Long-time University of Georgia Sports and Information Director, Claude Felton, has been awarded the MFC Special Recognition Award by the Maxwell Football Club.
Felton has been a huge part of the University of Georgia athletic department since 1979 and has held many roles within the program. For over 45 years, Felton helped handle the media for UGA athletics, spotlighting star players in the program, big games and matches while turning the UGA athletic program into what it is today.
“Claude has been the standard bearer for the communications side of UGA…his impact on the university and the student athletes he has worked with is immeasurable,” said Maxwell Football Club Executive Director Mark Wolpert per the Maxwell Football Club press release.
The former Georgia SID is a native of Savannah, where he attended Savannah High School before getting his start in sports. He is a University of Georgia alumnus and earned his ABJ and M.A. degrees upon his graduation.
Before getting hired in Athens, Felton held multiple roles in the Georgia Southern University athletic department. He held positions such as Director of Public Relations, Director of Information Services and Sports and Information Director.
In 1979, UGA hired Vince Dooley as its athletics director and his first hire in that position was to make Felton a part of the Georgia athletic program.
As he did with Georgia Southern, Felton has had a plethora of roles in the UGA athletic program such as Assistant Athletic Director and Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs. Most recently, he held the title of Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Communications, which he retired from in January of 2024.
In his tenure beginning in 1979, the Bulldogs athletic teams have won over 130 SEC Championships and over 40 national titles.
“He exemplifies everything that is positive in collegiate athletics and is a true credit to the University of Georgia and the Southeastern Conference where he has helped so many individuals along their career paths. The award is a recognition of a job well done for many years,” Wolpert added.
While he has played a huge role in the development of the UGA athletics department, Felton has been involved in numerous major sporting events. He served as the Host Information Director for the 1977 Final Four held in Atlanta. Felton also had the privilege of working two separate Olympic Games as well. He was a part of the press liaison staff for the U.S. Olympic Committee during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and was the Press Venue Chief for the soccer venue, Sanford Stadium, at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games which were held in Atlanta.
Throughout his career, Felton has also been on site as a media coordinator for 17 NCAA National Championship Events.
Felton’s work is widely renowned around the state and earned him many awards such as the Arch Ward Award in 2004 for his contributions to athletic communications and the Bert McGrane Award in 2008 by the Football Writers Association of America for his impact on college football.
He is beloved around Athens by former players and students for his many years of hard work that he put towards the UGA athletic program.
“Claude would always be on his walkie-talkie during practice and I would always grab it and talk to whoever was on the other end,” said former Georgia wide receiver and current Mount Vernon head football coach Terrence Edwards. “All the associates in the communications department would allow me to use their walkie-talkies to call up Claude. Every time I see Claude now he would just give me his walkie-talkie without me even asking. Claude will definitely be missed and is a true example of a DGD,” said Edwards.
Felton and the rest of the award winners will be honored on March 8 from 5-9:15 p.m. during the 87th Annual National Football Awards held at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, GA. For more information on the event such as tickets and attire, click here.
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