Tom Rosseter, the man behind the rise of The Plaza Arts Center from the ruins of an old school building, decided almost two years ago that Eatonton needs a proper way to remember and recognize its hall-of-fame-worthy athletic heroes.
Since that time, Rosseter has been busy researching and searching for Putnam County’s athletes and coaches who are enshrined in major sports halls of fame, either statewide or nationally. With help from his wife, Sandra, he has so far identified 11 qualifying Hall of Famers and has raised enough money to create an Old School History Museum (OSHM) Wall of Fame in one wing of The Plaza, slated for an April 7 grand opening.
“This is not a hall of fame itself; these are people that are in either a state, a university or college, or a national sports hall of fame,” Rosseter explained. “This is a very elite group and it’s only about people in Putnam County. And our museum is about Putnam County, so we’re putting it up there. The Plaza’s not doing it; the city’s not doing it; the county’s not doing it; this is by the museum, the board of education.”
Rosseter also emphasized the Putnam County connection must be strong. He explained all current and potential future Wall of Fame members must have either been born in Putnam County, graduated from a Putnam County school, or resided in the county a minimum of 20 years even to be considered.
“This is not for the person who moves to the lake and who may be a great athlete and belong to several halls of fame in their sport, but if they don’t meet our requirements they will not go on the Wall of Fame,” Rosseter re-emphasized. “This will remain a very specific, very elite group.”
Among others going up on the Wall will be Eatonton native and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame coach Glenn Wilkes; two-time Olympic skeet gold medalist Vincent Hancock, who grew up in Eatonton; Eatonton’s own Jimmy Carnes, a member of at least five track-and-field halls of fame; and Charles Winslette, a local football hall of famer who continues to coach at Putnam County High School.
Rosseter said 11 members are all he could find so far to fit the tight criteria, but with at least 30 feet of wall to work with and just a little more than two-thirds of it taken up initially, there will be room to grow.
“This is about Putnam County people, and that’s what we do as a museum, we highlight Putnam County and its history, specifically,” he stressed. “This is not a hall of fame deal on its own; it’s a Wall of Fame, just to highlight our local people who have already been recognized for doing great things in sports.”
The unveiling of the Old School History Museum Sports Wall of Fame is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 7, in the right-side wing of The Plaza Arts Center (305 N. Madison Ave., Eatonton).
It will feature the accomplishments of 11 Hall of Fame athletes from Eatonton or Putnam County who collectively have been enshrined so far in 29 sports halls of fame. Everyone is welcome to attend, see the new exhibit, and meet many of the Wall of Fame inductees or members of their families.
Admission is free and light refreshments will be available.