Renomination year: 2025

Nominated by: Rob Edwards

Renominated by: Doug Strong

Nomination Category: Contributor

Sport: Golf and Basketball 

Years Participated: 2001-Present

Career Summary:

Betty Jo (Jones) White began assisting with the, then, Celina High School golf team in the 2001-2002 school year.  She was one of the first assistants and helped to get the program off of the ground, offering the students of Celina High another sport in which to participate.  She also served as head coach of the golf team for one season.

During her tenure as assistant and head coach, the Celina/Clay County High School golf team went from being a “bottom feeder” in district play to appearing in several TSSAA state tournaments. 

With golf being a non-revenue sport, Ms. White donated lots of equipment, bought lots of food, and paid several greens fees out of her own pocket through the years–all of this while also providing transportation to and from matches for many players via her personal vehicle.

Ms. White also spent many hours planning, organizing, decorating, and working various fundraisers.  These fundraisers spread beyond the golf team, as her assistance with the Father-Daughter Date Night and CCHS Basketball Golf Scramble benefitted other school teams and organizations, while having a positive impact on the entire community as well. 

Ms. White resigned as head coach from the golf team in 2020, but still continues to make an impact on CCHS Athletics with her tireless work organizing and donating to fundraisers, preparing pre-game meals for referees and officials throughout the year, and being a long-time season ticket holder.

Nominator comment:

“Betty Jo White has done more for the players, coaches, and teams of CCHS than many people will ever recognize.  She has served in ways that have kept her out of the spotlight, but the spotlight often times couldn’t have shone on anyone if not for her efforts of support.

“When someone contributes in the ways that she has, for as long as she has, without any supplement, or recognition, then I feel they are very deserving of consideration for the Clay County Sports Hall of Fame.”