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Yancey County Commissioners recognized February as Black History month by honoring the contributions and memory of George Lee Griffith and the Burnsville Eagles Baseball Club at their February meeting. George Lee Griffith was a player and one of the founding members of the Burnsville Eagles Baseball Club, an African-American baseball team that travelled the region. The Burnsville Eagles Baseball Club was active from the late 1940's until the late 1960's and brought much fame and notoriety to both Yancey County and Burnsville. The Commissioners recognized the contribution made by George Lee in bringing the community together to build a baseball field at Lincoln Park that could be used by young people of any color to play baseball in Yancey County. The field that George Lee Griffith dreamed of and helped to make a reality at Lincoln Park will now bear his name. The honoring of Mr. Griffith is part of a resolution recognizing Black History Month in Yancey County and joining with the rest of the country in recognizing African Americans who have made a substantial impact on their communities. Commissioner Jerri Storie stated, "We are extremely honored to be able to name the field at Lincoln Park in honor of George Lee Griffith. He had a community spirit that serves as a testament to what a good neighbor should be." The Commissioners plan a sign unveiling this spring at the George Lee Griffith Memorial Field at Lincoln Park. Those present at the meeting to accept the framed resolution on behalf of George Lee Griffith and the team were Mr. Griffith’s daughters, Ms. Rowena Hutchinson (the oldest living child of Mr. Griffith), Ms. Pat Henson, and Griffith Chapel pastor, Reverend Bill Whiteside.
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