Recreation Departments mean more than you can imagine

A couple of weeks ago, while talking with Mullins Recreation Department director Kenny Johnson, he discussed the importance of volunteer coaches and being inclusive of parents taking an interest in their kids involvement.

I haven’t had the chance to speak with Billy Thompson, athletic director for Marion’s recreation department just yet, but I get the feeling he’d encourage more residents to become volunteers.

So much can be said and heard about the recreation departments in the County.

“The kids need something to do,” is something I hear too often. If fully supported, a few kids will have plenty to do. Volunteers make a tremendous difference, thanks to their generous donations to help with funding for equipment and considerate individuals who put in the personal time to keep the grounds in order and do such things as repair the roofs atop the little league dugouts.

I run into a number of men and women taking an active role. People such as Marcus Graves, George and Lashoun Elliott, Tillman Sanders, Craig Hopkins, Kisha Pee, Tim Felder, Reggie Hotaling and the late James Shelley, just to name a few.

Programs related to the recreation department are vital to the future of the athletic programs in our local school districts.

But more importantly, the participants get an opportunity to build lasting friendships, develop a passion for sports and share experiences that most will remember for a lifetime.

Personally, it helped me adjust, moving into a new town and playing alongside guys I’m still cool with today.

At that park on Gapway Street, I even had the chance to support my aunt’s Supreme Lighting softball team. Some exciting games are also played there during the summer.

But the biggest impact made on me came from guys like Jimmy Vereen, Greg Dozier, Mack Willie Nelson and Donnie Hill.

Dozier was a drill sergeant that eventually became a state championship coach leading the Dillon Wildcats baseball program.

“Coach V” constantly blew the whistle, calling fouls on me for hand checking on defense. He’s like the coolest uncle in the family and an awesome football coach at Mullins High School.

Nelson supervised countless hours, making sure the kids were in line, and he was always up for giving some advice.

Hill is a friend to everyone. He provided an outlet for us kids to play with open arms and I can’t thank him enough for the role he played in my growing in a town he has so much pride in.

One parent had this to say about Hill: “Donnie was my oldest niece's basketball coach this past year (she is 12) and I am telling you, he had not coached basketball in years, but he did an amazing job with those kids, taking them to a FMU Lady Patriots basketball game, meeting their players and coaches. He had a very nice banquet where he gave them trophies with an auctioneer head on the trophy. He bought all 13 of these himself and said the reason for the auctioneer head on the trophy was because he wanted them to remember they are future auctioneers.”

At the banquet, Hill spoke about each kid on his team, told them how much he cares, how much they individually had improved, what they needed to work on and what kind of future he thought they had.

If you’re able, please find a way to do whatever you can to support our local recreation departments.

When I coached my own basketball team, a group of 15 year olds that became the “Suns,” it was another highlight sports moment for me. I continue to cheer those kids on like I’m on the sidelines. Knowing someone is in their corner means more than you can imagine.