Youth volunteer keeps giving

Steadman ‘the face’ of Lee’s parks and recreation program

Randy Burns / The Item Eddie Steadman, a full-time South Atlantic Canners employee, still puts in between 10 and 20 hours per week as a volunteer for the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department.

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

BISHOPVILLE — A parent with a question about a youth recreation program — whether it be football or basketball —might very well call the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department. Or they might just call Eddie Steadman, volunteer and part-time employee.

“Eddie is the face of recreation in Lee County,” Director Alan Watkins said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Steadman, in his own words, “wore out a truck” in 2000 in recruiting 22 local children ages 8 to 10 to participate in a Lamar Recreation Department youth football program.

Steadman’s persistence and dedication are credited for the organization of a fall youth football program in Lee County in 2001, representatives said.

Today, the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department has a fall football program for about 125 children age 5 to 11, Watkins said.

Steadman serves as the on-site supervisor for the football and basketball programs.

“Eddie helped get a lot of these kid recreation programs started, especially football and basketball,” Watkins said. “He’s very passionate about youth sports. And Eddie is particularly good with kids. He knows how to deal with kids. He started the football program independently of the recreation department. Then the next year, he allowed the recreation department to take it over.”

Steadman is also involved in recruiting, transporting youngsters and coaching, Watkins said.

“Eddie has a full-time job at South Atlantic Canners,” Watkins said. “He is a part-time employee for us. In season, he is our site supervisor for the youth programs.”

In addition to 5 to 15 hours as an employee, Watkins estimates Steadman volunteers 10 to 20 hours each week doing something in youth recreation.

Assistant Recreation Director George Wallace said Steadman is committed to helping young people.

“He wants kids in a small town like Bishopville to have the same opportunities as those living in a big city,” Wallace said.

Steadman said he enjoys working with Wallace and Watkins.

“The good thing about this department is that we all went to school together,” Steadman said. “We know each other. There’s never any hard feelings. We know how to talk to each other.”

Steadman, Watkins and Wallace are all 1988 graduates of Bishopville High School.

Steadman, 38, said he will continue to dedicate his time and resources to the recreation department.

“I am going to go as long as I can go,” Steadman said. “I’m going to be out here.”


Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.


Lee County Parks and Recreation Department
Old Bishopville High School gym complex, College Street
Phone: (803) 484-5313