By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

If Callaway athletics director and football coach Pete Wiggins ever needs anything, he knows where to turn.

Since Callaway High first opened its doors more than 20 years, Tony Walls has been one of the school’s number one supporters when it comes to athletics.

Wiggins took over as Callaway’s head football coach before the 2005 season, and he has always been able to rely on Walls.

“Tony Walls has always been my go-to guy,” Wiggins said. “Whatever is needed, Tony Walls would get it done. That’s from stocking a concession stand, to cleaning up a gym after a game, to cutting a field, to going with me to a TV or a radio show on Saturday.”

Walls, along with former Callaway basketball standout Reggie Jackson, has been inducted into the Callaway High Hall of Fame.

Both men, along with members of their supportive families, were introduced during a ceremony before a recent game against Heard County.

As far as Wiggins is concerned, the honors weren’t just for Jackson and Walls, but for their entire families.

“Reggie Jackson’s family, and Tony Walls’ family, for me are described in words like foundations, anchors, rocks as far as Callaway High School is concerned,” Wiggins said. “Those two families, they’ve always been here, and they’ve always been a part of our athletic program and our school. They made our school better.”

Walls, whose sons Jake and Luke were sports standouts at Callaway, was was the voice of Callaway High football at Callaway Stadium for years.

During the spring, Walls did a bit of everything for the baseball program, and he was also the founder of Callaway’s Partners in Athletics.

“Tony did things that a lot of people don’t know,” Wiggins said. “There was so much time that he put into this school to give opportunities to kids, and to coaches like myself, to coach (Dusty) Hubbard, to all the other guys. He’s a special, special man, and he loves this school.”

Wiggins added that “Tony was always there, being supportive of our program. He’s a very special person to myself and Callaway.”

Jackson, who graduated from Callaway in 2003, remains the school’s all-time leader in points scored.

After high school, Jackson played at Southern Union before transferring to Duquesne where he enjoyed two standout seasons on the basketball team.

Jackson dipped his feet into the world of professional basketball after college, and he played in England and Portugal.

When his playing days were done, Jackson returned to his hometown of Hogansville to begin the Future Shepherds program in 2016.

That organization provides mentorship and other opportunities for young people in the community.

“Reggie makes a big impact,” Wiggins said. “He impacts young people. Just being in is presence, you can feel that he’s genuine. He’s a great person, and he’s dedicated to whatever he does.”

Wiggins added that “Tony and Reggie are guys who make people around them better.”