Next month, five local men will be inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame. The annual induction ceremony and banquet is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Club Stewart.
Tickets are still available. For more information, call Charles Shuman at 876-2223, the Liberty County Recreation Department at 876-5359 or Gerald Deloach at 876-2878.
Here is a look at the five inductees:
Kenny Fussell
Fussell lettered and started for Bradwell Institute’s football team for three years. In his senior year, he was named one of the Tigers’ co-captains.
Fussell has been a member of the Harvey Overton Bradwell Booster Club, serving twice as president and twice as vice president. He helped raise $10,000 in donations, which earned him a HOBBC Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding support in 1998.
He was a longtime coach for the Liberty County Recreation Department. In 28 years, he directed his teams to more than 100 wins, five undefeated seasons and seven championships. He also coached youth T-ball, basketball, baseball and track and field.
In 1976, he co-chaired the Liberty County Bicentennial Sports Program.
Fussell’s passion for sports included a long career as a sportswriter. He spent eight years writing for the Savannah Morning News and had a 10-year career with the Coastal Courier. He also wrote for Georgia High School Sports, a magazine.
Fussell was also the voice of the Bradwell Tigers for radio station WBLU92, calling more than 250 wins. He called five seasons of basketball and three years of baseball.
In 2000, he broadcast Bradwell football games on 104.7 FM and later, along with former Hinesville Mayor Allen Brown, broadcast games live on cable TV.
In 1989, he was the chair-
man for the Fort Stewart and Liberty County basketball game that benefitted the American Cancer Society. In 1990, he was the chairman for the Relay for Life.
Fussell has served as a board member for First Presbyterian Christian Academy in Hinesville.
Marty Hutchinson
Hutchinson is considered one of the best offensive linemen to ever play at Bradwell Institute. He lettered in football for three years and was an all-state honorable-mention selection in 1973. He lettered four years in baseball and was the MVP in his senior year, 1973. He also lettered three years in basketball.
In his freshman year, he was actively involved in the student council and French Club. He was in the Beta Club his junior and senior years, and was the senior class vice president. He graduated with honors in 1973, and then enrolled at the University of Georgia, where he played offensive linemen on the junior varsity for one year. He graduated cum laude from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in business.
Jimmy Porter
Porter is a 1964 graduate of Bradwell Institute. He lettered four years in baseball, two years in track, three years in basketball and three years in football. In his senior year at Bradwell, he was co-captain of the football team and voted Best Back. He was also voted Most Athletic in his class.
After Bradwell, Porter played and lettered in baseball for two years at Brewton-Parker College, where he was named all-conference as a freshman. He batted .301 as a freshman, then .318 as sophomore.
Porter left Brewton-Parker, then a two-year school, for West Georgia College, where he earned All-NAIA honors his junior and senior seasons. As a junior, he batted .327; he batted .320 as a senior and was named team captain and MVP.
Porter went on to a stint as an assistant coach for two years at Liberty County High School. Later, he was named head baseball coach. He went on to become an assistant football coach at Bradwell.
Ronnie Waller
At Bradwell Institute, Waller lettered in track and for four years. He was named captain his senior year. He also lettered in football for four years and lettered two years in baseball.
In track, he finished among the top three in the 100-yard dash at the 1957 state meet. He finished first in the 100, 220, 220 relay, 880 relay and long jump in the 1957 region meet, which Bradwell won.
In baseball, Waller was a member of Bradwell’s first district championship team. He was also senior class vice president and the advertising manager for the yearbook.
At the University of Georgia, he was on the track and field team and was a member of several clubs or societies.
During his time in Athens, he was the secretary of the interfraternity council, a member of the ODK Honor Society, Greek Horseman Honor Society, X-Club Honor Society, and a finalist for Sigma Nu National Man of the Year Award.
Waller served in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning the rank of captain. He served as a company commander in Vietnam.
Throughout the years, Waller has received several honors and awards, including the Danforth Award for Salesmanship and the Women’s Society of Christian Service Outstanding Senior Award.
He is a former president of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Phil Lindsey
Lindsey was the quarterback and a defensive back for Bradwell Institute’s 1965 state championship football team.
While at Bradwell, Lindsey lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was an all-state honorable-mention pick in football as a senior and was named the team’s most improved player. He was also voted Most Athletic as a senior.
Lindsey earned an associate’s degree from South Georgia College, then added a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern and a master’s degree from Georgia State.
He taught at Liberty County High School, Bradwell Institute, Lakeside High, Tucker High and Tallassee (Ala) High.
He was the head football coach at Lakeside from 1963-1997 and Tucker from 1999-2002. Lindsey, who completed his career at Tallassee after the 2007 season, had a career record of 181-84-2.
Lindsey directed his teams to one state title, one state runner-up finish and eight region championships.
Lindsey was named region coach of the year in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 2001.
He was named DeKalb County Touchdown Club Coach of the Year in 1966 and 1991. In 1991, he was honored as Georgia Class AAA Coach of the Year and the Atlanta Touchdown Club Coach of the Year.
Lindsey was the head coach for the North team in the Georgia North-South All-Star Game in 1992.
Lindsey also coached tennis, golf, baseball, wrestling and basketball during his career.
Tickets are still available. For more information, call Charles Shuman at 876-2223, the Liberty County Recreation Department at 876-5359 or Gerald Deloach at 876-2878.
Here is a look at the five inductees:
Kenny Fussell
Fussell lettered and started for Bradwell Institute’s football team for three years. In his senior year, he was named one of the Tigers’ co-captains.
Fussell has been a member of the Harvey Overton Bradwell Booster Club, serving twice as president and twice as vice president. He helped raise $10,000 in donations, which earned him a HOBBC Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding support in 1998.
He was a longtime coach for the Liberty County Recreation Department. In 28 years, he directed his teams to more than 100 wins, five undefeated seasons and seven championships. He also coached youth T-ball, basketball, baseball and track and field.
In 1976, he co-chaired the Liberty County Bicentennial Sports Program.
Fussell’s passion for sports included a long career as a sportswriter. He spent eight years writing for the Savannah Morning News and had a 10-year career with the Coastal Courier. He also wrote for Georgia High School Sports, a magazine.
Fussell was also the voice of the Bradwell Tigers for radio station WBLU92, calling more than 250 wins. He called five seasons of basketball and three years of baseball.
In 2000, he broadcast Bradwell football games on 104.7 FM and later, along with former Hinesville Mayor Allen Brown, broadcast games live on cable TV.
In 1989, he was the chair-
man for the Fort Stewart and Liberty County basketball game that benefitted the American Cancer Society. In 1990, he was the chairman for the Relay for Life.
Fussell has served as a board member for First Presbyterian Christian Academy in Hinesville.
Marty Hutchinson
Hutchinson is considered one of the best offensive linemen to ever play at Bradwell Institute. He lettered in football for three years and was an all-state honorable-mention selection in 1973. He lettered four years in baseball and was the MVP in his senior year, 1973. He also lettered three years in basketball.
In his freshman year, he was actively involved in the student council and French Club. He was in the Beta Club his junior and senior years, and was the senior class vice president. He graduated with honors in 1973, and then enrolled at the University of Georgia, where he played offensive linemen on the junior varsity for one year. He graduated cum laude from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in business.
Jimmy Porter
Porter is a 1964 graduate of Bradwell Institute. He lettered four years in baseball, two years in track, three years in basketball and three years in football. In his senior year at Bradwell, he was co-captain of the football team and voted Best Back. He was also voted Most Athletic in his class.
After Bradwell, Porter played and lettered in baseball for two years at Brewton-Parker College, where he was named all-conference as a freshman. He batted .301 as a freshman, then .318 as sophomore.
Porter left Brewton-Parker, then a two-year school, for West Georgia College, where he earned All-NAIA honors his junior and senior seasons. As a junior, he batted .327; he batted .320 as a senior and was named team captain and MVP.
Porter went on to a stint as an assistant coach for two years at Liberty County High School. Later, he was named head baseball coach. He went on to become an assistant football coach at Bradwell.
Ronnie Waller
At Bradwell Institute, Waller lettered in track and for four years. He was named captain his senior year. He also lettered in football for four years and lettered two years in baseball.
In track, he finished among the top three in the 100-yard dash at the 1957 state meet. He finished first in the 100, 220, 220 relay, 880 relay and long jump in the 1957 region meet, which Bradwell won.
In baseball, Waller was a member of Bradwell’s first district championship team. He was also senior class vice president and the advertising manager for the yearbook.
At the University of Georgia, he was on the track and field team and was a member of several clubs or societies.
During his time in Athens, he was the secretary of the interfraternity council, a member of the ODK Honor Society, Greek Horseman Honor Society, X-Club Honor Society, and a finalist for Sigma Nu National Man of the Year Award.
Waller served in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning the rank of captain. He served as a company commander in Vietnam.
Throughout the years, Waller has received several honors and awards, including the Danforth Award for Salesmanship and the Women’s Society of Christian Service Outstanding Senior Award.
He is a former president of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Phil Lindsey
Lindsey was the quarterback and a defensive back for Bradwell Institute’s 1965 state championship football team.
While at Bradwell, Lindsey lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was an all-state honorable-mention pick in football as a senior and was named the team’s most improved player. He was also voted Most Athletic as a senior.
Lindsey earned an associate’s degree from South Georgia College, then added a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern and a master’s degree from Georgia State.
He taught at Liberty County High School, Bradwell Institute, Lakeside High, Tucker High and Tallassee (Ala) High.
He was the head football coach at Lakeside from 1963-1997 and Tucker from 1999-2002. Lindsey, who completed his career at Tallassee after the 2007 season, had a career record of 181-84-2.
Lindsey directed his teams to one state title, one state runner-up finish and eight region championships.
Lindsey was named region coach of the year in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 2001.
He was named DeKalb County Touchdown Club Coach of the Year in 1966 and 1991. In 1991, he was honored as Georgia Class AAA Coach of the Year and the Atlanta Touchdown Club Coach of the Year.
Lindsey was the head coach for the North team in the Georgia North-South All-Star Game in 1992.
Lindsey also coached tennis, golf, baseball, wrestling and basketball during his career.