Cate was a two-sport athlete for the Bulldogs, starring on the football and track teams from 1937-39. Cate played for legendary Georgia football coaches Harry Mehre and Wallace Butts, and he was named team captain of Butts’ inaugural squad in 1939. Cate scored eight touchdowns in his sophomore campaign in 1937, and recorded a 95-yard kickoff return in 1939 that stood as a Sanford Stadium record for 34 years until 1973. Cate also won SEC titles in the 100-uard dash (1938) and 220-yard low hurdles (1939).
Cate was elected to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1962.
Bankston, a swimmer at Georgia from 1955-59, was a three-time All-SEC selection while in Athens. He also captured SEC individual championships in the 100-yard free (1958), 220-yard free (1957, ’58), 440-yard free (1957) and 1,500-meter free (1957, ’59). Bankston still holds the school records for the 220-yard, 440-yard and 1,500-meter free races.
Cate and Bankston join four other inductees that will be honored Thursday night during a formal ceremony at the Jekyll Island Convention Center.
The Glynn County Sports Hall of Fame was formed as a non-profit organization in February 2011. Including the class of 2015, 25 former athletes have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, which is displayed at Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick.
Photo creadit: Patrick Garbin