On Saturday, Gerald “Tooley” Martello will receive one of the greatest honors from Copiah-Lincoln Community College — induction into their Sports Hall of Fame.

Before going on to star at Co-Lin, Southern Miss and Centenary College, Martello was dominating on the basketball court in Natchez at Cathedral High School.

“He made all-state in 1954 and just loved the game of basketball,” said former Natchez Mayor Tony Byrne, who was a friend of Martello. “I knew him very well and we played sandlot pick-up all the time. He was a fun-loving guy that loved basketball.”

Martello died in September and Dick Walcott, a childhood friend of Martello, said he was happy Martello was made aware of his selection before passing away.

“I know he felt really honored about it,” Walcott said. “It is wonderful for Co-Lin to recognize him.”

Martello was forced to face tough tests early in his life, with both of his parents being killed in an explosion at the restaurant Italian Kitchen, when he was a young boy.

“He and his brother were taken in by his aunt and uncle and moved over here to Magnolia Place,” said Walcott. “Which is just down the street from where I lived.”

Their friendship blossomed.

“He and his brother used to ride to school with me every morning, so we became really close,” Walcott said. “My mother adopted them both, and they spent a lot of time at the house. How close we were, he would come into the house and go straight to the refrigerator and grab something. I’ll definitely miss him.”

In his time at Cathedral, Martello was a driving force in the success of the basketball program along with Joe Smith.

“He and Joe, who was a year ahead of him, were the two big men,” Walcott said. “Joe was around 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 and Gerald was about 6-foot-1 or 6-foot-2. They had a pretty good team that won the South State Championship.”

Walcott also said that Martello was a part of the first Mississippi high school basketball all-star game in his senior year.

Even though he shined on the court, he was also a model man off of it, Walcott said.

“He was a wonderful guy,” Walcott said. “I definitely miss him.”

Ceremonies will be hosted throughout the day on Saturday in Wesson, concluding with recognition during halftime of Co-Lin’s homecoming game.