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Our Board of Directors
Herb Williams - President USA Pickleball Ambassador Herb began playing pickleball in 2018 after a friend invited him to try the game, and he has been enjoying it ever since. Not long after, the USA Pickleball Ambassador for Georgia encouraged him to become the Ambassador for Thomas County, a role he proudly accepted. In 2020, Herb organized a local tournament and established the Thomasville Pickleball Association to help manage sponsorships and support the sport’s growing popularity in the area. For Herb, pickleball is both fun and a great way to stay active. Serving as an Ambassador has allowed him to meet players from across the state and country, while locally he’s found a welcoming and enthusiastic community. He often hears that Thomasville is one of the friendliest places to play, and he takes pride in helping foster that reputation. He believes additional courts would make the local experience even better. Through the Thomasville Pickleball Association, now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Herb is helping to grow the sport through ladder leagues, tournaments, community events, and youth outreach. Looking ahead, he envisions continued growth in the number of players, new opportunities for tournaments, and even greater community involvement in the years to come. |
Greer Cox – Vice President Chair, Facilities & Court Management Committee Greer began playing pickleball in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many activities were limited. Her husband painted a court on their driveway, and before long, neighbors were gathering to learn and play together. What started as a simple way to stay active and connected soon became a true passion. After retiring in 2022, Greer began playing at other courts and became an active part of the local pickleball community. |
Gordon Van Mol - Treasurer Chair, Membership Committee Gordon began playing pickleball in 2023 while living in the mountains of Rabun County, Georgia, after a member of his men’s Bible study invited him to join a game. From that first day, he was hooked. The Rabun County Recreation Department had nine indoor courts across three gymnasiums, giving him plenty of chances to play and improve. When Gordon and his wife moved to Thomasville, he quickly joined the morning play at the middle school courts, where he now plays three to four times a week. For him, pickleball is the perfect mix of fitness, fun, and friendship. Unlike solo workouts, the game offers a lively social atmosphere where players of all ages and backgrounds come together. Gordon enjoys the camaraderie and welcoming spirit that define the Thomasville pickleball community, as well as how easy and affordable the sport is for newcomers. |
Kari Neal - Secretary Keri first discovered pickleball after moving to Thomasville in 2018. While at Remington Park with her daughter, she kept hearing a distinct pop-pop-pop coming from the nearby courts and was instantly curious. The game looked a little like tennis but not quite, and it seemed incredibly fun. Years later, in February 2025, once her children were in school and she had a little time to herself, she finally decided to give it a try. From her very first game, she was completely hooked and has been passionate about the sport ever since. Keri loves that pickleball is easy to learn yet still offers plenty of challenge for those who want to grow and improve. She enjoys both the relaxed, social games and the chance to compete at a higher level. What she values most, though, is the community. The sport has introduced her to people of many different ages, backgrounds, and experiences, and she often says she has met more wonderful people in eight months of playing pickleball than in the eight years she has lived in Thomasville. The friendships she has formed on the courts have become one of the biggest highlights of her life here. Keri believes the most important improvement for Thomasville is increasing the number of courts. More courts would reduce wait times in the short term and create more opportunities for people to meet and connect through shared play. Additional courts would also allow for larger and more frequent tournaments, bringing visitors and excitement to the area. Looking ahead, Keri hopes to see continued growth and more structured development in the local pickleball scene. She envisions strong leagues, well-attended tournaments, and new opportunities for youth to get involved through lessons, camps, school programs, and eventually club or sanctioned teams. |
Lang Flowers, III - At-Large Board Member Chair, Finance & Sponsorship Committee Lang began playing pickleball about four years ago after friends encouraged him to give it a try and promised it would be addicting in the best way. They were right. From his very first game, he enjoyed the combination of competition, strategy, and pure fun. What started as something new to try quickly became a regular part of his weekly routine and a meaningful way to meet people in the community he might not otherwise have crossed paths with. |
Rick Sherrell - At-Large Board Member Chair, Marketing Committee Webmaster Founder, Thomasville Dinkers Facebook Group Rick began playing pickleball about three years ago after a client at his gym, knowing his love of racquet sports, offered him a pair of paddles to try. As a personal fitness trainer with a background in tennis and racquetball, he decided to give it a chance and showed up at the Thomasville High School courts with no experience. From that first day, he was hooked on both the game and the friendly, welcoming community that surrounded it. |