Geddes Self Award Winner Mayson Slaughter Epitomizes Student-Athlete

Words by Al Blanton

Three years ago, when Mayson Slaughter was strolling through the halls of Jasper High School, he noticed a plaque with a list of names on it. Those names and that plaque made such an impression on him that when the young ninth grader went home that afternoon, he told his mother, “one day they are going to put my name up in that school somewhere and I hope it’s on that plaque.”

 This past Monday at the Jasper Viking football banquet, Slaughter’s hope came true, as he was named the 63rd recipient of the Geddes Self Award, an annual honor given to a Viking football player who demonstrates excellence of character, scholarship, leadership, and athletic ability.

 For Slaughter, the award is the culmination of four years of hard work in the classroom, two years of grinding on the football field, and a lifetime of pouring into those around him. “Mayson is an excellent young man and we are proud to have him as our 2020 Geddes Self Award recipient,” said Jasper High head football coach Philip Bailey. “He represents himself with character and class and is a tremendous ambassador for our football program, our school, and our community. I am very excited to see how God is going to use his life to positively impact others.”

 Named after former high school principal Geddes Self, the award was first given in 1958-59 when Gary Liles became the first recipient. With Monday’s announcement, Slaughter joins a list of past winners that includes players like Billy Edge, Danny Gambrell, Roosevelt McCain, Skip Roberts, George Lum, Mike Abner, Jason Windham, Clarence Winn, Scott Thornley, Adam Cox, Ike Baker, Jeb Cowen, Austin Mansell, Michael Crear, Reed Lum, and Harrison Saunders, among others.

 The accolades are impressive for Slaughter, both on the field and in the classroom. In addition to rushing for 408 yards on 74 rushing attempts this season, he carries a 4.12 grade point average and made 27 on the ACT. He was voted Senior Class President and says his favorite subject is math (he’s currently enjoying the delights of calculus). He hopes to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when he graduates, but is not ruling out the possibility of Auburn, Tuskegee, the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH), or Georgia Tech.

 There was little Slaughter couldn’t do on the football field this season. Before games, he led his team onto the field by carrying the American flag. During games, number 27 was literally all over the field. A two-way player, Slaughter played running back on one side of the ball and linebacker on the other. He caught passes. He tackled. He served as the team’s kickoff return specialist. He did almost everything except call the plays. 

 Perhaps viewed as a better offensive player, Slaughter recorded 78 tackles on the year, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions—numbers that would put that notion up for debate.

 He was always available when called upon and was often the first to volunteer. During one particular game, the team punter was injured and no replacement was available. While the coaches scrambled for a solution, Slaughter shot his hand up. “Coach, I can do it,” he implored.

 The punt went 40 yards.

 Slaughter was a leader on a 3-7 Viking team that faced many challenges this season, not the least of which was the uncertainty and dread of a global pandemic. Add on top of that a new head coach and a new classification of 6A—playing in, as Slaughter says, the toughest region in the state—and the odds were stacked against the Vikes. Despite this adversity, Slaughter is proud of how his team responded.

 “I think we just came out here to play,” he said. “When we stepped between those white lines, it was like, ‘we don’t really care about the problems going on outside because we have a job to do.’ And we are going to come out here and work every day to do what we need to do to be successful. Regardless of wins and losses, I think that our team really showed a lot of toughness this year.”

 He says he shares a close bond with his teammates and lauds the caring attitude of the Viking coaching staff. Underscoring an instance this summer when pandemic concerns were threatening his his senior year, Slaughter said, “coaches were texting me, making sure I’m OK.”

 So for Slaughter, the award is less about individual honor as it is a reminder of the relationships he’s built over the last two seasons.

 “These are my brothers,” Slaughter says. “And I think this award, when I come home and look at it, will help me to remember them every single day.” 78

Photos by Al Blanton