Do you know what you can find if you just know where to look? 
It is truly amazing the things that are out there just waiting to be discovered, or maybe rediscovered. I am sure that I am not the first one to learn this or even to write it down. I claim no original thought here.
A couple of visits to a trophy case filled with “older” awards can lead to worlds of long lost treasures and interesting stories. Two such examples are to follow:
Last fall, thanks to the previous seven graduating classes, we finished our row of trophy cases in the “lobby” of the Harold Lee Scott Gymnasium. During a cross country meet, I was scoping out the athletic trophies in the auditorium cases for those of the region/district championship variety to move to the final piece of the new case. I was going through the process of consolidating all such awards into the newer, more visible cases.
A trophy that jumped out at me on that occasion was a tall football trophy inscribed with “Champions 1944.” It is not engraved with First District Championship as are the 1940 or 1947 football trophies, but it would seem to be an understood thing. 
What immediately intrigued me was the fact that, according to all I have ever been told, Sylvania High School forfeited all of its games that year for using ineligible players. Sylvania Telephone editor Enoch Autry was with me when I made that discovery and is still waiting on my story on that. 
I promise it will come.
A couple of months later when I actually moved the trophies, I made an even greater discovery -- that being a state championship of which I was not familiar.
As I went in search of region championship, sub-region championship or region runner-up trophies to move to their new location, I began pulling out these ancient trophies -- the 1940 district championship is now 70 years ago -- and adding them to my boxes ready to move.
I knew that there were trophies from Central High School in the case. 
Those that met the qualifications -- theirs were not GHSA region championships. They instead were GIA (Georgia Interscholastic Association) District IX titles set to make the move. 
I was quickly drawn to one track trophy that stood just a little taller than the baseball, basketball and other track trophies. As I looked at it and got it turned so as to be able to read it, it was engraved with the marking of “GIA Class AA 1969 Champions.”
Was this a state championship trophy? It sure sounded like one.
A trip to the archives of the Sylvania Telephone followed and there it was. On the front page of the May 2, 1969, paper, complete with picture, was the headline: “Central High School Girls’ Track Team Wins State Championship in Class AA.
Wow!!!!!
There are certain things that I figure I should know. I believe that there may be certain things that some folks expect me to know. Of course, it is a simple fact that every day I learn something new. 
When I reach the point that I am not learning anything new, I reckon I will have lost my mind. Sometimes even now I think that may already be happening.
Included in the things I figure I ought to know is that Central High School claimed a state championship in girls track. Had I known, we would have honored them in pregame ceremonies last football season on their 40th anniversary. 
Now we will have to wait until 41. 
Everyone should now know or now remember the ladies in that championship photograph.
Those ladies are/were Reather Mae Robinson, Jerry Ann Roberts, Carolyn Barnes, Gwendolyn Smith, Rosemary Smith, Coach (now Oliver mayor) Justine Thomas Brown, Mary Alice Johnson, Jessie Lee Hunter, Mildred Burton, Corine Johnson and Gwendolyn Kirkland.
I will write more on this distinguished group as I learn more. Their trophy is now on display in a permanent case in the SCHS Media Center along with numerous other trophies from Central High School including band, drum major, drama and sports awards.
Anyway, isn’t it amazing what you can find if you know where to look, even if you did not know you were looking for it?
By the way, the 1961 Region 2A championship football trophy is missing. 
Any help out there?
           
Burton Kemp Jr. is a contributing writer to the Sylvania Telephone.