence William Franklin

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Clarence Franklin

Between 1955 and 1970 West Fannin High School met North Whitfield High School 31 times in the sport of basketball. Many of the games were close but the game played at the tiny, matchbox-sized gym at North Whitfield on December 15, 1967 may have been the most exciting. North Whitfield took a 2-0 lead and never relinquished that lead until three seconds remained in the game. With his team behind 56-55, silky-smooth Yellow Jacket guard/forward Clarence Franklin glided across the foul line, took a pass from a teammate, leaped high into the air and launched a jump shot that nestled into the net as though drawn by a magnet to give West Fannin a thrilling and crucial 57-56 Region 7AA victory.

A lengthy resume of highlights such as the game-winning shot vs North Whitfield has earned Clarence Franklin a well-deserved place in the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2015.

Clarence grew up in the tiny Fannin County outpost known as the Pack Creek Community. Pack Creek kids attended Caldwell Elementary School, which is where Clarence began his competitive basketball career. His graduating class at Caldwell in 1964 consisted of 15 students. Remarkably, school Principal and Coach A.J. Heaton was able to put together a 15-member boys’ basketball team from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades that year. Fortunately for Coach Heaton, one of those players was Clarence Franklin.

Against all odds, the Caldwell boys’ basketball team won the Fannin County Elementary School championship in 1964 by defeating McCaysville, Mineral Bluff and Epworth, in that order. Clarence led the team with scoring average of 22.6 points per game.

Clarence moved on from Caldwell to West Fannin where, as a sophomore, he earned a spot on Coach Tom Foster’s 1965-66 squad. He became a starter on the 1966-67 and 1967-68 teams. West Fannin played in the class AA Georgia state tournament in each of his seasons as a member of the varsity.

At West Fannin, Clarence earned three varsity letters in basketball. He was named as the team’s Most Improved Player after his junior season and was elected the Most Valuable Player on the team as a senior in 1967-68. He was named to the Region 7AA all-tournament teams as a junior and senior.

Clarence was selected co-captain of the 1967-68 team. On a very balanced team, he averaged 14.7 points per game and was named to the Chattanooga Times all Tri-State first team as a senior, after being named to the honorable mention squad as a junior. This elite all-star squad is selected from Chattanooga-area high schools in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. He scored more than 800 points during his high school career. He worked very hard on his jumping ability and became an outstanding rebounder.

Clarence also competed in track and field at West Fannin as a junior and senior. His events were the half mile, mile and two mile runs. He finished second in the two mile run in 1968 and narrowly missed advancing to the overall region meet.

After graduating from West Fannin, Clarence was awarded a scholarship to play college basketball at North Georgia Technical School. He was a starter at North Georgia for two seasons and averaged more than 10 points per game. He studied electronics at North Georgia and moved on to Albany Junior College for one more season of collegiate basketball. Again, he was a starter and scored in double figures during his time at Albany.

Uncle Sam called and Clarence served four years in the army, completing his military obligations in 1975. He gained valuable experience in the computer science field during his military service. He also admits that he was very fortunate that he was assigned to vital US and NATO service in Europe at a time when many of his contemporaries were booking passage to the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Surviving his military obligations, Clarence used what he had learned to launch a career in the Information Technology field. He worked in the Atlanta area with Associated Grocers for seven years and for Yancey Caterpillar for 30 years before retiring in 2012.

Clarence and his wife of 40+ years, Carla, make their home in McDonough, Georgia. They have two grown children.

Clarence and Carla own 10 acres of land in Fannin County where they plan to build a home and retire in a couple of years. For now, they both stay active by walking and traveling throughout Georgia and the South. Clarence is a devoted Georgia Bulldog football fan and closely follows the hoop fortunes of the Mercer Bears.

Clarence Franklin Bio

Video at FCHS HOF Game

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Clarence Franklin Banquet Video

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Mike Ballew

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Mike Ballew

Mike Ballew grew up in the bucolic Fannin County community of Epworth. He had two siblings, both sisters. Most of the other boys in the community were older than Mike so he had to develop his athletic skills and toughness early in life to be competitive on the playing fields. He attended Epworth Elementary School and credits the teachers there for providing him with direction as well as many lifelong friendships.

The basketball seasons of 1965-66, 1966-67 and 1967-68 at West Fannin High School represent an historical period in local athletics, for two reasons. First, the Yellow Jacket boys basketball teams advanced to the state tournament in each of those years. Never before had this hat trick been accomplished by a sports program in the county. And only Johnny Farmer’s Fannin County High School girls basketball teams of the 1990s and 2000s have matched the feat.

The second historical fact about those three West Fannin teams is that one player started for each of the teams. Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Mike Ballew was the starting point guard, and ‘coach on the floor’, for three consecutive years as Coach Tom Foster’s boys made trips to the big Georgia Class AA tourney in Atlanta.

Mike made the West Fannin High School varsity squad as a sophomore in 1965-66 and soon took over a starting guard position. He was the only sophomore starter on a veteran team that included three seniors and one junior on the starting squad. This team finished with a 19-9 record and were the runners-up to East Rome in the Region 3AA tournament held that season at the West Fannin gym. West Fannin advanced to the state tournament and lost by one point in the first round. Mike Ballew led the team in assists and grew into a leadership role as he directed the team from his guard position.

The West Fannin teams of 1966-67 and 1967-68, Mike Ballew’s junior and senior years won 23 and 19 games, respectively. Both teams finished as runners up in the Region and went on to compete in the state tournaments each year. Again, Mike led the team in assists both season and was elected as team co-captain as a junior. He was the captain of the team as a senior.

Mike Ballew was named to the region all-tournament teams as a junior and as a senior. He excelled defensively and chipped in with 12.7 points per game during the 1967-68 season. Tom Foster, Mike’s coach during his basketball career at West Fannin maintains that Mike was “one of the best ball handlers, if not the best, to play at West Fannin”.

Mike exhibited his all-around athletic skills during his senior year of 1967-68. He did not play football during his first three years in high school but decided to give the sport a try as a senior. He made the team and was a substantial contributor to the Yellow Jacket offensive arsenal as a halfback that season. He made a number of nice runs and scored a touchdown against Calhoun. He made two critical plays, one a 26-yard pass reception and the other a 21-yard run, to set up touchdowns in the victory over Union County.

West Fannin fielded a baseball team in the spring of 1968 for the first time in almost a decade. Mike Ballew was the starting shortstop for that team, playing a solid defensive game and hitting around .350.

Mike’s basketball skills did not go unnoticed and he was awarded a basketball scholarship by Truett-McConnell College upon his graduation from high school. He started both seasons at Truett-McConnell and was selected as the team’s best defensive player both years. He graduated from Truett-McConnell in 1970 with a grade point average of 3.4. He was on the Dean’s List four of his six quarters there. He was active in student activities and was elected as an outstanding sophomore by the faculty and his fellow students.

After graduating from Truett-McConnell, Mike continued his studies at the University of Georgia, where he earned a BBA degree in 1972. He entered the business world in sales with Cheesbrough Ponds for two years before deciding that he wanted to pursue a career in education. He returned to school at North Georgia College and earned his Masters degree in education in 1978.

Mike began his career in education at Blue Ridge Elementary School in 1978 and for the next 35 plus years he worked in a field where he “enjoyed going to work each day”. His professional accomplishments are many and include the following: he was a principal for nine years, assistant superintendent for four years, county school superintendent for five and one-half years, a coach (two sports) in Fannin County for ten years and was the recipient of the Harold Hammontree Leadership Award in Pickens County. This prestigious award is given to an individual who goes above and beyond in making the Pickens School System better. He was also the first Recreation Director (a part time position in the beginning) in Fannin County.

Mike Ballew married Sherri Queen in 1979. Sherri is also a Fannin County native. They have two adult children and one granddaughter. Mike and Sherri continue to make their home in Epworth.

Mike Ballew gives the following testimonial about the importance of sports in his life: “Being involved in athletics teaches you that you have to work hard and work with your teammates to have success. Even though you don’t always win, you learn that you have to get back up every time you get knocked down. This helps you prepare for real life because you will get knocked down. It is how you deal with getting knocked down that makes you or breaks you. My family taught me many valuable lessons and playing ball for good coaches reinforced those lessons. I truly appreciate what playing sports has meant to me”.

Mike Ballew Bio

Video at FCHS HOF Game

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Mike Ballew Banquet Video

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Dot Tipton Hardeman

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Dot Tipton Hardeman

The marital union of Fannin County native Burt Tipton and his wife Nola Leatherwood Tipton produced seven children. The first five were boys, and all turned out to be outstanding athletes. Two of the boys, Earl the oldest and Joe the youngest, were so proficient at the sport of baseball that they signed professional contracts. Earl’s career was cut short due to injury but Joe advanced to the Major Leagues and played seven seasons in the American League.

Many observers of local athletic activities of the period, however, will tell you that the best athlete in the Tipton clan was the baby of the family, Dorothy. Dot was a fiery competitor from the time she could walk, partly out of self-defense because she was constantly competing with her brothers, but primarily from her natural desire to compete and excel at sports.

Dot’s first taste of organized athletic competition came during her childhood at Epworth Elementary and then at Epworth High School. Opportunities for young girls were limited in the America of the late 1930s and early 1940s, but basketball was a sport open to youngsters of both sexes. In fact, support for the girls teams at schools in Georgia was as strong as, as possibly stronger, than that for the boys squads.

In March of 1940, Dot led Epworth Elementary School to the championship of the Gold Medal Tournament for grade schools and junior high schools in the Fannin County/Copper Basin area. She had an individual game high of 23 points and was selected to the all-tournament team. She was also selected as one of the three outstanding girl competitors. No single most valuable player was selected but tournament reports suggest that Dot was by far the outstanding player in the event.

Playing for a very average Epworth High School team in 1940-41, she was selected to the All-County team and again named as one of the three outstanding players in the county.

After just over a month of her sophomore year of 1941-42, Dot decided to transfer to nearby McCaysville High School. That school had opened in the fall of 1940 and was closer to Dot’s home in the Vellenorthtown section of Fannin County. When she arrived at McCaysville, she was greeted by teacher, and soon to be principal, Fred German who asked for Dot’s help in organizing a girls basketball team. She eagerly accepted the challenge and recruited the best female athletes in the school to participate. She also led a fund raising drive to collect enough money from local businesses to buy uniforms for the team. The first girls basketball team in the history of McCaysville High School took the floor in the winter of 1941.

Things were a little different when Dot and her McCaysville teammates began the 1942-43 season. Although that was only the second team for the school, most of the girls had gained some experience, plus Dot was on hand to lead them. Dorothy Tipton was technically a junior as she reported for school in September, 1942, but she had made a momentous decision. She wanted to finish school as soon as possible, so she asked school officials if she could complete requirements for both her junior and senior year, during one school year. She was given the green light, so Dot found herself with a much heavier academic burden than normal as the embarked upon what was to be her final year in high school.

The 1942-43 basketball season, and the school year in general, was a remarkable journey for Dot Tipton. Her individual performance that year was the stuff of legend, highlighted by her 41 point outburst in a game against Blue Ridge High School in February, 1943. It was a single game scoring record in Fannin County that would endure until 1965.

On a team level, Dot led the McCaysville girls to the Georgia 9th District Championship for the 1942-43 season at the tournament held in Winder. The McCaysville girls advanced to the championship game with victories over Bethesda and Epworth and found themselves player a heavily-favored Clayton team for the big prize. In a low-scoring affair, McCaysville hung on to win, 18-15 and were crowned champions of the 9th District. Georgia did not hold a state tournament for girls at that time, so the McCaysville girls, in only their second year of competition, accomplished as much as was possible for them. No Fannin County tournament was held in 1943 due to wartime travel restrictions.

There were two more items of business, one athletic and one academic, for Dot to complete before she bade her high school career goodbye. First, a Bi-State basketball tournament was held in those days, featuring teams from Fannin County, Copperhill, Ducktown and Ellijay. With Dot performing at her usual all-tournament level, the McCaysville girls also won this tournament by defeating the Ellijay girls in the championship game played at the Copperhill YMCA. Second, Dot graduated from McCaysville High School in May, 1943 as class Salutatorian. It was quite a year for young Dorothy Tipton.

After graduation, Dot was approached by several of the amateur women’s basketball teams of the era, including the Lorelei Ladies and Sports Arena Blues of Atlanta, about continuing her basketball career on a professional level. Dot, however, had met and fallen in love with Alvin Hardeman at McCaysville High School. They both graduated as members of the class of 1943. Her desire was to marry Alvin and settle down to a peaceful family life in Fannin County.

World War II was raging in Europe and in the Pacific in 1943 when Dot Tipton and Alvin Hardeman were married facing a very uncertain future. Alvin was called to military service soon after their marriage and, after completing his basic training, was sent to Germany where he served as a medic. Alvin suffered from unstable blood pressure, a condition that guaranteed that he would serve in a non-combat role during the war. He did, however, witness all of the inhumanity of war and was always reluctant to talk about what he had seen in Europe.

While Alvin was away for the first thirty months of their marriage, Dot fought off worry by staying busy working for a while in Atlanta and then serving as the girls basketball coach at McCaysville High School during the 1944-45 season. Her brother Dwight, also an athlete of note during his day, coached the boys team that season.

Alvin did return safely from World War II and he and Dot settled down in the Vellenorthtown. They built their own house on a small lot that had been a gift from Dot’s father. They lived in that house for the remainder of their married life. Dot and Alvin had two children, Deanne and Susan. Alvin was a carpenter at the Tennessee Copper Company and Dot handled the chores at home. Her love for sports never waned and she continued to play softball in the spring and summer and bowled in the winter. Dot was a perennial member of the softball all-star teams of the area throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

Alvin passed on in 1990 and Dot Tipton Hardeman has continued to live in the house they built throughout the 24 years since the loss of her husband. She has great grandchildren now and stays involved as much as time and distance will allow in the lives of her family. She loves the Atlanta Braves and Falcons and tries to never miss a big sporting event on television.

The Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame is very proud to call Dot Tipton Hardeman a member. As Wallace Pittman, one of her classmates at McCaysville High School expresses it: “It wouldn’t be much of a Hall of Fame without Dot”.

Dot Tipton Hardeman Bio

Video at FCHS HOF Game

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Dot Tipton Hardeman Banquet Video

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Gary Mealer

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Gary Mealer

The May 27, 1971 issue of the McCaysville Citizen, a local weekly newspaper at that time, featured a picture of West Fannin High School sophomore Gary Mealer on the front page. Mealer, a stellar all-around athlete at West Fannin was not alone in the picture. He stood behind his haul of five, yes FIVE, trophies that he won at the West Fannin Athletic Banquet held the previous Saturday. If the number of trophies is not impressive enough, it should be noted that the trophies were awarded for his performance in three sports, football, baseball and basketball. Gary Mealer was one of the most outstanding all-around athletes in the history of Fannin County. His versatility, at a very high level of excellence, has earned him admission tothe Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame class of 2015

Gary grew up in McCaysville surrounded by a bunch of young boys who shared his passion for sports. He also had two brothers, one older and one younger, and one sister. As the seasons changed during his childhood, the only change in his life was the shape, size and texture of the ball necessary for Gary and his chums to play the sport currently in season.

By the time Gary Mealer was in the 7th grade, it was apparent that his athletic skills were a cut above those of most of the other boys. He was confident of those skills and promised his mother that he would use his athletic prowess as a vehicle to take him to his ultimate destination of a college degree. No one in his family had ever attained so lofty an academic achievement.

Gary’s high school athletic career at West Fannin was filled with one honor after another. He was at the center of the action in three sports. He was a quarterback for the football team, point guard for the basketball team and shortstop and leadoff hitter for the baseball team. He earned four varsity letters in baseball, three in football and three in basketball. He was elected Co-Captain of the football team as a senior in the fall of 1972.

Gary Mealer’s school awards included the following:

-Football – Sportsmanship Award two years and Most Valuable Back as a senior;

-Baseball – Best Hustler Award, Coaches Award and Most Valuable Player Award;

-Basketball – Scholastic Award and Sportsmanship Award two years

In addition to the school awards, he was named to the 1972 Region 6A Basketball All-Tournament Team, 1972 Sub-Region Basketball Most Valuable Player and All-Tournament Team and the 1971 Chattanooga Times and Free Press All Tri-State Honorable Mention Team. On a team level, Gary’s 1971-72 basketball team advanced to the State Tournament in Macon where they defeated a highly regarded Coosa team in the first round. His 1972-73 team finished with a 22-2 record, the best record in the history of the school.

Former West Fannin coach T.J. Thompson is lavish in his praise of Gary Mealer and what meant to the West Fannin sports programs. Thompson says that Mealer was one of the smartest players that he ever played with or coached. Mealer had a sense of what needed to be done in all situations and had the ability to do it. He was at his best in clutch situations and never lost his composure.

Thompson tells a story of a baseball game between West Fannin and Gilmer County. He told his squad that Gilmer had a lot of outstanding players but seemed to lose concentration when they were down. He told his players that if they could strike quickly, that their chances of winning would receive a substantial boost. Gary Mealer was the shortstop and leadoff hitter. To begin the contest, he stepped to the plate and proceeded to plant the second pitch of the game over the leftfield fence for a home run. As he rounded third, where Thompson was coaching, he winked at TJ and said “is that quick enough for you coach”.

Mealer’s high school performance allowed him to fulfill his promise to his mother to parlay his athletic skills into a college education. He was awarded a basketball grant to attend Gainesville Junior College where he played both basketball and baseball for two years. Following his graduation from Gainesville, he earned a baseball scholarship to Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Two different college scholarships in two different sports is quite a feat.

Armed with a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Berry College, Gary Mealer entered the world of coaching and education at Murray County High School in 1977. For the next ten years, he coached at Murray County High, Gordon Lee High and Armuchee High School. His assignments included four years as the head coach of the Murray County girls’ basketball team, several different football coaching jobs and even a four year stint as golf coach at Murray County.

While coaching, Gary was able to improve his resume by earning Masters and Specialist Degrees in Business Education from West Georgia College. He also earned a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from West Georgia.

Gary’s career path brought him back to Fannin County for five years between 1988 and 1993. During that time his duties included positions as Principal at Morganton Elementary School, Assistant Principal at Fannin County High and a period as assistant varsity basketball coach at Fannin County High. He left Fannin County again in 1993 and has devoted the last 21 years to the administrative side of education in several parts of North Georgia, including five years as Principal of Murray County High School.

Gary and his wife Jodi continue to make their home in Chatsworth just across Fort Mountain from Ellijay. They have three children, Zach, Jenny and Luke. Gary is currently employed by the Georgia Department of Education as an Education Career Partnership Coordinator.

As he concludes his 6th decade on the planet, Gary Mealer is still going strong. If his epitaph were written today, however, it should read: ‘Gary Mealer – a life of accomplishment and service’.

Gary Mealer Bio

Video at FCHS HOF Game

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Gary Mealeer Banquet Video

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Stacy Parris

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Stacy Parris

Stacy P019Stacy Parris has been elected to the 2015 class of the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame. Stacy earned four varsity letters in basketball, four in softball and one in track and field during her time at Fannin County High School from 1995-1999. Her basketball career spanned a period of unequalled success in basketball competition at the school. During her four years the Fannin County girls posted an amazing record of 103 victories and only 9 defeats.

Stacy, the only child of Glenda and Jerry Parris, grew up in the Epworth community and attended elementary school there. She began playing basketball in the Recreation Department League at the age of ten. She was a good basketball player from the get-go, but admits that she worked very hard to improve her game. She experienced team success early on as her 10 and under team won a state championship. It was in the Fannin Recreation League that she began playing with Tina Grice, Roxie Reed and Leah Nelson, three of her teammates on the great Fannin County High School teams.

Individual and team success continued immediately for Stacy in high school. During her freshman season of 1995-96, the Fannin County High girls posted a 28-1 record and did not lose a game until the class AA state tournament final 4. Stacy made a significant contribution to this team and won her first varsity letter.

Stacy gained a starting spot as a shooting guard before her sophomore season and was a force to be reckoned with at the region and state level for the next three seasons. In her sophomore season, the team finished with a 23-5 record and earned the runner-up spot in the state tournament. Stacy was named to the all Region 7AA team and earned recognition as the Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club player of the month in December, 1996.

The Fannin girls made the sweet 16 in Stacy’s junior year and posted a 23-2 record. She continued to garner individual awards including all Region 7AA honors, Christmas tournament all-tournament team and Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club player of the month in January, 1998.

Everything came together for Stacy Parris and the Fannin County girls team in the season of 1998-99. She readily reveals that the goal of the members of that team was the State Championship, nothing short of a # 1 finish would be acceptable. From the beginning of the year, Stacy and the team rolled over opponent after opponent on their way to a 29-1 record and the Class AA Georgia State Championship. It was the second and, to date, the last team state championship in the history of Fannin County sports.

The individual honors that came Stacy’s way during and after the 1998-99 season were numerous and included:

-Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club Player of the Year

-Coca Cola Classic Christmas Tournament MVP

-Region 7AA Player of the Year

-MVP of the team

-State of Georgia North All-Star Team

-Atlanta Journal Honorable Mention All-State

-Atlanta Journal Top 30 Players Watch List

Stacy Parris possessed all of the physical skills necessary to succeed in athletics. Her ‘intangible’ attributes, however, set her apart from the field and made her one of the best players in the state.  One of those important intangible factors was her resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity.

In the semi-final round of the state tournament, Fannin County was matched against Dodge County, a south Georgia powerhouse. Stacy was given the assignment of defending an all-state guard on the Dodge County team. Her defensive performance was outstanding but, on the offensive end, she struggled through a poor shooting night and scored only 5 points, far below her average of 18 points per game. Undaunted, Stacy exploded for 40 points the next night in an 81-64 Fannin victory over Putnam County in the state championship game. Her performance included drilling 5 of 8 three-pointers and 15 of 17 free throws

To honor her accomplishments Fannin County High School retired Stacy’s jersey # 10. She registered a total of 1296 points during her high school career. Plus, she was an Honor Roll student all four years in high school.

Needless to say, college recruiters came calling and Stacy signed a full scholarship to attend college and play basketball at North Georgia College. She played four seasons at North Georgia and was a starter for the last three seasons there. She was named to the Conference All-Freshman Team and graduated with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

Stacy Parris currently resides in Atlanta where she is employed by the Corporate Executive Board Company in Business Development. She travels extensively in her job and enjoys life in Atlanta. In her spare time, Stacy enjoys sports and all types of outdoor activity, especially hiking.

Stacy Parris Bio

Video at FCHS HOF Game

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Stacy Parris Banquet Video

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Julie Mealer Seabolt

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 Julie Mealer Seabolt

Julie Mealer Seabolt006Julie Mealer Seabolt is all about teamwork. At Fannin County High School, and before, Julie certainly enjoyed a large portion of success at the team level. Her individual accomplishments, however, have earned her a ticket for admission to the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame, class of 2015.

Julie grew up in Mineral Bluff on the eastern side of Fannin County. She began playing organized basketball and softball in the first grade and never stopped until a knee injury ended her playing career at North Georgia College.

Julie’s first organized basketball team was the East Side team in the Fannin County Training League. She began playing for East Side when she was seven years old. The coach of the team was her mother, Johnnie Mealer. It was at East Side that the nucleus of the 1992-93 Fannin County High School state championship team of nearly 10 years later, began playing together. Julie’s teammates at East Side included Tina Davis, April Pack, Melissa Pierce and Shannon Dillinger, all of whom would play vital roles in the success of the Fannin County High girls teams of the early 1990s. Those early teams were quite successful, advancing to the state tournament for girls 10 and under one season. The tournament was played in Savannah and, while the girls did not bring home a championship, they did pick up valuable experience in competing against the strongest competition available to them.

Julie made the varsity squad at Fannin County High School in her freshman year of 1989-90. At mid-season of that first year she became a starter and was a starter for the remainder of her high school career. During her four years at the school, the Fannin County girls won a total of 91 games and lost only 21 for a winning percentage of 81%. On a team level, her career reached its apex in 1992-93 when the girls had a record of 27-4 and won the first team state championship in any sport in the history of athletics in Fannin County.

When asked about the highlights of her high school career, Julie immediately talks about the team accomplishments. She quickly cites the four victories over Gainesville High during the 1992-93 season as a high point of her career. When pressed about individual highlights, Julie reluctantly reveals that she did score 41 points during her sophomore year in a game vs Fairmount High.

Julie Mealer Seabolt’s individual accomplishments at Fannin County High are legendary. In three and one half years, she scored a total of 1403 points, a school record. And in the same period she snatched a total of 1096 rebounds, also a school record. During her senior season of 1992-93 she averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game leading her mates to the state title.

In 1992-93, Julie was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Atlanta Tip-Off Club Class AA all-state second team. The Rome-based Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club selected her as the Northwest Georgia girls Most Valuable Player that season. At the end of the season, she was selected to play in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star basketball game. Fannin County High School honored Julie by retiring her jersey number following her high school career.

Considered a solid college prospect, Julie accepted a full scholarship to play basketball at North Georgia College. She competed there for one season, but her career was cut short when she suffered a serious knee injury early in her second year at North Georgia.

Julie and her husband James make their home in Epworth. She continues to stay active by playing softball and tennis. She has one daughter, Josie, attending Mercer University in Macon and another daughter, Kyla Grace Seabolt, who is currently in the 8th grade. Julie is quick to pass along her opinion that Kyla will soon be the next girls basketball phenom at Fannin County High School.

Julie is employed by Wind Stream Communications, a company who provides a number of voice and data network communication services to businesses throughout the United States.

There will soon be two plaques celebrating the accomplishments of Julie Mealer Seabolt on the wall at the Fannin County Recreation Center. Her 1992-93 Fannin County High School girls basketball team was inducted in the class of 2014 and Julie, the consummate team player, will soon have her own plaque as an individual member of the class of 2015.

Bio Video – FCHS HOF Game

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Julie Mealer Seabolt Banquet Video

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Fred Ganues

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Fred Ganues

Fred Ganues entered Copperhill High School as a freshman in 1943. He tried out for and made the High School basketball team that year. Little did he know that he was beginning an odyssey that would see him become a consistent and important part of the tapestry of sports in Fannin County and the Copper Basin for over 70 years. In recognition of his many and varied contributions to sports in this part of the country , the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame is honored to welcome Fred Ganues, Sr. to its induction class of 2015.

As a basketball player, Fred was not too shabby. Slightly built, he was a quick and deadly shooting guard. He was the captain of the Copperhill High team in 1945-46 and was named to the all Bi-State Tournament team that same season. Copperhill’s boys basketball teams would finish with 16-6 and 17-6 records during his junior and senior seasons.

After graduation, Fred went to work for the L&N Railroad. Initially, he was a telegraph operator and worked his way up to Depot Manager. His assignments took him all over North Georgia and Southeastern Tennessee — Copperhill, Etowah, Mineral Bluff, Blue Ridge, Canton, Ellijay, Chatsworth, you name it and Fred worked there.

It was early in his career with the railroad that Fred, working at the Mineral Bluff depot, sold a ten cent ticket from Mineral Bluff to Copperhill to a young girl named Blanche Smith. Blanche was in her senior year at Fannin County High School in Morganton. Among the many things that Fred and Blanche had in common was a love of sports. Blanche was an outstanding guard on the Fannin County High teams of 1945-46 through 1947-48, and was named to the Class B all-state team in 1946-47. Fred and Blanche were married in April, 1948.

Fred began coaching and organizing independent sports teams before the ink was dry on his diploma. For his first coaching gig, he organized and coached a ladies basketball team at Friendship Church. He coached and pitched for a local fast-pitch softball team, sponsored for a few years by the C (Crumley) and M (Mason) Dairy. When the sponsorship ran out, Fred kept the team going on his own and scheduled games with teams from East Tennessee, North Georgia and Western North Carolina. He even persuaded the Chattanooga Combustion team from Chattanooga to make the 69 mile trip up the River Road to take on the locals. Combustion was a world class team with a world class pitcher named Wes Ivy. To say that the Copperhill lads had trouble hitting Ivy would be an understatement, but the game was fairly close.

Fred became a hard-to-hit pitcher himself, learning everything himself. He says that he ‘fooled around’ with different grips and types of release until he had built up a number of pitches that would make the ball curve to the left (a regular curve ball), drop, curve to the right (a screwball in the lexicon of soft-ballists), rise, flutter and do numerous unimaginable tricks.

In his down time from softball, Fred found lots of other sports activities to keep him busy. He organized many independent basketball teams over a 35-40 year period. His Black Knights and Lady Black Knights teams of the 50s and early 60s enjoyed a great deal of success. Led by such local notables as Earl Satterfield, Buster Fowler, Earl and Jackie Townsend, Blanche Ganues, Peggy Thompson, Mary Lou Fowler, Jackie Hartness and many others, these teams were forces to be reckoned with.

Fred takes personal pride, however, in talking about his favorite Independent basketball team. His 1973 Morganton team competed in the Ellijay Jaycee League and put up a lusty record of 47 victories against only one defeat. One of the stars of the team was Fred’s son, Fred Ganues, Jr. who had grown to a height of 6 feet, 8 inches. Other notables on the team included 6” 7” Danny Aaron from Blairsville and former East Fannin aces Tim Smith, Ricky Ballew, Tommy Jones and Ricky Beavers.

When East Fannin High School fielded its first football team in 1956, the school needed a PA announcer. Who volunteered for the job? If you answered Fred Ganues, you are correct. The school did not have a band so Fred played a tape of the National Anthem played by the University of Tennessee band before each game and then went about the business of concisely reporting the action on the field to the fans in the stands. He did this on a volunteer basis until the school closed in 1976.

Who was called upon to coach young men in Babe Ruth, Connie Mack and Dixie Youth Leagues in the eastern part of the county every year? If you answered Fred Ganues you are correct.

Who officiated local basketball teams, first at the old Fannin County High in Morganton, then at Copper Basin and numerous elementary schools in the area for 40 years? If you answered Fred Ganues you are correct.

When he was not busy in sports as a participant or coach, Fred, usually with his son and other youngsters in tow, made the trek to various venues to watch sporting events. Football, basketball and, more recently, women’s softball games at the University of Tennessee often found Fred Ganues in the stands. He remembers Lady Vols pitcher Monica Abbott with admiration. He remembers heading for Knoxville early one Saturday morning and seeing a young Benny Griffith of Copperhill hitchhiking. He stopped and asked Benny where he was headed. Benny replied that he thought he would try to make it up to Knoxville to see if he could hustle a ticket for game that day. So Benny piled in Fred’s car and off they went. And everybody was able to find a ticket. In those days, it was commonplace to see young men who could not afford the luxury of owning a car, making their way from place to place on the strength of a strong thumb.

Fred Ganues can regale an audience for hours with stories about sports in Fannin County and the Copper Basin. He is an endless source of information about the games and the people who have played them in this area for the last 70 years. He remains active by walking and maybe shooting a few hoops at the Fannin County Recreation Center each day. He never misses a Fannin County basketball game. He is one of Fannin County’s most valuable treasures.

By the way, Fred remained with L&N for 42 years. Fred and Blanche remained together until her passing in 2008. They were married for 60 years. Fred Ganues is a loyal man who sticks with good things when they come his way.

Obituary

Mr. Ancil Fred Ganues, Sr., age 86, of Morganton, GA passed away Thursday, March 12, 2015 in the Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, TN. He was born on June 14, 1928 in Pickens County, GA. He was retired from L&N Railroad after 42 years of service as an agent/operator and was a member of Morganton Baptist Church. Mr. Ganues loved all sports, especially the youth and men’s teams that he coached and played on. He was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche Smith Ganues; son, Lyndale Ganues; mother and father,, Les and Minnie Ganues; sister, Irene Ray; and brothers, John Ganues, Frank Ganues, J.T. Ganues, L.C. Ganues, Bernard Ganues and Jack Ganues. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Freddy and Jenny Ganues of Morganton; sister, Billie Davis of East Ridge, TN; sister-in-law, Ruth Ganues of Maryville, TN; special friend, Reathel Amburn; grandson and his wife, Greg and Rachel Ganues of Knoxville, TN; great grandchildren, Henry Ganues and Elizabeth Marie Ganues; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with Rev. Danny Parris officiating. Music will be by Keith Barnes. Interment will follow in Barnes Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday from 12 noon until the funeral hour.

Fred Ganues Bio

Video at FCHS HOF Game

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Fred Ganues Banquet Video

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Wayne Black

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Wayne Black CopperhillJohn Wayne Black entered the world on March 5, 1915 in the village of Mineral Bluff, Georgia. His father, a blue collar worker for the Tennessee Copper Company, moved the family down Mineral Bluff Highway to McCaysville, Georgia when Wayne was very young. During Wayne’s childhood and adolescent years, therefore,  he experienced  the Roaring 20s and the early years of the Great Depression, two vastly different eras in our country’s history. Continue reading →

Tom Bowling

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Tom BowlingTom Bowling was an outstanding basketball player at West Fannin High School from 1960 through 1964. He was a key contributor to Region 3AA tournament champions in 1962 and 1964, two of only three regional championships ever captured by the school. Tom always played at a championship level, and in recognition of his exceptional career, he has been selected as a member of the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2014. Continue reading →

Steve J. Fry

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Steve FrySteve Fry – Legendary West Fannin basketball coach Tom Foster says that Steve Fry was ‘a coach’s player—yes sir, no sir—bust my tail for you’. Quite a tribute from a coach who mentored many young basketball players during his career. Another tribute is forthcoming to Steve Fry in the form of his induction as a member of the 2014 class of the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame.

Steve came to West Fannin High School from the Epworth community in the fall of 1960. He was a natural athlete who competed in both football and basketball as a freshman. His skills and work ethic were so advanced that Fry became a member of the 1960-61 West Fannin varsity basketball team in his first year of high school. He lettered that first season and went on to win 4 varsity letters in basketball during his high school years. Fry won a starting spot as a sophomore in 1961-62 and would be a team leader for three seasons. Continue reading →

Rene Godfrey

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Rene Godfrey West Fannin Rene Godfrey was always the kid who could run faster, jump further, catch better and hit the ball better than anyone else. Rene went to  McCaysville and then to Epworth Elementary School.  He recalls that the only game that his teams at Epworth played against a team from another school was during his 8th grade season of 1956. Epworth met the McCaysville/Copperhill ‘River Rats’ in a game played at halftime of the Copper Basin vs. West Fannin game at West Fannin. Epworth won 24-0 with Godfrey running for four touchdowns in the short contest. Continue reading →

Clyde Henry

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Clyde Henry Clyde Henry, one of the most successful and winning basketball coaches in Fannin County history.  Football coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, when asked to summarize his coaching career, has been quoted as saying: “I ain’t nothing but a winner”. Whether he actually said that or not is subject to doubt, but there is absolutely no doubt that the quote does pretty well describe the coaching career of Clyde Henry. Henry’s ultra successful tenure as a basketball coach in Fannin County schools has landed him a prominent spot in the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame class of 2014.

Clyde Henry was born in Mineral Bluff, Georgia on August 13, 1910. He attended Fannin County High School in Morganton where he was a member of the basketball team. Following his graduation from high school, unlike most mountain boys, Henry continued his education at nearby Young Harris College, where he earned a teaching degree. Continue reading →

Ashley Herendon

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ashley-2Ashley Herendon.  It is impossible to find the adjective that describes the athletic career of Ashley Herendon. Outstanding, exceptional, stellar, remarkable, notable, prominent, distinctive and other superlative descriptions come to mind but all seem inadequate. For lack of a stronger word, EXTRAORDINARY is probably best. Continue reading →

Lynn Phillips

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Lynn Phillips – Fans walking out of the West Fannin High School gym on the night of January 7, 1969 were shaking their heads in disbelief and awe of the performance they had just witnessed. On that night, Lynn Phillips, 6’ 7” center of the Yellow Jackets put on a terrific performance by scoring 37 points and grabbing 27 rebounds in a 77-50 pasting of Region 7AA foe North Whitfield. The 37 points scored was an all-time high for a single game in West Fannin history. Those present were probably convinced that the record would stand for years. Continue reading →

1993 Fannin County High School Girls Basketball

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1993 Fannin County Championship Team1993 state Champions:Team members, coaches, and managers are from left to right:  Row 1 – Head Coach Johnny Farmer holding son Jordan, son Jonathan, Tonya Walker, Melissa Pierce, Jennifer Cooley, Julie Mealer, Tina Davis, Angie Taylor (manager), Assistant Coach Carla Sisson.  Row 2 – Amy Green (manager), Renee Pelfrey, Melissa Holler, Katie Collins, Leslie Jabaley, Suzianne Green, Angela McDaris, April Pack, Shannon Dillinger, Melissa Clore (manager). Continue reading →

David Turner

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David Turner Biography – 2013 FCSHOF Inductee

fcshof003-david-turner-2_0East Fannin High School opened its doors in 1955. The school fielded its first football game one year later in the fall of 1956.

The school was created as a result of the consolidation of the four Fannin County high schools into two new schools, East Fannin and West Fannin, effective with the 1955-56 school year. It would be very interesting to know the rationale of the county education mavens who decided how to allocate students from the old schools (McCaysville, Epworth, Blue Ridge and Fannin County High in Morganton). Essentially, all students from McCaysville, Epworth and Blue Ridge were sent to West Fannin. East Fannin was simply a new, more modern environment for the students from Fannin County High School. Continue reading →