04. Bill Hartman Shares His Athens Story. From Dearing Street to Sports Broadcasting Legend.
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
Release Date: 12/30/2025
10. Historian & Author: Charlotte Thomas Marshall
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
Historian & Author: Charlotte Thomas Marshall “The Tangible Past of Athens, Ga.” From a small town in southwest Georgia to becoming one of Athens' most dedicated historical preservationists, Charlotte Thomas Marshall's story begins with a chance meeting at a covered dish dinner in 1966. What started as a simple conversation about avoiding political arguments with George O. Marshall, Jr. Professor of English led to a whirlwind romance, marriage in four months, and a lifelong commitment to uncovering the hidden stories of Athens, Georgia. When the Athens Junior Assembly assigned...
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09. The Story of Jimbo Laboon :A Legacy Built on Service & Connection
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
JImbo Laboon : Growing up on King Avenue in the 1950s meant freedom to explore forests where Athens Regional Medical Center now stands, spending countless hours at the YMCA on Broad and Lumpkin, and learning life lessons from community leaders like the legendary Cobern Kelley. For Jimbo Laboon, those formative years in Athens shaped not only his character but also his remarkable journey from a textile mill financial officer to bank president and one of Georgia's most respected community leaders. From watching his father and grandfather run their welding and...
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08. Derrick Floyd From Final Four Glory to Boys and Girls club Hero
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
From Final Four Glory to Boys Club Hero Derek Floyd's Athens Story From the basketball courts of Miami to the Final Four stage at Syracuse, then to 36 years mentoring children at the Athens Boys and Girls Club, Derrick "Big D" Floyd's story weaves together athletic achievement with profound community impact. His path from highly recruited guard to beloved youth advocate reveals how one person's calling can shape generations of young lives. Growing up in a single-parent household with four siblings, Floyd learned early about accountability, academic excellence, and showing up for family. These...
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07. Gene Dixon: The History of the Twilight Bike Race. A Racing Event that helped Revitalized Downtown Athens,Ga
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
Gene Dixon : The History of the Twilight Bike Race. A Racing Event that would help Revitalize Downtown Athens. In 1974, Athens, Georgia had four serious cyclists. Downtown was virtually empty after business hours, with just one restaurant and maybe two bars serving the community. Fast-forward fifty years, and the city pulses with energy every April as thousands gather for one of America's premier cycling events—a transformation that began with one man's vision to showcase cycling as a spectator sport. Gene Dixon arrived in Athens as a young entrepreneur ready to open the city's first...
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06. Barbara Dooley's Wild Ride Through Georgia Football
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
From a small rental unit near the botanical garden where cars with mysterious occupants cruised the streets, to becoming one of Georgia's most beloved first ladies of football, Barbara Dooley's story reveals the grit, humor, and determination that defined an era when coaches' wives did everything themselves. Barbara's path from Birmingham to Auburn wasn't conventional—following a high school boyfriend who promptly forgot her existence once she arrived on campus. But that twist of fate led to meeting a young Marine-turned-football coach named Vince Dooley at Sunday Catholic services. Their...
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04. Bill Hartman Shares His Athens Story. From Dearing Street to Sports Broadcasting Legend.
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
Bill Hartman Shares His Athens Story. Growing up on Dearing Street in Athens during the 1950's meant running freely through the neighborhoods where traffic was scarce and friendships formed the foundation of childhood adventures. For Bill Hartman, those early years shaped not only his love for this Classic City but also set the stage for a remarkable broadcasting career that would span decades. From working the cash register at Hodgson's Pharmacy to assisting Coach Dan Magill in the press box, Bill's Athens roots run deep. His story weaves together personal memories of swimming at the YMCA,...
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05. Bill Hartman (Part 2) Hidden Athens Stories
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
Bill Hartman Reveals Hidden Athens Stories From the moment Bill learned that the University of Georgia didn't actually begin in 1785—despite what the famous arch suggests—he found himself questioning everything he thought he knew about his hometown. The truth? Athens didn't even exist when the university was chartered, and the first students didn't arrive until 1801. What You Can Expect from This Episode This conversation reveals how retirement can spark unexpected passions while uncovering the fascinating stories hidden in plain sight throughout Athens. Bill's enthusiasm for sharing...
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03.Jenny Sligh & Kitty Culpepper Appointments @ 5
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
The Story Behind “Appointments at Five” Fearless Women Who Made It Happen. What happens when two Southern women decide to chase their passion for antiques across the Atlantic Ocean? Sometimes the most extraordinary businesses begin with a simple leap of faith and Jenny Sligh and Kitty Culpepper’s story proves that adventure and determination can create something truly magical in Athens, Georgia. In this captivating episode, we explore how two friends transformed their love for beautiful things into Appointments at Five a beloved antique shop that served the Athens community...
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02. Dan Aldridge Early Aviation in Athens, Ga. The Story Of Ben Epps
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
From Scrapbook Mysteries to Aviation History Dan Aldridge Rewrites Georgia's First Flight. What happens when a simple newspaper article about an aviation anniversary leads to rewriting history? Sometimes the most extraordinary discoveries emerge from casual moments—and Dan Aldridge's quest to verify a single date became a decade-long investigation that challenged everything we thought we knew about Georgia's first flight. The Mystery Behind the Date Dan shares his fascinating research process, from discovering contradictory newspaper clippings to finding witness accounts that made no...
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01. Chot Johnson Built More Than Homes She Built a Revolution
Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek
What happens when an 18-year-old from Atlanta arrives at the University of Georgia a year early and meets a future NFL star in a 7:30 AM English class? Sometimes the most extraordinary stories begin with the simplest moments—and Charlotte "Chot" Johnson's story is proof that life's unexpected turns can lead to remarkable destinations. In this compelling episode, we explore how a young woman who never planned to stay in Athens became one of the pioneering female builders in Georgia. Chot's path from Patriots wife to construction trailblazer reveals the determination and vision required to...
info_outlineBill Hartman Shares His Athens Story.
Growing up on Dearing Street in Athens during the 1950's meant running freely through the neighborhoods where traffic was scarce and friendships formed the foundation of childhood adventures. For Bill Hartman, those early years shaped not only his love for this Classic City but also set the stage for a remarkable broadcasting career that would span decades.
From working the cash register at Hodgson's Pharmacy to assisting Coach Dan Magill in the press box, Bill's Athens roots run deep. His story weaves together personal memories of swimming at the YMCA, taking cross-country trips with Cobern Kelly and the Y Boys on a school bus, and making the pivotal decision to switch from advertising to broadcasting after walking into an air conditioned building with a new television studio on a hot spring day.
What You Can Expect From This Episode
This conversation reveals how Athens shaped one of Georgia's most respected sports broadcasters while offering glimpses into a bygone era when neighbors knew each other and children explored their world with remarkable freedom.
Here are 5 key insights you'll gain from this episode:
*Discover how childhood friendships on historic Dearing Street influenced a future broadcasting legend.
*Learn about the evolution of television sports reporting from film editing to digital technology .
*Hear the touching story of how Larry Munson's voice honored Bill's father at his funeral service.
*Understand how a chance encounter with air-conditioned building and televison equipment changed everything.
*Experience what Athens was like when Five Points was the heart of the community and trust ran deep.
A Legacy That Spans Generations
Bill's connection to Athens extends far beyond his own childhood memories. His family's presence in the community dates back to 1934, when his parents arrived as freshmen at the University of Georgia. His father's football career, coaching tenure, and larger-than-life personality left an indelible mark on Athens history.
From the Old St.Mary's Hospital on Milledge Avenue to the Mathis Apartments on Lumpkin Street, every corner of Athens holds a piece of the Hartman family story.
Whether you're a longtime resident curious about Athens' past or someone new to town seeking to understand what makes this community special, Bill's memories offer a window into a era when life moved at a different pace and connections ran deeper than we often experience today.