Jerry Paulk
Inducted 2026

Sometimes a program begins with a single athlete who sets the standard for what is possible.

For Center High School track and field, that athlete was Jerry Paulk.

When track was introduced at Center High in 1964, Jerry, then a junior, quickly made his mark. In his first season, he won the Class A State Championship in the one-mile run, putting the program and the school on the map.

The following year, as the team moved up to Class AA, he proved it was no fluke. He won the state championship in the two-mile and finished second in the one-mile, accomplishing the rare feat of winning titles in two different classifications.

His success earned him a scholarship to Florida A&M University, where he continued to excel, winning conference titles in both the one-mile and two-mile events.

Though his collegiate career was shortened as he chose to begin his family life, his connection to the sport never left him. He later helped coach his son, continuing the legacy he began years earlier.

Jerry Paulk passed away on October 19, 2023, but his impact remains. He helped establish a tradition of excellence that continues to this day.

The Waycross-Ware County Sports Hall of Fame proudly honors Jerry Paulk for helping lay the foundation of track and field in Ware County.