Four Inducted into UWG's Athletic Hall of Fame

The UWG Athletic Hall of Fame added four new names to the list of all-time UWG sports legends. The inductees are Marquis Floyd and Tim McClain, two former UWG football players; Paul Snyder, a baseball All-America from the ‘60s; and Dr. Gary Holmes, a baseball athlete and president of the Georgia High School Association.

Onlookers show their support as (l-r) Marquis Floyd, Dr. Gary Holmes, Paul Snyder and Tim McClain are inducted into the University of West Georgia’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

“This is an outstanding group of inductees,” said Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Jim Collins. “Their accomplishments compare favorably with any class we’ve inducted.”

Consideration for UWG’s Athletic Hall of Fame is a two-step process. Inductees must first be nominated by the West Georgia Athletic Booster Club’s Hall of Fame Committee and then approved by the Club’s Board of Directors. The result for the Class of 2008 was unanimously positive.

The inductees’ accomplishments are many. Snyder, who played baseball at UWG from 1963-67, was named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American and a three-time All Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection. Snyder was a top high school coach at College Park High and coach and athletic director at Tri-Cities High School in East Point.  

Holmes, a UWG baseball player from 1960-63, was also team captain. After graduation, he served for 30 years as president of GHSA, the governing body of preparatory athletics in the state. A native of Rome, he taught and served as principal at Pepperell High School.

McClain, class of '95 and a top linebacker at West Georgia, was a three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection. He also served as team captain on the school’s first NCAA Division II playoff team.

Floyd, who attended UWG from 1999-2002, was named All-American and was a three-time All-GSC selection. He still remains active with the San Jose Saber Cats of the Arena Football League.

The West Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame is the institution’s highest athletic honor. It was established in 1988 and continues to honor the players, coaches, administrators and others who have made a name for the UWG’s sports department. After inducting this year’s four new members, the UWG Hall of Fame now includes 80 all-time sports legends.

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