Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



BOARD OF HONOR



Meeting

February 19, 2003



Members Present: Mr. John Wells, Mr. Philip Batastini, Mr. Billy Watson and Mr.

Bob Hydrick.



Members Absent: Mr. Milton Hirsch, Mr. Jack Mickle and Mr. Clay Land.



Handouts: Initial request from Mr. Bill Chester from the Parks and Recreation

Department to name the field within the stadium at South Commons after R. G.

Jones, documentation of telephone conversations with Mr. Milton Hirsch and Mr.

Jack Mickle expressing affirmative views for the recommendation.



Chairman John Wells called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. in the Mayor?s

Conference Room, 6th Floor, Government Center.



Naming the field within the stadium at South Commons after R. G. Jones:

Chairman Wells advised that from what he has read about R. G. Jones, it seems

appropriate to name the fields in his honor. After some discussion about the

initial request and identification of the actual field to be named, Chairman

Wells made a motion to submit a recommendation in favor of the request to name

the field within the stadium at South Commons after R. G. Jones. Seconded by

Mr. Bob Hydrick and carried unanimously by those four members present for this

meeting.



A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium:

Mr. Philip Batastini said that he was not in agreement with how this situation

was handled regarding the renaming of Memorial Stadium after A. J. McClung. He

maintained that this is nothing against former Mayor Pro Tem A. J. McClung, but

this matter was not handled appropriately. Mr. Watson agreed by stating that

it had been done and the board was sent a letter after-the-fact.



Some of the members expressed concerns in that the board had not been notified

ahead of time and the recommendation went through without first coming before

the board. Mr. Bob Hydrick explained that there was the concern that Mr. A. J.

McClung?s life was near the end and former Mayor Peters wanted him to see the

final result while Mr. McClung was still able to come down and witness the

unveiling. Mr. Wells recalled that Memorial Stadium was named as the memorial

for World War I and should not have ever been lessened. He added that he does

not mind naming a stadium after Mr. McClung, but was undecided as to whether

that particular stadium was the one to be renamed.







Board of Honor Meeting

February 19, 2003

Page 2





There were continued discussions on this matter with various members expressing

their views on the matter. Mr. Wells pointed out that the deed has been done

and there is no point in continuing the discussion, at which time; Mr.

Batastini stated that he wanted it reflected on the record that he did not

appreciate how this was handled.



There being no other business to discuss, Mr. Batastini moved this meeting be

adjourned. Seconded by Mr. Watson and carried unanimously by those four

members present for this meeting with the time being 10:18 a.m.











________________________

Sandra T. Davis

Deputy Clerk of Council

Council of Columbus, Georgia