Howard "Doc" Ayers

Howard Edwards "Doc" Ayers (October 30, 1921 – December 19, 2020), was an American high school and college football coach.

Career Football career Ayers played high school football in his hometown of Toccoa, Georgia and at Darlington high school in Rome, Georgia. He played halfback. Ayers earned All Mid Conference honors and went to the University of Georgia on a scholarship he had received where he also played football. While playing at Georgia, Ayers sustained a knee injury at practice that ended his football career.

Post coaching Ayers was still very involved with the Cedartown football program. Once a week, he made an appearance at the Bulldogs' practice and gave motivational speeches to the team he loved and coached for so many years.

A charitable golf tournament named the Doc Ayers - Ray Beck golf tournament is held annually in Cedartown. Ayers co- hosted the tournament with Ray Beck at Cherokee Country Club. All the money from the tournament goes to the Polk County Community Foundation. Many former pro football and baseball players attend every year.

Accomplishments Howard Ayers received many honors including Georgia State Class AAA Coach of the year and has been inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. His last accomplishment was the induction into the Piedmont College Hall of Fame in 2008.

He died in December 2020 at the age of 99.