Newberry says farewell to rec director

NEWBERRY - Some members of the audience had to hold back tears at a Newberry city commission meeting.

Richard Blalock, recreation director for the City of Newberry, resigned at the Monday, Oct. 14 meeting, prompting members of the community to give speeches about his impact in the town.

“We can never replace you,” said Joy Glanzer to Blalock. “Your legacy goes generations.”

Blalock chose to leave his position with the city to take a job with GoodSports Global Enterprises, a development, construction and management company specializing in hotels, water parks and sports recreation facilities, according to its website.

“This company has put an opportunity in front of me that I just can’t turn down,” Blalock said.

Commissioner Alena Lawson said she wasn’t surprised that he had options.

“I knew you were in great demand,” she said, though she was disappointed to see him go.

“You are the reason why a city of 5,000 is on the map nationally,” she said. If the recreation department helps children be constructive, grow as individuals and keeps them away from crime, it’s worth all the funding it gets, she added.

Debbie Boyd, a former Newberry city commissioner and a former state representative, said the city has two options. It can either build sports and recreation complexes, or it can build prisons, she said. If it doesn’t build the first, the children will end up in the second, she added.  

When Blalock took his job as the recreation director a little over 10 years ago, there were only two parks in Newberry, he said.

Since he’s been there, the city has developed the Easton Newberry Sports Complex, Nations Park, Triangle Park and the MLK Community Center.

The Easton Newberry Sports Complex is what Blalock is most proud of, he said.

“It reaches so many different people, from adults and seniors, all the way down to the kids.”

Commissioner Joe Hoffman had to wipe tears from his face when addressing Blalock.

Some people have negative views about the recreation program in Newberry, Hoffman said, mentioning Mayor Bill Conrad. However, the recreation department has been an important part of developing the city’s economy, he added.

“It’s not about money for Richard,” he said. “It’s about doing what’s right for the city.”

The recreation programs have vitalized the economy of the city, Hoffman said in a trembling voice.

When the City of Newberry first developed its vision to be a destination for sports tourism, Blalock helped to make it a reality, said City Manager Keith Ashby. Under Blalock, the Easton Newberry Sports Complex was selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee as a Community Olympic Development Program, one of only 10 cities in the entire country to have the designation, due to its archery program.

During Blalock’s time as the recreation director, the City of Newberry received $13.8 million in grants for its sports programs.

Ashby said he will look into options on how to find a new director, and will present a plan to the city in the future.

“We locked into this vision,” Ashby said. “It’s going to be tough for us to go forward, but we’ll go forward.”

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