“Then a guy who had a very different brain arrangement than most from Albany, Ga., named Ray Stevens wrote and sang a song called ‘The Streak.’ ‘Don’t look, Ethel’ became an almost war cry. But what is amazing to me is that a guy from Albany, Ga., one and 1/2 hours from Valdosta wrote and sang a song that spurred people from all over the country to take off their clothes and run not naked but “nekkid” all over the country. I mean, through grocery stores, convenience stores, McDonald’s, colleges or just about anywhere. ...”

It was announced around the Valdosta State campus that people were going to streak on Thursday, March 8, 1974. Estimates of the numbers of participants ranged from 100 to 1,500.

“It was almost like going to the Beverly Theatre and watching people run across the stage nekkid,” Rusty remembers.

“... since ‘The Streak’ was in March, it was the time of year people got kind of funky. Beach fever, laying out in the sun, relaxing and having the laid-back approach was popular. As a result, the major streak happened on March 11, 1974.

“Mike Hamner, being a tried and true tennis player, told too many people that he was going to streak between games of the baseball doubleheader between Clemson and Valdosta State on Sunday, March 11.”

And his friends told everyone.

“Mike, being a man of his word, showed up with only gym shorts and tennis shoes on and a smile. In getting prepared to do his thing mentally, he asked for the floppy beach hat that ... Janice Simpson (Rusty’s ex-wife) had on.”

Mike was planning to cover his face with the hat. He waited for the security guards to move.

“Finally, Johnny Caldwell, who is now head football coach at McEachern High School near Atlanta, eased up behind Mike and snatched his shorts down to his ankles. Then Mike had to run.

“As he ran across the field with his tennis tan shining, people were honking their car horns, screaming, clapping, cheering and hollering. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience or viewing ... He ran on the field, circled behind second base and headed to the left field foul line ... the gate down the left field line was left open. As fate would have it, as Mike got close to the fence, a young boy ran and closed the gate.”

A surprise for Mike.

Mike had to stop and open the gate. He ran through the gate and across the creek over to Pound Hall. His friend, Steve Whitley, was sitting next to Pound Hall in the getaway car, a Road Runner convertible with the top down. But Steve had a surprise for the streaker.

“Steve, being a such close friend, took off and made Mike ‘The Streaker’ chase his car out to the street running between Ashley Street and Patterson Street on the north side of South Georgia Medical Center,” Rusty recalled. “Steve lured Mike The Streaker out to Patterson Street and took a left turn headed to main campus.”

Rusty said Steve finally slowed down enough so that Mike could jump into the back seat of the Road Runner. Mike was taken out of class the following Tuesday and arrested and confined in jail. The fine was $1,000 or 12 months in jail. Mike was eventually released for $400.

The incident has become legend.