THOMASVILLE — Diversity describes the 2005 class of the Thomasville-Thomas County Sports Hall of Fame.

The humble attitudes of the six inductees is symbolic of how grateful they are to be recognized.

“It means a tremendous amount to me,” said inductee Bill Raney. “When you’re selected to be part of the Sports Hall of Fame and you consider the people who have been inducted previously, it’s a very humbling experience for me.”

“It’s unbelievable,” said a speechless Alice Dollar. “Sometimes I don’t think I deserve to be here along with all these other people that are up here.”

The past and present were honored Tuesday at Thomasville High School. The list includes Raney, Greer Cox, Dollar, Rudolph Alonzo Elzy Sr., Kenneth Manwaring and Ed Pilcher.

Raney has become a vital part of the Thomasville community, working with the Rotary Tennis Tournament, Rose City Walk and Run, co-chairman of the Sports Hall of Fame and he is the announcer for Thomasville High School at the Bulldogs’ home football games.

“It kind of gives me chills to think about it,” said Raney. “I’m almost speechless, but I’m just proud to be here.”

Cox lettered in basketball and tennis at Thomasville High School where she was MVP two years on the hardwood.

While on the tennis court, Cox and her partner won the region girls doubles title in her 10th, 11th and 12th grade years. Cox is currently serving as branch director of the Butler-Mason YMCA.

“It’s an honor to be included with all the previous inductees,” said Cox. “It means a lot to follow in their footsteps.”

Dollar played basketball at Ochlocknee Consolidated High School before transferring to Central High School. Dollar later served as girls basketball coach and cheerleading coach at Magnolia Middle School, which became Central Middle School. But Dollar, who helps coach softball with the YMCA, never imagined an honor like the one Tuesday night.

“No, never. I coached for several years here in town and I played basketball at Central,” said Dollar, “but never had any inclination something like this was ever going to happen.”

Elzy and Manwaring both starred on the gridiron, with Elzy at Douglass High School and Manwaring on the sidelines coaching at Thomasville and Central high schools. Manwaring played football and basketball in high school in Alabama before playing at Indiana State University. Manwaring was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.

He arrived in Thomasville in 1973 and has coached legendary local players William Andrew, Guy McIntyre, Charlie Ward and Joe Frank Burns.

Elzy played defensive guard and center for Douglass and also was the team captain. He was all-conference center, all-area defensive guard and the outstanding player for the Douglas team.

Elzy was president of the Thomasville High Touchdown and 100 Club.

Pilcher, head coach of the Thomas County Central football team, has made winning a tradition with the Yellow Jackets. Central has made the playoffs every year since arriving in Thomasville in 1991.

The Yellow Jackets won state titles in 1992, ’93, ’94, ’96 and ’97. Central was also the state runner-up in 2002.

Pilcher has been selected the Atlanta Journal-Constitution coach of the year four times. It honored him as its all-classification coach of the year in 1992.

“Obviously, it’s an honor,” said Pilcher.

“It’s not something that you go out and try to attain. It makes us feel good that people would think enough about us, our program and our family to even be considered.”