CLASS OF 1982
JAMES BAGBY, SR.
A native of Barnett, Jim Bagby, Sr. broke into pro baseball with Augusta of the Sally League in 1910. In 1911 with Hattiesburg he posted an impressive 22-16 record, which paved the way for his major league debut with Cincinnati the following season at age 22. After being cut by the Reds, he returned to the show with the Cleveland Indians in 1916. Bagby posted 23 wins in 1917, but would better that in 1920. That season, Bagby had a record setting year leading the Indians to the pennant with a 31-12 record. Since 1920, Bagby is one of only 4 pitchers to win 30 games in a Major League season joining Lefty Grove, Dizzy Dean, and Denny McLain in that group. In the World Series, Bagby belted the first home run by a pitcher in modern World Series history. He would conclude his 9-year career with a 127-89 record and an ERA of 3.11. His son Jim Bagby, Jr. was also a major leaguer who played for the Red Sox, Indians and Pirates. The Bagby’s became the first father and son to pitch in the World Series when Jim Jr. appeared for the 1946 Red Sox.
LEW CORDELL
Llewellyn (Lew) Cordell was born in Hart County in 1910. He was a star athlete in high school and went on to play football at the University of Georgia. A diligent performer, Cordell never missed a practice while at UGA. He was a letterman on the Bulldogs 1934 team that went 7-3. In his senior year, Cordell signed a contract with the Chicago Bears, only to reverse his field and accept a coaching job at Georgia Military College (GMC). Cordell would remain at the school from 1936-1958 posting an overall record of 118-36-7. He guided his teams to 12 Southeastern Regional Junior College Championships and lifted the GMC football program to national prominence. Lew was the first JUCO Coach East of the Mississippi to place a player on the All-American list, and had a total of 27 when retired. In 1985, GMC renamed the Field House Complex the Cordell Events Center in his honor.
EDWARD HAMM
Edward (Ed) Hamm won the state long jump for three straight years: 1923-1925, setting a state record of 23'2" his sophomore year in his hometown of Lonoke, Arkansas. Hamm attended Georgia Tech to play football, but the athletic director decided he was better on the track. Hamm won SEC Titles for three consecutive years in the 100 yards, 220 yards, and long jump. He won the NCAA title in 1927 and 1928 and then took the 1928 Olympic Trials long jump with a world record. On July 31, at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Holland, Hamm broke the Olympic record and won a gold medal. It was the first gold medal for an athlete representing any Georgia school. After the Olympics, he was part of a track and field team that toured England and Germany. He won the long jump in every meet. Hamm graduated from Georgia Tech in 1928, served as the school's track coach for a few years, and then spent the rest of his life in private business.
MILTON "RED" LEATHERS
Leonidus Milton “Red” Leathers, Jr. was born in Winder but moved to Athens when he was just one year old. As an athlete at Athens High School he lettered in four sports: football, basketball, baseball, and track. At the University of Georgia, ''Red'' Leathers was one of the ''Flaming Sophomores'' of 1929 that defeated Yale in the dedication game for the new Sanford Stadium. He was a prominent guard for the Bulldogs from 1929 to 1931. He was selected All-Southern in 1930 and 1931 as well as second-team All-American by the International News Service. Leathers was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933 becoming the first UGA interior lineman to play pro football. He was the recipient of the National Football Leagues' Distinguished Alumnus Award after his military service as a Colonel during World War II.
GEORGE POSCHNER
George Poschner came to the University of Georgia from Youngstown, Ohio. He got to Georgia because of the efforts of his good friend, Frank Sinkwich. When Sinkwich was recruited by the Dawgs, he accepted the scholarship on the condition that Poschner would be granted a scholarship as well. George played three seasons for Georgia from 1939 to 1942 and the receiver caught two fourth-quarter passes from Sinkwich in a 21-10 win over Alabama in the ’42 season. Poschner played in the 1941 Orange Bowl and the 1942 Rose Bowl. He earned All-America honors in 1942, and was selected in the eighth round of the 1943 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Poschner also served in the United States Army in World War II, where he received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Distinguished Service Cross. On January 8, 1945, Poschner participated as a lieutenant in the Battle of the Bulge. While advancing into enemy territory, he was severely injured by machine-gun fire and did not receive medical treatment until two days later. Poschner lost both legs and several fingers as a result of his injuries.
