• Dr. Kathryn (Kathy) McMinn (Weaver High School Class of 1980) While at Weaver, she excelled academically and athletically. In track she competed in hurdles, relay, high jump and long jump. As a senior, at the Calhoun County track meet, Kathy was first in the 100-yard dash, 110-yard low hurdles and long jump and tied for first in the high jump. At the 1980 AHSAA state outdoor meet she placed second or third in four events, leading Weaver to a third place finish in Class 3A. However, Kathy’s true sports passion was gymnastics. She began her career as a gymnast while in junior high school, competing with the Anniston YMCA’s Saltos club, coached by Noma Gant. In 1980, she was No. 1 All-Around in the state championship meet, leading Saltos to the gymnastic state championship.

    Dr. McMinn’s abilities as a gymnast earned her a scholarship to the University of Georgia. At the University of Georgia, she was All-SEC, All-Region, All-American and Academic All-American each of her four years. As a senior in 1984, she was Southeastern Conference All-Around champion. Kathy was the University of Georgia’s first four time All-American athlete. She earned her first All-America honor on vault in 1981, then was an All-American in the all-around, vault, bars and floor in 1982; in the all-around and floor in 1983; and in vault and floor in 1984. During her senior year at Georgia she set four of the possible five school records in individual events. In her career, she won seven individual Southeastern Conference championships and five individual region titles.

    She also earned Academic All-America honors four years in a row, graduating Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 1984 with a degree in Biochemistry, and was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She used that scholarship to attend medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she also completed her residency and fellowship. Dr. McMinn is a Board certified Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialist residing in Atlanta, Georgia and serving the Wellstar Cobb and Kennestone Hospitals.

    Her other notable awards include: 1. Marilyn Vincent Award as University of Georgia’s graduating female student-athlete with the highest grade point average. 2. University of Georgia’s Bill Hartman Award, which recognizes former Georgia student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence in their profession and/or in service to others by 20 or more years of superior performance after graduation. 3. 2006 inductee to the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame 4. 2009 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award - The honor recognizes former student-athletes who successfully completed collegiate careers in various sports and have excelled in their chosen professions. The Silver Anniversary Award acknowledges the former student-athletes on the 25th anniversary of completing their athletics eligibility.