By Thomas Grant Jr.
Airport High School will pay its final respects at 10 a.m. Saturday at the football stadium to longtime equipment manager Lawrence Michael Gardner.
Affectionally known as “LG” around the school, Gardner passed away Sunday.
For over seven decades, Gardner played an integral role in Eagle athletics. His duties as the director of football operations, equipment manager, and field house manager at Airport earned him induction into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
During the fall, Gardner spent countless hours distributing, maintaining, and accounting for the uniforms, helmets, cleats, and all athletic equipment worn by the 120 football players on varsity, junior varsity and now the C-team.
“Everything that a football player is issued is clean, is disinfected, is serviced to check for any type of problems,” Gardner said in an August 29, 2023 story. “Everything from the helmet to the shoes. Everything.”
Gardner began working at Airport as a student in 1969. Following his graduation, he spent two years away before getting called back by former head coach Don Richardson.
At the same time, Gardner worked for the city of Cayce’s fire department. He spent 37 years there before retiring as the fire chief.
Along with making sure the players were presentable and safe on the field; Gardner was the unofficial “historian” of Airport football. He still maintained equipment information on past players like former running back Duce Staley.
“He is Airport football,” Airport head football coach Shane Fidler said. “The tradition of Airport football. He’s the good ol’ boy that’s been around here forever that knows everybody. Every person that’s come through those doors and wants to help the program knows LG.”
Barr-Price Funeral Home in Batesburg-Leesville is overseeing arrangements. Messages can be posted on the tribute wall at Obituary for Lawrence Michael Gardner | Barr-Price Funeral Home
