*=posthumous
W.L. “Pug” Mabry
Community Contributor W.L. “Pug” Mabry was the City of Roswell’s Mayor for 31 years from 1967 thru 1997. As Mayor and the father of two former athletes from Roswell High he was the Hornets most enthusiastic booster. In the early days he could often been seen before Home football games stringing phone wire for the Coaches. During his tenure as Mayor he was passionate about Youth Sports in the City of Roswell. During his tenure the City of Roswell purchased land for the Roswell Area Park and the Roswell Parks and Recreation became a State and nationally recognized department under his administration. During Mayor Mabry’s tenure Roswell High School participated in 20 State Championships in 8 different sports winning 10 titles. Mayor Mabry may best be remembered for his succinct response at a public hearing chaired by the Fulton County School Superintendent on the naming of the then “new” high school on King Road. He stated “ I have 3 possible recommendations: # 1 Roswell High; # 2 Roswell High School and # 3 THE Roswell High School.”
*William “Bill” Hobbs – Community Contributor
Community Contributor William “Bill” Hobbs participated in Roswell High School Athletics for nearly 45 years. He was a fixture at Roswell Football and Baseball games most notably as a Team Statistician and confidant for the Coaches. “Coach Hobbs” as he was affectionately known to the hundreds of athletes that came thru Roswell High was supremely loyal and volunteered countless hours towards the youth of Roswell as a long standing member of the City of Roswell Recreation Commission. If there was an equivalent of Mount Rushmore for Roswell High “Coach Hobbs” face would be on it. In the end we are all both Givers and Takers. We hope that we have given more than we have taken. No one has ever given more to the Youth of the City of Roswell and Roswell High School than “Coach Hobbs.”
*R.T. “Skipper” Hoke
Bio Coming Soon
Keith Hicks – Community Contributor
Keith Hicks was a significant contributor during the 1980s and 1990s in making the Roswell Athletic Program the envy of all. As a member of the Athletic Booster Club (at the time there was only one Booster Club that covered all sports), he worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to promote and support all athletic activities. He installed, at no cost to the school, upgraded sound systems to both the stadium and gymnasium. For many years he was instrumental in organizing and promoting the annual Booster Club Golf Tournament, which was always an amazing financial success and always legendary fun. Keith is a wonderful example of the Roswell community, who gave unselfishly of his time and talents in striving to create the best atmosphere and facilities that Roswell Athletics deserved.
Reverend Dr. Malone Dodson – Community Contributor
Full Bio Coming Soon
Reverend Dr. Malone Dodson was the senior pastor of Roswell United Methodist Church from 1977-2001. During this time, he was an avid supporter of RHS Athletics.
Dick Huguley -Community Contributor
Dick Huguley was President of the RHS Booster Club for five years in the 1990s. During this time, RHS summer camps for all sports were instituted, funds were raised for new baseball and softball fields, and funds were raised to enhance the football stadium, tennis courts, athletic fields, and the auditorium.
*Tom Zachary – School/Community Contributor
Full Bio Coming Soon
Tom Zachary was the Principal of Roswell High School from 1989 – 1998. During Mr. Zachary’s nine-year tenure as Principal, eight state championships were won by RHS Athletic teams to include the 1997 4A Boys Basketball State Championship team. The J. Tom Zachary Court now bears his name in the Roswell High School gymnasium. The Tom Zachary VIP Award is given each year to those students selected by their teachers for going above and beyond in the classroom.
*David Sonenberg – Community Contributor
David Allen Sonenberg was born in Atlanta and attended Campbell of Smyrna High School, until his family moved to Miami, Florida. He attended the University of Miami and was a four year letter winner and 1st Baseman on the Miami Baseball team.
Upon graduation from Miami, David enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1974. In 1975, David moved his family to Roswell. He served the Roswell community for over 40 years. While leading the “Sonenberg Company” a highly successful commercial real estate company, David’s community involvement and “good works” were many. He was instrumental in founding the “North Fulton Community Charities” and served as its President from 1983 – 2007. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the “North Fulton Child Development Association” and was an Elder in the Roswell Presbyterian Church. David was a long-time member of the Roswell Rotary Club, the Roswell Bulldog Club, and coached for many years in the Roswell Recreation Department, where he also served as a Board Member on the Roswell Recreation Commission.
David’s love and support for Roswell High School spanned decades. He was a founding member of the “Roswell High School Foundation” where his efforts were instrumental in the construction of “Ray Manus Stadium,” the sports complex, and the auditorium at Roswell High School.
David was also a founding Board Member of the “Roswell High School Athletic Hall of Fame” and actively served on the Operating Committee until his passing on January 24th, 2021.
*John Coen Sr.
Community Contributor John P. Coen Sr. participated in Roswell High School Athletics from 1968 until his passing in 2001. Mr. Coen a native of Jersey City, N.J. was transferred from his office in Wilmington, Delaware to Roswell in 1968. He became President of the Roswell All-Sports Booster Club for two years including the 1970-71 school year when Roswell High became the first Georgia High School to capture State Championships in football, basketball, and baseball all in the same year. Mr. Coen coached in the City of Roswell’s Connie Mack Baseball program for over 30 years. He honed his coaching skills while serving in the U.S. Air Force as a member of Air Force base teams. He coached youth football and officiated girls softball and girls basketball. For over 25 years, he volunteered in the Roswell High School’s football press box and baseball dugout keeping statistics and/or announcing. Mr. Coen was appointed by the Mayor of Roswell to serve on the City of Roswell Recreation Commission beginning in 1977. In January of 2001, he was selected as the “State Volunteer of the Year” by the Georgia Recreation and Parks Society. In his retirement years, Mr. Coen became known as “Super Sub” at Roswell High School, substitute teaching for over ten years. He could often be seen at numerous high school athletic and school events. Mr. Coen had a passion for Roswell High Students and Staff and was always involved while his four children attended and graduated from Roswell High in the 70’s. Upon his passing in 2001, the Roswell High Senior Class of 2002 dedicated their Yearbook to his memory. In 2005, the Roswell Athletic Department named the Roswell High Baseball facility “John P. Coen Sr. Field.” Mr. Coen will fondly be remembered for his two favorite sayings, “anything is possible as long as you don’t care who gets the credit” and “All I need is a kind word and a smile.”
*Rick Hawkins
Community Contributor Rickard S. Hawkins Sr. enjoyed a lifelong relationship with Roswell High School athletics and the community as a whole. As a member of Roswell High School’s 1955 graduating class, Rick was extensively involved in the school’s athletic programs both on and off the field. Rick was the captain of the football team, a long-standing record holder in the pole-vaulting, and a member of the basketball team. Off the field, Rick planted the dogwoods that lined the drive to the high school and personally seeded, fertilized and maintained the football field. In addition to his participation in the school’s athletic programs, Rick also showed his support as a member of the high school band, playing at half time before returning to the field for the second half of the game. After high school, Rick attended the University of Georgia, where he majored in Animal Husbandry. Prior to his senior year, Rick married his high school sweetheart, and fellow Roswell native, Norma Fields. Following graduation and three years of service in the Air Force, Rick and Norma returned home to Roswell to raise their three children: Rick, Tonya and Jade. Upon returning home, Rick and Norma were actively involved in the Roswell community. Rick became especially involved in Roswell athletics. In addition to coaching youth football, Rick was President of the Roswell Youth Football Association For over thirty years, Rick volunteered to film the Roswell High School football games and on occasion would film baseball and basketball games as well. He also resumed seeding, fertilizing, and maintaining the football field until the county took over maintenance duties. His contributions to the community extended beyond athletics and into the community. Rick was President of both the Roswell and Regional Jaycee organizations. The Roswell community has always been and continues to be a very important part of the Hawkins family history. Rick and Norma went on to see their children and grandchildren participate in Roswell athletics and graduate from their alma mater. The community was an essential part of shaping not only Rick but also his family, and in return, Rick Hawkins desired to give back to the community, school, and athletic programs that had given him so much.
Robert Smith
Community Contributor Robert Smith participated in Roswell High School Athletics for 45 years. Robert grew up in Winter Park, Florida and upon graduation from High School accepted a Basketball Scholarship to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Robert graduated in 1976 from Florida Southern with a degree in Mathematics and immediately went to work with his brother at the Balfour Company in Atlanta that same year. After purchasing a house in Roswell, Robert began coaching for the Roswell Recreation and Parks Department. For the next 22 years he coached basketball, baseball, and softball. In 1992 thru 2010, Robert volunteered on the chain crew for all Roswell High home football games and noted “It was the greatest seat in the house!” Robert and his wife Peggy held numerous positions with the Roswell All-Sports Booster Club as their children reached High School age. Robert co-chaired the Roswell Booster Club Annual Golf Tournament and twice served as Vice President for the Booster Club. When the Roswell Foundation was created in 1990-91 to provide funds for athletic facilities at the “new” Roswell High School on King Road, Robert and Peggy were Charter members and served as Treasurers. Together with David Sonenberg and Don Crain, Robert was instrumental in starting the Roswell High School feeder programs in basketball for both Boys and Girls known as the Junior Hornets. In the summers of 1995 and 1996, Robert assisted Ray Pohlman in coaching the Boys AAU Basketball team which qualified for the National AAU Tournament. That team, which included Robert’s son Abe, laid the groundwork for Roswell High School’s 1997 AAAA State Championship in Basketball. During the next several seasons, Robert continued to coach both JV and Freshman Boys Basketball teams. Robert and Peggy are especially proud of their three children, all of whom graduated from Roswell High School.
Jeff Pruitt – Community Contributor
Bio Coming Soon
Don Howard – Community Contributor
Bio Coming Soon
Trummie Patrick – Community Contributor
Bio Coming Soon
David Young – School/Community Contributor
David Young, in 1983, came to Rowell as a successful athlete from both the high school and college level, primarily in baseball and with a degree in Physical Therapy. He had a vision of establishing a specialty in Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. His goal was to assist the local high school with early diagnosis and care for the injured student athlete, as well as serving the needs of the Roswell community in these areas.
David immediately went to work in pursuing the In-Patient and Out-Patient Departments at the newly built North Fulton Medical Center (now a hospital in Roswell), At the same time, he was establishing a strong relationship with the growing athletic program at
Roswell High School.
In 1988 David founded his private practice, North Fulton Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine. It is still strongly serving Roswell High athletic programs and community needs. During these 30+ years David has also encouraged and helped to train hundreds of high school students to play an important role as trainers, not only at Roswell High, but many have gone on to serve at various colleges and to pursue Physical Therapy as a career choice.
David has been a member of the Roswell Rotary Club for 37 years and served as President in 2003-2004, winning Club of the Year, Club of the Decade, the Sheffield Leadership Award, and the Elwyn Gaissert, Sr, Service Above Self Award. David’s love and total commitment of time and energy to the athletic program at Roswell High is unsurpassed.
