Red Bud High School, Class of 1976

Eric Putnam was a standout multi-sport athlete at Red Bud High School, excelling in cross country, track, and football. He was named Calhoun Times Athlete of the Year in 1976 and left an enduring legacy in Georgia high school athletics.

In track, Eric was a three-time Class B State Champion. He captured the state title in the 2-mile in 1975 with a time of 10:12. In 1976, In 1976, was state champion in the 1-mile (4:33), and he repeated as state champion in 2-mile (9:44.7) events, the latter setting a new Class B state record at the time. He also finished as the Class B State Runner-up in cross country that same year. These accomplishments were achieved at a school without a track.

Eric went on to compete at Berry College, where he set the school record in the 10K with a time of 32:01. His passion for running extended far beyond college.

In 2004, Eric won the USATF Outdoor Track 10K National Championship for the 45–49 age division with a time of 32:58 — the fastest recorded time in the nation for his age group that year. At the same event, he also won the 5K with an impressive 16:03 finish. That same year, he placed 6th overall in the Masters Division (40+) at the prestigious Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta (63^rd out of 55,000 runners).

Further cementing his legacy, Eric holds the Georgia RRCA State Record in the 10-mile for the 45–49 age group with a time of 55:24, set in 2004 — a record that still stands today.

Eric Putnam’s remarkable endurance and competitive excellence over decades have firmly established him as one of the most accomplished distance runners to come out of Gordon County.