Macon Magazine

70 maconmagazine.com | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 What's your tailgate tradition? Let us know at hello@maconmagazine.com, and send in your photos for future Faces. A N E F F I C I E N T R A M B L I N ' W R E C K Gene Dunwody, Jr. (B.S. Architecture, 1985) comes from a long line of Georgia Tech alumni who have been tailgating since at least the 1930s. "Dad used to tell us that they would drive up High 87 and stop in Jackson at Fresh Air BBQ on the way to Tech," Gene recalls of his father, Eugene Cox Dunwody, Sr. "Personally, I have tailgated all my life," he said. "My earliest GT football memory was when we played UGA in 1969 and won 6-0; I was in first grade." These days, Dunwody's base tailgate group is his family. He and his wife, BJ, "tailgate with several fraternity brothers and some fellow Maconites," he explained. "My sisters, Susan and Mary Bennet, and their husbands (all four of whom are GT grads), my brother George and his boys, my son Cody (another GT grad), daughter Chason, and son Jack." "My dad was chief of the tailgate pack until his death in 2021, and my mother still comes to games and tailgates with us," Dunwody continued. "She is legendary in Section 205. We typically have four generations of Dunwodys present, with 10 season ticket seats on the 50-yard line." The Dunwodys tailgate at every home game but also often travel and tailgate at away games, including Ole Miss, Clemson, and the Gasparilla Bowl last season. For years the Dunwodys pulled into the GT lot an hour before the game, where they would park, pop the tailgate, eat and drink quickly, and go to the game before rushing home. "It was efficient and effective – just what you'd expect from engineering types," he laughed. The younger generations, however, like to get there early and linger afterward, especially to celebrate the occasional win. Since GT grads are often hired far from the Peach State, Dunwody explains, "Many of my friends know that we have a strong tailgate and will join us when they come to the games. It's good to see old friends, some of whom we have not seen for decades. They know they can count on us to entertain them." Tailgates for the Dunwodys typically include beer, wine, bourbon, tequila, vodka, all of the seltzers, Bloody Marys, champagne, and mimosas "because ABOVE: BJ and Gene Dunwody get ready to cheer on Georgia Tech. Photo courtesy of the Dunwody family. we have a lot of noon kickoffs," Dunwody explained. "And we sometimes do a Bloody Mary bar, which BJ calls the 'Breakfast of Champions.' "Oh, wait, we do actually eat, too," Dunwody laughed. They always have either fried chicken or wings from JR Crickets, located near Tech in Atlanta. Sometimes the Dunwodys drive up through Jackson for old time's sake and pick up Fresh Air BBQ. An old fraternity brother from Chattanooga often brings brisket, ribs, or Boston butt. "We team up with our neighbors at the tailgate to share," he continued. "BJ brings healthy foods like fruit, cheese, veggie platters and charcuterie." Other favorites include soups such as gazpacho, vichyssoise, chili, chowder, or lobster bisque; dips, finger sandwiches, cheese straws, chips, and crackers. "Over the last few years, we have tried to improve our tailgates," Dunwody said. "We really like to mix it up."

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