DeLoach, Willie - Football, 2007
Willie DeLoach was a graduate of Thompkins High School (1966-69). He was a three-sport letterman participating in football, baseball, and track and field. He played football for Coach Joe Turner; and in his senior year rushed for 1,100 yards. He also scored 27 touchdowns during his career at Thompkins. DeLoach was All-City and honorable mention All-State in 1968. After graduating, DeLoach attended Alabama A&M, but dropped out after only one semester when his grades suffered due his extensive training schedule. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he became an MP and spent two and a half years in Okinawa. During this time, DeLoach also played on an Army football team that only lost two games. Once again stateside, DeLoach attended Murray State University from 1973-75, where he played as a wide receiver on the football team. He holds Murray State team records for most kickoff return yards in a season (622 in 1973), also an Ohio Valley Conference. He also set a record with the most kickoff return yards in a career (1,571). In 1973, he had a kickoff return average of 21.2. DeLoach went on to earn an All-Ohio Valley Conference in 1975 as a wide receiver. After getting his teacher certification certificate from Armstrong Atlantic State University in 1983, Willie became a teacher for the Savannah-Chatham County School System for twenty-three years. He coached football, baseball, basketball, and track for twenty years. DeLoach was also a Georgia High School Association basketball official for thirteen years.