Aug. 21, 2012
Hall of Fame Gala Info
THE FLATS – Legendary Georgia Tech track and field coach Douglas “Buddy” Fowlkes and two former Olympians in Edward “Ed” Hamm and Antonio McKay Sr. will be inducted into the US Track and Field – Georgia Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 25.
These three outstanding contributors to Georgia Tech track and field and the state of Georgia will be honored at 2012 Hall of Fame Dinner and Gala at 6 p.m.at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Former WSB-TV sports anchor Chuck Dowdle and WXIA sports anchor Sam Crenshaw will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Gala.
If you’d like to take part in honoring and celebrating Georgia Tech’s track and field greats, tickets are available at www.usatfga.org. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Buddy Fowlkes coached the men’s track and field team for almost three decades (1965-92), and from 1989-92 he coached the women’s team as well. Throughout his time at Tech, he elevated the program to extraordinary heights, guiding three Olympic medalists, two world record holders, 10 NCAA champions, 50 All-Americans, 77 ACC champions and 126 All-ACC selections.
One of the Olympic medalists he coached is fellow inductee Antonio McKay Sr., who was a two-time national champion and a three-time All American in the 400 meters in 1984. McKay won two gold medals as a part of the 4×400 relay team in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, and also earned an individual bronze medal in the 400-meter dash in 1984.
Georgia Tech’s first Olympic gold medalist was Ed Hamm, who took first in the long jump during the 1928 summer games in Amsterdam. Hamm is a two-time national champion in the long jump and Tech’s first world record holder, which he set in 1928.
