THOMASVILLE — Organizers of the new Grady County Sports Hall of Fame are looking for a place to house it.

Cairo Mayor Richard VanLandingham attended Tuesday’s Grady County Board of Commissioners meeting to give a presentation about possibly placing the hall of fame on the ground floor hallway of the Grady County Courthouse.

“It’s the Grady County Sports Hall of Fame and the courthouse would be a great place to do it,” VanLandingham said Wednesday. “It’s a county building open to the public and this will be a county-wide sports hall of fame. It made sense to consider locating the hall there and would be a good way to honor our inductees.”

VanLandingham initiated the hall idea and spoke with several community individuals about the project last year. The hall of fame’s creation was announced at the annual Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce banquet in March.

The purpose of the hall of fame, according to the nomination form, “is to recognize outstanding local athletes, coaches, officials and citizens who have made major contributions to the sports tradition of Grady County.”

The commissioners have a work session scheduled for next week. The proposal will likely be brought up for discussion then, Chairman Elwyn Childs said Wednesday.

“I think it is a good idea and I don’t have a problem discussing it,” he said. “We’ll have to talk about it.”

Nominations for the hall of fame of are now open, VanLandingham said. The process opened Wednesday and ends Dec. 8.

Eligibility criteria on the nomination form states nominees must be at least 40 years of age, a past participant in Grady County sports, a positive role model, have attended a Grady County school or be a native of Grady County or have lived in the county “for a sufficient length of time to be considered a permanent resident.”

A Nominee Committee will be chosen by the Board of Directors of the Grady County Sports Hall of Fame. This committee will review and submit a list of viable candidates to the board for consideration.

Inductees chosen must have at least a 75 percent “yes” vote from both the committee and the board.

The hall of fame is expected to induct up to a maximum of 10 members this year, VanLandingham said.

Nomination forms can be picked up at the chamber of commerce, located at 961 N. Broad St, Cairo High School, 455 Fifth St. SE, or online at gcgshof@syrupcity.net.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done this,” VanLandingham said. “So far, response has been positive.”