Aaron Gibbs Ivey Vickers
Jameson Turner & Kristie Litman
Litman himself was an athlete , playing for Tift County Industrial and at Wiley College in Texas . An Army vet , he returned to Tifton , teaching , coaching and later principal at J . T . Reddick . He helped build up the Southside Gym , which is now partially named in his honor , Mott-Litman .
“ I am very grateful for this honor ,” said Kristie Litman . She spoke of her father ’ s devotion to his community . “ My father was a man of great stature and a humble heart .” She said many people told her how much of an
Roy McWilliams playing guitar
impact the Southside gym and E . J . Litman made on their lives . Besides opening and closing the gym every day , he taught swimming lessons . Litman made Southside “ a safe haven ” for the community .
Past met present at the ceremony . Beckham said Hall of Fame officials wanted to join together athletes of previous years with those currently excelling at Tift County High School . “ Two outstanding representatives ,” Beckham said , were selected in Cutts and Clark . Cutts has played volleyball and tennis , lettering four years in volleyball and three in tennis . Clark enrolled last year at TCHS and quickly made himself a home in cross country , basketball and track . He is on pace to be Tift ’ s leading scorer in basketball this season . Both are standouts in the classroom .
Clark said his time as a Blue Devils has been the “ two best years of my life ” He said he wished he had come over sooner . “ It ’ s an honor to receive this award ,” he said , thanking his coaches , teammates and God .
Bobby Simpson & Kim Griffin
Cutts ’ speech talked about all the things she had learned from sports . She said her parents have always been “ my biggest cheerleaders .” She thanked her grandparents and coaches . She wants athletes to be known as more than athletes , but as people as well .
A nice crowd braved heavy rains to attend the ceremony , as well as the reception afterwards . The reception area in the commons had displays for every inductee , highlighting his or her careers .
MAY 2023 | TiftonScene 27