D1 Joins Rossville Athletics Scholarship Team

While Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts are preparing for the 2009 season opener the elite NFL quarterback's company, D1, is joining with Elite Athletic Events for a Middle/High school baseball and softball combine at D1 Chattanooga on Sat., Oct. 3. Local athletes will participate in demonstrations, testing and competition at the D1 facility off of Gunbarrel Road in Chattanooga.

During the event, athletes will perform a variety of skills and agility drills including pro-Agility, 3-Corner Drill, 30-yard dash, Vertical Jump and Standing Broad Jump. In conjunction with the D1 Sports Foundation, $10 from every event registration will be donated to the Rossville Athletics Scholarship Fund. The donation will be allocated to scholarship underprivileged athletes who cannot afford league registration fees.

No Child Left Out!

After more than eight years, the City of Rossville restored its city-run athletic department in January.

It is an honor to be the athletic director of a city with such a storied past in athletics and recreation. Rossville is my hometown and I’m proud to say that.

Working together, Rossville athletics can return to the glory and pride it once gave to the area. Many of us would not be successful today had it not been for the direction that Walt Lauter and his athletics department offered.

However, to return the program to the level to provide the services needed by the youth in our area we need your help.

Many of the families who want their children to participate in sports in our area cannot afford the fees.

In fact, I know there are children in our area who want to play football or be a cheerleader that can’t because the parents don’t have the funds to pay $65 to play, plus the cost of a helmet, shoulder pads and shoes that are not provided.

During the baseball/softball season, more than 50 parents/guardians of children could not afford to pay the fees.

This is sad but true.

I do not want any child left out. In more than 35 years coaching youth sports, I have never had to tell a child they cannot play.

I know what a difference sports can make in the life of a child.

Rossville Athletics is creating a scholarship plan for those who need it. Any business, church, civic organization, or individual may become a part of this scholarship team.

Let me know how you would like to help.

Please make your donations to the Rossville Recreation Department and it will go directly/and only to the scholarship fund.Thanks

Stump Martin
Athletic Director
423-463-4461

Mayor Johnny Baker Elected to Regional Post

Mayor Johnny Baker was recently elected to the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) board of directors during its annual meeting in Savannah.

The Rossville mayor for more than nine years will be the president of GMA’s District 1 that includes cities in Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield counties.

“I have long been involved in GMA from standpoint of a member,” Mayor Baker said. “I felt with the excellence it provides to the cities of Georgia it was time to step to the plate and help GMA.

GMA executive director Jim Higdon said Mayor Baker was well respected by his colleagues and will provide great leadership to the cities in his region.

Mayor Baker has been one of the biggest supporters of Rossville Athletics and his new post will open up more avenues for the city's athletic program.

2009 Football Registration

Football and Cheerleading sign-up Ages 5-12 ... $65 ... July 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30 and Sept. 1

Rossville Bulldogs World Series Bound

The Rossville Bulldogs 6-under All-star baseball team will take part in opening ceremonies on July 16 in Sonoraville, Georgia for the Dizzy Dean 6-under World Series. The team is coached by the world famous Rip Perkins. Pool play begins on Friday in Gordon County. Good luck to Rip and his Bulldogs.

Football and Cheerleading Sign-ups

The Rossville Athletics Department began fall youth sports signups Tuesday July 14th at the Community Center next to Hutcheson Memorial Field.

Parents and guardians may register their children from ages 5-12 for the Rossville Bulldogs tackle football teams and cheerleading squads on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., or on Saturdays from 9:00 to noon until August 1.

Registration for Football and cheerleading is $65 per child with discounts for more than one per family.

The cutoff birthday per age group is May 1.

The teams will play the 2009 season on historic Hutcheson Memorial Field.

For more information, call Rossville Athletics at 423-463-4461.

In The News

By Scott Herpst
Walker County Messenger

Rossville High School graduate and longtime north Georgia sports media personality Marvin "Stump" Martin officially took office as Director of Athletics for the city of Rossville on Jan. 1.
Martin, 55, will oversee every form of athletics and recreation in the city of Rossville.

"I want to thank Mayor Johnny Baker, Rick Buff and the rest of the Rossville City Council for giving me this opportunity," Martin said. "Rossville is a little behind the times in keeping up with the athletics in other cities and counties in the area and the state, but we’re going to get it back."
Martin, a 1971 graduate of Rossville, began coaching youth sports in 1968. He has continued to coach kids of all ages in various sports the past 40 years.

"Working with kids has kept me young," said Martin, who has hosted a local television sports show in the area for the last 25 years. "Now, I get to work with kids on a daily basis. God’s really blessed me."

Baker said the city was serious about getting its athletics back to the level it achieved years ago.
"We’ve had a well-run organization, but as a city we’ve kind of taken the easy way out and not gotten involved," he explained. "But the council wants to get back in it and we all agreed that Stump was the guy to take the department to the next level.

"He’s a good promoter and he’ll make good use of the facilities in place and expand on them. The city and the area are growing and we want to capitalize on it. We’re fortunate to be able to bring him in and we’re going to support him and let him work."

Baker added that the city wants to be able to cater to the needs of its growing population.
"We want every child to be involved in something positive 12 months out of the year," he said. "We feel good that we’ll be able to do it."

Martin said he plans to use facilities, such as the Rossville City Park, Hutcheson Memorial Field and the old Rossville High gym, to bring the city’s athletics back to life.

"This city was built on athletics and used to have state championship teams," he said. "I want to see it that way again. We have the facilities in place and the city has made a commitment. If anyone wants to beat Rossville in anything, they better do it now."

Martin said that he wants to have the area’s best programs for baseball, softball, football, basketball and soccer and that multiple groups have already expressed interest about holding tournaments and events in the city.

"We’re going to make it exciting to come to Rossville," he said. "We’re going to strive to have the best facilities, the best concessions and the nicest people running them."

Martin said getting to run Rossville’s athletics held special meaning for him because of his relationship with the late Walt Lauter, who headed up the department for many years.
"When I was a kid I followed Walt around all the time every day," he explained. "To get to do the same thing he did with the same facilities he used is very sentimental for me and very special."

Martin thanked Frank Seabolt and Scott Murdoch at Boynton for helping him "get up to speed on how things run" and former Rossville Youth Association president Carthell Rogers for his efforts.

"I truly appreciate everything Carthell did," Martin added. "I wanted him to stay on with us, but it just didn’t work out."