Class of 2003
Born June 22, 1940, Kirby later attended Miller Public Elementary School, the formerly all-black school on Allyn Street in Athens. He started school at Trinity, the all-black school on Brownsberry Street, in the seventh grade. He began wearing the fabled purple and gold that all Trinity players wore in the ninth grade in 1955.
During his storied four-year career at Trinity, Kirby set the Tennessee Valley Conference (Negro) scor- ing record of 78 points as a junior and broke his own record with 81 points during his senior year.
Kirby scored 37 touchdowns in his career and led his team to a 37-1 record during his final three seasons. He was a two-way, 60-minute player who played line- backer on defense. He played halfback as a sophomore and junior.
As a senior, Kirby played quarterback and led his team to an undefeated 13-0 record. He rushed for 13 touch- downs, passed for seven scores and kicked three ex- tra points as a senior.
Kirby and his wife Marie now live on Settle Road in Athens.
TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL
Quarterbacklhalfback on offense and linebacker on defense; led teams to a 37-2 record in his career; scored 4 touchdowns in his last game; threw 15 touchdown passes in his career; career record of 37 touchdowns; set Tennessee Valley Negro Conference scoring record in 1957 with 78 points and broke this record with 81 points his senior year; led 1958 team to a perfect season 913-0); offered college football scholarships to Alabama A & M and Tennessee State.