PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Porterdale’s own Billy Carl (BC) Crowell was born in Porterdale on September 9, 1923 in a mill house near the baseball field; and
WHEREAS, BC had natural athletic abilities and earned a baseball scholarship to Oglethorpe University, graduating in 1944 and played baseball for the New York Yankees farm System; and
WHEREAS, he served his hometown, the state of Georgia and the United States of America as a Veteran of the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, after serving in the Navy during World War 11, he took a job with the Bibb Manufacturing Company as Porterdale’s athletic director spending 22 years coaching Porterdale’s students in baseball, softball, football, basketball and track; and
WHEREAS, he was a positive influence on thousands of youngsters of Porterdale and Newton County with his wisdom and sense of fair play; and
WHEREAS, he was a founding member of the Newton County Recreation Commission, served as chairman of Keep Covington-Newton Beautiful, 65 year member of the American Legion post 32, and VFW, he was a lifetime member of the Covington Elks and past president of the Kiwanis Club; and
WHEREAS, BC was not only a ball player and coach, he was also a Boy Scout leader and a leader of our community, serving on the Porterdale City Council from 1950 to 1960 and was mayor from 1960 to 1965; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I Bobby D. Hamby, Mayor of the City of Porterdale, the State of Georgia, do hereby proclaim the week of August 23—28, 2010
BC CROWELL WEEK
And do hereby proclaim the day of August 28, 2010 as
BC CROWELL DAY
A single story couldn’t contain the life of B.C. Crowell, and the leaders of Porterdale decided a single day just wasn’t enough time to honor him. Porterdale paid tribute to one of its most famous sons Friday, when Mayor Bobby Hamby signed a proclamation declaring the upcoming week of Aug. 23-28 as "B.C. Crowell Week."
"B.C. meant so much to our community. He served most of his life here, and we felt that we needed to honor him," Hamby said.
Several of Crowell’s close friends were in attendance including Recreation Commission Director Tommy Hailey, fellow Porterdale sports legend Betty Jaynes and his daughter, Susan Crowell.
"It means a lot," Crowell said of having a week named after her father. "The people of Porterdale loved and respected him as much as he loved and respected them. He would loved to have been here to celebrate with everyone else. I’m proud of daddy and of Porterdale."
Aug. 28, 2010, will officially be B.C. Crowell day. Hamby said the city will tie the celebration of Crowell’s life into the annual Porterdale Reunion. A picture of Crowell and the city’s proclamation will be on display at city hall, and Hamby will reread the proclamation around 11 a.m. that day.
See the full proclamation online at www.covnews.com
