LORAN SMITH: Georgia Sports Hall of Fame showcases latest inductees

MACON — Here last weekend, the latest class of inductees was showcased by the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame which is annually challenged to choose the best performers from a long list of athletes, coaches and contributors worthy of membership. Hard job.

Georgia has a sterling sports heritage. It has grown its own incomparable performers like Ty Cobb and Bobby Jones. Then there were the remarkable trailblazers such as Hank Aaron who were not native to our state but whose performances within our boundries were over the top. In Aaron’s case breaking Babe Ruth’s career home run record of 714 home runs was simply sensational. Ruth’s standard for years was thought to be untouchable. Cobb, the irascible baseball genius from Royston, was as good as anyone who has ever played the game. Jones set the bar with his grand slam year in 1930 when he won the four major tournaments of the day—the national opens and amateur championships of the U. S. and Great Britain.

There have been players and coaches to render acclaim through the years to remind us that small town boys and girls can compete on the greatest stages in sports. Like Forrest “Spec” Towns who grew up austerely in Augusta. With the aid of a football scholarship to the University of Georgia, he was able to compete in track. Towns had the burning desire to be the best, honing his skills under the sage eye of Coach Weems Baskin who taught him how to master the high hurdles. Towns would win Olympic gold and set a world record in the presence of Adolph Hitler. Cheered in Berlin when he won his race, Towns would make it home only to return to Europe to fight against those who watched him win a gold medal. His younger brother Preston died at Bastogne, Belgium, the focal point of the Battle of the Bulge. Spec never forgot.

The latest class inducted last weekend: Bill Fulcher, former head coach at Georgia Tech; the late Alec Kessler, SEC athlete of the year at Georgia in 1990 and a four year player with the Miami Heat; Willie McClendon, Georgia running back who later played with Chicago Bears; John Schuerholz, President of the Atlanta Braves; Reg Murphy, newspaper publisher and former head of the U. S. Golf Association; Bobby Hendley, former Braves pitcher; Hope Spivey, record setting gymnast for the Bulldogs and Charlie Ward, Heisman Trophy winner from Florida State.

The most interesting exercise of the Hall of Fame weekend is the informal huddling of the ole timers who are bent on recalling the past, swapping stories and enjoying the social agenda which is a highlight of the weekend. It is at these times when you recall those who have gone on to that great arena in the sky. There have been some world class raconteurs in the past who would make it into the Humor Hall of Fame.

Time has brought about change. The coaches are not as colorful as they once were. Interesting stories, nonetheless, abound. Like that of Charlie Ward. His Heisman trophy is on display at the library in Thomasville, hometown. Last year, Ward returned home and allowed fans and kids to take photos of him and his Heisman. He signed autographs at no charge—a modest superstar who belongs to a fleeting fraternity.

This is a reminder of another classic story I have enjoyed telling over the years. Before I got to know Frank Sinkwich, I was invited by his apartment where a student, who worked for his beer distributorship, lived. In an empty room, without a stick of furniture, Sinkwich’s Heisman trophy was sitting alone in a corner. Later when I got to know him, I remarked that if I had won the Heisman, it would be prominently displayed in my home. He replied, “it really doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the University of Georgia. I am thinking of giving it to the school.”

Afterwards, I went to see then Athletic Director, Joel Eaves, and arrangements were made for Sinkwich to present the trophy in a pre-game ceremony to his alma mater. Typical of Sinkwich, he asked, “Is it necessary that I be in the ceremony.” There has never been a more modest superstar.

Later the Downtown Athletic Club, which presents the Heisman each year, found out about Sinkwich’s magnanimous gesture and began the tradition of awarding two trophies each year—one to the player and one to his school.