After a three-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame will induct a new class of honorees.

The class will be enshrined at the annual banquet scheduled for April 27 at 7 p.m., with reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty County Complex in Midway.

The class of 2023 is: O.C. Baker, Neal Brown, Raekwon McMillan, Sandy Miller and Warnella Wilder.

Between now and the induction ceremony, the Courier will highlight the members of this year’s class.

Oliver Baker was a standout coach and player and was the first athlete from Liberty County High School to receive a full athletic scholarship.

During his playing days in the early 1960s at Liberty County High School, he averaged between 25-30 points and 7 rebounds per game. He led the Tigers to district championships in 1961 and 1962. He was co-captain in 1961-62 and captain in 1962-63.

He also ran track, running the hurdles and was a member of the 4x110 relay team.

Baker signed to play basketball at Savannah State College. He started as a freshman and averaged 15 points per game. He was team co-captain his junior year and was seventh in the nation in field goal percentage. As a senior, he was team captain and was fifth in the nation in field goal percentage.

He was teacher and coach for 33 years, retiring in 2001, and was a longtime basketball coach at Brunswick High School.

Tickets for the banquet are $20 and are available at the Liberty County Recreation Department front desk. This year’s ceremony also will include the induction of Eddie Smith, who was unable to attend the ceremony the year in which he was voted in. The 2016 Liberty County High boys basketball state championship team also will be honored at the ceremony.