VALDOSTA — Last Thursday, 13 accomplished former Valdosta High athletes saw their names added to the school’s sports Hall of Fame.

William Charles Adams, Jerry Don Baker, Dexter Daniels, Chris Hart, Dr. Ben Hogan, Berke Holtzclaw, Tracy Blanton Jackson, Dr. David Parker, Sam Register, Sonny Shroyer, Troy Thomas, Ted West and Ron Wetherington are the Valdosta Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2008. They were inducted at the Hall of Fame banquet at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.

Each member was on hand to be honored, some coming from as far away as California.

All 13 expressed how honored they were to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and each one stated how proud they were to have been Wildcats.

“God has truly blessed me,” Baker said. “I am honored to have been a small part of the Wildcat tradition.”

Most of them also credited the lessons and values they learned at Valdosta with helping them become the people they have become in their adult lives.

Not only were all of the Hall of Famers great athletes, they also played on great teams. All 13 saw at least one Valdosta team win a state championship during their time there.

Adams was a four-year letterman on the Valdosta golf team from 1953-56. He won two individual state championships and was a member of three state title teams with the Wildcats. He later played golf at the University of Georgia and in the U.S. Air Force.

Adams recalled how the golf team was given varsity letters his freshman year, and asked athletic director Wright Bazemore if they could get letterman sweaters the next year. Bazemore said they might get them if they won state.

“So we won state that year, and then we won it again the next two years,” recalled Adams.

Baker was a defensive end on the 1968 state championship and 1969 national championship Valdosta teams.

In 1974, he returned to his alma mater, where he coached until 2004. With him as an assistant coach, Valdosta won eight state championships and two national championships.

Baker also coached track, girls basketball and golf. He was twice named the state Coach of the Year after leading the girls track team to state championships in 1980 and 1981.

Baker says he’s been very lucky.

“I was fortunate enough to play for one of the greatest coaches to ever coach high school football, Wright Bazemore. He was a true genius of the game,” Baker said. “...I had the opportunity to play for one of the greatest defensive coaches ever, Jack Rudolph, and later got to coach on the same coaching staff with him.... I was hired as an assistant coach by Nick Hyder, who was a great friend, a great man and a great coach.... I worked with an unbelievable coaching staff, and some of the finest young men.”