Five to be inducted in Sports Hall of Fame Saturday

The Grady County Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet is set to be held this Saturday night at the Grady Cultural Center. This is the second induction service held by the Hall of Fame committee. This year’s inductees include Dr. Rev. Perry Simmons, Art Williams, Ralph Jones, the late Julien B. Roddenbery and the late West Thomas. Last year’s inaugural group of inductees included CHS graduates and former NFL players Bobby Walden and Bill Stanfill. Also inducted was the late coach Tommy Taylor and CHS graduate and five-time Olympic medalist Teresa Edwards.
Simmons is a graduate of Washington Consolidated High School and is now a minister in New Jersey, where he has sponsored thousands of dollars in scholarships for students. Williams graduated from Cairo High School and is now retired from his insurance corporation. Williams donated funds for both the Williams Fieldhouse and the Hancock Library Media Center on the Cairo High School campus.
Jones, also a Cairo High School graduate, recently announced his retirement as superintendent of Decatur County schools. Jones coached the Syrupmakers to a state championship in football in 1990. The late Julien B. Roddenbery, a CHS graduate, spent his entire adult life giving back to Cairo High School and his community. Roddenbery donated funds for the current CHS ROTC building and the Roddenbery Music Building on the CHS campus. Through the years, Roddenbery donated thousands of dollars to CHS students, athletes and programs at CHS. The late coach West Thomas, also a CHS graduate, coached for Cairo, as well, and led the football team to many wins over his long career at CHS. The Cairo High School football stadium is named in his honor.
The banquet is set for Saturday night with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at  7 p.m. Tickets for the event are $25 and available from board members.