The names of five people who will be inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame for 2007 has been announced.
The induction ceremony is planned for Dec. 13 at Club Stewart.
The honorees were selected from among 26 nominees by the Hall of Fame board in September.
They include:
John H. Long
While growing up in Washington, Ga. John Long was a star football player and had lots of drive. After graduating from college and moving around a bit, he landed in Hinesville in 1962.
His love for football gave him the drive to put in place something special in his new home in Liberty County.
Before having children of his own, he started the steps necessary for recreational football for the children of Liberty County. He first worked with the Harvey Overton Bradwell Booster Club to raise the money needed for the program. He actually administered the program for the first five years that even involved storing all the football equipment in his home attic.
During that time, he solicited the county commissioners to officially establish a recreation program with staff. In 1968, the county commission did establish the recreation board and the Liberty County Recreation Department, and subsequently hired Charles Shuman as director.
Long coached recreational football and baseball had several championship teams for many years. Long even donated two front teeth to the cause of teaching a young lineman how to properly block.
He was a steady influence for the Liberty County Recreation Department for many years.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, he stayed busy on Friday nights providing the coaching communication headsets at Bradwell Institute football games. This involved getting to all the games early and staying late to make certain the equipment functioned properly throughout the game.
Liberty County honored Long by naming the recreation football and track stadium in his honor along with Winford Bell. The facility is officially called Long-Bell Stadium. He made a positive impact on countless athletes from the early 1960s through the ‘80s.
Long touched most of the athletes who graduated from Bradwell Institute during those years in some way. He exemplified the great pride and spirit that athletics can bring to a community. His significant contribution has helped make Liberty County a great sports county.
The induction ceremony is planned for Dec. 13 at Club Stewart.
The honorees were selected from among 26 nominees by the Hall of Fame board in September.
They include:
John H. Long
While growing up in Washington, Ga. John Long was a star football player and had lots of drive. After graduating from college and moving around a bit, he landed in Hinesville in 1962.
His love for football gave him the drive to put in place something special in his new home in Liberty County.
Before having children of his own, he started the steps necessary for recreational football for the children of Liberty County. He first worked with the Harvey Overton Bradwell Booster Club to raise the money needed for the program. He actually administered the program for the first five years that even involved storing all the football equipment in his home attic.
During that time, he solicited the county commissioners to officially establish a recreation program with staff. In 1968, the county commission did establish the recreation board and the Liberty County Recreation Department, and subsequently hired Charles Shuman as director.
Long coached recreational football and baseball had several championship teams for many years. Long even donated two front teeth to the cause of teaching a young lineman how to properly block.
He was a steady influence for the Liberty County Recreation Department for many years.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, he stayed busy on Friday nights providing the coaching communication headsets at Bradwell Institute football games. This involved getting to all the games early and staying late to make certain the equipment functioned properly throughout the game.
Liberty County honored Long by naming the recreation football and track stadium in his honor along with Winford Bell. The facility is officially called Long-Bell Stadium. He made a positive impact on countless athletes from the early 1960s through the ‘80s.
Long touched most of the athletes who graduated from Bradwell Institute during those years in some way. He exemplified the great pride and spirit that athletics can bring to a community. His significant contribution has helped make Liberty County a great sports county.