Giles, William F. “Billy” - 1989
Billy Giles was an outstanding athlete, but was even more valuable to the community as an official and supporter of athletics. After a playing career that included starting positions on the University of Georgia baseball team and the Armstrong State College basketball teams, Giles started refereeing in the 1950s.
He has served as president of the Savannah Umpires for over 30 years, and was named commissioner of District 7 of the Georgia American Softball Association in 1970. He held that post for 17 years, and was inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame in 1988.
Giles is also the founder of the Savannah Holiday Basketball Classic, a tournament for varsity and junior varsity teams, which is one of the City’s largest sport events during the Christmas holidays. The tournament has been running since 1973.