BY JOE JOE WRIGHT/joejoe.wright@cordeledispatch.com
Where are they now: Alfred Rawls
Born and raised in the sleepy little hamlet that is Pitts, Ga. Alfred David Rawls went onto achieve a degree of greatness. First and foremost he will never be forgotten by the Wilcox Patriot faithful nor the Kentucky Wildcats where he starred for 2 years. Alfred the son of Mathis Rawls of Rochelle and Ruby Butts of Pitts was a standout athlete in Wilcox County in the early to mid 80’s.
Alfred was a two time all state selection in football and track. He was Middle Georgia player of the year in 1985 and he led the Wilcox Patriots to an 11-1-1 record in football and a #2 final ranking behind Lincoln High School. Also in his Senior year he led Wilcox high to the 1986 Single A state Track Championship. As a football player in the fall of 1985 Alfred rushed for 2040 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was an all-American in football and track and played in the GACA all star game and the Georgia -Florida all star game.
However, even though Alfred would go to college on scholarship in football his  track accomplishments were through the roof. A two time track all-American Alfred was awarded the Best Performance award two years in a row for all classifications. He broke Hershel Walkers 100 yard dash record and was the first ever winner of the “Morris Bryan” award in track, selected from more than 1100 kids at the state meet.After high school Alfred would head off to the University of Georgia but fate had another calling. It turns out that Alfred graduated just in time for the Jane Kemp debacle at UGA and the introduction of proposition 48. This would make the University of Georgia at the time the toughest academic school in the country mainly because of  the (being under the microscope) during that time span. No more underwater  basket weaving and basic suit case packing classes allowed.
Alfred transferred to Northeast Oklahoma AM Junior College where he would star for 2 years and win the Junior College National Title in 1987. After two years in junior college Alfred was ready to show off his talents in Division 1 back at Georgia but they had two kids there named Tim Worley and Rodney Hampton and his services were not needed there. Alfred signed to play with the University Of Kentucky and promptly ran a 48 yard touchdown  against Georgia to lead Kentucky in victory over Georgia for the first time in ten years. Alfred became the offensive back of the year for Kentucky in 1988 and 1989. Alfred originally tried out with the Indianapolis Colts but they re-signed Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson and squashed that idea. He then went with a sub-par unethical agent and signed with the 49ers but after alot of litigation and trouble caused by this agent several players lost their contracts and the agent went to prison. Alfred would come back to Georgia and was going to try out with the Falcons when an accident at his job with a forklift damaged his knee cap and ended his playing days.
Alfred went back to college and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Social Services in 1992. As of now Alfred has retired from one job with the Department of Corrections in Kentucky. Alfred now makes his home in Lexington with his two sons Alfred Rawls Jr. ,Averion Rawls and his wife the former Ms. Kameeca Bruce of Lexington , Kentucky.
Alfred’s noteriety hasn’t changed him much he is still just as friendly and helpful as he ever was and enjoys attending Kentucky and Georgia football games. Alfred is a Deacon in the New Day Pentecostal Community Church of Lexington, KY and he frequently texts and chats with his former Coach Donnie Clack. So in the future when people are talking about athletes from this area the name of Alfred Rawls will always come up.