Classic City Rewind with Lesley Platek

22. Legendary UGA Women's Tennis Coach Jeff Wallace

What better way to close out Season One of Classic City Rewind than with this conversation — especially with the NCAA Tennis Tournament coming to Athens May 14th–17th. Classic City Rewind returns with Season Two in July. If you've ever wondered what it looks like when passion, purpose, and place all come together, this conversation is for you. Host Lesley Platek sits down with legendary UGA women's tennis Coach Jeff Wallace — a Portland, Oregon native who arrived in Athens as a transfer student, fell in love with the Classic City, and never left. Jeff's journey from junior tennis player in the Pacific Northwest (including an early gig testing shoes for a then-fledgling Nike) to one of the winningest coaches in the history of collegiate women's tennis is nothing short of remarkable. He traces his path playing under Coach McGill, winning an SEC singles title in 1985, and landing the women's head coaching job at just 23 years old after a now-legendary job interview with Coach Vince Dooley. Episode highlights: * How a chance encounter with Nike's early shoe testing program shaped Jeff's junior tennis years * The story behind Georgia women's tennis going from an unranked program with a losing record to NCAA finalists in just two years * A once-in-a-lifetime trip to the 1987 NCAA Tournament — complete with Kenny Rogers, Benihana, and Wilt Chamberlain * The art of building a team-Jeff's thoughts on recruiting, culture, and treating people as individuals. * The incredible family story connecting Herschel Walker, the founding of UGA's women's track program, and Jeff's wife Sabina Jeff closes out with a heartfelt reflection on retirement, spending time with his wife Sabina, his daughter Brittney, known as Lovely Grey, is a fashion influencer and blogger and who he calls his internet athlete with over two million followers, his son Jarryd's incredible Paralympic career, spending time with their grandchildren and what it means to finally slow down and just be present. This one's a genuine gem.

21. Will Glenn – Trees, Tennis, and the Heart of Athens

If you've ever wondered what it looks like when a life is built on gratitude, grit, and genuine community, this episode is for you. Host Lesley Platek sits down with Will Glenn, partner and owner of Select Trees Enterprises, a Athens-area business that has grown over four decades into one of the larger tree nurseries in the country — with roots (literally and figuratively) that run deep in the Classic City. Will Glenn grew up in Athens, Georgia, shaped by family, faith, and a love of competition. After being cut from his YMCA soccer team , he found his path on the tennis court — eventually walking on to the UGA men's tennis program, earning his place on the team, and going on to spend 15 seasons as a player and coach, contributing to four NCAA championships along the way. Episode Highlights: * Will's walk-on journey at UGA — losing the tournament, but earning Coach Manny Diaz's respect through attitude and heart * How his parents, Mike and Kay Glenn, built Glenwood Landscape into what became Select Trees Enterprises * The extraordinary influence of businessman and mentor Forrest Ramer, whose investment, wisdom, and values helped shape Select Trees' mission * Mike Glenn's moving letter, Two Angels, a tribute to Forrest and Helen Ramer's impact on the business and the people in it * The Glenn family philosophy — captured in the phrase "Tighten Up" — and what it means to truly be present with the people you love Will closes the conversation by reflecting on the lessons left behind by his late parents, including their belief in abundance over scarcity, and the simple, powerful idea that all we take with us is that which is given away. It's a reminder that the most lasting legacies aren't built in boardrooms — they're built in relationships, in generosity, and in showing up, camera in hand, ready to capture the moment.

20. Kelly Ward , PA Orthopedic Surgery and Finish Performance Health

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to take control of your health, this episode is a warm reminder that it's never too late — and that the right guide can make all the difference. Host Lesley Platek welcomes Kelly Ward, a longtime Athens fixture with over 30 years of expertise in orthopedic sports medicine, who is now channeling that experience into something deeply personal and forward-thinking: a wellness and longevity practice called Finished Performance Health. Kelly shares the unexpected moment — pushing through a rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike — that crystallized his vision for bringing elite-athlete-level care to everyday people. He and Lesley dive into what truly proactive healthcare looks like, from advanced biomarker testing to body composition analysis, and why the metrics most of us never get could be the ones that change everything. In this episode: * How a childhood femur fracture set Kelly on the path to orthopedic sports medicine * Why Kelly completed a rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike in under 20 hours — and what he discovered along the way * The difference between treating disease and building a foundation for lifelong health * Key longevity metrics like VO2 max, grip strength, and DEXA scans — and why they matter more than your weight or cholesterol alone * How Finished Performance Health's membership model gives clients access to a full team: physicians, physical therapists, a dietician, and strength coaches Whether you're 35 or 75, Kelly's message is the same: your best health may still be ahead of you. To learn more or book a consultation, visit finishperformancehealth.com or call 706-224-9951

19. Alex Sams Tells The History Of His Family's Coca-Cola Bottling Company In Athens, Ga

Coca-Cola Has Proud Athens History This episode features Athens native Alex Sams, a real estate agent with 5Market Realty and recently moved to Berkshire Hathaway and who served as chair and a member of the Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission. He shares his family's deep roots in Athens, dating back to 1922 when his great-grandfather, Walter Sams, became involved in the local Coca-Cola bottling company. Under his leadership, the business expanded across the Southeast and played a key role in supporting the University of Georgia, including helping underwrite the original Sanford Stadium. Alex reflects on the evolution of the bottling industry—from early innovations and marketing strategies to the growth of the Prince Avenue plant—and discusses the company's 1985 sale to Coca-Cola Enterprises. He also offers insight into major moments in soda history, including the "cola wars" and the backlash to New Coke. Beyond business, Alex highlights his family's commitment to community, sharing stories of how they supported employees during the Great Depression. He also discusses his own work in historic preservation, continuing his grandfather's legacy through efforts involving landmarks like the Taylor-Grady House and other historic properties in Athens. The episode concludes with a personal note, as Alex shares updates about his wife, Eleanor, and their daughters' pursuits in the arts.

18. Dave Mulkey: The History of Beechwood Shopping Center

The Man Who Bet His Life Savings on a 1961 Shopping Center. From selling menswear in the late 80s to owning one of Athens' most beloved community spaces, Dave Mulkey's connection to Beechwood Shopping Center runs deeper than business—it's personal. When this former apartment developer decided to invest his life savings in reimagining a tired shopping center, he wasn't just buying real estate. He was accepting stewardship of a place where generations of Athenians had celebrated birthdays at Longhorn, studied at Zims, and created memories that define what community means. Standing where a Kroger grocery store once operated in 1961, Dave's story reveals how Beechwood emerged from D.D. Saye's visionary development of farmland into Athens' first suburban shopping destination. Back when Baxter Street wasn't even paved to reach the "fringe" location, this revolutionary mixed-use project featured two competing grocery stores, dual drugstores, and a two-story Sears that drew crowds with Santa's workshop in the basement. What You Can Expect from This Episode This conversation captures the complexity of breathing new life into beloved spaces while honoring their history, revealing how one man's commitment to community over profit is reshaping what a modern town center can become. Here are 5 key insights you'll gain from this episode: * Discover how a failed first attempt to buy Beechwood led to a million-dollar non-refundable offer that changed everything. * Learn why COVID revealed the difference between corporate tenants with lawyers and local businesses with heart. * Understand the intricate dance of lease negotiations, co-tenancy clauses, and traffic engineering that shapes shopping center evolution. * Explore how cold-calling Seattle to bring REI to Athens demonstrates the art of selling a community's story. * Experience the vision behind transforming 60 acres into a walkable town center that honors the past while building the future. The Stewardship Philosophy What makes Dave's approach revolutionary isn't just his business acumen—it's his understanding that Beechwood belongs to the community, not just its owner. His three core principles reveal this philosophy: transformations over transactions, stewardship over ownership, and community over competition. When the 2020 holiday market brought stories from longtime residents about Christmas trees on rooftops and Santa's workshop in Sears' basement, these memories became blueprints for renewal. From Kroger in the Hole to REI The most compelling aspect of Beechwood's evolution is how each change connects to Athens' broader story. When Kroger moved from this location to "the Kroger in the Hole" on Broad Street, then eventually to Alps, it reflected shifting patterns of how Athenians lived and shopped. Dave's success in attracting REI required convincing Seattle executives that Athens represented their ideal customer base—a conversation that began with explaining why this university town differs from every other Georgia community. His description of the challenge—"Most of these places aren't thinking about Athens, Georgia"—captures the essence of what happens when someone truly believes in their community's potential. The domino effect that followed, from REI to Sephora to future announcements, demonstrates how early adopters create momentum for transformation. The 60-Acre Vision Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of Dave's work extends far beyond the shopping center itself. His master planning encompasses everything from the old Omni location to the former muffler shop he transformed while preserving its original paint. This isn't about competing with downtown Athens but creating a complementary town center where people can live, work, eat and shop.