By Morgan Burkett
The Greenville Advocate

Butler County Auburn Club is hoping to unite all Auburn fans at their annual meeting on June 12 at Greenville’s Cambrian Ridge.

“We almost reached our full capacity last year with 125 people there,” said Payne Meadows, president of the Butler County Auburn Club. “We hope to fill up the remaining seats this year with the many Auburn fans from around the county.”

The money raised at the dinner funds a $1,000 scholarship to a student from Butler County that is attending Auburn University.

The doors open at 5 p.m. for social hour and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Rodney Garner, associate head coach and defensive line coach, will serve as the keynote speaker at the event.

“The Butler County Auburn Club is very excited to have Auburn defensive line coach Rodney Garner as our guest speaker,” said David Scott, secretary and treasurer of the Butler County Auburn Club. “As a former Tiger player and longtime SEC coach now back on the Plains, it will be very interesting to all Auburn fans to listen to his perspective and comments regarding the highly anticipated 2015 football season.  On behalf of the club, I invite all Auburn alumni and fans to join us at Cambrian Ridge for the meeting. War Eagle!”

A native of Leeds, Ala., Garner was named All-SEC offensive lineman and honorable mention All-American as a senior at Auburn in 1988, captaining the team that captured the 1988 SEC championship.

After his playing career at Auburn, Garner had a free agent tryout with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played with the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League in 1989. He began his coaching career at Auburn in 1990.

As a coach for the Tigers, Garner served in several capacities from 1990-95 including recruiting coordinator, tight ends coach, and assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Garner spent the previous 15 years at Georgia

During his tenure in Athens, he was part of a staff that led UGA to 117 victories, two SEC Championships, five SEC Eastern Division titles, seven bowl victories and six top 10 finishes in the final national polls, including No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002. He added the title of assistant head coach at Georgia in 2005 after serving as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia since January 1998.

He is married to Kimberly Lawson Garner, a 1988 Auburn graduate. They have six children: Bridgett, Brielle, Jaiden, Kai, Sydney and Milan.

Those interested in attending do not have to be a graduate of Auburn. There is a $20 cost that includes dinner. Space is limited. For reservations mail the check payable to the Butler County Auburn Club, c/o Payne Meadows 110 E. Commerce St., Greenville, Al 36037.

For more information contact Meadows at (334) 382-9951 or Scott at (334) 437-0220.