Presbyterian College alumnus J. Herbert Rollins will be posthumously inducted into the of the Florence County School District Three's Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, October 3.
Rollins will join Roy Bunyon "Tripp" Cromer III, Derek Faison and Sidney A. "Zeke" Ward as inductees during a halftime ceremony of Lake City High School's football game against North Myrtle Beach at Ward Memorial Stadium.
The Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding athletes, coaches and others who contribute to athletics from current and past high schools in the district. "Florence Three has had some incredible athletes and coaches over the years," said Matt Apicella, Lake City High athletic director. "We have had coaches known as innovators in their sports and athletes who have gone on to have stellar careers at both the college and professional levels. This is one way for us to recognize them and to remember their accomplishments."
The late J. Herbert Rollins was well known through South Carolina both as an outstanding athlete and high school coach and was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983.
A 1940 graduate of Lake City High, Rollins attended Presbyterian College where he went on to earn a record 16 college letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was All-State in football and basketball at Presbyterian College, led his baseball team in hitting for three years and never lost a broad jump event in track. Rollins was one of 25 players to be named to the college's All-Century Team in baseball.
John McKissick, the legendary high school football coach at Summerville High School, once commented that Rollins was “the best all-around athlete I've ever known.” Legendary Clemson coach Frank Howard once said Rollins was one of the best football players in the state, if not the best, after Rollins rushed for 100 yards and scored the first touchdown by an opponent in 1942 when Clemson opened Memorial Stadium.
Rollins was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies but chose not to pursue a professional baseball career because of a knee injury. Instead, he returned to the Lake City area to teach and coach football, basketball and baseball at Lake City High, Olanta High and Kingstree High. As a coach, Rollins had a career record of 611-180. He later served as the athletic director at Lake City high School.
The fieldhouse at Ward Memorial Stadium was named in his honor and each Lake City High School presents the J. Herbert Rollins Award to the best all-around male and female athletes.
Rollins passed away January 9, 1982 competing on the tennis court.
