The Bolemon Boys and their days at MCHS

Britt with his family: Wife Brittany and children Tyler,
Carson, and Sawyer.

By Dallas Bordon

Through the years the Bolemon boys, Britt and Brad, were no different than any other brothers when it came to being competitive. Not only were they competitive with each other and against other schools during their playing days at Madison County, they claim to continue that competitiveness today as adults.

While competitiveness fades away for most brothers as they get older, the Bolemon boys tend to keep that fire burning. Today they are separated by nearly 100 miles and are working in their professions while raising kids of their own. If you were to ask either one if the competitiveness still burns on the inside you can almost guarantee both will quickly answer yes! “I still enjoy “competing” whenever I get a chance, especially with my older (but smaller!) brother Brad (Class of ’95),” said Britt Bolemon who is a 1997 honor graduate of Madison County High School.

Brad with his family: Wife Angie, children Callie and Caty Beth

The Bolemon boys are now both married and no longer live in Madison County. Britt, who resides in Greenville South Carolina, married his wife Brittany Wood of Buford in July 2002. Britt and Brittany have 3 sons; Tyler (6), Carson (5) and Sawyer (1). Britt enjoys coaching Tyler and Carson who both play on the same T-Ball team. Britt graduated from the University of Georgia in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In 2006, the younger Bolemon graduated from the Medical School at Mercer College with a Doctor of Medicine degree. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Greenville Memorial Hospital in 2009 where he served as Chief Resident his final year. Britt completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Wake Forest in June 2012 and has recently joined the Cancer Center of the Carolinas working as a Hematologist and Oncologist in the Greenville area.

Older brother Brad married his high school sweetheart Angie Youngblood in 1999. Angie, also a graduate of Madison County High School, played softball under former Coach Jimmy Phillips at Madison County. Angie and Brad reside in Loganville Georgia and have 2 children Callie (10) and Caty Beth (6). Brad serves as the Assistant Principal at Loganville High School following a 10 year stint as Offensive Coordinator for the football team. Brad also taught at the high school in Loganville prior to moving into administration.

He is a graduate of Presbyterian College where he majored in Social Studies; minor in Secondary Education) receiving a Bachelors Degree in 1999. Brad received his Masters degree in 2004 from the University of Alabama (Health Science), Lincoln Memorial University (Educational Administration and Supervision)-Specialist in 2007; Lincoln Memorial University (Executive Leadership)-Doctorate 2012/pending.

Both Bolemon boys played sports at the college level. Brad played 5 years of college football and 4 years of college baseball. He played in the Division II All-Star Game and played in a Regional Championship as well as in Europe with Athletes in Action.

Younger brother Britt played baseball for 3 years at Emmanuel College where he received First Team NCCAA honors and First Team All Conference for 2 years.

Britt on his days at Madison County:

Britt was a member of the Red Raiders baseball and basketball teams for 4 years and played football his senior season. He received the Academic Award on several occasions and the Defensive Award for basketball. Britt played baseball for Coaches Charlie Griffeth and Ken Mogan and played basketball for former coaches Charles Wilkes and Mike Barger. In his senior season of football he played for former coach Dale Smallen. “In my years playing all sports, I am indebted to all my high school and recreation league coaches for teaching the ethics of hard work, discipline and learning to deal with adversity among other character traits,” said Britt Bolemon. “I always knew the coaches cared for me as a person and that had a tremendous effect on how I deal with other people and in my profession of how I deal with patients.”

Britt played in several baseball and basketball state playoff games while at Madison County. “I enjoyed all of those times but my most memorable moments of playing sports revolve around the personalities and friendships. I played most sports with my brothers Brad and Blake and my cousins Jake Westbrook and Chris Adams,” said Bolemon. “I also played baseball with Matthew Heaton and we both ended up in medical school together. The guys I played with for years, Joe and Josh Lord, Ricky Collins, Russ Moon and so many others shared tons of sports stories and good times,” said Britt.

Brad on his days at Madison County:

Brad, known well for his speed on the football field, mastered former Coach Scott Conner’s “Notre Dame Box” style offense for the Red Raiders. Brad received N.E. Georgia Player of the Year in football and Wendy’s Heisman Finalist among other awards. Brad began his high school football days under former coach Larry Milligan. On the diamond, Brad also played 4 years of baseball under Coach Charlie Griffeth. “I have a lot of good memories from playing for Madison County. My first touchdown catch from Chris Smith (new Raider Head Coach) at Monroe, playing with my family Britt, Jake, Chris, Barry, and Phil,” said Brad Bolemon. “Any Friday night at Red Raider Stadium still gives me chills and the songs they play during baseball games that I hear today take me back to those times. Football camp, sleeping in the gym and swatting at the bats…I could go on,” said Bolemon. Brad credits coaches Charlie Griffeth and Larry Milligan for giving him a chance early in high school to play. “I appreciate the time they vested in me. They saw enough in me to give me a chance early in high school,” said Bolemon. Brad remembers a night when Coach Mike Osborne made an extra effort to show his concern following a shoulder injury that Bolemon suffered in a game. “Coach Osborne was with me the night I separated my shoulder in football. He stopped by my house to check on me, pray for me and give me words of encouragement in a way that only a coach could,” said Bolemon.

The Bolemon boys will always be remembered for how hard they played the game and played it with a burning desire to win. The words of a former Madison County coach once said it best, “I wish every player had that burning desire in their heart, like the Bolemon boys had, to be competitive and want to win as bad as they did.”