Family, friends and supporters of the four 2017 Decatur County Sports Hall of Fame inductees gathered at the Kirbo Center last Saturday night.

Sitting on tables in the solarium were numerous plaques from the past seven years. Each one had a face of legendary Bainbridge athletes, coaches and sports icons.

Larry Clark.

Joe Crine.

Ralph Jones.

Walking along, it’s apparent the level of athletic talent Bainbridge produced over the years.

Then there’s the last table at the end of the line. Four fresh plaques sit on them. They are the 2017 inductees, and they each carry with them the stories and memories that will immortalize the four men and women in Decatur County sports forever.

Carole Floyd, Sam Williams, Bobby Fiveash and Terralyn Edwards all were well-represented last Saturday at the banquet. Apart from Williams, whose son Josh Williams accepted the award in place for his deceased father, each inductee took the stage to give thanks and recount the memories of playing and coaching in Bainbridge.Carole Floyd gained her fame through tennis. She played on the men’s tennis team at South Georgia College before Title IX and competed on the UGA Tennis Club. When she came to Bainbridge, she was a fundamental part of bringing tournaments to the area, including the first state championship. She is also a registered USTA Umpire and referee.

Williams is known for being head coach of the Bainbridge football team from 1966 through 1969. He also served as assistant coach during some of the team’s most productive year’s under Coach Spencer Davis.

Bobby Fiveash had a great career playing football for the Bearcats. In 1949, he was named captain of the team, was named to the All Region Team, and was named to the AJC All State First Team. He then went on to be a leader at Florida State for the Seminoles and continued his career playing and coaching football in Canada.

Terralyn Edwards was a star player on the Bainbridge Bearkittens basketball team. She averaged 18.2 points-per-game in the 1977-1978 season, and averaged 15.3 points-per-game in the 1978-1979 season. She went on to play basketball at Armstrong State College in Savannah, Georgia. Between then and now she has served as the co-chair on the Olympia High School Advisory Council, served on the Board of Directors for the Central Florida Boys and Girls Club, and coached voluntarily for the YMCA basketball and volleyball leagues.