CGSHOF Hall of Fame nominations

Two quick points

Miss Know- It- All (Coach Diane Smith) tried to persuade me to eliminate the second section of my last week’s column. The main point was my tribute to Coach David Humphreys of Gordon Central High School. The other was a simple statement saying I was going to write “next week” about things I heard, saw and learned at the 2016 State Softball Tournament in Columbus last fall, and recently at Macon when coaches of Region Champions met in Macon to select their All-State players. Coach Diane rebuked me for often saying I would follow up on some point and then never would; I fear her observation was correct.

To validate her point I again weasel with the same “postponement” statement. This is done because of a matter of great importance which is time sensitive to all citizens of Calhoun and Gordon County who are interested in our athletic history from the past and what is happening in the present.

I urge all readers to be more than interested; you need to be actively involved in the matter to be discussed today. This next section will deal with recognizing athletes to be inducted into the Calhoun- Gordon County Sports Hall of Fame at the banquet later this year.

Please read carefully and act upon your knowledge of the past, your desires for a person’s recognition and your vision for a permanent display of the history of athletics and sport activity in Gordon County.

Sports Hall of Fame Nominating Time is here

Last week the Hall of Fame Board of Directors met and discussed topics of vital importance. As most people know there have been two classes inducted into the recently formed Hall of Fame. There were 14 inducted in the inaugural class of 2015 and seven were inducted in 2016. Without great detail and comment let me say that those banquets were great successes and somewhere near 400 people met at the Georgia Northwestern Technical College for the ceremonies. Seven more worthy of recognition will be inducted again this year.

Now, let me make some points ( often made before) for all those who approach me or other board members with remarks and recommendations about someone they know who should be in the Hall of Fame. First, and this is important, a person must be nominated. Board members cannot nominate a prospect. You (the supporting public) must do the nominating. Nominating forms and instructions are on the Hall of Fame website at www.cgcshf. com. Printed forms can be obtained from any board member. Forms are from Dewayne Bowen at Edward Jones Company on the Dews Point Road in the same complex with Duke’s Restaurant.

There will come a day when the nominating period is closed for the year. This point is made to urge immediate attention to the task at hand.

Also, the board cannot do it alone. This is a community project. In last week’s meeting, the board discussed people we knew who were worthy of consideration. We did not nominate them because we can’t. It therefore becomes our task to find people who will nominate those they know who they feel should be recognized and inducted into the Hall.

At this point I am going to make a very personal observation: I have grown weary of those who approach me and tell me of some outstanding athlete of the past who is not in the Hall; it is always characterized with a note of condemnation and failure that we have not chosen the person under consideration. They always finish by telling me the credentials of the person mentioned; like I did not know! “Please nominate the person.”

Before leaving this point let it be again noted that a person to be inducted does not have to be an outstanding athlete either of the past or present. The categories are well stated on the website and literature of the Hall of Fame. In this category are those who have made outstanding contributions to the sports’ activities of Gordon County.

For example, in our meeting I mentioned Andrea Brumlow who is on the board. I cannot nominate her but I know someone who will. The extent of the service she has rendered over the years to various activities is a matter of remarkable achievement.

Lest we forget

Board member Coach Frank Hall and I are the two oldest members of the Board. In other words, we reach far back in time and observation. I leave each meeting or gathering of consideration with grave misgivings.

I know that when “our task on earth is done” there are those who should be in the Hall of Fame but are not; those in this group who should be recognized but aren’t, rob future generations of knowledge of great accomplishments or service by outstanding citizens.

At this point I could name so many from my early life and days before who those of the present generation don’t even know lived; they played and served. Who of my younger days can forget Educator James Hollaran who traveled this county and state over promoting and encouraging young ladies’ athletic activities?

And then there was Bill Nesbitt of the Oostanaula community who formed young teams and provided the places and means by which they could play. There are others but these two will serve to say there are so many who should not be forgotten.

Again, out of respect of the many and for the enrichment of future generations their names should be posted on the wall of the location of the Hall of Fame. These are people who labored before the days of Recreation Departments and organization sports for our young.

— Jerry Smith is a lifelong resident and former teacher and coach in Calhoun and Gordon County. He writes one weekly sports column and one weekly news column for the Calhoun Times. His views and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Calhoun Times and its staff.