The Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will be held June 9th in the Arena on the campus of Gadsden State Cherokee in Centre and 2018 features a stellar lineup of inductees – one of whom, multi-sport standout for the Cherokee County Warriors, Marc Johnson, paid a visit to the WEIS Radio studios this week to discuss the event:
Tarzan White was known far and wide for a personality that packed a punch and a life filled with more than most people could fit into several lifetimes. He played on Alabama’s National Championship football team in both 1934 and 1935; he was drafted by the New York Giants where he was All-Pro for three years and was later traded to the Chicago Cardinals – where he was also All-Pro and also wrestled in the off-season. White enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and played football for the Army All Star Team, rejoining the New York Giants in 1945 and again reaching All-Pro status. He became a full-time professional wrestler in 1946, and won three world championships.
He served as a coach and educator at Gaylesville High School in the 1950’s – in 1981 he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and the many accomplishments that we just mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. White passed away in 1996 at the age of 80. Recently in recognition and in honor of his accomplishments and contributions to Cherokee County, the state and the nation, a portion of Cherokee County Road 15 was renamed as the Arthur P. (Tarzan) White Highway.
Kaitlyn Griffith, now Kaitlyn Griffith-Revette, was a three-sport athlete primarily known as an incredible hitter for the Lady Warrior softball team batting an unbelievable .564 with 27 home runs, 26 doubles and eleven triples her senior season in 2011.
Griffith helped to lead Cherokee County High School to six county championships, five area championships and three region championships.
She received the Alabama Sportswriters Association Class 4A Hitter of the Year Award, and went on to play softball at the University of South Alabama, where she was chosen in 2015 as Sunbelt Conference Most Outstanding Player.
Also being inducted into the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 is Danny Stubbs, who in the early ‘70’s was a Warrior basketball guard, baseball player and football standout at running back who rushed for more than 1,300 as a junior and 1,100 as a senior.
Stubbs went on to play football at Southern University, moving to fullback as a junior which earned him NFL interest.
Marc Johnson was a standout on the football field in the late 1980’s – playing for his father, coach Bobby Joe Johnson, as an all-state receiver and defensive back.
He caught 23 touchdowns and had 23 interceptions over the course of his varsity career.
Following his senior season he started as free safety in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic – leading Alabama to a win with two interceptions.
Following his graduation in 1989 Johnson continued his football career at Auburn where he was a member of the Tigers’ undefeated team in 1993.
Near the close of our conversation – Johnson shared his thoughts on what organized sports has meant to him – and just what it can mean for those who choose to take advantage of the lessons to be learned:
Tickets are still available for the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, and are just $25 each. NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR. They MUST be purchased in advance by Friday, June 1st at the Chamber of Commerce Office or at the Cherokee County Historical Museum on East Main Street in Centre.
To hear that interview in its entirety simply click on the link below
