Fayette

County High School honored some of Fayette's best

known celebrities last week, all of them

graduates of the school.

The

first Fayette County High School Distinguished

Alumni event was part of the school's

"Sports Hall of Fame," and four alumni

were selected.

From

the class of 1929, Elizabeth Redwine Ramsey was

chosen for community activity and service to her

church, and recognized as the only female school

superintendent to have served in Fayette County.

She also served on the Board of Directors of the

Farmers and Merchants Bank for 25 years. She

commented that she loves Fayetteville and all its

people and looks forward to living here the rest

of her life.

Chosen

from the class of 1938, Dr. Ferrol A. Sams Jr.

was selected for his medical service to the

county, (he and his wife, Dr. Helen F. Sams, have

been practicing medicine in the county since

1951), as well as recognizing his ability as a

writer. He has received numerous awards from both

fields. In thanking everyone for the honor, Sams

said, "I would much rather be distinguished

than extinguished."

Author

Robert Burch graduated in the class of 1942 and

was chosen for his body of writing as well as

having served his county on the Library Board and

the Fayetteville Zoning Board of Appeals. He

shared a moment that happened when speaking to a

speech class in Fayette County. A young student

commented, "Gee, I thought a writer would be

some big, intelligent person."

Journalist

Jim Minter, class of 1947, was the first reporter

to cover the Atlanta Falcons, was appointed

executive sports editor of the Atlanta Journal in

1965 and became managing editor of the Atlanta

Constitution in 1970. Minter and his wife, Ann

Taylor, and their sons, Rob and Rick, are Fayette

County High School graduates, and they have a

granddaughter attending their alma mater now.

"The

nicest honor can only come from `home folks'

because they know who you really are," said

Minter.

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