Representing Swainsboro High School, Lady Tiger basketball players from 1972-1975 recently presented a memorial plaque to Coach Jimmy Harper's wife, Lois. Mrs. Harper thanked the group for their recognition and thoughtfulness, "This is so nice. I would not have missed this for anything. Jimmy loved each one of you, and so do I." She then proceeded to give each player a big hug before the picture was taken.
From conversations among basketball teammates throughout the years, long before the names like University of Tennessee's Coach Summit or Duke University's Coach K were even known, these varsity team members and players all attest that their coach was one of the best when saying,
"We had Coach Harper.” Lady Tiger Teammates Elaine Jones Connor and Elease Turner were instrumental in getting the memorial plaque and the Lady Tiger basketball players together for this occasion. Other teammates who could not attend but sent along their deep appreciation for Coach Harper were Mary Lou Garrett Brooks, Glenice Brown Wynn, Betty Mitchell, Carolyn Parrish Pittman, Debra Nesbitt Bell, Yvette Roberts Mercer, Sheryl Harris Howard, Audrey Scott Riggins and Terri Parrish.
