Waycross-Ware County Sports Hall of Fame

Deb Thigpen Thomas – 2022

Deb Thigpen ThomaInducted 2022 Deb Thigpen Thomas was a dual-sport athlete at Ware County High School in the mid-1970s. Before the emergence of the mascot referenced-name Lady Gators, back in the day, her team was affectionately known as the Gatorettes. Earning...

Leon Saunders, Jr. – 2022

Leon Saunders, Jr.Inducted 2022 Leon Saunders, Jr. was an outstanding Waycross High School three-sport athlete during the mid-1970s. His early coaching began at a very young age from his father, the legendary Coach E.L. Saunders. Through practice, drill, and...

Matt Rio – 2022

Matt RioInducted 2022 It might be said that Matt Rio was one of those who struggled to decide which sports to play in high school, so he just played all of them. During his Ware County High School years 1996-2000, Matt earned varsity letters in football, basketball,...

Shelton L. “Cricket” Mobley, Jr. – 2022

Shelton L. “Cricket” Mobley, Jr.Inducted 2022 Cricket Mobley was a multi-sport athlete at Ware County High School from 1973 – 1977. He simply played it all…basketball, baseball, football, and golf. And he excelled at each one of them, but then that...

Jack Chaney, Jr. – 2022

Jack Chaney, JrInducted 2022 The late Jack Chaney, Jr., was tough as they come football player and an equally polished baseball player at Waycross High School during the mid-1970s earning letters in both sports all four years of high school. Lettering as a freshman in...

Al Tyre – 2020

Al TyreInducted 2020 Not many, if any, of the ace golfers who have called Waycross their hometown can compare resumes with Al Tyre, who led the Bulldogs of Waycross High School and then of the University of Georgia to glory on the links more than a half-century ago....