Athletics News

TFS legend Mike Kemp recognized for national record many never knew he held

Former TFS legend Mike Kemp (Class of 1969) was recently recognized by the AJC. Research by MaxPreps reporter Kevin Askeland's shows that Kemp held a national record for nine years and never got the official credit.

Back when Tallulah Falls School fielded a football program, Kemp played in the 1960s as a receiver, and his accolades flew under the radar.

Since 1960, only three Georgia high school football players led the nation in receiving yards. One of those was Kemp.

In 1968, he had 56 catches for 1,843 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Tallulah Falls Class C Team. He also intercepted 17 passes as a defensive back. Records show that he also scored five touchdowns in five different ways in the same game in 1968 against Dawson County.

Askeland came across a 1968 article in the Atlanta Journal stating Kemp's accolades and accomplishments. Tallulah Falls was 8-1 in 1968, shutting out Dacula (39-0) and Buford (61-0), among others, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Tallulah’s loss to Georgia Industrial Institute 25-7 cost the team the Region 3-C title.

In December 2019, TFS had inducted Kemp and two others into the Athletic Legends/Hall of Honor.

Kemp was a four-year football letter earner who served two years as the captain of the football team. He was the first athlete to earn a letter in three different sports at Tallulah Falls School.

Kemp received accolades throughout his gridiron career. Kemp was named to the Class C All-State Football team in 1967 and 1968; he was selected as the Class C Lineman/End of the Year and the GHSA AJC Back of the Week (Oct 4) in 1968. He was also named the TFS Most Outstanding Football Player in 1968.

Kemp’s team had a four-year record of 27-6-1 while scoring 1065 points and surrendering only 312. He was also a state qualifier/placer in track and field in 1968 on a team that finished fifth in the state. He was also a state competitor in cross country in 1968. His No. 15 jersey was retired on Mike Kemp night in October 1968. Kemp graduated from TFS with honors. 

He went on to earn an A.A. in Political Science from Gainesville Jr. College and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia. 

Kemp’s career highlights include surveying, interior design, law firm clerk, and sales and construction.