University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Felton Selected For A 2025 CSC Lifetime Achievement Award
January 15, 2025 | General
ATHENS, Ga. --- Already a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Claude Felton has now been selected for a 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Lifetime Achievement Award.
Felton, a cornerstone of the University of Georgia Athletic Association since 1979 who retired in January of 2024, was one of 10 award winners who will be presented this honor for their distinguished career service of at least 25 years and are retiring, have retired or are leaving the profession.
All honorees will be recognized during awards ceremonies at the 2025 CSC Unite 25 national convention (June 8-11), taking place at the Orlando World Center Marriott in conjunction with NACDA and Affiliates Convention Week.
Felton was one of the most beloved and respected members of the Georgia Athletic Association and across the collegiate athletics landscape. The Savannah, Ga., native served in the roles of Senior Associate Athletic Director, Associate and Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Communication Director and, most recently, the Loran Smith Senior Associate Athletic Director.
Felton was named Georgia's Sports Information Director in July, 1979, after serving as the Director of Public Relations at Georgia Southern University. Over the next 45 years, Felton mentored countless individuals and became a leader in college athletics.
Felton served as media coordinator for 18 NCAA national championship events. He also served on the press liaison staff for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and was the press venue chief for the soccer venue at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. He was chairman of the Ethics Committee of the College Sports Communicators from 1985-91 and received the Arch Ward Award in 2004. He won a myriad of awards including the Football Writers Association of America's (FWAA) prestigious Bert McGrane Award.
During Felton's tenure as Sports Information Director, Bulldog athletic teams won 136 Southeastern Conference titles and 47 national championships.
Felton was a part of three football National Championships, seven SEC Championships in football and 415 wins over 44 seasons on the football field. He waws also a trusted advisor for Coach and Athletic Director Vince Dooley, coaches Ray Goff, Jim Donnan, Mark Richt and Kirby Smart, as well as athletic directors Greg McGarity, Damon Evans and Josh Brooks in addition to many long-tenured coaches across all sports.
He handled the publicity efforts for numerous All-Americans and individual honors, most notably the Heisman Trophy campaign for Hershel Walker, who won college football's most prestigious award in 1982.
Felton earned his ABJ and M.A. Degrees from the University of Georgia. He is married to the former Cathy Turner of Athens, Ga., and they have three children: Robyn, a 2000 graduate of Samford University; Christopher, married to the former Katie MacKelcan and a 2004 graduate of UGA; and Patrick, a 2009 graduate of UGA.
Felton, a cornerstone of the University of Georgia Athletic Association since 1979 who retired in January of 2024, was one of 10 award winners who will be presented this honor for their distinguished career service of at least 25 years and are retiring, have retired or are leaving the profession.
All honorees will be recognized during awards ceremonies at the 2025 CSC Unite 25 national convention (June 8-11), taking place at the Orlando World Center Marriott in conjunction with NACDA and Affiliates Convention Week.
Felton was one of the most beloved and respected members of the Georgia Athletic Association and across the collegiate athletics landscape. The Savannah, Ga., native served in the roles of Senior Associate Athletic Director, Associate and Assistant Athletic Director, Sports Communication Director and, most recently, the Loran Smith Senior Associate Athletic Director.
Felton was named Georgia's Sports Information Director in July, 1979, after serving as the Director of Public Relations at Georgia Southern University. Over the next 45 years, Felton mentored countless individuals and became a leader in college athletics.
Felton served as media coordinator for 18 NCAA national championship events. He also served on the press liaison staff for the U.S. Olympic Committee at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and was the press venue chief for the soccer venue at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. He was chairman of the Ethics Committee of the College Sports Communicators from 1985-91 and received the Arch Ward Award in 2004. He won a myriad of awards including the Football Writers Association of America's (FWAA) prestigious Bert McGrane Award.
During Felton's tenure as Sports Information Director, Bulldog athletic teams won 136 Southeastern Conference titles and 47 national championships.
Felton was a part of three football National Championships, seven SEC Championships in football and 415 wins over 44 seasons on the football field. He waws also a trusted advisor for Coach and Athletic Director Vince Dooley, coaches Ray Goff, Jim Donnan, Mark Richt and Kirby Smart, as well as athletic directors Greg McGarity, Damon Evans and Josh Brooks in addition to many long-tenured coaches across all sports.
He handled the publicity efforts for numerous All-Americans and individual honors, most notably the Heisman Trophy campaign for Hershel Walker, who won college football's most prestigious award in 1982.
Felton earned his ABJ and M.A. Degrees from the University of Georgia. He is married to the former Cathy Turner of Athens, Ga., and they have three children: Robyn, a 2000 graduate of Samford University; Christopher, married to the former Katie MacKelcan and a 2004 graduate of UGA; and Patrick, a 2009 graduate of UGA.
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