SGC to merge with Waycross College In January, the Board of Regents approved University System of Chancellor Hank Huckaby’s recommendation to consolidate eight of the System’s 35 colleges and universities. Two of the colleges included in the proposal are South Georgia College (Douglas) and Waycross College (Waycross). The other six recommended consolidations are: Gainesville State College and North Georgia College & State University (Dahlonega); (Cochran) and Macon State College; and Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University.

“The Board’s approval now paves the way for us to proceed,” said Huckaby. “We will focus on how these consolidations enable us to better serve our students and areas of the state more efficiently and effectively. I look forward to working with the eight institutions on this process.” Now that the plan has board approval, Huckaby will begin to implement the plan, which is expected to take between 12-18 months to finalize. Dr. Virginia Carson, President of South Georgia College, commented, “I believe this proposal can further improve partnerships already in place among our respective institutions and offer additional economic impact for our region. SGC is a residential state college, which has been approved by the USG and SACS Commission on Colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees; this is just one example of how consolidating can enhance opportunities for students.” Campus working groups have been appointed by Huckaby and charged with developing detailed recommendations for consolidation. Huckaby said the campus committees will make recommendations on issues such as academic programs and financial aid. Implementation actions will be reviewed by the University continued on page 5 Regents announce statewide campus consolidation plans Collins Hall, Room 123: From the President Dr. Virginia M. Carson Ralph C. Moor Classroom New Beginnings and Legacies

Following a recent ceremony If you blink you will miss something these days at SGC. We on the campus of South Georgia kicked off 2012 with several newsworthy events, including approval College, Room 123 in Collins Hall from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) will forever bear the name of Ralph for our bachelor of science in nursing degree, Georgia Board of C. Moor of Atlanta. Regents approval of a consolidation between Waycross College and Mr. Moor served as Academic SGC, new alumni recognition opportunities in the field of athletics, Dean at South Georgia College and a record spring enrollment. from September 1948 through While we are still in the beginning stages of conversations on October 1951. He then worked consolidation, I want to assure both communities and stakeholders, with the U.S. Office of Education our goal is to focus on how joining the two institutions can benefit and spent much of the rest of his our students and region during this challenging fiscal environment. career employed by the Georgia Our strong athletic heritage is the basis for our decision to State Merit System of Personnel, create an Athletic Hall of Fame at SGC. This program will be an from which he retired in 1975 as exciting way for us to pay tribute to the SGC players and coaches Commissioner of Personnel. Mr. who made important contributions to their respective sports and Moor received his undergraduate communities. Mark your calendars for our Inaugural Induction degree from Georgia State Ceremony set for May 31, 2012. University in 1937 and his master’s Speaking of legacies, all of us at SGC are saddened by the loss degree from George Washington of Coach George A. Cook and Coach Vince Gibson. Both men made University in 1947. a positive difference in the lives of many throughout their careers Joining Mr. Moor for the and are highly regarded for their service at SGC. We extend our festivities were his two sons, sympathies to their families during this difficult time. Carl and Larry, as well as Larry’s South Georgia College is experiencing a flurry of activity from wife, Julia, and their son, Michael. cultural events, campus organization projects, and spring athletics. Larry, Julia and Michael are all SGC I do hope you will visit the campus and enjoy these worthwhile alumni. events happening at your College. During the ceremony, Dr. As alumni, you know firsthand how important education is Virginia Carson shared the to our state’s future. By sharing our mission, you can help SGC following: “Mr. Moor has been achieve greater success! a dear friend to SGC and his generosity over the years has helped make a positive impact on countless students. We are delighted to have an opportunity to recognize him in this way and thank him for the important role he has played in our institution.” At the ceremony, Mr. Moor, who celebrated his 99th birthday in December, stated, “Even though my physical presence isn’t here anymore, my heart certainly is.”

Left: Dr. Virginia Carson and Foundation President Shelly McLean (right) congratulate Mr. Ralph Moor, who is joined by family members at his classroom dedication.

Page 2 Spring 2012 SGC Tiger Talk Dr. Denton Coker, 91, recalls 13 years as SGC President

In the late 1960s, Dr. Denton Coker, then the Dean of Academic Affairs at Brunswick Junior College (now Coastal College of Georgia), found himself with an important decision to make. Chancellor George Simpson of the University System of Georgia presented Dr. Coker with a choice – he could remain at Brunswick Junior College or move to Douglas and take the presidency of South Georgia College. Dr. Pope Duncan left SGC in June of 1968, leaving a vacancy in Thrash Hall. Dr. Coker, who had been in Brunswick for three years, spent a great deal of time weighing the options. After careful consideration, he decided to take the job at South Georgia College. “It would have been easier to stay in Brunswick, but South Georgia had dormitories and I felt like we could impact the students more because of the dorms,” he recalled.

Among those changes were “I didn’t know I would retire building new roads on campus, from education and go into real renovating virtually all of the estate developing,” Dr. Coker said, existing buildings, and constructing laughing. In July of 1968, Dr. Denton new dorms for men and women. A decade later, thanks to Coker became the fourth president Both the SGC Foundation and the over $30,000 in damages from of South Georgia College, and nursing program were born under Hurricane Earl, the Cokers moved spearheaded over a decade of Dr. Coker’s watch. into Azalea Trace Retirement progress that laid the foundation Of all his accomplishments, Center in Pensacola, where they for many of the advances that have though, Dr. Coker believes his currently reside. recently taken place on campus. greatest achievement came in the Dr. Coker, now 91 years old When Dr. Coker arrived, he recruitment of top-notch faculty. and in good health and spirits, saw an institution with a great He helped recruit a core group hasn’t been back to Douglas since deal of promise, but one that was of campus leaders, including 1982, but recalls his time at SGC behind the times in many areas. To Dr. Christian Sizemore, Carlisle with fondness. bring SGC up to speed, he needed Ramsey and Jim Pruitt, who “I consider my years at South to make changes, some of which helped strengthen SGC’s academic Georgia College as the height of were controversial. mission. (After Dr. Coker’s tenure my career. We were there for 13 “We made the changes that I ended in 1981, Dr. Sizemore years, and we lived on campus in felt would bring us into the 20th served as acting SGC president for what is now the Alumni House. My century,” he said. one year.) daughter hated it. She had to go “I’m proudest of the faculty we all the way across town to see her attracted,” he said. friends,” he said, smiling. “I wish I When Dr. Coker left SGC, he could do it all over again.” “The Cokers’ worked for one year at the System Even from Florida, Dr. Coker hospitality was office in Atlanta before taking has managed to keep up with unsurpassed. Their a Provost position at Stetson developments at SGC through University. He remained at Stetson the years. He is well aware of home on campus served until 1988, when he retired from the progress that the College as a wonderful tool to higher education. has enjoyed, and at least two Dr. Denton Coker and his wife, advances that took place during celebrate what SGC Octavia, have been married for 67 his presidency (the Foundation offers this region.” years. Mrs. Coker is from Milton, and the nursing program) are at HI Florida, a small community near the heart of SGC’s recent progress. Pensacola. “I’m very proud of the Mr. Bob Preston Upon retirement, the Cokers achievements of Dr. Carson,” he State Court Judge moved to the Pensacola area, said. “She is a true leader and Coffee County where Dr. Coker and his brother- scholar, and works well with the in-law developed a subdivision. System and the community.”

SGC Tiger Talk Spring 2012 Page 3 Karl Enchelmayer celebrates the end of his bicycle journey in Miami, a long way from his beginning in Saving the Seattle (below right). World... one pedal

by L.E. Terrell at a time The South Georgian

While the HIV/AIDS epidemic He began received much notoriety and his ride in attention in the last half of the Seattle on 20th century, it seems to have September 1 faded into the background of our and ended it society as just another unfortunate in Miami just disease that many associate with in time to ring someone else. The reality is that in the 2011 real life doesn’t come with fairy New Year. tale endings and the spread of HIV/ Enchelmayer kept a blog of long days that ran together with AIDS is still very much prevalent his adventures as he biked across little to no human contact. He in our society. the country through 10 states. insists that while he soloed the Statistically, one in five people He entertained his readers with journey, he did not do it alone. infected with the HIV virus are scenic photography and stories of “There were plenty of nice unaware and believe they have no his sometimes amusing and often people along the way that offered reason to be tested. Of the 15 states frustrating journey onward, ending me places to sleep, meals to eat, and in the U.S. with the highest number each update with a humbling “one great company,” he commented. of new cases of HIV, nine were in pedal at a time.” Traveling 5,000 miles on a the southern states. Education and Sporting a bright yellow t-shirt bicycle through icy winds and awareness is a fundamental tool in with the AIDSAthens logo and the desert heat is no easy feat for even fighting the ongoing battle of HIV words “Ask me why I’m riding” a trained cyclist. Enchelmayer had and AIDS. printed on the back, he garnered virtually no experience in distance In the fall of 2010, Karl local celebrity news status as TV cycling when he began his ride, Enchelmayer, who graduated from stations along his coastal route but he wanted to cross as large a South Georgia College in 2003, began to take notice. section of the country as possible. began a journey of 5,000 miles Enchelmayer pedaled through “After some research, a route on a bicycle to help raise money small towns and big cities, meeting from north to south down the for AIDSAthens, a non-profit interesting characters along the west coast, west to east across organization whose mission is way. He inspired people with his the southern tier, and then north to give assistance to individuals strength and determination to see to south down the east coast of infected and affected by HIV/AIDS his goal through despite aching Florida seemed to be the best in northeast Georgia. muscles, mechanical failures and route,” he said. continued next page

Page 4 Spring 2012 SGC Tiger Talk Foundation Vice President Shelly McLean presents SGC’s first Alumnus of the Year Award to Satilla REMC President/CEO Romeo Reyes.

2011 Coach Scotty Perkins Alumni Reunion The Coach Scotty Perkins Alumni Reunion was held on June 17-18, 2011, with thirty-five participants. The group met in the Clower Student Center on Friday night for a backyard barbeque and then gathered again for an evening banquet on Saturday in the Peterson Hall Art Gallery. Coach and Mrs. Perkins hosted a brunch in their home for visiting alumni on Saturday morning. During the banquet, Coach Perkins’ former basketball team and even coaches from opposing teams surprised him with a donation of $7,000 to an SGC scholarship fund in his honor. “Coach Perkins influenced and impacted each of our lives because of the values he holds dear - discipline, hard work, honesty,” said Mr. Ed Bagley. “This scholarship ensures that he will continue to influence young people...and that his legacy continues to live on at SGC.”

On completion of his journey, Enchelmayer had raised a little over Merger $4,000. While short of the continued from page 1 initial goal of $10,000, he hails it as a great success. “The fact that complete System Office and approved by strangers are willing to the Regents’ Special Committee support causes new to them on Consolidation and the full speaks to the great lengths board. for humanitarian potential The consolidation plan through inspiration,” he said. is just one of a series of Karl Enchelmayer graduated new efforts launched by the from South Georgia College with an Associate Chancellor, each part of a of Science degree in physics. He obtained his focus on increasing college Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and molecular biology completion rates, broadening at the . He currently resides in Jacksonville, access to public higher Fla., and has recently completed step four of the six-step process education and maintaining needed to become a volunteer for the Peace Corps. Inspiration indeed. affordability. Others include While Enchelmayer said he doesn’t necessarily see himself planning the System’s participation in another trip like this in the future, he admitted that “the likelihood of Gov. Nathan Deal’s “Complete me involving myself in another adventure like this would be high.” College Georgia” initiative, a It is probably a safe bet to assume that Karl Enchelmayer has many study of how the USG uses its great adventures in his future; a future he will meet with the same current facilities, the future determination, humor and humility that has inspired us all, one pedal design and construction of at a time. facilities, the expansion of distance education, a new To read more about Karl Enchelmayer’s trip from Seattle to Miami, model of academic program visit his blog at http://www.sea2mia.com. review as well as the integration For more information about AIDSAthens, of academic, facilities and fiscal visit http://www.aidsathens.org. activities.

SGC Tiger Talk Spring 2012 Page 5 Remembering VINCE GIBSON SGC Assistant Football Coach Vince Gibson, a former (1956-1958). At the end of the 1958 assistant football coach at South season, SGC ended its football Georgia College who went on to program, which sent both Gibson coach at both the Division I and and Bowden into the job market in professional levels, has passed search of employment. away at 78 years of age. For the last Just about everyone knows year, Gibson had been battling Lou how Coach Bowden fared. Gibson Gehrig’s Disease. He succumbed to didn’t do so badly either. He ended the disease on January 10, 2012. up as an assistant at Florida State Coach Gibson was an assistant University and was instrumental in coach under football coach and bringing his friend, , athletic director Bobby Bowden, to Tallahassee as an assistant. whose head coaching career began (After leaving FSU, Bowden would at SGC. return several years later to take Gibson was coaching at a over the head coaching position.) high school in St. Augustine, Fla., Gibson landed head coaching Reunion. He was always in good when Bowden paid him a visit jobs at three Division I programs spirits and enjoyed spending time and offered him a job at SGC. over the course of his career with Coach Bowden and his former He accepted the position – the – Kansas State, Louisville and players. Gibson was also present first college coaching job of his Tulane. Gibson later coached the in Jacksonville, Fla., on January 1, career. Gibson often joked that of the Arena 2010, for the Gator Bowl, Bowden’s Bowden brought him to Douglas Football League for one season in final game as head coach of the simply to coach the basketball 1992. Awards included Big Eight Florida State Seminoles. team, which Bowden had coached Conference Coach of the Year Gibson penned the foreword the year before Gibson arrived. (1970), and induction into both to Jim Bowen’s 2008 book, Bobby Under Bowden’s leadership, the the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Bowden: Memories of a Legend basketball team won just a single and the and His Boys from South Georgia game. Athletics Hall of Fame. College. In the foreword, Gibson Bowden convinced Gibson to In recent years, Coach Gibson wrote that coming to SGC was one come to SGC, and he remained visited the SGC campus several of the best decisions he ever made with the Tigers for three seasons times for the annual Bowden in his coaching career.

Former SGC President retires from ECC In Memoriam Dr. Ed Jackson, president of East Central College in Union, Missouri, Mrs. Dorothy Smith and former president of South Georgia College, will retire when his Wife of former SGC President current contract expires June 30, 2012. William Smith Dr. Jackson has been an educator since he began teaching political November 6, 2011 science at Lake Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Fla., 46 years Mr. Doug Schuur ago. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. He obtained his doctorate from . Prior Retired Assistant Professor of Business Administration to his tenure at ECC, Dr. Jackson had served as president of South Georgia October 30, 2011 College for almost 23 years. Before his move to Georgia, he was Dean of Instruction at Tallahassee Community College in Florida. Mr. R.L. “Rosby” Mulkey Since joining East Central College in 2005, Dr. Jackson has overseen Class of 1955 a number of changes. ECC added full-time faculty members in several November 29, 2011 critical areas and new programs in biotechnology, chemical technology, occupational therapy, and health information technology. Also during his Mr.Bud Holt tenure, district voters approved passage of a $15.8 million bond issue to Class of 1957 fund construction of a new Health and Science building, which opened in July 19, 2011 January of 2009.

Page 6 Spring 2012 SGC Tiger Talk Stadium Namesake: GEORGE COOK Alumni graduate degree. After earning class notes his M.Ed. in 1962, Cook joined the 1956 faculty and coaching staff at South Mr. Mitch Adams Georgia College and in 1964 was appointed Athletic Director and Mr. Adams was named Volunteer Division Chair of Health, Physical of the Year for his service to The Education and Recreation. Gables at Cobb Village in Royston, Cook also served as head Ga. baseball coach for the Tigers 1961 and guided the program to five Mrs. Ardis Maureen consecutive state championships, Nelson Russ three regional championships, two Mrs. Russ is enjoying retirement district crowns and two Junior after owning a ladies apparel College World Series appearances. business. She retired in July 2001. The Tigers’ baseball stadium is Mr. Howard Terry Russ named the George A. Cook Stadium Mr. Russ is a retired Delta Airlines in his honor. pilot. He served in the USMC 61-67 For his coaching efforts, he Flight School and in active flying was honored as the Southeast duty. He retired in 2001. Coach of the Year in 1969 and Former South Georgia College 1970. He was also named the 1968 Athletic Director and Baseball Georgia Junior College Athletic Mr. James Dennis Coach George Cook, who guided Association (NJCAA) Coach of the Mr. Dennis became Mayor of the Tigers to two Junior College Year four times (1966, ’67, ’68 and Douglas, Ga., on January 1, 2012. World Series appearances, passed ’70). For seven years, he served 1970 & 1979 away on October 8, 2011. Cook as the national president of the Mr. Phillip Dennison was a member of the SGC faculty NJCAA College Baseball Coaches from 1962-1975, and he returned Association. In 1988 he was Mr. Dennison, who graduated from to serve as Director of College inducted into the National Junior SGC in 1970 and then returned to Relations in 1981. College Athletics Association graduate from the nursing program A Guyton, Ga., native, Coach Baseball Hall of Fame. His name in 1979, is currently a social worker Cook played baseball for Georgia was added to the Georgia Southern nurse at a local hospital. He served Teachers College (now Georgia Baseball Wall of Fame in 2002. as a military nurse for 13 years. Southern University), graduating Cook was preceded in death 2006 in 1950. He taught and coached by his daughter, Carol, and is Mr. Justin Lewis at several high schools in south survived by his wife, Sara Betty, Mr. Lewis, 25, has been named to Georgia before returning to and son, Kevin, who teaches at Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Statesboro in 1961 to pursue a Georgia Southern University. list, a compilation of the best and brightest Americans under the age of 30. Lewis, along with two of his friends, started NationalField, a company that creates private social networks for businesses. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service, Kaiser, and the Obama campaign are among the groups that have utilized NationalField’s services. 2009 Mr. Mark Smith Mr. Smith currently resides in The SGC Foundation expresses appreciation to those who made donations Michigan, where he is an RN in a to the George Cook Stadium Fund in memory of Coach Cook. level one trauma center.

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SGC ATHLETIC Upcoming Reunions & Events SGC Athletic HALL OF FAME Classes of Hall of Fame Banquet 1973-76 2012 Alumni of the Year SGC has a rich athletic heritage including state and national Reception May 31, 2012 championships in baseball, April 19, football, golf, basketball, track 2012 Bobby Bowden and field, softball and soccer. Alumni Reunion Former Tigers have played on the PGA Tour and in Major Classes of June 1-2, 2012 League Baseball, the NBA, the 1950s and the Olympics. To honor Reunion Scotty Perkins players, coaches and community April 21, Alumni Reunion partners who have shaped SGC 2012 athletics, the College is pleased June 8-9, 2012 to announce the creation of the SGC Athletic Hall of Fame. The To nominate an SGC alumnus/alumna for the 2012 Alumni of the inaugural class will be inducted Year award, visit the Alumni and Foundation section on www.sgc.edu. at a 7 pm ceremony on May Click on the Alumni of the Year tab to access the nomination form. To 31, with ESPN columnist Mark nominate an athlete or coach for the SGC Athletic Hall of Fame, fill out Schlabach serving as keynote the nomination form at www.sgc.edu or contact Robert Brunel, Athletic speaker. Director, at 912.260.4221. Deadline: March 1, 2012