TIFTON — For the past 33 years, thousands upon thousands of local residents have enjoyed the programs of the Tift County Recreation Department. During that span of time, Craig Sowell has performed every task imaginable for the recreation department from “cleaning the commodes to preparing the budget.” 

For his dedication to the world of sports, this 1982 alumnus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the Director of the Tift County Recreation Department will be honored on April 7 as a member of the Class of 2017 of the ABAC Athletics Hall of Fame.

“Some of the best years I have ever had were spent at ABAC,” Sowell said.  “I am very honored.”  

After graduating from Calvary Baptist in Savannah in 1980, Sowell knew he wanted a college education that would prepare him for a career in recreation. When his dad was relocated to Tifton by Union Camp, ABAC seemed like a perfect starting line.

“I was involved in a lot of things while I was at ABAC,” Sowell said. “I helped Sarge Dorsey quite a bit in intramurals, Coach (Wayne) Cooper around the driving range and Coach (Norman) Hill around the tennis courts. I did a little bit of it all.”

Sowell even danced on the stage at the Sunbelt Expo as a member of the ABAC Travelin’ Stallion square dance troupe of Dr. Fred Reuter and Ed Hawkins.

“It seemed like we kept that stage full for about 10 hours a day,” Sowell said. “It was fun.”

After completing his ABAC academic requirements, Sowell finished his bachelor’s degree in recreation from Georgia Southern. He returned to Tifton in March of 1984 for an internship with the recreation department. In August of that year, he was hired to a full time position with the recreation department as a program assistant. 

In 1993, he was appointed the director of the department.  He describes his daily to-do list as “crazy.”

“Tifton is a good community, and everybody works together,” Sowell said. “I have done everything from cleaning the commodes to preparing the budget.  Most of all, I help to solve the problems.”

Sowell estimates that more than 2,000 people a year involve themselves in baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, flag football, tackle football, cheerleading, swimming, and tennis opportunities with the recreation department.

“It’s a challenge every day,” Sowell said. “I think we are helping to build a more productive community. We give people an opportunity to enjoy their leisure time by participating in a lot of different activities.

“I give ABAC a lot of credit for any success I have had.  The instructors and everyone at ABAC have been very instrumental. It was a blessing for me to work with people like Sarge, Alan Kramer, Wayne Cooper, Coach Hill and Tom Moody.”

Sowell and the recreation department assisted with the birth of the ABAC soccer program in 2006 when the Fillies of Coach Jimmy Ballenger played at a recreation department field during their first year of existence before moving to their on-campus field in 2007.

When Alan Hudgins was directing the ABAC intramurals program, he and Sowell worked closely on several projects. 

Sowell has also served on an ABAC athletics advisory committee and has been a visiting instructor for the ABAC rural studies program, focusing on recreation and community development. Sowell and the recreation department also helped with the implementation of the women’s softball program at ABAC and hosted the state and national tournament for a number of years.

“ABAC has really grown up and is still moving forward,” Sowell said.

Sowell’s wife, Keetra, attended ABAC as did their two daughters, Catherine and Sara.  Their son, Jacob, is 14 years old and seems destined to attend ABAC one day. 

“Going to ABAC made a difference in my life,” Sowell said. “I want to keep it in the family.”

Tickets to the 6 p.m. ceremony on April 7 in Gressette Gymnasium are $35 per person.  The event also includes the top award winners from the ABAC Alumni Association as a part of the 2017 Homecoming Week activities. 

ABAC Athletics Director Alan Kramer said the 2017 class also includes the 1964 state championship men’s basketball team, tennis player Luiza Biktyakova, softball standout Lacy Whatley Kennon, soccer star Katrina Duncan-Marshalleck, basketball player Worth Hartry, former professional golfer Joey Dixon, and the posthumous induction of former ABAC volleyball and tennis coach Hudgins.

Tickets to the dinner and ceremony can be purchased from the ABAC College Advancement Office at (229) 391-4900. The deadline to purchase tickets is March 27.  There will be no tickets sold at the event. For more information on the 2017 Homecoming Week, interested persons can visit the web site at www.abac.edu/homecoming.