Latest Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame class inducted

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  • Lucy and Rick Harris, center, accept the Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame plaque on behalf of their son, the late Noah Harris, and they are joined by fellow class of 2019 inductees Amanda Parker (left) and Mark Pettit (right).
    Lucy and Rick Harris, center, accept the Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame plaque on behalf of their son, the late Noah Harris, and they are joined by fellow class of 2019 inductees Amanda Parker (left) and Mark Pettit (right).
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The Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame inducted it 2019 class last Friday at the Gilmer High gym.

This year’s inductees include Amanda Parker (GHS class of 1999), Mark Pettit (’79) and the late 1st Lt. Noah Harris (’99).

Parker lettered in basketball, softball, golf and track.

She played on the varsity basketball team all four years and was selected most valuable player each of those years. She scored 2,112 points in her GHS basketball career, which is a school record. Parker had games where she was 100 percent from the field and the free-throw line. She made 18 field goals in one game, and  in more than one game, she scored a school record 44 points and also made eight three-point shots in several games.  

Parker served as basketball captain and also set several other school records during her high school basketball career.

Parker lettered in varsity softball all four years and was selected as most valuable player all four years.  She hit a home run to lead the team to the sectionals for the first time ever.  

In golf, Parker was selected as the rookie of the year in 1994 and most valuable player the next three years. In track and field, she qualified for a state meet.

Parker was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She assisted her teammates and fellow students both athletically and academically.

Parker graduated from Mercer University in 2004 with a major in communications and a minor in education. 

Pettit lettered in football and wrestling at GHS.

After graduating, he lettered in football at the collegiate level while attending Harding University.  Upon graduating from college, Pettit began his high school teaching and coaching career.

Pettit coached at Red Bud, LaFayette and Bremen high schools before returning to GHS in 1990 and coached football there through 2014. 

Pettit was the strength and conditioning coach and served as defensive coordinator for 20 years. During that time, the Bobcats made seven playoffs advancing to the second round twice.  

Pettit revitalized the Bobcat wrestling program.  He coached wrestling from 1990-2000 and was head coach from 1994-1999. Many of his wrestlers placed in the state with four finalists and two state champions, Neil Gary (a two-time state champ) and Noah Harris.

In 2015, the Gilmer Board of Education named the football field at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium, “Pettit Field,” in honor of Pettit and his brother, John.  The Pettit brothers led the Bobcat defense for 30-plus years.

The Pettits were instrumental and spent many hours of physical labor in the development of the outdoor classroom and nature trail that is used by GHS students and citizens of Gilmer County.  

Pettit serves as an elder in the Ellijay Church of Christ and was a keynote speaker at a Gilmer County Veterans Day program. Pettit has been married to Laurie for 34 years and they have two sons, William and Winston, both U.S. Marine Corps veterans. Winston is now in the Air Force Reserve.

Harris was a three-year varsity letterman in football, wrestling and track and  also lettered in golf one year.

In football, he was a fullback and linebacker. He scored the first touchdown in a home playoff game at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium.  He was awarded the Golden Helmet Award in 1999.  

In wrestling, he was a state runner-up in 1998 and a state champion and team captain in 1999.  His career record was 104 wins and five losses. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 

In track, Harris ran the 100 and the 400 relay and pole vaulted.

Harris was the region scholar athlete and also the scholar athlete for the state of Georgia.

Harris was in nine GHS drama productions and became an international thespian. He was a governor’s honors fine arts nominee, member of the student senate, elected Mr. GHS, represented Amicalola EMC as a youth ambassador to Washington, D.C., represented the U.S.A. as a youth ambassador to Russia and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Harris graduated from the University of Georgia and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to Iraq and was killed in action June 18, 2005. His philosophy of IDWIC (I Do What I Can) has become his legacy. His memory and vision live on.

By Gilmer Sports Hall of Fame