Vernell Golden Holley - 2013
Vernell Golden Holley set a new standard for female athletic accomplishment during her years at Beach High School from 1952-54. As the star and captain of both the basketball and track teams, Vernell demonstrated rare athletic and leadership abilities that propelled her and her teams to championship levels. Behind Vernell’s performance in 1955, the Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team won a city championship, finished district runner-up third in the state. Vernell consistently medalled in track meets in sprints and the long jump, and she turned in a record setting performance in the 50-yard dash at a meet at Fort Valley State College. Her high school accomplishments earned an athletic scholarship to Tuskegee University, where she continued to excel at both basketball and track. She captained both the basketball team and track teams for the Tigerettes, and as one of the nation’s top female track athletes she competed in trials for both the Pan American Games and the Olympics. Vernell was inducted into the Beach High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and she will remain a trailblazer for women’s athletics in Savannah.