April 24, 2019
Pictured: Terry Mixon (center) was recently inducted into the ABAC Athletics Hall of Fame. ABAC Athletics Director Alan Kramer (l) and ABAC President David Bridges (r) made the presentation.
TIFTON—Former Suwannee County High School standout Terry Mixon was recently inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
In a coaching career in the Suwannee County school system that spanned 36 years, Mixon coached varsity baseball, varsity softball, varsity bowling, varsity boys’ golf, and varsity girls’ golf.
Mixon played baseball as the starting shortstop for ABAC during the 1975 and 1976 seasons. He hit .321 in 1975 and helped lead the Golden Stallions of Coach Tom Moody to the state championship. In 1976, he hit at a .359 pace which earned him All-Conference and All-State accolades.
“We beat Middle Georgia to win the state tournament in 1975, and then Middle Georgia turned it around on us and beat us in the regional in Alabama,” Mixon said.
ABAC won the Southern Division regular season title of the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association with a 24-12 record in 1975. The team wound up 29-14 after tourney play. In 1976, ABAC finished third in the state tournament. Mixon led the team in hitting and in stolen bases.
After completing his ABAC career, Mixon committed to the University of Georgia when the Bulldogs offered him a baseball scholarship. Ultimately, he changed his mind and played his final two years of eligibility at Georgia Southern.
Mixon thrived as player in the Eagles’ uniform, leading the team in seven different offensive categories. He was one of only 12 players with his name in the .400 club and his 23 doubles stood as the school record for 17 years. During his senior year, he was selected to the All-South team and the Coaches Association team.
Drafted by the Texas Rangers after his junior year, Mixon signed with the Seattle Mariners after being drafted in the 12th round during his senior year. He played minor league ball for one week and then decided to return to Live Oak, Fla., to invest his life for the next 36 years into the young people he coached.
Mixon returned to the teaching profession two years ago at Melody Christian Academy where he enjoys watching his granddaughters play softball.
When he was a Suwannee High student, Mixon excelled in all sports, earning seven varsity letters. He was named First Team Florida Star Conference in football and baseball his junior and senior seasons and first team in basketball his senior year. He was named Most Valuable Player in both baseball and basketball and won the Paul Langford outstanding athlete award. Mixon was selected for the Suwannee High School Hall of Fame in 2009.
The 2019 ABAC Hall of Fame class also included the 1968-69 men’s basketball team, former softball standout Jenny McCarthy, former tennis star Lisa English, former football player and longtime high school coach Sidney White, and former basketball player and college basketball coach Alfred Barney.
###
