Football Archives - Robert Redd Historian & Author

Posted on February 16, 2024July 14, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

Sites in Bowman Georgia Worth Visiting

Bowman, Georgia

Bowman, Georgia is a small town located in Elbert County in the northeast portion of the state. The town boasts a population of around 900. Bowman is located between the towns of Elberton and Royston along Georgia State Route 17. Elberton is known by the nickname of the “Granite Capital of the World.” Royston is famous for it’s association with Hall of Fame baseball player Ty Cobb. If you are driving State Road 17 in Georgia do not miss these sites in Bowman Georgia that are worth visiting.

To read my review of the book Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty, click HERE.

Thomas Jefferson Bowman and the growth of the Elberton Air Line Railroad in the 1870s led for the formation of the city of Bowman. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the city in 1907. John Judson Brown, was elected the first mayor of Bowman in 1910. Brown would later serve as the Commissioner of Agriculture in Georgia and founded the Georgia Farm Market Bulletin.

After the turn of the twentieth century, four trains made daily service to Bowman. The then thriving community was home to two blacksmith shops, two barber shops, a harness store, livery stable, hotel, and several mills. Baptist and Methodist churches provided for the spiritual needs of residents.

Much of the history of Bowman, GA can be found through this interesting 1938 footage. This is on the University of Georgia Brown Media Archives page.

In 2009 the Building at 6 and 7 Public Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in architecture as an excellent representation of commercial buildings in small towns during the early 20th century. The building is also deemed important in the field of commerce as it served as home to numerous business from its construction date in 1908 through the middle of the 20th century. Business types included a brickyard, gin, shoe and harness shop, blacksmith, lumber yard, bank, drug store, grocery, and telephone company.

The National Register of Historic Places added the Bowman Commercial District to its listings in 2016. The completed nomination form does not appear to be available online yet.

Today, Bowman plays host to two large, yearly festivals, the Big Iron Crank Up, held in the spring and the Bowman Fall Festival held in October.

My wife and I have driven through Bowman on several occasions on our way a bit further north. The last time through my wife was driving and I had her stop so I could take a few photos.

Stop at the corner of SR17 and SR172 to view interesting sites you will only find in Bowman, Georgia.

Little Police Station

The first place to visit is the City of Bowman’s Famous “Little Police Station.” Bowman doesn’t make claim to having the world’s smallest police station, but this would probably give most a serious run for the money.

Measuring only several feet square with a single door, the station is located adjacent to the railroad tracks.

If you are interested in finding the world’s smallest police station, you’ll have to drive south, to Carabelle, Florida. Located at the corner of US 98 and CR 67 is the world’s smallest. Read more about the Carrabelle police station/phone booth using THIS LINK.

Small police station claims are also made by

Ridgeway, South Carolina

Britain’s Smallest Police Station

Mecole Hardman, Jr.

Every small town seems to have the high school athlete that is just better than everyone around them. For Bowman, that young man is Mecole Hardman, Jr. A rather prominent sign proclaiming his ties to the town is located a very short distance from the little police station.

Hardman had a standout college career at the University of Georgia, where in addition to playing wide receiver, he also returned kicks. Hardman opted out of his senior year of college eligibility. He was drafted in the second round of the 2019 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Playing alongside superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Hardman made 151 catches in less than four years (due to injury) and ultimately was part of two Super Bowl winning teams.

After the 2022 season Hardman became a free agent and in March 2023, signed with the New York Jets. In October 2023, Hardman was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, reuniting him with the team where he had his greatest success. In February 2024, Mecole Hardman caught the Super Bowl winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes.

Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman talks about playing in the Super Bowl, starting the season with the Jets and ending the season with the Chiefs, who was the craziest at the after party, Post Malone performing, blacking out when he scored the game winning touchdown, the play that they called, growing up in Bowman, Georgia, and the parade.

Bowman Area Veterans Memorial

This unique monument with W for World War I and II, a K for the Korean Conflict, and V for Vietnam is;

Dedicated to the glory of God and all veterans of the Bowman Community, more especially to these who have given their lives for our nation’s cause.

Listed are the names of seventeen men from the Bowman area who gave their lives while in service. I am currently working on a more detailed post/s for these men and will link from here once complete.

Listed below, are the names on the monument. If known, I have referred as to the war these men perished in. When possible, I have linked names to online memorials.

Jimmy Lee Almond Korea (his correct name is Jimmie)

Joe Robert Burton World War II

Lloyd George Burton World War II (killed in a flight training accident at Cecil Field)

Ouitman Bone Drake World War II (his correct name is Quitman)

Robert Edward Echols Vietnam

Edison H. Lunsford post World War II

Samuel T. Martin currently unknown

Benjamin M. Maxwell World War II (see HERE also)

Hugh Hall Maxwell World War II (see HERE also)

Charles C. Mayfield Vietnam

Dorsey A. Pulliam World War II (killed in airplane accident at Smyrna Army Air Field in Tennessee)

Julian Pulliam World War II

Charles Stakley Roberts, Jr. World War II (see HERE also)

George Henry Rousey 1960 (killed in a single car accident in Hampton, Virginia)

Clifford Farris Rucker World War II (see HERE also)

Thomas Gary Sikes Vietnam

James Fletcher Webb World War II (see HERE also)

To the side of the main memorial is a flat stone dedicated to World War II veteran Samuel Johnson Verner who passed away at the age of 76 in 1989. Verner is buried at Lavonia-Burgess City Cemetery in Franklin County, GA.

Dorsey Alexander Pulliam and Julian Pulliam were brothers.

Lloyd George Burton and Joe Robert Burton were brothers.

I have not confirmed the relationship Hugh Hall Maxwell and Benjamin Martin Maxwell. They may or may not have been related.

Please share any information on any of these service members, especially photos or memories. As I put together individual posts about these men, I will include your histories. You will receive full credit for any materials shared.

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Posted on September 1, 2023August 27, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

George Nock: NFL Player and Professional Artist

George Nock—NFL Player and Artist

Sometimes it takes a while before an individual finds their true calling in life. For George Nock he grew up with art before taking a slight detour toward the world of college and professional football, before returning to his real love and talent, art. George Nock was a college star, NFL player, and later a professional artist.

Born March 4, 1946, in Baltimore, and raised in Philadelphia, Nock came from a big city background and lived a big city life.

George Nock courtesy Morgan State Athletics. Nock stared in college football, played in the NFL, and returned to his true love, becoming a professional artist.

Nock excelled at both art and athletics during his early years. Even in his earliest years he was drawing and during junior high he crossed paths with two mentors who had a distinct influence on his life path. African American artists and educators William Tasker and John Battle III allowed George to excel in his coursework and even provided weekend lessons at the Fleischer Art Memorial. While still interested in art, Nock began to focus energies on sports during high school.

Nock attended Morgan State College (now University after 1975), where he and the Bears had several memorable moments during his career there. During the 1965 Orange Blossom Classic, facing Florida A&M, Nock returned a punt for a touchdown and the Bears defeated the Wildcats 36-7.

George Nock, Morgan State running back image courtesy Morgan State Athletics. Nock would later go on to a career in the NFL before becoming a professional artist. — George Nock, Morgan State running back. Image courtesy Morgan State Athletics

The following year, Nock and the Bears played in the first bowl game where a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) won an integrated game. Morgan State College defeated the West Chester Golden Rams by a final score of 14-6, in the Tangerine Bowl (now called the Citrus Bowl) in Orlando, FL, capping off an undefeated season at 8-0.

Several Morgan State players from the 1966 team went on to NFL careers including Tangerine Bowl MVP, Willie Lanier, Bob Wade, Baryl Johnson, Alvin Mitchell, Jeff Queen, and Nock. Lanier went on to be a star in the league, playing in 149 games, intercepting twenty-seven passes, and recovering eighteen fumbles in an eleven-year career. He was an eight-time all-pro, went to the Pro Bowl six times, was selected to both the 75^th and 100^th Anniversary All-Time teams, and had his number retired by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

George Nock was an NFL player and professional artist. This image from his NFL career is courtesy New York Jets — George Nock in action for the New York Jets. Image courtesy New York Jets.

Nock’s college career was strong enough to invite interest from the NFL, and in the 1969 draft he was taken by the New York Jets in the 16^th round, the 416^th player taken overall. Being drafted that low, it was a struggle to make the team, but he did, playing alongside quarterback Joe Namath. He only played in two games that season and totaled negative five rushing yards.

While Nock’s numbers were not strong, the team ended the regular season with a 10-4 record, good enough to make it to the playoffs where they would lose to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The young Nock came back strong in the 1970 season, not just earning a roster spot but playing in all fourteen games, starting in nine. He finished second on the team in rushing yards with 402 and also caught eighteen passes for an additional 146 yards. Combined he scored six touchdowns. This was certainly a solid year, but the team was poor. Namath broke his wrist in the fifth game of the season and the team finished a dreadful 4-10.

Nock was to play one more season with the Jets. In 1971 he played in all fourteen games and totaled 137 rushing yards, 44 pass reception yards, and scored five touchdowns.

In 1972 he moved on to the Washington Redskins where in his final year in the league, he played in only seven games, cut down due to injury. He ran for twenty-two yards and caught no passes. The Redskins went to Super Bowl VII but were defeated by the undefeated Miami Dolphins.

Nock did not play in the 1973 season due to injury and was later traded to the Baltimore Colts. He was to later file suit against the Redskins for negligent treatment by team physician Dr. P.M. Palumbo, Jr.

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In a post-career interview posted on the Washington Commanders website, in discussing how he transitioned from football to art, Nock stated, “I was always drawing and doing something related to the arts. I pursued it in a way that could be considered a career at the time, [but] I pursued it as a hobby just because I loved to do it. Doing it on my own, I developed my skill.” In discussing his passion for art, he went on, “I just decided to pursue the artwork, and see what happens. There’s a thing that eats away at you and there’s where your passion lies, so follow it. That’s what I did.”

The interview continues, delving into how Nock got into bronze sculpture,

Well, it took a while to do the bronze. I could always sculpt, but I never took a class. I’m self-taught. But then in ’89, I decided to really take a look at it and I was at a football convention in L.A. and when I came back I just made up my mind to do bronzes. I just made up my mind. I went directly to a foundry out in Northern Virginia. They took me in and I asked if they could show me how to do this. [But] they said, “We don’t let people [bronze] off the street.” So, I went and got this sculpture of a football player that I had done and brought it back to them. I said, “I’m going to be doing this for the rest of my life.” They said, “come on in, man.” That’s how that happened.

George Nock, the artist, has firm ties to the Orlando area. Visitors to Lake Lorna Doone Park can visit the “Breaking Barriers” monument. This incredibly important work, highlights two Little League baseball players, one African American, the other White. The monument is in commemoration of the first integrated Little League game played in the South. This game was played here in 1955 at what was then called Optimist Park.

Rather than attempt to retell the story of how the Pensacola Jaycees Little League team came to Orlando to participate in the district tournament, I refer readers to this excellent Major League Baseball article.

The world lost George Nock in 2020 at age 74 to COVID-19. An online memorial for him may be found using THIS LINK.

1955 Pensacola Jaycees Little League team. Image courtesy MLB.com — 1955 Pensacola Jaycees Little League team. Image courtesy Major League Baseball.

1955 Orlando Kiwanis Little League team. Image courtesy Major League Baseball.

Use Tiqets.com to find the best attractions at the best prices all over the world. Click the link to visit their site and enter your destination.

Sources

“67 Years Ago, 2 Teams of 12-Year-Old Boys Made History.” https://www.mlb.com/news/1955-little-league-baseball-history-pensacola-jaycees-orlando-kiwanis.

“Breaking Barriers.” Orlando Arts. July/August 2023.

George Nock. https://www.georgenock.com/.

“George Nock, Jets RB from 1969-1971 & Acclaimed Artist, Dead at 74.” New York Jets. https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/george-nock-jets-rb-from-1969-71-acclaimed-artist-dead-at-74.

“George Nock.” Just Lookin. www.justlookin.com/bios/gNock.htm.

“George Nock.” Pro Football Reference. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NockGe00.htm.

“Mayor Dyer & Commissioner Hill Unveil Barrier Breakers Monument. https://www.orlando.gov/News/Press-Releases/2022-Press-Releases/Barrier-Breakers-Monument-Unveiling.

“Nock Files Negligence Suit.” New York Daily News. September 28, 1974.

“Redskins Past to Present—George Nock.” https://www.commanders.com/news/redskins-past-to-present-george-nock-16952628.

“Willie Lanier.” Pro Football Reference. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaniWi00.htm.

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Tag: Football