Dougherty County, Georgia - Wade H. Hester 1949 Submitted by Debra Boswell Crosby ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ ** Albany Herald Saturday Feb 5, 1949 death Thursday Feb 3, 1949 "All-Time Great Basketball Star Dies at Home" Wade H. Hester, Sr. 48, all-time great Albany Basketball player, died Thursday at 5 p.m. at the home of his mother, Mrs. C. E. Fryer, 411 Pine Ave., following a lengthy illness. Born July 29, 1901, in Albany, Mr. Hester had lived here all of his life. He was the son of the late Wade H. Hester. A member of the First Baptist Church and the Keystone Bible Class, Mr. Hester was graduated from Albany High School and attended the Citadel, Charleston, S.C. and the University of Georgia. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. At the time of his death Mr. Hester was connected with the Wiggins Tire Recapping Company. A member of the Albany Lions Club, Albany Touchdown Club and Albany Salesmen's Club, Mr. Hester was a member of the immortal "Wonder Five" of the Albany Young Men's Christian Association mor than two decades ago. This team, coached by E. M. Mooney, set a state record for basketball victories over the outstanding teams of the nation. Mr. Hester, noted for his aggressive style of play, earned the sobriquet of "Tiger" from the Southwest Georgia Sports public. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Fryer; a son, Wade Hester, Jr.; two aunts Mrs. L. E. Merritt of Albany and Mrs. Z. I. Fitzpatrick of Tallulah Falls, and a cousin, James Merritt of Albany. The funeral service will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. in the First Baptist Church by the pastor, Dr. Leonard A. Stephens. Interment will follow in Oakview Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Richard Tift, Griggs Miller, Whitfield Gunnels, C. J. Jones, W. H. Watkins, Marvin Turnipseed, Fred Brunson and G. C. Mays. They are requested to assemble at the chapel of the Albany Undertaking Company at 10:30 a.m. Photo included with the obituary.