Coach Beale is inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame

Billy Beale (l), head baseball coach at LCHS, was inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010 during a special ceremony held Saturday, January 30, at the Atlanta Hilton Hotel. Coach Beale was introduced to the audience by Larry Campbell (also pictured), athletic director at LCHS. Billy Beale, head baseball coach at LCHS, was recently inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010.

The ceremony took place on Saturday, January 30, at the Atlanta Hilton Hotel, with family members and friends in attendance.

“I never expected this,” stated Coach Beale. “It’s a great honor, not just for me but for our school and our baseball program as well.

“This never would have happened without the support of the fans, parents, coaches, and administrators, not to mention some good ball players. I especially appreciate all of the hard work and long hours the players and assistant coaches have put in throughout the years. This is truly a community award.”

Coach Billy Beale addresses members of the Georgia Dugout Club. The Georgia Dugout Club’s ongoing goal is to acknowledge some of the unmatchable achievements of its membership and their players. The organization proudly represents some of the finest college and high school programs in the United States.

In its profile on Beale, the Georgia Dugout Club noted that the coach has compiled a 451-313 record at LCHS and Jenkins County High School. He has served as head coach at LCHS from 1977 to 1980 and from 1985 to the present.

He also played high school ball at Willingham High School in Macon, where he was an outfielder and helped the team capture the 1969 state title. From 1971 to 1972, he played in the outfield for the Georgia Bulldogs.

In other information, it was noted that Coach Beale guided LCHS to a Class A state semifinal appearance in 1991 and coached in the GACA (Georgia Athletic Coaches Association) North-South All-Star Game in both 1991 and 2000.

In conclusion, the article pointed out that Beale hails from a baseball family. Two brothers, Ricky and Chuck, coach at Evans High School and Tift County High School, respectively, while his nephew, Chuck Beale, Jr., serves as the head coach at Johnson County High School.

Inducted into the Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame with Beale were Joe Roberts, who is entering his 30th season as the head coach at Armstrong Atlantic State University, and the late Joe Harvey, who coached baseball for 35 years at the Emanuel County Institute (ECI) until his retirement in 1987.

Among the other members of the hall of fame are Cecil Barber, Clinch County High School; Harvey Cochran, North Cobb High School; Danny Hall, Georgia Tech; Terry Holder; Greenbrier High School; Jimmie Lewis, Harlem High School; Cliff Shelton, Greater Atlanta Christian School; Jack Stallings, Georgia Southern University; Tommy Thomas, Valdosta State University; and Wayne Vickery, Gainesville High School.