October/November 2024 | maconmagazine.com 81
to be an NFL player," Walker explained. "And Bud doing
this for free speaks volumes concerning who he is as a
person."
Born in 1993 in Macon, Georgia, Dupree made
his mark initially as a two-sport star in football and
basketball for Wilkinson County High School. After
attending the University of Kentucky, he was drafted
in 2015 in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Following five successful years at linebacker for the
Steel City, Dupree played for the Tennessee Titans and
the Atlanta Falcons before heading to the West Coast
earlier this year as a new Charger.
His off-field successes have been as impressive as
his gridiron exploits – resulting in the Wilkinson County
High stadium being renamed Bud Dupree Stadium
and Dupree receiving a key to the city this May. In
2017 a downtown Toomsboro, Georgia, street was
named Bud Dupree Drive, leading Dupree to launch an
annual community get-together attended by hundreds,
activating the sleepy downtown. And he was chosen
as the grand marshal of Macon's first-ever Juneteenth
Parade last year.
ABOVE
Students run
drills to perfect
their football
technique.
