Howard "Doc" Ayers
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Howard "Doc" Ayers was born in Toccoa, Georgia. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Ayers. The nickname “Doc” came to him because his father was a medical doctor. He married Miss Connie Terrell who graduated from Shorter College. They have three children together named Bucky, Bunny, and, Buzzy.[1]
Contents
Career
Football career
Ayers played high school football in his hometown of Toccoa and at Darlington high school in Rome, Georgia. The position he played was halfback. Ayers earned All Mid Conference honors and would go on the University of Georgia on a scholarship he had received where he also played football. While playing at Georgia, Ayers sustained a knee injury at practice that would end his football career.[2] Ayers helped coach the Georgia B team after his injury and was also a student trainer in 1946 through 1947.[1]
Coaching career
Howard Ayers first head coaching job was in Lavonia, Georgia. He would compile a record of twenty five wins, three losses, and two no contests.
Ayers would go on to coach at Winder, Georgia before making his way to Cedartown in 1952. Ayers was a big hit in Cedartown, known for his motivational half time speeches and his ability to get his players fired up before games.
In Ayers time in Cedartown, he would gather a record of ninety one wins, forty three losses, and five no contests. He would capture two region championships, seven sub region championships, and eventually a state championship in 1963. Ayers still holds the all time record for most wins as a coach at Cedartown. The high school stadium would later be named “Doc” Ayers Memorial Stadium in commemoration to him.
In 1964, Ayers would become an assistant coach to Vince Dooley at the University of Georgia where he would coach for seventeen years. “Doc” coached the freshman team and was part of recruiting. While coaching the freshman team, Ayers compiled a record of twenty eight wins with twelve losses. The best record in Georgia Football History.[2]
Post coaching
Ayers is still very involved with the Cedartown Football program. Once a week, he makes an appearance at the Bulldog’s practice and gives motivational speeches to the team he loved and coached for so many years.
A charitable golf tournament named the Doc Ayers - Ray Beck golf tournament is held annually in Cedartown. Ayers co- hosted the tournament with Ray Beck at Cherokee Country Club. All the money from the tournament goes to the Polk County Community Foundation. Many former pro football and baseball players attend every year.[3]
Accomplishments
Howard Ayers received many honors including Georgia State Class AAA Coach of the year and has been inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. His last accomplishment was the induction into the Piedmont College Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]
References
External links
- Articles with dead external links from October 2013
- Year of birth missing (living people)
- Living people
- People from Toccoa, Georgia
- Georgia Bulldogs football coaches
- Georgia Bulldogs football players
- People from Rome, Georgia
- People from Winder, Georgia
- People from Polk County, Georgia
- People from Lavonia, Georgia
- Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)
