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News |
Michael D. Chason |
IMMEDIATE MARCH 29, 2007
ALUMNUS CHRONICLES EARLY BASKETBALL SEASONS AT
ABAC
TIFTON – The Golden
Stallions of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College had a terrific year on the
basketball court this season with a 27-5 overall record and a second place
finish in the state tournament.
Now Bob Gressette of Tifton, a 1957 ABAC alumnus
and son of former ABAC head coach Bruce Gressette, wants hoop fans to relive
some of the winning seasons of the past in a brand new book titled “A History
of ABAC
“It seems
to me that we are prone to forget what has transpired,” Gressette said. “I
thought a history needed to be put together in one volume to hopefully preserve
part of our past for a concise central record.”
Gressette focused on this time in history and
basketball in particular partly because of his father’s involvement in the
sport, but also because he wanted to know more about ABAC’s basketball history
prior to 1945. Gressette chose to start
with the 1933 season because that is when the college changed its name to its
present day title from the Georgia State College For Men.
“In my research, there were some seasons where I
found a lot of information, but there were also seasons where there was no
written record anywhere,” Gressette said. “I went through microfilms,
yearbooks, old copies of the student newspaper, and anything else I could find
to get an accurate record for the book.”
While searching for
information, Gressette also came across some anecdotes involving the basketball
teams of the past.
“I thought it was a hoot that
our team went to play at a tournament out of town and were housed in a jail
during their stay,” Gressette said. “I was also very interested in learning
about the original gymnasium where Thrash Gymnasium now sits.”
Gressette talked to players of years gone by and
other former ABAC students.
“The people I talked to were instrumental in
helping me to compile my information for this book,” Gressette said.
Gressette donated three books to ABAC and one to
the Tift County Public Library as a thank you for all of the help he received
while researching the Stallions basketball history. One book was donated to
Baldwin Library, one to the Office of Development and Alumni, and one to the
Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
“I was glad that I was able to get my facts
straight about not just basketball, but the history of the college,” Gressette
said. “I hope this brings attention to the book, not Robert Gressette. I think
my father would be pleased. He didn’t have an ego or seek the limelight, but he
would be pleased.”
Bruce Gressette taught Mathematics at ABAC from
1945 until his death in 1963. He also served as basketball coach, track and
cross-county coach, athletics director, and headed the Department of
Mathematics. Gressette Gymnasium is
named for him.
Gressette plans to write another book focusing on
the short-lived
For a copy of Gressette’s ABAC basketball book,
interested persons can contact him at (229) 382-5610.
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