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A Day At The Museum
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“My favorite thing in the world is to make people happy!”
In bustling, West Midtown, located off Huff Road, nestled toward the rear of a nondescript office park sits one of the most interesting spaces in the city.
“My office has the largest archive of Macon memorabilia outside the Washington County Library,” said Atlanta Intellectual Property/ Internet attorney Pete Wellborn with a smile, “the 1897 city phone book, the Macon Peaches baseball cards, ancient Coca Cola bottles, and photos of my grandfather’s restaurant, all here.”
The focus of his amazing, expansive office is not Macon but his beloved college football coach, Bill Curry.
“If somebody would have told me 43 years ago, Coach Curry would become part of my family by 2025, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
A nationally known lawyer, entrepreneur, and leader, Mr. Wellborn graduated from Georgia Tech (1986) with a computer science degree, flirted with medical school, then opted for the Mercer Law School in his native Macon, the scholar/athlete also was a walk-on, backup quarterback and linebacker for Bill Curry’s Yellow Jackets (1982-85).
“I worked at four big Atlanta law firms, among my employers, Alston & Bird founded by legendary golfer Bobby Jones, the firm had a room dedicated to the legendary golfer,” added Mr. Wellborn, “If I became king for a day, I would decree, a Macon Room, and something for Coach Curry.”
In 2025, Pete Wellborn is not king, but he has been granted both his wishes.
The “Curry Museum” is conjoined with his office inside Wellborn, Wallace, and Mullman LLC.
The trajectory of Bill Curry’s life is all here in photos, memorabilia and vivid detail.
“Long after Coach is gone, and long after I’m gone, I want people to be able to learn from his (Curry) life lessons.”
If you were looking to explain the remarkable 20th century football career of Bill Curry to a non sports fan, the small Kodak framed photo from decades might be the one to share.
It’s a long way from College Park to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.
“This is a picture of Coach Curry playing touch football with legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. on the front lawn of the Kennedy Compound,” said Mr. Wellborn.
Atlanta (College Park) native Bill Curry of Georgia Tech led one of the most memorable football careers of the 20th century. He played for Dodd, Lombardi, and Shula. Championships in Green Bay and Baltimore. Super Bowl V victory, snapped to Starr and Unitas. Helped form the NFL Players Association, served as president, co-created NFLPA Plan 88 with teammate John Mackey to financially support ex players, Head Coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama, Kentucky and GSU, broadcaster at ESPN. And has always been a proponent of racial reconciliation. Coach Curry joined other athletes and walked behind Dr. King’s casket in Atlanta, April 1968.
“Two weeks ago we began, Thursday with Coach, he sits in front of a locker, we bring in panelists from his past, Zoom also, to talk football and life.”
The idea is to have an oral history of Bill Curry’s unique American life, in Atlanta and around the nation.
“My father recently passed away, Coach Curry will be 83 this year, it’s time to chronicle all these great stories toward the future,” said Mr. Wellborn, “every time I think I’ve heard one of his great anecdotes , he surprises me with another.”
Listening to Mr. Wellborn speak, I was flashing back to one of the favorite Atlanta memories, occurring outside of Coach Curry’s Georgia Tech football office in 1985.
Coach was running 35 minutes late to an interview with me, so, I sat in his office, next to his famous friend who was also waiting, the legendary American writer, sportsman George Plimpton.
I told Mr. Plimpton, I had read his books, and we had a spirited conversation, including a Plimpton lunch anecdote, involving Howard Cosell and a couple of cocktails.
Only in Coach Curry’s office could that happen.
“As for his legacy—-courage, ethics and morals, traits he instilled in those he coached,” added Mr. Wellborn, “Coach Curry is a great man.
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