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. This year’s ceremony also will honor Eddie Smith, who was unable to attend previous induction ceremonies. The Hall of Fame also will honor the 2015-16 Liberty County High School boys basketball Class AAAA state championship team.

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

Eddie Smith

A 1970 graduate of Bradwell Institute, Smith was an extremely accomplished pole vaulter for the BI track team. Smith was the region champion in the pole vault in 1968, 1969 and 1970 and the state champion in 1970.

He received an athletic scholarship to West Georgia College where he had numerous honors and awards to include qualifying for the NAIA National Track Championships in 1973 and 1974, winning the GIAC pole vault championship in 1974 and being named an NAIA all-American in 1974.

After his competitive days ended, Smith had a successful career as a representative for a sports manufacturing company and as a volunteer pole vault coach/consultant at the high school, college and international levels.

He is retired and lives in Candler, North Carolina.