CLASS OF 1957
JOHN R. CARSON
John R. “Johnny” Carson was born in 1930 in the Cabbagetown area of Atlanta. He is considered one of the greatest all-around athletes in the history of The University of Georgia landing in Athens after leading his high school basketball, baseball and golf teams to multiple state titles. He was a member of three SEC championship golf teams at the University of Georgia and was the only athlete in UGA history to letter in four different sports (football, golf, basketball, baseball). Carson led Georgia in receiving in 1952 with 467 yards on 32 catches with 2 touchdowns. In 1953, he was an All-American with 45 catches for 663 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was the first of only 2 two-sport All-Americans from UGA, honored for golf 1951 and football in 1953. He was a first pick of the Redskins and played 7 professional seasons making the Pro Bowl in 1958. After retiring from the field, Carson spent 35 years as a scout for the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings before retiring in 1996.
R.L. "SHORTY" DOYAL
Roy Lance (R.L.) "Shorty" Doyal was a Tennessee native who came to Atlanta to play football at Georgia Tech for John Heisman. Doyal was a letterman on both the 1919 and 1920 Tech squads. After his playing days on The Flats, he moved into the coaching ranks first as an assistant at Tech High in Atlanta, before becoming Head Coach at Bass High in 1923. Two years later he started a distinguished career at Atlanta’s Boys High School. At Boys High, Doyal coached the legendary Clint Castleberry who Doyal said: “was so good I had to take him out of the games to hold the score down.” Doyal also coached his son Buck who starred in four sports: football, basketball, swimming and track before also going to Georgia Tech playing for Bobby Dodd. Doyal's teams won their nine state titles between 1932 and 1945 without losing to a Georgia opponent. R.L. would claim 200 coaching victories becoming the first Georgia high school coach to reach that accomplishment. He coached five years at the college level from 1947-1951 posting a 34-18-3 record at Marist. After his coaching career, Shorty founded an Insurance Company and remained president until his son Buck succeeded him.
HAROLD E. McNABB
Harold E. McNabb was born in Irwin, Texas but moved to Georgia and attended Carson-Newman College. After his college graduation he became a noted coach and administrator. He was an Offensive Line Coach at Mercer in Macon before moving to the high school ranks as the head coach at Albany High School. In 11 seasons from 1932‐1942, his team’s fashioned an impressive 94‐6‐4 mark including the State Class B Championship in 1939. In addition to his stellar coaching resume, McNabb spent 22 years as a basketball official. He also excelled as a top administrator and served as Principal at Albany High and was also named president of Georgia Education Association.
CHARLES N. ROBERTS
Charles “Charlie” Roberts migrated to Atlanta from Florida and became a fixture covering high school sports for the Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Journal newspapers. After a brief coaching career at Towns County in 1932-1933, Charlie began covering high school games for the papers, as well as the Atlanta Crackers baseball team. Charlie often wore a hat and liked to chew a cigar while covering games at the old Ponce de Leon Park and the Georgia Tech Coliseum. In addition to his newspaper duties, Roberts coached some of the state’s top amateur baseball teams and became Tournament Director for the Georgia North-South baseball tournament. Charlie spent 42 years with the newspaper and became the Atlanta Braves beat writer when the team arrived in Atlanta in the mid-1960’s. Roberts had a reputation as a brilliant writer and was influential in helping many young writers get a jump-start on their career.
ERIC P. STAPLES
Eric Pierce Staples was born in 1905 in Roopville and studied law at Mercer University where he also earned a Master of Arts degree. He moved to Perry in 1933 and became Principal and Head Basketball Coach. In 1937, he was named the Superintendent of Perry Consolidated Schools. In athletics, he set the standard for superb coaching and was commonly regarded by sportswriters as "Georgia's Mr. Basketball." Staples posted 924 wins to only 198 losses in 32 seasons. His team won 8 State Championships and 25 District and Region Titles. He was the winningest basketball coach in America during his lifetime. Staples was a recognized leader in service to the Perry community, being named Kiwanis Man of the Year twice and Civitan Citizen of the Year. He retired in 1969 after serving 36 years at the Perry school. He served as Director of the Georgia Education Association and was President of the Georgia Secondary School Principal's Association. The Eric P. Staples Memorial Building currently serves at the Houston County Board of Education Central Office.
JOHNNY G. "STUMPY" THOMASON
John Griffin "Stumpy" Thomason was a standout running back on the 1924 Tech High Smithies State Championship team. He would stay in Atlanta to play football at Georgia Tech where he was an All-Southern Conference performer in 1927 and again on Tech’s National Championship team of 1928. After Tech beat California in the 1929 Rose Bowl game, a live bear was given to the Jackets football team and Stumpy took ownership of the young bruin which became known as “Stumpy’s bear.” After leaving Tech, Thomason played professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles. He was an All-Pro selection in 1930. Thomason is a member of Georgia Tech’s All-Time Team as well as Georgia Tech’s Hall of Fame.