Getting to Know... Mike Cummings
6/18/2009 2:33:00 PM | General
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced the 12 recipients of the league's 2009 Distinguished Service Award. Each member institution selects an honoree based on that person's contribution to the institution. Each award winner was honored for their contributions at the Southern Conference awards dinner in Hilton Head, S.C.
Georgia Southern's recipient for 2009 is Mike Cummings. He has been a long time Athletic Foundation Board Member, serving as the Athletic Foundation's President from 2005 to 2007. During his tenure, the Athletic Foundation grew in membership and monies raised. Since the inception of the football program in the early eighties, Mike has been a leader in developing the grassroots efforts to make the dream of football at Georgia Southern possible.
He helped raise the money necessary to host a game at Dublin High School in 1981, representing the first time the Eagles took the field. As a father of a former student-athlete, he has not only been a great asset to the athletics program, but also he has served as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors and served as President of the Alumni Association in 2003-2004. In both roles, he served on the Georgia Southern Foundation.
Cummings has served as a member of the University Presidential Search Committees both in 1998 and 2009. Mike not only has been involved in his university but very involved in his community of Dublin, Georgia. In 2001-2002 he was Chair of the Chamber of Commerce.
The 2009 Award winner recently took time out to visit with GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.
Occupation: The Sir Shop Men's Clothing
Hometown: Dublin, GA
How did you get your start with the Georgia Southern Athletics and then the Athletic Foundation?
When I heard that Erk Russell was going to start a football team I knew I wanted to be a part of the group to help. We met with a group of friends from Statesboro and told them we wanted to host a fund raiser in Dublin. Billy Hobbs, a former GSC baseball player, owned a sporting goods store in Dublin and we planned a BBQ supper and football game at Dublin High School in the Shamrock Bowl. The game was on Halloween night in 1981 and it was the first game GSC ever played. Lewis Grizzard came down and told a few stories from a hand held bull horn and Georgia Southern football kicked off. We went down the following week for a dinner with Erk and Dr. Dale Lick and presented them a check for $10,000. I have been a member of Southern Boosters (now Georgia Southern University Athletic Foundation) and Dublin-Laurens County representative for Southern Boosters since the beginning.
Do you have a memorable moment during your time as President of the Athletic Foundation Board?
I remember staying on the phone with John and Dan contacting renewals and new members trying to reach our goal in memberships and money. I felt so excited that we had set a record for membership and dollars raised for Georgia Southern Athletics scholarships.
Your affiliation with Georgia Southern extends past the Athletic Foundation. What are some of the other committees/associations you have with the University.
I served on the Board and was President of the Alumni Association; Board member and President of the Athletic Foundation; Served on the GSU Foundation Board and am President of the Dublin-Laurens County Eagle Club. I was on the Presidential search committee when we selected Dr. Grube and am currently on the search committee that is under way for our 12th president. This year we formed a Dublin Chapter for the College of Business Administration.
What are some of your hobbies?
I enjoy playing golf.
What is your favorite part in being associated with Georgia Southern Athletics?
I enjoy working with Sam Baker, John Mulherin, Dan O'Dowd, the staff and coaches helping to raise scholarship monies for the student-athletes. I remember how proud I was to see my daughter Lindsey wearing the Georgia Southern Soccer uniform and I hope that we can give many more studentathletes that same opportunity so their parents can feel the same pride that I felt as a parent.
You were at the ceremony when Jayson Foster won the Walter Payton Award. What were your thoughts when you heard his name called?
I thought what a deserving young man. Jayson did whatever was asked of him and he did it with class. He is a wonderful ambassador for Georgia Southern Athletics and to see him receiving the Walter Payton Award with his parents and our group from Georgia Southern made for a very special evening.
How was it hanging out with Tracy Ham and the Georgia Southern contingent at the 2007 College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in South Bend?
I will never forget how happy Tracy was to see us when we got to the hotel that first night (Robert Baker, Tim Durden, Sam Baker, John Mulherin and I). We played with Tracy and won the Pro-Am golf tournament the next day. Afterwards we all went back to the hotel patio for lunch and watched Tracy whip Emmett Smith playing dominos. We were all proud to see Tracy on the stage and to be inducted with former NFL players and college coaches.
What was your reaction when you found out that you received the Southern Conference Distinguished Service Award?
I was surprised and humbled. I couldn't imagine why I would be getting a letter from the Commissioner of The Southern Conference.
What does receiving the award mean to you?
Robert Baker and Tim Durden are very close friends who have also won this award and I know how much they love Georgia Southern, and to be fortunate enough to receive this award I will always be grateful.
