John Malcolm Marchman (Mr. Mac)

2005 Effingham County Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

Mr. Mac came to Springfield in the Depression Days of the 1920’s as a liquidating agent.  He was 19 and just out of a business course in Atlanta.  Being from White Plains, smaller than Springfield, he had no trouble adjusting to “Small Town USA”.  He was to liquidate the banks in Effingham that did not survive the Great Depression.  Upon completion, he was asked by Jim Tebeau to remain in Springfield and re-open the Exchange Bank, the only bank that remained in the county for many ensuring years.

Beginning in the late 1920’s Mr. Mac and the Exchange Bank sponsored and supported the “Town Teams” mostly baseball, by furnishing uniforms and equipment.  The successfully competed against teams like the Sugar Refinery and Union Bag of Savannah.  Any team needing a new baseball or bat would stop by the bank for help, never to be turned away empty handed.

Mr. Mac and several other men in Springfield played tennis on a regular basis and maintained the courts where the present recreation softball/baseball diamond (Ulmer Park) is located.

If there was a “setback” card champion, he would have been near the top.  Setback was the game of choice around Springfield in pre-war days.

Mr. Mac was in the forefront of the civic and church activities in the community.  He was a charter member of the Lions Club as wee as being awarded the “Silver Beaver” in Boys Scouts for his support.

He taught a Sunday school class at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and was church treasure for many years and also served on the Church Council.  He was a member of the Salzburger Society.

As the bank grew, he still maintained the personal, small town relationship with the customer.

He was married for nearly 50 years to Mildred Jaudon Marchman and they had 2 children, Malcolm Marchman of Macon and Mary Will Long of Springfield.

Mr. Mac was a benefactor and contributor to the activities of the community in so many ways in a quiet and unassuming manner.