(By the Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame) — The Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame inducted five new members at last Saturday’s basketball games.
The hall of fame recognizes former athletes, as well as those who have been exceptional in support roles.
Entering the hall of fame this year for their athletic prowess are Hyatt Tankersley (GHS class of 1964), Don Mullinax (1975), Anne Sluder (1976) and Lamar Frady (1977). Jobie Ralston (1994) was inducted under the support category.
Tankersley lettered in football four years and basketball three years. In 1963, he was named football all-state honorable mention. Coach John Sluder remembers Tankersley as being an outstanding rusher and defensive back. Tankersley was recognized as the emotional leader on the football teams during his GHS career. He was an active member of the Boys 4-H Club and HI-Y Club at GHS.
As an adult, Tankersley coached the Gilmer Middle School football team for several years. He also coached park and recreation basketball teams. He has given his time and talents to the boys and girls of Gilmer County.
Sluder played basketball and ran track all four years at GHS. In 1975, she placed fourth in the long jump at the state championships meet. In 1976, she placed second in the 880 at the state championships. Sluder set GHS track records in the 440, 880 and long jump. In basketball, she was a starter on the team that finished fourth in the state tournament. She joins her father John and mother Shirley in the hall of fame.
Frady was a three-year letterman in basketball and tennis for two years. In basketball, he made the subregion all-tournament teams his junior and senior seasons. He was the team captain and most valuable player his senior year where he averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds a game. He set the record for most field goals in one season at 204.
In tennis his senior year, he won the region singles tournament and advanced to the state tournament quarterfinals.
Frady was awarded a full basketball scholarship to West Georgia College. As WGC team captain, he led the team to the NCAA tournament. Frady was an academic All-American at WGC in 1981.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle named Frady the most admired CEO in his role with Mountain Express Oil Company in 2021. He has won the Exxon Mobile Award of Excellence six years in a row. He has made financial donations to hospitals, schools and to the PPE of the Alpharetta Police Department.
Mullinax lettered in five varsity sports at GHS, which included football, basketball, baseball, track and wrestling. He received the Huff-Mosley Award in football his senior year.
In baseball, he was awarded best pitcher his junior year. Mullinax was the team MVP in 1975, which won the subregion and region championships and made it to the Elite 8 in the state tournament. He had a pitching ERA under 1.50, and coach Ken Buffington stated that Mullinax was the best pitcher he has ever coached.
In track, Mullinax was selected as the best runner in 1975. He was second in the region in the 880, ran in the state finals and set a GHS record in the 880. He earned a three-year baseball scholarship to Georgia College after his freshman year at Oglethorpe University.
Mullinax retired after a stellar career as a senior executive with the United States Department of Defense. He received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive, which is the highest career award for federal employees.
Ralston was an honor graduate at GHS and played four years of football. He also played basketball for four years and was named offensive player of the year as a senior.
Ralston has worked tirelessly to help Gilmer basketball players advance their skill sets and playing ability, which in turn benefits the GHS program. He has coached Gilmer student athletes.
In travel basketball, he coached girls teams from 2001-2009. Since 2012, he has coached multiple Gilmer boys teams in his Young Guns franchise. Several of his travel teams have won weekend championships, which is a barometer of their progress. He regularly attends GHS basketball games to support his players and to gauge their progress. Coach Jordon Hice has fully supported Ralston’s efforts.
Currently, Ralston works for Shaw Industries as a plant manager in Calhoun.