The Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame (GSAHOF) will induct the Class of 2019 and honor the 2019 Lawton M. Calhoun Award winner and the recipient of the 2019 M.A. Spellman Special Award on May 6 at The Savannah Civic Center.

The GSAHOF will also recognize the city’s best high male and female high school athletes in volleyball, softball, baseball, football, basketball and soccer.

Each year, the GSAHOF inducts four Athletes and two Citation recipients and presents the area’s most accomplished high school athlete with the Lawton M. Calhoun Award. Additionally, the GSAHOF presents the M.A. Spellman Special Award to an individual or organization that has made a resounding impact on the community through sports, and the best high school athletes in football, boys’ and girls’ basketball, volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, baseball and softball are honored.

The Athletes being inducted this year include Georgia Golf Hall of Fame member Martha Stacy Leach, former Savannah High School and University of Georgia basketball player Lucius Foster, Jr., former Benedictine and University of Georgia football player Louis J. Freedman and former Benedictine, UGA and NFL football player Josh Mallard. This year’s Citation recipients include longtime youth sports advocate and former Groves basketball coach John McGinty and former Savannah Country Day School girls’ basketball coach Dale Parker.

The Lawton M. Calhoun Award will be presented to Calvary Day School senior Basia Peragine, who lead the Lady Cavaliers to three consecutive state championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and was a Class A All State selection in 2017 and 2018. The M.A. Spellman Award will be given to Dick McAllaster, who launched lacrosse in Savannah and won the city’s first lacrosse state championship as Benedictine’s head coach, and whose efforts through the RIP10 Foundation are responsible for funding middle school and varsity lacrosse programs through the city.

A cocktail reception precedes the induction ceremony beginning at 6 pm, and the induction ceremony begins at 7 pm. Tickets for the induction ceremony are $25 apiece and may be purchased by contacting the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame at (912) 351-3853 or (912) 247-8925.