The Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet will induct five athletes and one local sports team during their annual banquet.
This year the Hall of Fame Banquet is set for 7 p.m. Thursday Dec. 8 at the Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway.
Tickets are $20 and may be purchased in advance at the Liberty County Recreation Department Office, 607 E. Oglethorpe Highway.
This year’s inductees include Rickey Fabian, Alfred Lester, Ulrick John Jr., Artis Lee Morrison, James "Jimbo" Watson Jr. and the 2008 state title winning boys’ basketball team from First Presbyterian Christian Academy.
Ricky Fabian
Fabian is a 1983 graduate of Bradwell Institute.
Known as an all-around athlete he earned eight varsity letters, four in football, two in baseball and two in basketball.
Fabian was chosen as the Tiger team captain and team MVP in football, basketball and baseball his senior year.
That season he led the Tigers i n rushing and passing yards and touchdowns on the gridiron, in points scored and assists on the basketball court, and in batting average on the baseball diamond.
Fabian received an athletic scholarship to Albany State College where he started as a freshman at running back in football.
He also played baseball and earned All-SIAC First Team honors for the Rams playing short stop and hitting .435 with 14 home runs.
Fabian is a lifetime resident of Liberty County He is a long-time employee and member of the Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) team at Ft. Stewart.
Ulrick T. John, Jr.
John graduated from Bradwell in 20 l 0 and has the distinction of being the first football player drafted to the NFL after his college career at Georgia State University. At Bradwell John was a two-time first team All-Region 3-AAAAA selection at offensive line for the Tigers as well as first team All Coastal Empire by the Savannah Morning News.
John received a full scholarship to Georgia State University where he played for Coach Bill Curry competing in 36 games with 25 starts as GSU’s top offensive lineman. During the 2014 NFL draft John was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2015 and was recently traded to the Arizona Cardinals.
Alfred Lester
A 1994 Bradwell graduate, Lester started two years at quarterback and garnered three varsity letters in football and three in basketball. During his senior year in football he won the prestigious Hokey Jackson Awards and was named team MVP.
Lester had football scholarship offers from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), the U.S. Naval Academy, and West Georgia and chose to attend VMI as he believed this was his best chance to start and play early. His decision proved true, and he became the first freshman at VMI to ever start at quarterback in the first game of the season.
Lester was a four year letterman for the Keydets and ranks in the top five in several career categories including second in total plays (1,061), third in pass attempts (746), fourth in total yards (4212), 5th in passing yards (3,717) and fifth in completions (336). Lester received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from VMI and is currently is a construction engineer project manager for CarMax, the largest used car company in the United States.
Artis D. Lee Morrison
Morrison graduated from Bradwell in 1978 graduate where he was an exceptional football player. His career started on the Liberty County Recreation Departent football team where in 1974 he was the team MVP. In 1975 while playing for the Tiger JV squad he also won the MVP award. He was the Tigers’ Best Offensive Lineman during his junior and senior years at BI.
Morrison also lettered multiple years in track at placing second and third at the region track meet in the shot put his last two years. He also competed i n the discus throw, 100 yard dash and was a member of the 440 relay team.
After high school Morrison played football at Fort Valley State College. Morrison is currently a captain with the Georgia Ports Authority Security/Police Department where he has been a distinguished employee and officer since 1981.
James ‘Jimbo’ Watson, Jr.
Jimbo, as he was affectionately known, was a 1980 graduate of BI and a stellar athlete earning nine varsity letters over his four year high school career. Watson was a three year football letterman and hard hitting linebacker who was captain of the 1979 sub-region champions that went 10-0 in the regular season. Watson was voted team defensive MVP for 1979 on an extremely talented defensive u n it with several other future college football players.
Watson also received four varsity letters in tennis leading the Tigers to the region championship in doubles and the state quarterfinals in 1979. Watson also earned two varsity letters in track participating in the shot put and 440 relay. Watson walked on to the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga football team and earned a full scholarship after the first month on campus.
He started three games as a freshman, was a full time starter for more than two year, a four year letterman, and was captain of the 1984 conference championship team.
He received a bachelor of science degree in political science/public administration from UTC in 1985. He is founder and CEO of HIP Brad Development, Inc. and makes his home in the Denver, Colorado area.
2008 First Presbyterian Christian Academy (FPCA) State Championship
Basketball Team
The 2008 FPCA basketball team is the fourth Liberty County team to be inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame following the 1965 Liberty High School men’s basketball team, 1965 Bradwell Institute football Team, and 1976 Bradwell Institute baseball team, all state champions.
Coached by Darrell West and David Linderman, the Highlanders compiled an impressive record of 25-4 and defeated Bethesda Day School (Savannah) for the 2008 GISA Class A Championship. On the court, FPCA was led by Joey Bell (20 pts./ game avg.), Hakeem Golden (10 rebounds/game avg.), and T.A. Austin (8 assists/game avg.). The team was as follows: Head Coach Darrell West, Assistant Coach David Linderman, and team members Joey Bell, T.A. Alston, A.J. Ansley, Mike Brown, Josh Rodgers, Hakeem Golden, Preyen Patel, Tim Ashmen, Sunny Patel, Kyle Weinerth, Garrett Chrissman, and Jose Martinez.
For more information on the Hall of Fame Banquet call the LCRD at 912-876-5359.