THOMASVILLE — Football, baseball, tennis, running — name a sport and it’s likely to be represented in the upcoming Thomasville-Thomas County Sports Hall of Fame banquet on Nov. 12.

This year’s induction class includes Brant Beene, John Booth, Stanley Fiveash, Milton Gardner, John David Peeples and Peggy Simpson. All excelled in their sporting arenas. They were even more impressive away from the game. That’s what makes this class so special, according to Hall of Fame chairman Richard Vann.

“Not that this class is better than other classes but you couldn’t find a finer group of people that are role models for the youth of our community,” Vann said. “That is one of the main criteria that we look at. We look at sports activities, involvement in sports in some form or fashion, but we also look, specifically, at the people, them being role models to the youth of our community. Every one of these people, without a doubt have been role models to the youth of our community and their community.”

The banquet will be at 7 p.m. at the Thomasville High School cafeteria. Tickets are available at the YMCA for $15. Proceeds from the event support the YMCA's mission of service to youth sports in the community. For information contact Tom Everett at 226-3446. Here’s a closer look at each inductee:

Beene was a starting center for Thomasville’s football team his junior and senior seasons. He was an accomplished baseball player at catcher for three years with the Bulldogs before playing catcher at Ole Miss in 1971-72. Beene has coached youth sports for more than 10 years in Birmingham, Ala. Among Beene’s works of service is helping create the Mountain Brook Sports Corporation, whose only goal is to improve and enhance youth sports facilities in Birmingham.

Fiveash played football at Thomasville High under legendary coach Jim Hughes. He was the defensive captain for the Bulldogs during the 1971 season. Fiveash’s biggest contribution may be as an official in local and area sporting events. For 29 years he has officiated in the Albany Association of officials and has officiated and worked with the YMCA football program for 30 years. Fiveash has also served on the Thomasville-Thomas County Recreation Board, umpired women’s softball for three years, coached girls softball for 11 years and played and coached men’s church softball for 20 years.

Simpson, an accomplished runner, is the only female in this year’s class. Simpson started running at age 45 and by age 58, she was competing in triathlons. Simpson has won the female division in the Rose City Run nine times. At age 60, she won the Rose City Run in a time of 45 minutes, 39 seconds, a state record. In the 32-year history of the event, Simpson has the fastest time for women age 50-59 and 60-and-over. At age 62, Simpson competed in the Ironman Florida Triathlon in Panama City, Fla. She finished second in her age division.

Gardner, a man passionate about the Lord, served as the chaplain of the Thomasville High Touchdown Club and football team for 35 years. He is no stranger to participating in sports either. Gardner lettered three years in football and two years in basketball in high school in Americus. In Thomasville, Gardner has played on First Baptist Church’s men’s softball and basketball teams. He also participates in basketball games at the YMCA where men 40 years and over gather three days a week.

Peeples was a prominent member of Thomasville High’s back-to-back state championship teams from 1973-1974. In his junior year of ’73, Peeples led the team in tackles and was a major part of a defense that set a school record with nine shutouts. Peeples’ success carried over to his working career where he helped St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. raise more than $3 million.

That paid for renovations made at the hospital’s Blood Donor Center.

Football and tennis is what Booth knows and he coached both very well. He as an assistant football coach at Valdosta High under legendary coach Wright Bazemore.

After moving to Thomasville in 1979, Booth was a part of a Thomas County Central program that won five state championships in the mid-90s. Booth was a teacher of the year in Valdosta and Thomas County Central. He was also state finalist teacher of the year in 1991.

On the tennis court, Booth’s teams won 17 region championshps and made four Final Four appearances. Booth was a state coach of the year in tennis in 1976 at Valdosta.