Ring the bell for one more

Ed Grisamore, columnist for the Macon Telegraph, was the guest speaker at our Lady Vikings Winning Streak Reunion. During his remarks he promised us that he would do everything in his power to get Coach Norman Carter in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. He wrote the column below on May 16, 2007, a few days before the latest group of 7 were inducted into the HOF. Two letters to the editor have since been published and I've included them below the article. Maybe this wonderful article and the great letters that followed will help us in our quest to get our coach and our winning streak (longest in the state and 4th in the nation) included in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon, Georgia. Thanks to everyone for any help they can give us! Bunny Harris

Ring the bell for one more
By Ed Grisamore - egrisamore@macontel.com

BUTLER --
The late John Turk was the kind of philosopher every small town seems to have among its riches. He would supervise the ringing of a bell from an old oak tree after every victory for the Taylor County High girls basketball team.
For five years, it was a familiar sound, like church bells on a Sunday morning. Everyone walked around with ringing in their ears.

From 1967-72, a stretch folks around here affectionately call "The Wonder Years," the Lady Vikings won 132 straight games and five state championships.

Coach Norman Carter could have been elected king. Or mayor. Or, at the very least, county school superintendent.

Actually, he was named superintendent in January 1969, when his girls teams had a 39-game winning streak. He asked if he could coach until the "streak" was over, never dreaming he wouldn't step down for another three years.

It is the longest consecutive winning mark in state history and the fourth-longest nationally among high school girls teams.

I say all this because I believe Norman Carter deserves to be in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he's not.

The trouble with halls of fame - music, sports or tiddly winks - is they are the most selective and subjective institutions in the world. You can't apply for membership or buy your way in. You're supposed to earn your spot in the hallowed halls. Even then, there's no guarantee.

Our state sports hall of fame will induct its 2007 class of nine members Saturday night at the Macon City Auditorium. But, for every Steve Bartkowski or Don Richardson, there are dozens of others outside the door without an invitation.

I am familiar with the process. I served as a member of the selection committee in 2001. I now feel compelled to join the campaign for Carter, who doesn't deserve to keep being passed over.

By now, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is very familiar with Carter. Ever since the Lady Vikings teams held their 35-year reunion in late March, folks from Butler, Reynolds, Potterville and points between have been waging a full-court press to have their coach immortalized.

In 12 seasons, Carter's teams won six state championships and compiled a remarkable record of 350-32. During the streak, the Taylor girls won five titles in three different classifications. They began the streak when the rules allowed only three players per side and adjusted to the switch to "rover" (six-player) basketball in the 1970s. Taylor won 63 consecutive games prior to integration, then helped smooth the transition of merging with the all-black R.L. McDougald High by winning 69 more.

If Carter is getting the cold shoulder because he coached for only 12 years, then the qualifications are flawed. Do we want length or depth?

With that line of thinking, Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball's color barrier, might never have been inducted.

He was born in Cairo but moved with his family to California when he was only 16 months old. He never lived in Georgia after that. Jackie, we hardly knew ye.

Carter grew up in Talbotton, was a star athlete at Mercer University and has been a pillar in Taylor County since 1960. He served as school superintendent for 21 years. And he continues to change the lives of hundreds of women at "The Golden Rule," a home he founded in 1998 for victims of alcohol and substance abuse.

He's one of the finest men I've ever known.

I cannot believe there's not a place in our state's hall of fame for someone like him.

by Ed Grisamore

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Ed Grisamore's recent column in which he expressed dismay that Norman Carter, former legendary Taylor County girls' basketball coach, continues to be denied entry into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame was eloquent and persuasive. Years ago I was privileged to formally nominate Norman, my lifelong close friend, to the selection committee as an obviously worthy inductee. To me, it was as clear cut a case for induction as one would ever see. When I submitted all the necessary documents, I couldn't imagine this was anything but - pardon the pun - a "slam dunk."

In support of Norman's candidacy, I emphasized certain overwhelming facts - a career record of 350 wins against only 32 losses as a girls basketball coach; the incredible 132 game winning streak; the five straight girls state championships.

I admit that because of my close friendship with and unmitigated personal admiration for Norman I'm not purely objective, but please let's be reasonable. Mere opinions are not at issue here. No reasonable person could even attempt to deny these numbers, these facts, and this stunning, virtually unbelievable record.

In conclusion, allow me to reiterate: A won-loss record of 350-32; a winning streak of 132 games; five straight girls state championships. What else is there to say?

Charles H. Weston Sr. Macon

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Compelling reasons
I would like to compliment Charles H. Weston Sr. on his nice letter about Norman Carter as it was published in The Telegraph on May 23. He set forth compelling reasons why Carter should be included in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame based on his stats as a girls' high school basketball coach, to-wit: Three hundred and fifty wins against only 32 losses as well as the incredible stretch of winning one 132 straight games without a loss. Also, he coached five straight girls championships. Mr. Weston ended his letter with a question "What else is there to say?"
I would like to add that Carter was my fraternity brother at Mercer and he is indeed an outstanding person. If I remember correctly, and I think I do, Norman was Allstate in three different sports in high school and had a stadium named for him at Talbotton, where he was raised. At Mercer, he played basketball, baseball and tennis where he excelled while accumulating an outstanding academic record. He made the Dean's List while playing two varsity sports in one quarter, baseball and tennis.
I would like to add to Mr. Weston's letter by simply suggesting that these stats from high school and college also be included in his consideration for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

Doye E. Green Sr. Macon

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We'll keep you posted as we continue our efforts to get Coach Carter inducted into the Hall of Fame and/or get the amazing winning streak included in the Hall of Fame exhibit area.