Profession: Business Owner

High School: Calhoun High School

Bobby Thomas Nance, CHS graduating class of 1959, was born in Calhoun, Georgia at Johnson-Hall Clinic November 14, 1940.  Bobby was the only child of Erin Bowman Nance and Robert Paul Nance.  Bobby grew up in Resaca, Georgia on the Nance family farm where the Civil War was fought.  Bobby attended Resaca Grammar school through grade six; transferring to Calhoun Middle School in seventh grade when consolidation of schools was implemented.  Bobby played baseball and basketball throughout junior and high school.

In 1958, Bobby set the CHS basketball single game scoring record of 41 points while playing against Cassville High School in the first game after Christmas.  That record was broken by Bubba Chattam, twenty years later.  Bobby’s son, Mike, broke that scoring record by scoring 51 points in a single game in 1980.  Bobby was co-captain of the CHS team in 1958-59.

Bobby was recruited by colleges throughout the south.  He chose Oglethorpe University solely because of the OU coach, Garland Pinholster.  Garland was a strict disciplinarian.  Bobby’s father had passed when he was ten years old.  Garland was a father figure and family friend to Bobby throughout Bobby’s life.  For example, Coach Pinholster forbade marriage for his players but he gave his blessings and encouragement for Bobby to marry his high school sweetheart, Carol Johnson, after Bobby’s sophomore year in June 1961.  On June 2, 1062, Bobby’s son, Mike, was born.  Mike attended every basketball game during Bobby’s senior year.  Mike sported a uniform the exact replica as his dad.  Their photo was printed in the AJC and in many newspapers wherever Oglethorpe traveled.  Bob was captain of the Oglethorpe basketball team in 1962 and 1963.

Oglethorpe became a basketball powerhouse while Bob was there.  Garland Pinholster became a famous author having written five books on basketball.  Coach Pinholster, a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, submitted a letter to the Calhoun-Gordon County Sports Hall of Fame recommending Nance for induction. Pinholster was chosen as a Pan American trial coach and Bob was chosen as a Pan American player, one of the twelve players in the nation chosen.  In 1063 Oglethorpe was invited to play in the NCAA division.  OU went on to win the southeast regional NCAA basketball tournament in Louisville, Kentucky defeating Tennessee State for the championship to advance to the national tournament in Evansville, Indiana.  Bob was selected MVP in Louisville.  OU lost in overtime to Evansville to number one ranked college in USA at the time.  Wittenburg in the semi-finals.  Oglethorpe defeated Southern Illinois in double overtime to become third in the nation.  Bob was selected All American.

Bob played tennis while at OU competing with some SEC teams including UGA.  Oglethorpe was undefeated in 1963; the only undefeated team in Oglethorpe history.  Bob was undefeated in singles and was selected Most Valuable Player of the 1963 Oglethorpe tennis team.  Bob was awarded the distinctive David Hess Award as an outstanding senior at Olglethorpe in 1963.

In 1979 Bob was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Oglethorpe University.  Bob has served on the Oglethorpe University Board of Trustees for many years.

After graduating college Bob began playing recreational golf.  Since the mid to late sixties Bob has participated and won many golf tournaments and has been a member of teams winning national tournaments throughout the US.

Some of Bob’s past golf accomplishments include:  Two-time winner of Georgia/Alabama Invitational; Seven-time winner of Elks Club Championship; Senior Club Champion of The Farm 2002; placed sixth in North South Senior tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina 2001; Member of National Cancer Society Team that won three national tournaments at PGA in Palm Beach, Florida; won Frank Hunt golf tournament in 1978; placed second in the American Seniors 2001 stroke play at PGA Nationals in Palm Beach, Florida; placed fifth in legendary senior 60 and over in Mississippi in 2002.  Bob won the Fields Ferry Seniors championship golf tournament in the mid nineties.

Bob served on the original golf committee for Fields Ferry Golf Club.  The course was dedicated in 1992 and Nance continued to serve for ten years. Bob was co-founder of the CHS Tip Off Club and served five years as its co-president and three years as treasurer.

Bob was co-founder of Nance Carpet and Rug/Nance Industries in 1972 and continues to work there daily.  Bob was co-founder of Greenscapes Garden Products in 2000 but sold his interest in Greenscapes in 2008.

Bob and Carol have been married 54 years.  They are the parents of Mike Nance, Carrie Nance Key, and Erin Nance Hill.  They have nine grandchildren.