FLORENCE — Wilson High School athletics have provided the city of Florence with a great deal of history over the years.
Tonight, that history will be celebrated when the inaugural class of the school’s sports hall of fame is inducted in a ceremony at Oakdale Country Club.
The event is sponsored by the newly-formed Wilson High School Athletic Association.
Tonight’s ceremony is the first chapter in a story that will end in a new building that will house the Hall of Fame. The community center also will feature a computer lab and meeting rooms.
“Willie McDaniels, Clayton Brown and myself founded this organization,” said George White, president of the group. “We wanted to build a hall of fame to honor all the athletes that have played throughout the school’s history.”
The facility will be located in one of two places. One proposed site is a 10-acre tract of land across from the school. The other is located in Quinby.
“Wilson has a rich history, but we’ve never had something tangible,” White said. “We wanted to have something the community can be proud of and boost its economic impact.
“We also wanted to give the people of the north side of Florence a safe place to congregate.”
Twenty people will be represented in the opening class, including 97-year-old Andrew Huggins.
Huggins is the sole survivor of Wilson’s 1929 class and will be inducted for his contributions to sports, education and officiating in Florence.
The six surviving members of the Tigers’ undefeated 1947 state championship football team and the 13 surviving members of the 1953 state title football squad will also be honored.
Rev. Vandroth Backus will speak on behalf of the 1947 team.
The 1953 team was Wilson’s last state champion in football before the Tigers claimed the Class 3A title in 2007. Joshua Thomas will represent the 1953 champions.
The sold-out formal affair will begin with a dinner. Featured speakers will include Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela, Wilson principal Dr. Gerard Edwards and former Wilson principal Dr. Allie Brooks.
Guests at the ceremony will also have an opportunity to join the Wilson Athletic Association. Anyone interested in joining should contact White at (843) 617-4040.
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