THOMASVILLE — In conjunction with celebrating Brookwood School’s 50th anniversary this year, Warrior Athletics recently inducted 22 former student-athletes into a new Hall of Fame in the Joe and Mary Beverly Athletic Center. 

Each inductee was honored in front of the audience, which exceeded 300 attendees, lauding their accomplishments as a Warrior. 

“It was a great night and a picture of the power of athletics to unite people,” said Brookwood Athletics Director Shane Boggs. “The Beverly Athletic Center was packed with families of the inductees as well as others that made sacrifices to support their former teammates. I enjoyed meeting a few of the inductees for the first time and reuniting with many others that I have not seen recently.”

The original members of the new Hall of Fame spent time touring campus to see new buildings and were also recognized at halftime of the home football game. The induction ceremony and unveiling of the updated space was the culmination of over a year’s planning to recognize, preserve, and honor Brookwood’s rich athletic tradition. The planning process for the space went through multiple revisions before the final eye-catching product. 

Inspiration was collected from different sources — yearbooks, old newspaper articles, personal photo albums, and more. A team of administrators and committee members traveled to multiple schools and venues throughout the Southeast to see various Hall of Fame iterations, including the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. Building on what was seen from other settings, faculty and student feedback was incorporated throughout the design process. International Design and Display Group was contracted to outfit the Athletic Hall of Fame and additions to the lobby of the Beverly Athletic Center, while RSVP Productions designed other visual graphics which now surround the gym.

“The Hall of Fame facility is top notch and the experience that night was first class,” Boggs said. “I am proud to be part of a team that created a vision for all of this. We are blessed to have the resources we have and the depth of talent that it took to create the facility and the experience. Thanks to all that continue to make Brookwood a special place.”

Included in the front lobby is a new trophy case featuring recent championships, large panels recognizing moments in Warrior Athletics from the past decade, and a large mural-sized Warrior logo. The impressive new additions continue past the overlook area of the basketball court to the actual Hall of Fame space itself. A touchscreen display monitor containing profiles on each individual inductee and state championship teams, photo boards honoring state champion teams, and plaques acknowledging each individual adorn the space. In the center, state champion trophies from years’ past are showcased. 

“I was so impressed with the accomplishments of our inductees,” Boggs said. “The one theme when looking at their accomplishments as Brookwood athletes, at the college level, professionally, and their impact on society is excellence. This was a tremendous group of athletes and people. I am proud of everything they have accomplished and look forward to the next class of inductees for the Brookwood School Athletic Hall of Fame.”

While building a new tradition, an induction class of former student athletes will join the Hall of Fame each year in the Fall. Nominations are ongoing and always open online at BrookwoodSchool.org/athletics.