Mr. CFB: A Tribute To The Great Claude Felton
It was the Spring of 1974 and I needed some help from Claude Felton.
He was the Sports Information Director at Georgia Southern. I was a student at Georgia Southern, at least for a little while longer. I had just decided that I was transferring to Georgia to attend Jounalism school beause I wanted to be a (gulp!) sports writer!
But there was a problem. I needed two more academic credits in order to transfer to Georgia. So I stayed in Statesboro, got a job, and went to Geology 101 in the Spring and Geology 102 in the Summer.
Another problem. Because I wasn't a full-time student I could not get into the Georgia Southen baseball games for free. So I went to see Claude in his office on Sweetheart Circle and explained my dilemma.
Claude reached behind his desk where he had every kind of badge you can imagine. Next thing I know I'm holding a badge that would get me into the stadium for the rest of the baseball season.
I passed both Geology courses but just barely. In fact I told the Geologoy 102 professor that I HAD to pass the course in order to transfer. He gave me a D minus-minus and wrote this note on the grade report "Good luck at Georgia."
That, gentle readers, was 50 years ago. That was when Claude Felton took me under his wing. And half a century later I'm still there.
And on Tuesday Claude told us that he's retiring after 45 years on the job.
Look, I'm going make the rest of this short and sweet. Claude doesn't like for folks to make a fuss over him. He should have been in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame long ago but he wanted to wait. His job was to help get Georgia's athletes and coaches into the GSHF. Go to the GSHF website and you'll see he did a pretty good job of that.
I am happy to report that the waiting is over. On Feb. 24 in Macon Claude Felton will be inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
One other thing. And I'm not backing down fom this.
He is the best sports information director who has ever walked the face of the Earth.
And I know this to be true because it has been my priviledge to work with the very best the profession has ever had to offer: David Housel (Auburn), Langston Rogers (Ole Miss), Bud Ford (Tennessee), Nom Carlson (Florida), Bill Little (Texas), Rick Brewer (North Carolina). I have to stop now because I'm leaving too many great ones out.
But if you asked each one of those gentlemen who was the best sports information director they ever saw, they would all say "Claude."
You really can't judge how much Claude Felton has meant to athletics at the University of Georgia because you can't quantify the thousands of behind-the-scenes gestures that he did to make covering the Bulldogs an enjoyable and professional experience.
Out of town media have always looked foward to coming to Athens because if Claude was charge it was going to be done right.
Right about here is where Claude would remind us that he has one of the best staffs in the profession. And he does. And nobody leaves because they love working for this man.
We traded text messages after Tuesday's announcement. We'll talk soon.
But for now: How do you thank someone who has been part of your life and career for 50 years?
Like this:
Thanks, CF. You're the best.