Larry R. Ginn - 2002

Larry R. Ginn enjoyed a stellar high school career as a football, basketball, and baseball standout at Alexandria high School.  He attended the University of Montevallo on a basketball scholarship.  A starter his freshman year, Ginn played there one year before transferring to Gadsden State Community College as a sophomore.  Ginn?s accomplished career at Gadsden State was filled with distinction as he was named the Alabama Junior College Most Valuable Player in 1970.  Averaging 18 points per game, Ginn demonstrated a fiercely competitive spirit and leadership that led the basketball team to its only National Tournament appearance in the college?s history. 

Recognizing his strong leadership and talent, Jacksonville State University awarded Ginn a basketball scholarship for the following two years of his career.  Ginn continued to excel at Jacksonville State, where he was named team captain, Most Valuable player, and All-American in 1972-73.  After earning a B.S. in physical education and biology, he began his teaching and coaching career at Alexandria High School.  He returned to Jacksonville State to earn his M.S. in physical education and biology and graduated with special honors.  He later earned his ED S. in physical education. 

In Ginn?s twenty-eight years at Alexandria High School, he has amassed an outstanding record as both head basketball and head football coach. In basketball Ginn has led his teams to win eighteen area championships, two state runner-up titles, and three state championships in 1991-92, 1992-93, and 1996-1997.  He boasts an 83 percent career winning percentage.  Ginn has equally impressive accomplishments in football.  His teams have won eight area championships, one state runner-up title, and two state championships in 1995 and 1997.  His career winning percentage in football is 78 percent.  Altogether, Ginn?s teams have made twenty-two play-off appearances in basketball and twelve state play-off appearances in football.  Ginn has effectively established Alexandria?s reputation as an athletic powerhouse in the state of Alabama. 

Ginn?s outstanding contributions to athletics in the state have been recognized by many.  Jacksonville State University elected Ginn as one of its top 100 athletes.  He has been selected to coach the Alabama All-Star teams in both basketball and football.  He was named Coach of the Year by the Alabama athletic Association.  Ginn was also named Coach of the Year as well as Coach of the Decade by The Anniston Star.  His peers voted him Alexandria High School Teacher of the Year in 1991-93 and again in 1996-97.  In 1995, the Calhoun County Board of Education honored him by naming Alexandria?s new gymnasium the Larry R. Gymnasium. 

Ginn has been married to Janet Barker Ginn for twenty-six years and has three sons, Todd, Scott and Will.  Todd has followed in his father?s footsteps and is now coaching football and basketball at Alexandria alongside his father.  Scott and Will also have aspirations to follow their father into the coaching profession. 

Perhaps Ginn?s greatest achievement lies in the personal lesion he teaches.  It is not the play-off appearances or championship games that his former player and students remember most.  It is his strong sense of morals and values, his emphasis on gamily, and his commitment to God that has left and continues to leave it greatest mark.