Two individuals, one team to be inducted
By Dale Martin
Galesburg-Augusta High School will be inducting two individuals and one team into the Athletic Hall of Fame during ceremonies on January 9th and 10th, 2026.
The first individual being inducted is Byron Cox. Byron was a 1948 graduate of Galesburg High School.
While in high school he earned 12 varsity letters with 4 in football, 4 in basketball and 4 in baseball. He was also a 4 year member of the school band.
After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. He served 4 years and at the time of his discharge in 1953 had attained the rank of Staff Sargeant.
Byron was a life long Galesburg resident and was hired by the Upjohn Co. in Kalamazoo where he was a laboratory research scientist. He also was a lifetime member of the Lions Club serving as its President at one time.
Galesburg and Augusta residents best remember Byron as the “voice of the Rams” as he was the game announcer for G-A Football from 1975 to 2005. During those 30 years he announced every varsity and junior varsity home game and occasionally junior high games.
Our next inductee is also a life long G-A resident. Mike Woodard graduated from G-A High School in 1988.
Mike earned 6 varsity letters with 2 in Football, 2 in basketball and 2 in baseball.
Mike attended Western Michigan University and upon graduation started his teaching career at G-A. At first he served as a substitute teacher. He was also the J.V. Basketball coach during that time. In 1995 he became a full-time teacher and assumed the duties of head basketball coach, a position he held until 2010.
In 1995 Mike took on the duties of Athletic Director at G-A. In the next 30 years Mike earned the respect of his peers in the former K.V.A. League and now the S.A.C. Conference. Mike’s dedication to the student/athletes of G-A is greatly appreciated.
Galesburg-Augusta High School will be inducting two individuals and one team into the Athletic Hall of Fame during ceremonies on January 9th and 10th, 2026.
The first individual being inducted is Byron Cox. Byron was a 1948 graduate of Galesburg High School.
While in high school he earned 12 varsity letters with 4 in football, 4 in basketball and 4 in baseball. He was also a 4 year member of the school band.
After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. He served 4 years and at the time of his discharge in 1953 had attained the rank of Staff Sargeant.
Byron was a life long Galesburg resident and was hired by the Upjohn Co. in Kalamazoo where he was a laboratory research scientist. He also was a lifetime member of the Lions Club serving as its President at one time.
Galesburg and Augusta residents best remember Byron as the “voice of the Rams” as he was the game announcer for G-A Football from 1975 to 2005. During those 30 years he announced every varsity and junior varsity home game and occasionally junior high games.
Our next inductee is also a life long G-A resident. Mike Woodard graduated from G-A High School in 1988.
Mike earned 6 varsity letters with 2 in Football, 2 in basketball and 2 in baseball.
Mike attended Western Michigan University and upon graduation started his teaching career at G-A. At first he served as a substitute teacher. He was also the J.V. Basketball coach during that time. In 1995 he became a full-time teacher and assumed the duties of head basketball coach, a position he held until 2010.
In 1995 Mike took on the duties of Athletic Director at G-A. In the next 30 years Mike earned the respect of his peers in the former K.V.A. League and now the S.A.C. Conference. Mike’s dedication to the student/athletes of G-A is greatly appreciated.
(All photos provided by the G-A Athletic Hall Of Fame Committee)
The 1985 football team was the last G-A team to go undefeated during the regular season, and the eighth team to do so. They won the K.V.A. Championship, the 17th team during the Maskill Era to accomplish the feat. They also were the third G-A team to qualify for the State Playoffs.
In the season opener they defeated Watervliet 28-8 giving Coach Maskill his 200th win at G-A. They recorded lopsided wins over Parchment, Delton, Kalamazoo Christian, Comstock and Kalamazoo Hackett. The Hackett team was undefeated when they came to Galesburg to do battle. G-A jumped out to a 29-0 halftime lead enroute to a 43 to 14 win.
In the first game of the playoffs they defeated Hudson 21-6 giving G-A its first win ever in the playoffs becoming the first G-A team to win 10 games in a season. In the second round they lost to eventual state champion Lansing Catholic 23-0.
The Athletic Hall Of Fame Class of 2026 will be introduced in between the girl’s and boy’s varsity basketball games on January 9th. They will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at a luncheon on January 10th. Anyone wishing to attend the luncheon can purchase a ticket by calling Dale Martin, 269-270-6135, by January 2nd to make arrangements.
In the season opener they defeated Watervliet 28-8 giving Coach Maskill his 200th win at G-A. They recorded lopsided wins over Parchment, Delton, Kalamazoo Christian, Comstock and Kalamazoo Hackett. The Hackett team was undefeated when they came to Galesburg to do battle. G-A jumped out to a 29-0 halftime lead enroute to a 43 to 14 win.
In the first game of the playoffs they defeated Hudson 21-6 giving G-A its first win ever in the playoffs becoming the first G-A team to win 10 games in a season. In the second round they lost to eventual state champion Lansing Catholic 23-0.
The Athletic Hall Of Fame Class of 2026 will be introduced in between the girl’s and boy’s varsity basketball games on January 9th. They will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at a luncheon on January 10th. Anyone wishing to attend the luncheon can purchase a ticket by calling Dale Martin, 269-270-6135, by January 2nd to make arrangements.
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