After a stellar career as an all-around athlete at Central High, Ronnie Armstrong went on to a storied basketball career at the University of Tennessee-Martin, where he scored over 900 total points. He was a two-time selection to the All-Volunteer Conference team, two-time team defensive player of the year and was the team MVP in his senior year of 1966. After his playing career, Armstrong returned to Savannah where he was the head basketball coach at Central High from 1966-1976.
CLASS OF 2012
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Ronnie Armstrong
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John Henry Barnhill
The name of John Henry Barnhill rings legendary in the world of college football. After excelling as a player at the University of Tennessee under head coach General Robert Neyland, Barnhill went on to become a successful head football coach at his alma mater when General Neyland was recalled to the military for World War II. When Neyland returned from the war, Barnhill was hired in 1946 as athletic director and head football coach at the University of Arkansas. He is the namesake for Barnhill Arena, the former men’s basketball and current women’s athletic facility at Arkansas.
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Hank DeBerry
Hank DeBerry is the earliest known professional athlete from Hardin County, cutting his teeth in professional baseball in 1914 at the age of 19. At 21, he made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians. In the 1920s as a member of the Brooklyn Robins, he joined forces with pitcher Dazzy Vance to form one of the greatest batteries of their era. As his catcher, DeBerry guided Vance to seven consecutive strikeout titles. DeBerry also caught the no-hitter thrown by Vance on September 23, 1925. After his playing career, DeBerry became a minor league manager and later a scout for the San Francisco Giants.
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Chad Harville
As a Hardin County High School senior in 1994, Chad Harville set the single-game school record for strikeouts with 17, but that was only the beginning of a brilliant career that would take him to major league success. He went on the University of Memphis, setting C-USA and school single-game strikeout records and the school record for strikeouts in a season. He was a 2nd round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics in 1997, and made his major league debut for Oakland on June 23, 1999. In addition to the A’s, he enjoyed a successful major league career for the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
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Felicia Sparks
No one who saw the Lady Tigers play basketball in the mid-70s will ever forget Felicia Sparks. From 1975-77, Sparks was a dominant force on the hardwood for Central High, earning a reputation across the state after once scoring 60 points in a single game. Upon completion of her high school career, she went on to star at Memphis State University, where she was selected to the Metro Conference All-Tournament team in 1980, and is among the leaders in multiple career and single season statistical categories.
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Joe Thompson
Perhaps no athlete from Hardin County has endeared themselves to local sports fans like Joe Thompson. As a starting receiver for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, Thompson fulfilled the dream of every young Hardin County player who laces up their cleats. Lettering in three seasons, Thompson’s teams compiled a record of 30-5, including an SEC Championship in 1969. He was also Sugar Bowl Champion in 1970 and Liberty Bowl Champion in 1971. He completed his career with 56 receptions, 791 yards and 5 touchdowns, and played alongside some of the greatest players in Volunteer history.
