Former UGA multi-sport athlete and legendary high school coach Billy Henderson died Wednesday at the age of 89. According to a media release from the university, Henderson was a two-sport standout for the Bulldogs in the late 1940s. He played on the 1946 and 1948 SEC Championship football teams and was a three-time MVP in baseball.
Henderson coached at Jefferson High School, Athens High, Furman University, and the University of South Carolina before returning to Athens to coach at Clarke Central High School.
His overall head coaching record was 285-107-16. Over the years, the success of his teams were not limited to football, owning three state championships in baseball, one in swimming and numerous region titles in all three sports. Also, well over 125 of his players earned college scholarships.
He was honored in March of 1993 by more than 800 people who turned out for “A Tribute to Billy” in celebration of Billy Henderson Day in Athens.
He also founded the Athens Hall of Fame and conducted youth football camps at the YMCA.