On April 8, 1968 the City of Madison and Morgan County adopted a resolution forming a Recreation Commission.  The responsibilities of this Commission were to set up and operate a recreation program for the people of Madison and Morgan County on a year round basis.

Prior to the starting of a full fledged recreation department with a full time director in 1975, private organizations worked to have programs for the youth.  In 1961 and 1962 a Teen Club was formed under the leadership of Mr. Tom Riden, Preacher Singleton, and Mrs. Adelaide Ponder and met at the “old gym” on Foster Street for activities.  This was financed in large part by the American Legion Post #37.  Hill Park swimming pool was operated in conjunction with the Morgan County School and their staff during the summer months.  They provided swimming lessons and daily use of the pool.

Independent youth athletic groups were formed to provide athletic competition as early as the middle fifties.  These groups consisted primarily in baseball, with teams from Bostwick, Madison, and Rutledge playing in a league.  John Nunn, Harold Malcom, Frank Haile, Harold Cape, E. D. Whitehead, and Lyndon Watkins were some of the leaders of this baseball league.  In the late sixties, a “pee wee” football program was started for boys in the fourth through sixth grades, with W. J. Corry as the first president. (Side note: Bill Wood was on the original Board of Directors of this football league).

The facilities available to the Recreation Commission during this time were the “old gym” on Foster Street, the baseball field on College Drive (located across the street from the high school), plus the pool.  The cities of Rutledge and Bostwick each built ball fields for their communities in the late sixties and early seventies.

The small amount of money that was available for the Recreation Commission to operate was distributed between various organizations throughout the county.  The Commission made the determination as to the amount and to whom it was distributed.

The Recreation Department has grown from these private organizations and early facilities to a department that is well respected throughout the state, being named the GRPA “Agency of the Year” two out of the last three years.  Local citizens, companies, and civic organizations have given products, time, and money to help in building the facilities we enjoy and now feel are a necessity to our present way of life.  The hundreds of volunteers have helped make our youth programs a success.

The original Madison-Morgan County Recreation Commission was comprised of three members from the city and three form the county.  The three original city representatives were Zender Dean, Tom Riden, and Kathleen Reid.  The three original county representatives were John Nunn, James Griffin Sr., and Marvin Mapp.

In 2000 State Legislative Bill 489 was enforced in Morgan County.  The Recreation and Parks Department then came under the direction of Morgan County, and the Recreation Commission members are now appointed by the Morgan County Commissioners.  The nine present members are:

The following is a list of the people who have served on the Recreation Commission:

In 1975 the Recreation Board, along with the city and county officials, was able to hire a full time Recreation Director.  Mr. Dan Ragin was hired as a city employee and became the first full time Recreation Director on February 13, 1975.  Mr. Ragin resigned during the summer of 1975, and was replaced by Mr. Hayden Drewry.  Mr. Drewry was hired in October 1975, and later resigned in December 1975.  On January 19, 1976 William “Bill” Wood was hired as the Recreation Director, and is still serving as the director today.