Profession: Retired

High School: Stephens High School

Pete Garigan was a three-year letterman and team captain for Stephens High School’s state championship basketball teams. He averaged double figures in both rebounds and scoring as a player. He was part of two state championship teams and one state runner-up. Legendary Stephens High Coach “Zeke” McDaniel said that Pete was as good a player as he’d ever coached but always put the team first. Pete is especially proud to have been part of the last team in a long line of state championships earned by Stephens’ High School, which was a historical black high school in Gordon County.

In Track & Field, Garigan was a three year letterman and a regional runner-up, as well as a top 10 finisher at the state level. Pete’s economic situation at the time prevented him from attending college as he had to work and help support his family. However, he didn’t let that dampen his love for athletics as he continued to play basketball and baseball through the Calhoun-Gordon County Recreation Department for many years.

Mr. Garigan spent 30+ years mentoring and coaching youth baseball, football and basketball at the Calhoun-Gordon County Recreation Department. Ironically, Pete never got to play the sport he loved the most, football. But he became a constant fixture in youth football as a coach and saw many first-place finishes and former players who went on to success. He coached the youth baseball district champs in 1982 and the football champions in 2008. Some of Garigan’s former youth players include, Dorian Porch (Virginia Tech football), Whit Robbins (Georgia Tech baseball) and of course his own kids, who were all star athletes. Pete is particularly proud that all three of his children went on to study at Jacksonville State University and all are serving the community in Gordon County.

He is a former captain of the Quarterback Club and board member for the Boys and Girls Club. He is a life-long resident of Gordon County and is still revered on the local sporting scene. Pete retired from General Electric in the mid-90’s and is very active in the community and his church. Mr. Garigan is also a board member of the Calhoun-Gordon County Sports Hall of Fame. Pete is married to Mary Ruth, and together they have three children: Mike, Lawrence and his wife Mary Jane, Katora and her husband Jeremy. They have four grandchildren.