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Lowcountry Bulldog Club |
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Founded 1972 |
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History |
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Every year from 1968 until 1972, Bob and Jan MacInnes wrote the University of Georgia Alumni Office asking to have an alumni chapter created in lower South Carolina. The answer was always that they were concentrating their efforts on in-state chapters and did not feel that the Greater Charleston area had sufficient numbers to make a chapter feasible and realistic. Finally, in mid 1972, then alumni head, Tyus Butler sent a field representative to Charleston. A meeting was held at the airport Holiday Inn with Bob and Jan MacInnes and Silvia Parrish. Ms. Parrish was an active Georgia Alumnus who worked in procurement at the Charleston Naval Base. She was of great help in the early stages of our chapter development, but unfortunately left Charleston before the first official meeting. With the help and hard work of a precious few, a chapter was created. A charter was presented at the first meeting, which was held at the Colony House, 35 Prioleau Street. Bob MacInnes was the first president. Dean Tate, retired Dean of Students and at that time acting as consultant to the University, was the first speaker. Dean Tate regaled those present with stories of his early days at the University of Georgia and his experiences as one of the most visible Deans on campus. There were about 40 UGA supporters, friends and alumni at the first meeting. Development during the first years was not easy. The University supplied a list of names and addresses of the alumni in the area; however, the list was found to be not very current. Many calls and letters went to people who no longer resided in the area. This was not so much the fault of the University as the fact that Charleston was possibly even more of a transient community than it is today. Several telephone brigades were formed to make calls encouraging local alumni to join the club and attend the socials. At the beginning, speakers were primarily academicians and administrative persons. The best attendance, however, and what seemed to be the better meetings, were those where the guest speaker was from the athletic department. The Club began to place its emphasis and requests for speakers from that part of the University. During this formative period, the Club gathered some strong Georgia supporters that began to form the nucleus and base support for the Club's future. Among them were Colonel Hugh Davis Sr., Hugh Davis Jr. and Charles Mulherin. In the beginning, the Club was named the Lowcountry University of Georgia Alumni Association. Bob MacInnes served as President from 1972 through 1974 and was succeeded by Hugh Davis Jr. During the years 1975 - 1980, Hugh Davis Jr. led the Club. With great help from Wilbur and Sue Wise, Ronnie Ayers, Jean Craig, Henry Jowers, Charlie and Kay Mulherin, Lt. Col. Hugh Davis Sr. and Bob and Jan MacInnes. The Club hosted speakers from the University such as President Fred C. Davison, Dr. Eugene Odom (environmentalist prize winner), Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Eugene Younts and Dean Albert Niemi of the College of Business. During this time, meetings were held in the home of Hugh Davis Jr. and attendance ranged from 28 to 58 people. On May 27, 1982, a lunch meeting was held at The Country Club of Charleston. President Davison returned to make an inspiring address on the progress of the University. This meeting really gave the Club the boost that it needed. General Mark Clark and Dr. Irwin Wofford, President of The University of Georgia Alumni, were guests at this function. In attendance also, was a young man named Rudy Underwood from the Alumni Office. Rudy suggested that our club, like other chapters, put out an open invitation to all members to volunteer to work on the local Board of Directors. Fortunately, this brought forward more interest and the Club began to rapidly expand. Since that time, the Club has hosted speakers such as voice of the Bulldogs Larry Munson, head basketball coach Hugh Durham, football coach Ray Goff, woman's gymnastic coach Suzanne Yoculan, linebacker coach Buck Belue and Athletic Director Vince Dooley, who spoke to our largest crowd to date - 218 people on September 5, 1991. History provided by Bob MacInnes and Hugh Davis Jr. In memory of Hugh Davis, Jr.
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