ATHENS, Ga. — Claude Felton, the Georgia athletics media liaison whose 45-year college career spanned from Vince Dooley to Kirby Smart, will retire Wednesday.
Felton has served as director of sports communications, associate athletic director and, most recently, senior associate athletic director.
“It's been a long time and some incredible experiences and memories have come my way,” Felton said in a statement released Tuesday by the university. “I've worked with some fantastic presidents, athletic directors, some of the greatest coaches and athletes in the history of college sports, and legendary media at every level, from national writers and television networks to radio stations and weekly newspapers across the country. state”.
Felton also praised the “largest group of full-time staff members, graduate assistants and undergraduates I could have ever imagined, who have done extraordinary work and are responsible for, in some way, always making me look good.”
The Savannah native was hired by Georgia in 1979 after serving as director of public relations at Georgia Southern University. The following year, the Bulldogs won their first consensus national football title with an undefeated team coached by Dooley and coached by freshman sensation Herschel Walker.
Felton was still at Georgia when Smart led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships during the 2021 and '22 seasons.
Along the way, Felton became a revered and highly respected figure by members of the media across the country. He has been inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
“Claude Felton is one of the most influential figures in the history of Georgia athletics,” said athletic director Josh Brooks. “His honesty of his, humility of his, attention to detail and personable spirit of his have elevated all of our athletic programs throughout his 45-year association with the Bulldogs.”
Felton served as media coordinator for 18 NCAA national championship events. He also worked on the press liaison staff for the United States Olympic Committee at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and was press officer when the soccer competition was held at Georgia's Sanford Stadium during the Olympic Games. of Atlanta 1996.
During Felton's tenure, Georgia athletic teams won 136 Southeastern Conference titles and 47 national championships. He managed the publicity efforts for numerous All-Americans and individual awards, most notably Walker winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982.
