Oglethorpe University

Bobby Thomas Nance was a four-year member of the basketball and tennis teams who has dedicated his life to athletics and his family.   

 

Nance quickly became one of the most important players in Oglethorpe basketball history, playing in national tournaments and contributing to the famed 1959 and 1963 teams. He became lifelong friends with legendary head coach Garland Pinholster and is currently on Oglethorpe’s Board of Trustees. His 1963 tennis team has also been inducted into the Oglethorpe Hall of Fame. 

During his time on the basketball team, Nance was a Pan-American Player, NCAA Southeast Regional tournament MVP, and All-American. On the tennis team, he led the 1963 team to an undefeated season as he went undefeated in singles while facing multiple SEC schools. That was the team’s first ever undefeated season. 

 

Nance was born in Resaca, Georgia on November 14th, 1940. He has also been inducted into the Calhoun Gordon County Sports Hall of Fame, by the recommendation of Coach Pinholster. He and his high school sweetheart Carol wed in June of 1960. Their son Mike was born in June of 1962, and he attended every single basketball game during Bobby’s senior season. They later had two daughters, and nine grandchildren Bobby helped Carol found Nance Carpet & Rug Company in 1972, which is still in business today as Nance Industries and Nance Floors, and is the largest woman-owned flooring business in America. He also co-founded the Calhoun High School Tipoff club, serving five years as co-president and three as treasurer. Additionally, Nance co-founded Greenscapes Garden Products in 2000, but sold his share in 2008. 
 

After Oglethorpe, Bobby picked up golf and was won several tournaments across the south, including the Georgia/Alabama Invitational (2x), the Elks Club Championship (7x), Senior Club of The Farm (2002), the Frank Hunt Tournament (1978), and the Fields Ferry Seniors Championship. He was also a member of  the National Cancer Society Team that won three national tournaments at PGA in Palm Beach, Florida.