Billy Wagner is Tazewell’s “Main Street Man” on October 17

Tazewell’s Main Street will soon bear the name of Billy Wagner, the celebrated baseball pitcher. The town, established in 1800, owes its location to a notorious fistfight and has since gained national attention for the career of its native son, Billy Wagner, who was recently inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. To honor his achievements, a committee of locals has come together to create Billy Wagner Park, complete with a grand statue of the pitcher along the main road.

The inauguration is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, with Mayor Joe Beasley presiding over the event. Wagner’s family, including his wife Sarah and their three children, as well as several relatives, will be in attendance. Notable figures like Jeff Lamie, a two-sport all-star from Tazewell High School, will join the festivities.

The statue’s creators, Mariah Kirby Smith and Lynda Solonsky, will be introduced by Cara Spivey, who will welcome regional guests. After the presentation of colors by the Richlands High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and the national anthem performed by the Tazewell High School choir, Rev. Nathan Thomas will offer words of welcome.

The park’s development has been spearheaded by Brad Pyott, a former standout athlete at Tazewell High School, and Project Director, along with community members such as Charity D. Hurst and Beth Pike-Clemons. Several of Wagner’s former teammates from Tazewell High School, including Erik Robinson, who played alongside him at Ferrum College, will be present.

Robinson will introduce Wagner, who will share his personal story with the audience. The unveiling of the statue and the park’s formal dedication will cap off the day’s events, providing the community with a lasting tribute to one of its own.