Stephens County to induct nine into Athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 29

Before the Indians’ home football game versus Cedar Shoals at The Reservation on Friday, August 29, Stephens County High School will induct nine new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ken Swilling, a four-sport letterman at SCHS and Georgia Tech All-American, is the star of the second Hall of Fame class. Swilling received numerous accolades, including Parade All-American, first-team All-State, and AJC Super 11, and he helped guide the Indians to the North Georgia title game in his senior year.In July 2025, Vincent Turner and Harper Lebel’s sports talk radio program, 100 Yards of Football, featured Ken Swilling as their featured guest. (Image from a livestream)

Swilling was named to the consensus All-America team at Georgia Tech and played a significant role on the 1990 national championship squad. After being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Swilling played for Cleveland, Arizona, and New England in the NFL. He received inductions into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 2000.

Additional inductees include:

• Julius Dixon (Class of 1985) was a four-sport letterman who competed in baseball, track, football, and wrestling. He played football at Furman University after serving as captain of the football and track teams. Dixon is a football coach and teacher at the moment.

• The first head football coach following the 1971 merger of SCHS and Toccoa High School was Charlton Veazey. In its first season, Veazey guided the team to a 9-1 regular season. He had previously been the athletic director and head football coach at Greene County High School. In 1953, he received a letter in football from UGA. In 2011, Veazey passed away.

• In the late 1980s, Shana Smith was a four-year starter for the Lady Indians basketball team. In her senior year, her teams advanced to the state finals and won three regional titles. She graduated second in career scoring and was named to the All-State team. Smith, who graduated from Dartmouth College, is currently employed in Washington, D.C., as a managing director.

• Charlie Greene: Greene led the Indians to their first-ever victory over Gainesville and a long playoff run in 1977 while serving as head football coach from 1975 to 1984. In 1975 and 1977, his teams were the winners in their regions. Charlie Ward, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy, was coached by him at Thomas County Central after he left Stephens County.

  
  

• A multisport athlete, Anthony Harrison received letters in baseball, football, and track. During his football career, he recorded 11 interceptions and was selected All-State in 1982. He later played for Georgia Tech. He batted in baseball.653 in his final year and won MVP honors.

• Lance Skelton: A notable figure in the late 1970s in track, basketball, and football. Skelton was named All-State and led the defense for the football team that won the 1977 area championship. He finished second in the 110-meter hurdles at the state track competition and assisted the basketball team in making it to the Final Four. He was a Georgia Tech football player.

• Jerry Brown: A seasoned educator and coach who oversaw the girls’ basketball team for thirty-three years, winning five regional titles and making fifteen trips to the state tournament. His team made it to the AAA state championships in 1989. During his 42-year career in school, Brown also coached baseball and tennis and was an assistant football coach for 23 years.

• Eldorado Cochran: A standout running back in the region titles in 1987 and 1988. He received All-State recognition and was voted Region 8-AAA Running Back of the Year both years. Cochran played collegiate football at Troy University and Northeast Oklahoma A&M. He also took part in the Georgia-Florida All-Star Game.

• Leigh Wilbanks: A vital member of the Lady Indians basketball team from 1984 to 1987, he helped the team win three regional championships and make it to the 1987 state finals. During her final season, she was voted All-State and Area Player of the Year. Wilbanks received letters in tennis, cross country, and track as well. She was recognized as a top 10 cadet in the class of 1991 while playing basketball at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she also held the positions of squadron commander and team captain.

Julius Dixon (Class of 1985) was a four-sport letterman who competed in baseball, track, football, and wrestling. He played football at Furman University after serving as captain of the football and track teams. Dixon is a football coach and teacher at the moment.

The first head football coach following the 1971 merger of SCHS and Toccoa High School was Charlton Veazey. In its first season, Veazey guided the team to a 9-1 regular season. He had previously been the athletic director and head football coach at Greene County High School. In 1953, he received a letter in football from UGA. In 2011, Veazey passed away.

In the late 1980s, Shana Smith was a four-year starter for the Lady Indians basketball team. In her senior year, her teams advanced to the state finals and won three regional titles. She graduated second in career scoring and was named to the All-State team. Smith, who graduated from Dartmouth College, is currently employed in Washington, D.C., as a managing director.

Charlie Greene: Greene led the Indians to their first-ever victory over Gainesville and a long playoff run in 1977 while serving as head football coach from 1975 to 1984. In 1975 and 1977, his teams were the winners in their regions. Charlie Ward, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy, was coached by him at Thomas County Central after he left Stephens County.

A multisport athlete, Anthony Harrison received letters in baseball, football, and track. During his football career, he recorded 11 interceptions and was selected All-State in 1982. He later played for Georgia Tech. He batted in baseball.653 in his final year and won MVP honors.

Lance Skelton: A notable figure in the late 1970s in track, basketball, and football. Skelton was named All-State and led the defense for the football team that won the 1977 area championship. He finished second in the 110-meter hurdles at the state track competition and assisted the basketball team in making it to the Final Four. He was a Georgia Tech football player.

Jerry Brown: A seasoned educator and coach who oversaw the girls’ basketball team for thirty-three years, winning five regional titles and making fifteen trips to the state tournament. His team made it to the AAA state championships in 1989. During his 42-year career in school, Brown also coached baseball and tennis and was an assistant football coach for 23 years.

Eldorado Cochran: A standout running back in the region titles in 1987 and 1988. He received All-State recognition and was voted Region 8-AAA Running Back of the Year both years. Cochran played collegiate football at Troy University and Northeast Oklahoma A&M. He also took part in the Georgia-Florida All-Star Game.

Leigh Wilbanks: A vital member of the Lady Indians basketball team from 1984 to 1987, he helped the team win three regional championships and make it to the 1987 state finals. During her final season, she was voted All-State and Area Player of the Year. Wilbanks received letters in tennis, cross country, and track as well. She was recognized as a top 10 cadet in the class of 1991 while playing basketball at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she also held the positions of squadron commander and team captain.

On August 29, the Hall of Fame ceremony will be held before to kickoff.