In a move

that left more than one tear-stained eye in the crowd,

the Coweta County Commissioners Tuesday named the new

recreation complex on Ga. Highway 16 after Commissioner

Vernon "Mutt" Hunter and his family.

The new

park will be known as the Hunter Complex, as a tribute to

Hunter's more than 40 years of service to Coweta County,

said Commissioner Jim McGuffey.

In a moving

tribute, McGuffey said Hunter worked for Coweta County

from 1950-1998 and served 26 of those years as the

county's administrator.

"I

don't think any other administrator in the state can

boast that length of service," McGuffey said.

In 1992,

Hunter decided to run for county commissioner and is now

serving in his second term.

"He's

one of the main reasons why Coweta County has a balanced

budget now," added McGuffey.

McGuffey

acknowledged that Hunter has had his critics over the

years, but said Hunter has "given his life to Coweta

County" and has "more knowledge in his little

finger" about the county than McGuffey has in his

whole body.

The other

commissioners were equally glowing in their assessments

of Hunter's achievements and Commissioner Robert Wood

said Hunter has had a huge impact on his political

career.

"He

has been a training tool for me," Wood said.

After the

commissioners unanimously passed naming the park for

Hunter, the crowd, including Hunter's wife, Sue, and his

two sisters, rose as one to give him a standing ovation.

Hunter was

visibly moved by the actions of the board and the crowd

response.

"I can

handle people giving me the devil. This really gets to

me," he said.