Jerry Lawson is the latest Emanuel County leader to take home a professional award, earning a GRPA District 1 honor at the 2025 end-of-year banquet in Sylvania.
Surrounded by his family and his administrative staff, Lawson enjoyed a well-deserved moment in the spotlight in late October. He was presented the 2025 GRPA District 1 Distinguished Professional of the Year Award, punctuating his decades-long career and effectively ending his time in public service on the highest note possible.
The Distinguished Professional of the Year Award recognizes a head of recreation who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, long-term service, and a lasting impact on their community. Recipients are selected by district leadership based on career achievement, professional integrity, and contributions to the advancement of parks and recreation across the region.
Emanuel is just one of 26 counties in District 1. Others are: Bleckley, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Columbia, Dodge, Effingham, Evans, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Lincoln, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pulaski, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen, Warren, Washington, and Wheeler.
Lawson’s selection highlights the depth of his influence on recreation in Emanuel County and the respect he earned across the district.
His tenure with Emanuel County Recreation spans decades of dedication to youth sports, facility management, program development, and community-building. Generations of children grew up on the fields he maintained, and countless families formed memories through the leagues he coordinated and supported. His leadership helped guide the department through major transitions, including Emanuel County’s move to full operational control of recreation in 2019, strengthening the department’s structure and broadening programming opportunities.
Hudson worked closely under Lawson before his retirement in September. He says the honor comes as no surprise.
“Mr. Jerry had a huge influence as rec director,” Hudson said. “For so many families in our community, recreation is a huge part of their lives. It’s how they spend time together and make memories they’ll tell around the dinner table for generations. Mr. Jerry has been doing that for them for years now. By the time he retired, he had helped shape recreation for not just today’s kids but their parents, too, and, in some cases, their parents’ parents. That’s strong. It says a lot about his work ethic and his level of commitment to community.”
Board of Commissioners Chairman Jim Sherrod said Lawson’s hallmark was the consistency Hudson described.
“I think this is the perfect way for Jerry to hang up his hat,” Sherrod said. “He poured into Emanuel County with a passion for the kids he served and love of the game, and he was humble how he did it. This award reflects the admiration his colleagues had for him. Same goes for the county. He might be retired, but make no mistake, he’s still one of ours.”
Sherrod added that Lawson’s honor “rounds out a meaningful year of recognition for Emanuel County leadership,” noting that county staff in several departments have earned statewide and regional awards in 2025.
Though Lawson retired in September, the culture he created within Emanuel County Recreation continues to guide the staff who learned under him.
“Mr. Jerry showed us what it looks like to lead,” Hudson said, “and his example is something we’ll carry on for years to come.”
The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners congratulates Jerry Lawson on his GRPA District 1 honor and extends its gratitude for his extraordinary service to the citizens of Emanuel County.
The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners governs Emanuel County, focusing on legislative and administrative responsibilities. Comprised of representatives from five districts, the board oversees policies and programs that impact local development, budgeting, and public services. Commissioners work collectively to ensure fiscal responsibility and address community needs, collaborating with other county departments and agencies. They are committed to supporting economic growth, public safety, and community well-being across Emanuel County.
For more information about the commissioners and for the latest from the county government, visit 124 North Main Street in Swainsboro; call 478-237-3881; or follow us on Facebook.
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