Jack Knight (March 2, 1934 – November 28, 2009)
As a young man, Judge William Daniel “Jack” Knight was among the hometown athletes of Ray City, GA. He was , son of Elias M. “Hun” Knight and Gladys Daniel Knight.
Jack Knight was raised at Ray City, GA where he attended the Ray City public schools. His father built the Mayhaw Lake Resort in 1914 and was a farmer and businessman of Ray City. Jack graduated with the Ray City High School class of 1951. He continued his education at Valdosta State College. He excelled at sports in high school and college; he was the leading scorer for the Ray City Beavers basketball team, and was a member of the first baseball team ever fielded by Valdosta State College.
Jack Knight with the 1950-51 Beavers, Ray City School boys basketball team, Ray City, GA. Team mates at Ray City included Billy Moore, Wendell Clements, Curtis Skinner, James Walter Temples, Jimmy Gaskins, Murray Comer, Thomas Studstill, Charles Scarboro, Robert Conner Jimmy Grissett, Talton Rouse, and Junior Cornelius.
Jack graduated from VSC with a Bachelor of Science degree, and went on to the University of Georgia Law School where he received his L. L. B. degree. He practiced law in Nashville, Georgia. He served as a Ray City Councilman, State Representative, and as a judge of the Superior Courts of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, 1977-1996.
Jack Knight played on the 1955 Valdosta State College baseball team. The VSC Rebel Diamondmen included Jack Knight and Murray Comer of Ray City, GA, Sam McGowen, Buck Pafford, Ashley Hill, Jack Bates, Ed Deaton, John Mobley, Gene Gray, Robert McElvey, Milton Blaine, Bob Green, Noel George, Coach Cottingham.
The Valdosta State College baseball team, under the coaching of Walter Cottingham, showed up very well under fire last year. VSC is entering its second year of intercollegiate baseball competition and has become affiliated with the Georgia Intercollegiate Baseball Conference. A total of eighteen games are scheduled for this season. Victory may not be certain but excitement is! – 1955 VSC Pinecone
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SAVE THE DATE!
Many interesting sports stories are coming to light as the Berrien County Historical Foundation prepares for an exhibit on Hometown Teams, A Smithsonian Exhibit. The Hometown Teams Exhibit opens August 13 – September 24, 2016, at the Nashville Community Center, Nashville, GA.
Related Posts:
- June 2, 1967 Jack Knight heads up Alapaha Bar
- Nazi Prisoners at Moody Field Worked Ray City Farms
- Senior Class of 1951, Ray City School
- 1951 Beaverettes Couldn’t Miss; Boys Went Afoul at Homerville
- Ray City Girls Form Athletic Club, 1947
- Queen of the Harvest celebrated Ray City Gymnasium
- Ray City plays 4 H basketball
Ray City History Blog 
Bryan Shaw said,
March 5, 2016 at 6:39 am
Thanks Jon for the great plug on the Smithsonian Hometown Teams exhibit and the Berrien Hometown Teams exhibit. Thanks for bringing the many other athletes from the county to light. On the 10th of September, as part of the Smithsonian events, there will be a Sports Recognition Night at the Old Ray City School Auditorium which will honor all athletes and supporters from all Berrien County communities. Buck Swindle of Ray City will be the speaker and Master of Ceremonies, and there will be a grand reunion of players, coaches, and fans to reminisce about their experiences in their “Hometown Team”. The public is invited and more details will follow.
Bill Outlaw said,
March 7, 2016 at 10:19 am
Great article. I knew Jack went to VSC, but did not know of his athletic prowess. Thanks.