Recognition dinner hails Dr. Fred Mickler
Published 1:50 pm Wednesday, December 21, 2005
JASPER – On Friday, Feb. 28, 2003 at 7 p.m. several hundred area residents attended a recognition dinner held at the J.R.E. Complex Cafeteria, sponsored by the Hamilton County Public Schools Foundation, Inc., to honor the decades of loyal and dedicated service performed by Dr. Fred Mickler locally in the community.
The HCHS Culinary Arts class catered the event. Performances were also given by the HCHS Orchestra, in just its second year. Panther Success students were responsible for the set up of the tables and chairs.
A sharing of experiences with Dr. Mickler was offered by various guests, including the keynote address given by Fred Goldsmith, who was the head football coach at HCHS in 1967-68.
Charles Blalock, Hamilton County Superintendent of Schools, honored Dr. Mickler by presenting him with a plaque honoring his many years of dedicated service to the youth of Hamilton County, and announcing the baseball field at the new Hamilton County High School would be named in his honor.
“I appreciate my family coming from so far,” said Mickler. “I would like to thank everyone for coming tonight. I’ve had fantastic people to deal with through the years. What a thrill, having a baseball field named after me.”
Following Mr. Blalock’s presentation, Dr. Mickler led the assembled gathering in a rendition of “Take Me Out to the BallGame.”
The welcome for the event was performed by Junior Griffin, followed by the Posting of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Hamilton County High School AFJROTC. The invocation was performed by Rev. Gary Morris.
Goldsmith stated he has always been impressed at the way Dr. Mickler loves kids and was always supportive of the high school coaches. Each guest speaker also took the opportunity to recall a lighter side of their friendship with the evening’s honored guest.
“Kids used to hang out at the Mickler clinic a lot,” said Goldsmith. “It may have been the only air-conditioned building in town.”
Goldsmith also indicated that when he came from Gainesville for his interview at HCHS, “Dr. Mickler made me feel right at home.”
Jeffrey A. Burnham, principal at North Hamilton Elementary, who also serves as Dr. Mickler’s “chauffeur,” spoke about the special friendship he has developed with him.
“Despite all the many high school and college games we’ve attended together, the two things that stick out in my mind about Dr. Mickler are his faith and his love for his family,” said Burnham.
Mr. Tex Young, a longtime friend and associate of Dr. Mickler’s, joked about his friend’s love of playing Checkers.
Coach Bruce Begue was amazed that Dr. Mickler knew all about his family, brothers and sisters from over in Dixie County, when he first went to see him about obtaining a physical.
Several speakers also commented about the remarkable way Dr. Mickler could remember some statistic or attribute of so many of the athletes who’ve played at HCHS during his many years in Jasper.
