CLASS OF 1960
WRIGHT BAZEMORE
Born in Fitzgerald, Wright Bazemore gained national attention for his success coaching the Valdosta High School football team from 1941 to 1971. A born coach and a winner in every endeavor, he coached Valdosta to six State Championships in singles tennis and five in doubles. He also coached six State Championship teams in golf, and led the boy’s basketball team to a State Title in 1947 with an undefeated record of 28-0. But Bazemore was destined to turn the football Wildcats into a powerhouse. His career record at Valdosta as football coach was 290-43-6. He won an amazing 15 State Championships and was runner-up three times along with 18 region titles. Three times the Wildcats were named National Champs during his tenure.
DWIGHT KEITH, SR.
Dwight Keith, Sr. was born in Argo, Alabama and coached basketball at Georgia Military Academy from 1928 to 1932. He served as head men's basketball coach at Georgia Tech from 1944 to 1946, compiling a 35‐21 mark at Tech including a 14‐4 record in 1944. He was also Sports Information at Georgia Tech. Keith was founder of the Atlanta Tip Off Club and was one of the founding fathers of the Georgia Prep Sports Hall of Fame, later to become the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Keith served on the Committee that set up rules for election to the National Collegiate Football Hall of Fame. He was also the publisher of Coach and Athlete Magazine for almost 40 years.
HENRY LANGSTON
Henry L. Langston was born in Yorkville, South Carolina and was a graduate of Wake Forest College. He became the Physical Education Director at his alma mater, Wake Forest from 1918-1923. He coached and was Athletic Director at both O’Keefe High School and Junior High for over 25 years. He won championships in both football and baseball. Henry was the region football coach of the year in 1952.
JULIAN "JOE" PITTARD
Julian H. (Joe) Pittard was a native of Winterville, and gained notoriety as a football, baseball, and track coach at Gainesville, High School where he won multiple state championships. During an 11 year stretch, his football teams posted a 92-13 record that included three straight undefeated teams in 1923, 1924, and 1925. His track teams claimed the 9th District title 9 times. Joe coached baseball at Georgia Tech from 1943-1961, winning the SEC Championship in 1957. In 17 years with the Jackets, he posted 169 victories. He is a member of the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame and the Helms College Hall of Fame.
JAMES SKIPWORTH, JR.
James Skipworth, Jr. grew up in Columbus where he was a three sport standout in football, basketball, and baseball for Columbus High School from 1933 through 1936. He went on to the University of Georgia where he was a football letterman and Team Captain. At Georgia, he was a teammate of the legendary Charley Trippi, Heisman Trophy winner Frank Sinkwich, and future governor Carl Sanders. Upon graduation, he received his commission as an officer in the U.S. Army. He was sent to the South Pacific in 1943 where he rose to the rank of Captain and received the Silver Star for heroism in 1943. He was killed in action in June of 1945, just weeks before the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs on the Japanese mainland that ended World War II.
THOMAS SLATE
Thomas J. Slate was native of Atlanta and a significant contributor to sports in the state of Georgia during his lifetime. He helped organize the Tech-Georgia Scottish Rite Freshman Football Classic which was one of the most beloved annual sporting events for many years. He was also well known for being pioneer football official who is credited with upgrading and professionalizing sports officiating in Georgia and around the South.