Macon Sports Hall of Fame inductees share stories

Maggie Johnston Waldrop was a force at FPD, in soccer and track and field.

Her exploits as a discus and shot put whiz led to state championships, and a superb college career at Samford that included a trip to the NCAAs.

And she’s well aware of it, as she shared Tuesday night at the Macon Sports Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony.

“(Coach) Dave Sparrow put a discus in my hand for the first time, and it was like I found my first love,” the 2016 FPD graduate said. “It just came out of my hand perfectly, and (we) never separated after that.

“I was incredibly fortunate to get to do multiple events through track and field, and to carry that into … setting me up for a great college career and education, and kind of jump-start education and career, and really propel me through the rest of my life.”

She was one of 10 inductees, two posthumously, in this year’s ceremony in front of what may have been the largest crowd ever for a Macon Sports Hall of Fame ceremony at the Edgar H. Wilson Convention Center, a crowd of about 450.

The River North Academy baseball team of 1981-82 was honored, with more than a dozen members — including current Mercer head baseball coach Craig Gibson, legendary high school head coach and former MLB player Bobby Hendley and assistant M.L. Clark, who are both in the MSHOF.

River North had a 33-game winning streak stretching over the two seasons en route to state titles in the Southeastern Association of Independent Schools, the precursor to the GISA.

This was the first year in a long time the ceremony wasn’t held in the smaller Monument Room of the Coliseum. The format underwent a change, from new inductees offering heartfelt memories and thanks to a short question-and-answer session with master of ceremonies Frank Malloy.

Inductees provided both humor and heartfelt thanks in their time on stage.

Reggie Manuel played at Southwest under legendary head coach Duck Richardson, as did his brother Eric, who was inducted last year and was on hand for his brother.

Who won the pickup games? Manuel whispered the answer to Malloy. It was Eric, who nodded and pointed at his brother.

Manuel gave a shoutout to a few teachers who were in the crowd.

“When Coach Richardson would tell me I had to practice,” Manuel said, “they’re the two that stood in front of him and said, ‘No, he’s not going to practice, he’s got to finish school first.’”

Westside grad Clint Kent was a standout at James Madison before embarking on a career in the Canadian Football League.

Both are serious road trips, but Kent’s father made them. barely, at times.

“My junior year, we played Villanova, in Philadelphia,” said Kent, who veered into the coaching profession after playing. “He took the train up. By the time he was getting off the train, the game was over, so he had missed the whole game.”

Kent later played in the Grey Cup in Canada.

“It’s like minus 40 outside,” Kent said. “My dad, he’s from Vidalia, Georgia, so he came up with his little winter gear on. I felt so bad.”

Edwana Dee Hazel had the most unique road to induction. After a standout basketball career at Peter Appling, she gave up the game and took up family life and working.

Three children later, a Mercer coach saw her in an airport and started working on bringing her back to the court. Assorted Mercer officials and coaches met with her, and soon enough, she was a Bear.

And part of her own team.

“I’d like to thank my mom, for keeping those three children,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without her. My husband was a traveling man, so, it’s me and mom and the kids.

“We did it.”

Johnston Waldrop cruised through the questions, but the final inquiry, about who she wanted to thank, slowed her down, starting when she reeled off a list of coaches.

“To my parents, that taught me everything I am, and made me who I am today,” she said, trying to keep fully composed. “And to my Grandaddy, my No. 1 fan, I’m so thankful that you never let a moment go by without being celebrated.

“I’m so blessed to have had the athletic career I have and to have all the support that I have going through the rest of my life as well.”