Ralph Maxwell Jr. was a three-sport athlete at OCHS, and led the football team to a 10-2 record and region title in 1968. (Submitted Photo)
Jay Paul remembers watching Ralph Maxwell Jr. try to climb a 10-foot platform to find a better angle for a photo at a high school baseball game several years ago.
This was after Maxwell had begun to struggle with his health, which included a stroke in 2017.
“I approached him and asked, ‘Are you crazy?’” said Paul, chair of the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners. “He said ‘Yeah. A little. Now hold the ladder.’”
For those who knew Maxwell — and just about everybody in Oglethorpe County did — this story isn’t surprising. He went to great lengths to chronicle everything about the county, especially OCHS athletics, during his four decades as the owner and publisher of The Oglethorpe Echo.
Maxwell died at his Lexington home on May 7. He was 74 years old.
“I worked with Ralph for more than 40 years,” said Kevin Miller, COO of Greater Georgia Printers. “On his frequent visits, I always knew he was in the building before he reached my office. His boisterous laughter carried down the hallway. After catching up on everything since our last conversation, he invariably asked, ‘What else is happening?’ — making sure he hadn’t missed anything.
“Ralph had an incredible mind and was a walking calculator, but just as memorable was his infectious spirit. He will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.”
Maxwell Jr. continued his family’s legacy as publishers of Oglethorpe County’s newspaper.
Starting at age 5, Maxwell watched his father use a linotype machine to print each edition, inserting each letter individually and learning life’s most valuable lesson: patience.
From there, his passion for journalism only grew.
“You remember the dramatic things,” Maxwell said in a conversation with The Echo in 2021. “But the enjoyable part is working with the kids and people in the community and trying to do good stuff.”
Maxwell Jr. graduated from the University of Georgia in 1974 with a degree in journalism and a knack for photography. He left home to see the world and find work, but his entrenched history with The Echo drew him back to Oglethorpe County.
In 1981, Maxwell Jr. took over his father’s role as the owner and editor of The Echo.
His stroke prompted his retirement from the newspaper, but not before he partnered with the University of Georgia in the fall of 2021 to ensure The Echo would continue.
With the help of close friend and Smithonia resident Dink NeSmith, Maxwell transferred the newspaper to a new nonprofit organization called The Oglethorpe Echo Legacy Foundation.
Since then, more than 200 UGA students have gained valuable journalism experience serving as the editorial staff of the 152-year-old newspaper.
Maxwell was generous with his time and institutional knowledge of the county before and after the transition to the UGA partnership. He sat and graciously talked to students whenever they needed a quote, information about the county or simply a phone number.
He remained a friend of the paper, sharing news tips and often taking photos at OCHS games when no students were available.
Maxwell’s health worsened last fall and outings had been limited. He visited The Rowdy Rooster — one of his favorite places — in February and again a couple of times this spring with the help of family and friends.
“If you are fortunate, you will encounter that quintessential person who becomes the heartbeat of your business. ‘Cheers’ had Norm,” said Kathleen deMarrais and Jamie Lewis, co-owners of The Rowdy Rooster. “For The Rowdy Rooster, it was Ralph Maxwell. If you called Ralph on a Friday or Saturday, more likely than not he would tell you, ‘Well, I am sitting here at The Rowdy Rooster.’
“Sitting for Ralph meant he was sharing his vast knowledge of the history of Oglethorpe County, his opinion on an issue of local or national importance, a funny anecdote or perhaps his critique of the book he just finished.”
Paul said he’d often chat with Maxwell in “that ‘dungeon’ that he called an office” and try to solve the county’s problems.
“But regardless of the environment, it was obvious how much Ralph Jr. cared about Oglethorpe County,” Paul said. “Oglethorpe County will truly miss Ralph Maxwell Jr.”