Founded in 2000 by then Athletics Director Bing Tyus, the Polk State College Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes the greatest players, coaches, teams and contributors to the College’s athletics programs.
To see qualifying criteria for the Polk State Hall of Fame or to make a nomination, click
here.
Listed below are the legends who have been inducted into the Polk State Athletics Hall of Fame:
James “Josh” Giles
Position: Head Coach
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Tenure: 1987-2000
Induction Date: Nov. 8, 2000
Perhaps the most recognizable name in Polk State Basketball history, Josh Giles took then Polk Community College to prominence over his 13-year tenure.
A native of Detroit, Giles began his coaching career at Shaw College in 1970. Giles would work his way up through the Division I ranks, serving as an assistant at Stetson University, the University of New Orleans, Mercer University and as head coach at Florida A&M University.
From 1987 to 2000, Giles was the head coach at Polk where he led the program then known as the Vikings to 262 wins, six conference titles and state championships in 1989, 1991 and 1994. In 1989, the program had its best national finish ever, placing fifth at the NJCAA Tournament. Giles coached numerous standouts who went on to star at four-year and NCAA Division I schools such as future NBA center Lorenzo Williams, Reggie Shields and Katu Davis. Giles died of a heart attack in 2002. He was posthumously inducted into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Giles’ legacy is carried on through the Josh Giles Foundation, which helps local youth with their educational pursuits through athletics and other activities. His son, Brandon Giles, is currently Polk State Basketball’s head coach. By leading the Eagles to the 2022 FCSAA Tournament, Brandon Giles and his late father became the first father-son duo in history to lead a program to the state tournament.
Alan Mills
Position: Pitcher
Sport: Baseball
Tenure: 1986
Induction Date: April 26, 2003
The highest Polk State player ever selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, right-handed pitcher Alan Mills was picked 13th overall by the Boston Red Sox in 1986 but did not sign. In the secondary draft that year, he went eighth overall to the California Angels.
A native of Lakeland, Mills began his college career at Tuskegee University before transferring to then Polk Community College for the 1986 season. For Polk, he finished 9-4 with a 2.50 ERA and 86 strikeouts. Mills made his big-league debut for the New York Yankees in April 1990 at 23 years old.
Primarily a middle reliever, Mills would go on to have a 12-year MLB career. As a member of the Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers, Mills appeared in 474 games, posting a career record of 39-32 with a 4.12 ERA, 15 saves and 456 career strikeouts in 636 career innings.
Lorenzo Williams
Position: Center
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Tenure: 1987-89
Induction Date: Jan. 15, 2005
Perhaps the most accomplished professional player in Polk State Basketball history, Lorenzo Williams was a force for then Polk Community College in the late 1980s. The first player in program history to have his jersey retired, Williams led the program to its first FCSAA championship under legendary Head Coach Josh Giles during the 1988-89 season.
Williams would go on to conclude his collegiate career at Stetson University. In two seasons with the Hatters, Williams averaged 8.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field. Despite just two seasons at Stetson, he remains the program’s single-season and all-time leader in blocks and blocks per game.
At 6-foot-9, Williams would go on to be one of the premier shot blockers in the NBA. Williams spent seven seasons in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Washington Bullets/Wizards. Twice during his NBA career, Williams ranked in the top 15 in the league in blocks per game. His 148 total blocks during the 1994-95 season ranked in the top 10 in the entire league.
LeDawn Gibson
Position: Forward
Sport: Women’s Basketball
Tenure: 1986-88
Induction Date: Feb. 4, 2006
A standout at Winter Haven High School, LeDawn Gibson was a vital piece in the frontcourt for Polk State Women’s Basketball over her two seasons with the program. After averaging a double-double and two blocks while leading Polk State to the FCSAA Tournament as a freshman during the 1987-88 season, Gibson enjoyed a monster sophomore season.
During the 1987-88 season, Gibson earned NJCAA All-America honors while averaging 16 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks while leading the nation in free-throw percentage. After her playing career, Gibson went on to enjoy a stellar coaching career.
As head coach at her high school alma mater, Winter Haven, Gibson won nearly 85% of her games while leading the program to a pair of state championships and a slew of district and regional titles. The 2006-07 Class 5A Coach of the Year, Gibson was also recognized for her work as an educator, earning Winter Haven High’s 2002 Teacher of the Year Award and the 2008 Girls, Inc. of Winter Haven “She Knows Where She’s Going” Award.
A Polk State Distinguished Alumnus, Gibson went on to coach at the NCAA Division I level at Florida A&M University. In 11 seasons at the helm for Florida A&M, Gibson led the program to 145 wins. After guiding the team to its first 20-win season in 15 years and highest win total in 18 years during the 2011-12 season, Gibson was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. In 2016, she was inducted into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame.
Maryly VanLeer Peck
Position: College President
Tenure: 1982-97
Induction Date: April 8, 2008
Then Polk Community College’s president for 15 years, Maryly VanLeer Peck was a trail blazer in every sense of the word. After becoming the first woman to earn an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and the first woman to earn a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Florida in 1955, Peck became the first female president of what is now Polk State College in 1982.
One of the first state college presidents in Florida, Peck played a vital role in bringing women’s athletics to Polk State. She oversaw the changes at the college that helped the school abide by the 1984 Education Equity Act, which required equal athletic opportunities for men and women. A supporter of athletics across the board, Peck oversaw the College as the then Vikings won their first four FCSAA titles (men’s basketball in 1989, 1991 and 1994; baseball, 1992). During her tenure, the College expanded to Lakeland where Polk State Soccer currently plays its home games.
Also a member of the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, Peck was awarded the 1995 “She Knows Where She’s Going” award by Girls Inc. and the 2002 Community Service Award by the Junior League of Winter Haven. In 2005, she was honored as Lake Region Citizen of the Year by the Gulf Ridge District of the Boy Scouts and awarded the National Community Service Award by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The founder of the Community College of Guam, she was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Florida. Peck died in November 2011 at the age of 81.
Larry Tucker
Position: Philanthropist
Sport: General Athletics
Tenure: 1983-2009
Induction Date: Dec. 8, 2008
A well-known businessman, Larry Tucker’s efforts through the community are still felt today. The founder of multiple businesses, including Tucker Construction and Tucker Paving, Tucker was also a fervent supporter of Polk State College and Polk State Athletics. In addition to giving to the College and its athletics programs, Tucker also served as chair of the Polk State College Foundation Board.
Tucker was the recipient of the Florida Junior Colleges Student Government Association "Bob Graham" Community College Distinguished Service Award, the Winter Haven Chamber's Banker's Cup Man of the Year Award in 1994, the Vision Award from Mid-Florida Medical Services in 2006, the 1986 Gold Cup of Industry Award from the East Polk Committee of 100 and the Winter Haven Rotary Club Community Service Award among other honors.
In 2008, Winter Haven Hospital – BayCare honored his dedication to the healthcare system when it named the new surgery and diagnostic center after he and the late Rick Dantzler. In addition to the Polk State Foundation Board, Tucker also served on boards for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Polk County, Theatre Winter Haven, Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, Haines City Citrus Growers Association, Boy Scouts of America Leadership, First Florida Bank, Winter Haven Builders Association and the Florida Home Builders Association. He died in September 2009 at the age of 69.
Bob Georges
Position: Benefactor
Sport: General Athletics
Induction Date: April 27, 2009
A native of New York with a love for baseball, particularly the New York Yankees, businessman Bob Georges has done what he can to make sure local athletics programs have what they need to be successful. A member of Florida Southern College’s 1971 national championship baseball team, Georges has been a fervent supporter of Polk State and Florida Southern athletics.
A longtime contributor, Georges has been involved with several programs throughout the county, including George Jenkins High School’s basketball programs, SPCA of Polk County and Learning Resource Center of Polk County, among others.
In 2015, Georges was on hand to present former Polk State Baseball Head Coach and longtime Athletics Director Bing Tyus a plaque as the College’s baseball stadium was renamed in Tyus’ honor. In 2018, Georges was inducted into the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame.
Greta Cecchetti
Position: Pitcher
Sport: Softball
Tenure: 2009-10
Induction Date: Feb. 20, 2013
A native of Italy, Greta Cecchetti played at Polk State College in 2009 and 2010 and left as the career leader in wins, ERA and strikeouts.
A two-time first-team All-Suncoast Conference and two-time first-team All-State selection, Cecchetti was a key piece to the Eagles' (then Vikings') run to a 2009 conference championship. In 2010, Cecchetti was named the Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year and a second-team NJCAA All-American.
Cecchetti would go on to spend two years at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, becoming the first Italian born-and-raised NCAA Division I softball player. She was named a second-team All-Southland Conference performer as a senior in 2012. In the 2020 Summer Olympics (played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Cecchetti was the ace of the staff for the Italian National Team.
Cecchetti is also the first Italian-born softball player to play professionally in Japan. In July 2022, she became the first Italian born-and-raised player to play professionally in the United States when she competed with Athletes Unlimited.
