“Born in Alabama, raised in Kentucky, educated in South Carolina – sounds like Davy Crockett – he has dedicated his life to turning students and athletes into good citizens,” said local attorney John Shuler during the Kiwanis Club of Orangeburg’s Annual Banquet.

With those words, Dr. Gerald “Geb” Runager knew he had been selected as the 2008 Orangeburg Citizen of the Year.

“It was tremendously emotional. I teared up. I’m not usually this emotional,” Runager said.

Kiwanis President Gary Heidebrecht said Runager was selected because of his years as an educator and athletics coach in the area.

“He’s just had a huge impact on the youth in Orangeburg that have encountered him,” Heidebrecht said.

Runager said his honor had a huge impact on him when he saw members of his family assembled to celebrate his accomplishment.

“Looking at the previous winners, I couldn’t help but be emotional that I was in that category,” Runager said. “You can’t help but be humbly honored.”

Past recipients include Nancy Ayers (2007), James “Jim” E. Sulton Sr. (2006), Thomas B. Eklund (2005), Gene Atkinson (2004), Clemmie Webber (2003), Bernice Tribble (2002), Earl Middleton (2001), Ben R. Wetenhall (2000), Dr. C. Birnie Johnson (1999), Austin Cunningham (1998), Tom Harrison (1997), F. Hall Yarborough (1996), Jim Roquemore (1995) and Geraldyne Zimmerman (1994). Dr. Carl B. Caughman was presented the inaugural Citizen of the Year award in 1953.

Going into the banquet, Runager had no idea he would be the man of the evening, calling it a “total surprise.”

Runager was selected by a committee that featured representatives from various civic organizations in Orangeburg County.

Before Runager accepted his award, Shuler gave a speech on the life and accomplishments of Runager.

“His coaching and classroom were exemplified by organization, discipline, practice and physical and mental conditioning,” Shuler said of Runager.

As one of seven children, Runager was born in Decatur, Ala., in 1927 before moving to Corbin, Ky., at the age of 6.

In 1945, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps before enrolling at the University of Kentucky for one year.

Runager first arrived in the Palmetto State to attend Erskine College, where he was recruited to play football and basketball. After graduating in 1952, he married his college sweetheart, Nancy Jane Culp.

Six years later, Runager took a position at Orangeburg High School as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach.

In 1960, he took over as head football coach and led Orangeburg High to an undefeated season and the state championship.

His winning ways as a coach continued well into the basketball season that year before losing a game to North Charleston, ending a streak of 25 consecutive combined victories on the gridiron and hardcourt.

Runager then decided to switch careers, becoming a salesman for IBM.

A decade later, he returned to the forum that defined his life of service: education. Until his retirement in 1993, he served as the principal of both Mellichamp and Marshall Elementary schools.

Even in retirement, he continued his service to the community as interim principal at both Marshall and Sheridan Elementary schools.

“I never did retire,” Runager told The Times and Democrat when he was a honoree for the October 2006 Orangeburg Community of Character Trait of the Month: perseverance.

Even today at 80 years old, Runager still helps the youths of the community learn the nuances of athletics. He helps South Carolina State University Coach Buddy Pough with his special teams unit and is the coordinator of middle school athletics at Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5.

He is also active in the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Orangeburg Touchdown Club.

Runager holds a master’s degree in education from the University of South Carolina and a doctorate in education from Nova University.

In his spare time, Runager enjoys playing golf and attending First Presbyterian Church, where he’s been a member for 50 years.

Runager is the father of five children: Mike, Pat, Max, Clark and Jane.

Max Runager become a punter in the NFL and earned a Super Bowl ring with the San Francisco 49ers.

Shuler noted that Jane Runager taught all three of his children how to swim.

Runager has 10 grandchildren and one great-grandson.

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