Houston County High School’s literary team has once again reached the top, claiming their fourth consecutive state championship and securing their legacy as one of the strongest programs in Georgia. The Bears are now 5A State Literary Champions for the fourth year in a row, an incredible achievement that reflects years of dedication, growth, and excellence.
The team is led by Talmadge “Tee” Smith Jr. and Melanie Davis. Smith, the son of Bonnie Rose Smith and the late Talmadge Smith Sr., serves as the school’s Choral Director and Head Coach of the Literary Team. Under his guidance, Houston County High has built a tradition of consistent success at both the Region and State levels.
Each March, teams across Georgia compete in Literary events such as Vocal Solo, Trio, and Quartet, Dramatic, Humorous, and Duo Interpretation, Domestic and International Extemporaneous Speaking, and the Literary, Argumentative, and Personal Essay categories. First-place regional winners advance to state to once again compete, and then the points are tallied to determine the overall champion.
This year’s win was particularly special for the Smith family. Tripp Smith, son of Tee and Stephanie Smith, contributed to the state title as a member of the quartet and also competed in the Boys Solo event. Now a junior, Tripp continues to carry forward his family’s passion for music and performance, helping his team achieve yet another remarkable milestone.
