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CLASS OF 2014

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DR. BILL BARNES

Dr. Bill Barnes has been a true friend to athletics, especially high schools, in the Middle Georgia area for almost three decades. The Lanier graduate founded Piedmont Orthopaedic Complex in 1987 and has steadfastly committed to creating quality sports medicine programs for Middle Georgia schools. He was the first orthopaedic physician in Middle Georgia to provide Certified Athletic Trainers to nearby schools during the times they need it most, which is most often outside the normal business honors. He and his colleagues and staff offer a variety of services to athletes including physicals, exams and rehabilitation, as well as the first in Macon to offer a Saturday morning clinic. In addition, Dr. Barnes has served as team physician for the Macon Whoopees, Macon Knights AF2 football team, and assisted in treatment of Mercer University athletes. 

Barnes
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EARL BOWDEN

Earl Bowden is one of Macon’s top all time Amateur golfers. He played the sport at the University of Georgia for three seasons from 1955-1957 for the legendary Howell Hollis. One of his best amateur wins came when he captured the Southeastern Amateur Championship at the Columbus Country Club in 1966. That same year he teamed with John Marbut to win the Peach Blossom title. He has won the Cherry Blossom Senior Championship three times, the 1994 Georgia Seniors Championship, the Tennessee Super Senior Amateur Tournament Championship in Nashville, and is a six times Idle Hour Club Champion.

Wanda
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WANDA BURNS JACKSON

Wanda Burns Jackson was an All-State performer at Southwest High School for fellow Hall of Fame member, Willie Goolsby before going on to Florida State where she became a legend. A three-year starter, she led the Lady Seminoles to a 21-9 record and an NCAA berth in 1989-90 setting a record for three throw percentage while leading the team in scoring, three pointers, and steals. As a senior, Burns led the Metro Conference in scoring with 18.5 points per game on her way to being named the 1991 Metro Conference Player of the Year and Second Team All-American. She set an FSU single game record with 10 steals, led the team in three-point shooting and scored in double figures in 38 consecutive games, and led the team to a 25-7 record. She is a member of the FSU Hall of Fame and is one of only four women’s players to have their jersey number retired. 

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WALTER DANIELS

Walter “Stinky” Daniels is one of the finest high school basketball players to ever come out of the city of Macon. Playing for the legendary Don Richardson at basketball power Southwest High School he was a member of the 1973 State Championship team and then led the Patriots to the 1975 Title. He signed a basketball scholarship with the University of Georgia where he earned All-SEC honors for three seasons. He led Georgia in scoring as a junior and senior and finished his career with 1,679 points and 299 assists which were both UGA records at the time. He was drafted by the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers in the third round in 1980 but never played for that team, however he did play briefly abroad. He was chosen to the 2011 SEC Basketball Legends Class and was honored at the league’s basketball tournament along with representatives of the 11 other schools in the conference.

Gordy
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BRUCE GORDY

Bruce Gordy was an All-State basketball player at Lanier High School where he led Poets to a 26-3 record and the 1968 State Tournament where they lost to Turner of Atlanta 56-49. He averaged almost 17 points per game his senior season, and he received a scholarship to Mercer University where he was a four year starter. He scored 1,227 points in his career with the Bears and averaged 15.4 points per game as a sophomore. Following graduation from Mercer he attended the Medical College of Georgia Dental School and became a Dentist in Orlando, Florida. He has served as team dentist for virtually every professional team in Orlando including the Orlando Magic. Gordy is a member of the Mercer University Athletic Hall of Fame.

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MICHAEL JOLLY

Michael Jolly was the State AAA Back of the Year in 1975 after leading Central High School to the State AAA Football Title. In the state playoffs against Northside, which had beaten Central 27-14 in a regular season games two weeks earlier, Jolly took the Chargers on a 72-yard drive for the winning score. He converted a 4th and 20 and scored the game’s winning touchdown with 5 seconds remaining. In the State Title game against Douglas he drove Central 76 yards in the last two minutes for the winning score in a 20-13 decision. Jolly chose Georgia Tech where he was a part-time starter as a freshman. But, after one year in Atlanta he transferred to Tennessee State where he played three seasons as a utility player. He was a member of two Black College National Championship squads with the Tigers. Jolly was briefly in the USFL with the Memphis Showboats and spent two seasons in semi pro football with the Macon Chiefs.

Minor
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DANNY MINOR

Legendary Lanier High School football coach Selby Buck called halfback Danny Minor the best player he coached during his 30 years at the school. Minor, was the Poets Player of the Year in 1955 while also being named first team All-State, first team All-Southern as well as honorable mention All-American. As a senior he led the region in rushing with 1,027 yards. Minor was also a top notch baseball player for the Poets. In 1956 he led Region 1-AA in hitting with a .520 average. Following his senior season he enrolled at the U.S. Military Academy where he was a member of the Black Knight’s last unbeaten team in 1958.He was a backup running back to All American Bob Anderson and also played in the defensive secondary. During his plebe year (freshman) he scored 9 touchdowns on punt returns of 63 and 70 yards and runs from scrimmage of 40, 98 and 60 yards.

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BARRY VEAL

Barry Veal excelled as a high school and college athlete and as a high school baseball coach. He was arguably the best basketball player to come out of First Presbyterian. He was All-State for three years scoring 1,979 points with a 30 point per game average as a senior. In baseball he had a career batting average of .426 and a pitching record of 15-3. Following his high school playing days, he signed at Mercer where he was a four-year baseball starter and a two time A-Sun All-Conference selection in 1985 and 1986. Veal was also a member of the Bears basketball team. After college, Veal got into coaching and during his time with Jones County High School his teams won 11 Region Titles and made it to the State Final three times. 

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RUSTY WYNN

Rusty Wynn worked as a high school football official for 40 years before retiring in December of 2013. He officiated more than 1,000 games, which included some 80 playoff matchups. Rusty started his officiating career umpiring baseball at Vine-Ingle Little League in 1967. He called Intramural basketball for the Macon Recreation Department, and umpired softball in the Middle Georgia Adult Slow pitch softball league from 1973-1980. He also Officiated Arena Football League games from 2001-2006. He served as President of the Middle Georgia Football Officials Association on four different occasions. Among his honors are the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Football Official of the Year in 2001 and 2010. In 2010 he received the Atlanta Touchdown Club’s George Gardner Award, named for the long time SEC official. 

Rusty
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