Shayon Green Cam Earls Willie Hill
nament championships . Twotime All-Region with the Blue Devils , he also made honorable mention All-State . Gibbs played collegiately at Georgia State College .
“ I was blessed to have a father who was a basketball coach and loved the game ,” said Gibbs and mom who also loved sports , though he also kidded that he is “ happy to be inducted before my before my brother .” He also found humor in the film room sessions with Blackshear and staff , where he was critiqued for his shot selection .
“ Everything we accomplish is a gift from God and the people around us ,” said Gibbs . Thanking coaches and teammates , he had additional thanks for his wife , “ For putting up with me .” Hill stood out on offense and defense as a football player for Tift County . Beginning his career as a linebacker , he was switched over to running back , where he scored 25 career touchdowns , fourth in school Tift County High history . Hill was named All-State in 1981 and signed after the season with South Carolina .
Seward and Bowers presented Hill with his honor . His speech was short , Hill admitting he is not much of a talker . He thanked his mother for putting up with him and his coaches . Without them , he would not be where he was .
Vickers also made a short speech for her individual induction . She ’ d say more about the 2007 fastpitch softball team , which she also inducted . Mark presented both honors .
In her high school days , Vickers starred in softball — slow-pitch — and basketball . She was part of three state championship softball teams as a Lady Devil . During her senior season , winning All-Region all four years , Vickers led basketball in scoring and they advanced to their first state tournament in 14 years . It was also their first outright winning season in the same span . She is a longtime coach at Tift , guiding winning softball , tennis and swimming teams . She has also assisted football and basketball .
She thanked her family for being there Saturday . Vickers thanked Mark , O ’ Brien and Margie York for their guidance .
“ I got a chance in high school to play for three legends ,” she said . “ Without them , I wouldn ’ t be here today .”
For softball , Vickers talked of how much she enjoyed the 2007 squad , which advanced to the final tournament in Columbus after a third place finish in the region . At state sectionals , they won three straight one-run games over Newnan , Union Grove and Houston County .
Vickers has fond memories of Houston , a team the Lady Devils feuded with . She remembers descriptively telling Jessie Brooks she had better touch first base on the game-winning hit against Houston . The team shared that enthusiasm . “ I can still see the bus rocking ,” Vickers said . They never quit , she said . “ Unbelievable kids .”
“ I ’ ll always have your back ,” Vickers said . Besides herself , coaches on that team were Chuck Beale , Deborah Redlinger , Buster Segars and Taylor Wilkins .
Larry Mims presented Kristie Litman with the Meritorious Service Award , honoring her father Eldra James “ E . J .” Litman .
26 TiftonScene | MAY 2023