By Robert Hydrick - bio | email
February 3, 2009
AMERICUS, GA (WALB) -
Georgia Southwestern is inviting fans to watch history in the making and to help a good cause on Wednesday night.Georgia Southwestern will retire the jersey of Willy Mathis before Wednesday's game with Armstrong Atlantic. Mathis' will be the first basketball jersey retired by the school
He played basketball and ran track at GSW in the early 1970's and was inducted into the school hall of fame in 2007 just before he died from cancer.
In addition, all gate proceeds from the Armstrong Atlantic game will be donated to Madeline's Mission.
Madeline's Mission buys teddy bears for transplant patients at Sumter Regional, Phoebe Putney and Egleston Children's hospital in Atlanta.
The project is named in memory of Willy Mathis' granddaughter Madeline Wildes.
The eight month Wildes died from meningitis last year.
Athletic director Jaclyn Kaylor is hoping a big crowd will come out for a very special night.
Jaclyn Kaylor said. "When my athletes leave here, I want them to be like Willy and become a productive citizen who gives back to their community. It is a bigger picture and greater picture here that we are involved here that we want people to see, especially for Madeline's Mission. They are doing such a good thing. If we can contribute to it in anyway that is what we want to do."
The jersey retirement ceremony will take place just before the tip of tomorrow night's men's game which will start around 7:30 p.m..
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