One of the few men in Polk County’s modern history who has done a lot to help put this town on the map and keep it there for decades has died.

Howard “Doc” Ayers, who was one of six members of the Cedartown Sports Hall of Fame honored with a statue in his lifetime as well as the renaming of Cedartown Memorial Stadium’s field to Doc Ayers Field, was 99 years old.

Born in Toccoa, Georgia, to Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Ayers on October 30, 1921. He came to Northwest Georgia at first during his high school career, which took him to The Darlington School in Rome as a halfback.

He played with the Georgia Bulldogs during his college years with a scholarship, and later went on to coach the school’s B team following an injury as a student trainer in 1946 and 1947.

His first head coaching job was with Lavonia High School where he coached from 1947 to 1949 amassing a 21-7-1 record with the Bulldogs before he came to Cedartown in the 1950s and began amassing a big name for himself with the hometown Bulldogs.

His time with the Bulldogs until 1963 saw him take two region championships, a state title in 1963, and enter the playoffs six times during his run.

Ayers joined the Georgia Bulldogs again as an Assistant Coach under legendary Head Caoch Vince Dooley in 1964, where he remained for 17 years. He was responsible for the freshman team where he went 28-12, and was part of the recruiting program.

Following his coaching career and among his many accomplishments, Ayers joined forces with Ray Beck and created the Ayers-Beck Celebrity Golf Tournament which has been an ongoing fundraising effort for decades, and annually gives back to many community organizations around Polk County including scholarships for high school seniors at Cedartown and Rockmart High Schools.

Ayers was honored as the Class AAA Coach of the Year, was inducted in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Piedmont College Hall of Fame.

He leaves behind three children and many grandchildren.

Arrangements have not yet been made. A more complete obituary will be forthcoming. Check back for additional updates as they become available.