Nomination Year:  2025

Nominated By:  Christie Dulworth

Nomination Category:  Athletes & Coaches

Sport: Football and Basketball

Years Participated:  1978-1981

Career Summary:

Gary Neal Bartlett is a 1981 graduate of Celina High School where he was a two-sport standout in both basketball and football.  Like his older brother James, who was a member of the inaugural Clay County Sports Hall of Fame class, Neal had a tremendous impact on sports in Bulldog Country during his career, playing basketball four years for Thomas Watson and football three years for Harold Watson.

On the court, Bartlett helped the Bulldogs to the District 7-A championship over Rickman his sophomore season in 1978.  Then as a junior in 1979, he was named to the All District Tournament team.  His senior campaign saw him help defeat the state’s 2nd-ranked team, East Robertson, in the region quarterfinals, before claiming the Region 4-A championship over Pickett County and falling 55-56 against Sale Creek in the substate round.  

On the gridiron, Bartlett’s highlights include an 83-yard rushing touchdown against Baxter and an 85-yard kickoff-return touchdown against Monterey, both as a sophomore.  As a senior, Bartlett helped his team advance to the Boyce Smith Bowl against David Lipscomb, and was named to the All-Tri-Lakes Conference defensive team.  

Nominator Comment:

“Neal was one of the best athletes of his era.  He is from a renowned athletic family, including siblings James and Diane, uncle Bobby “Mr. B,” nephew Chris, and cousins Angie and Anita, many of which are in the Clay County Sports Hall of Fame.  I feel that Neal deserves to be there with them.”