The building that housed Foley’s National Guard unit for more than 50 years has begun a new chapter as the city’s Foley Activity Center, offering expanded recreational opportunities and municipal office space while preserving an important part of the community’s military history.

The City of Foley officially dedicated the newly renovated facility at 315 E. Jessamine Avenue on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The ceremony commemorated 100 years of National Guard service in Foley and honored the soldiers who served at the former armory, including Korean War hero Sergeant William L. Smith.

A Century of National Guard History

Foley’s National Guard history dates back to 1926, when the community’s first unit, the 106th Motorcycle Company of the 31st Division, was organized.

The city’s original National Guard armory opened on North McKenzie Street in 1935. As the unit’s needs grew, a new armory was constructed on East Jessamine Avenue in 1969 and formally dedicated in January 1970 as Fort William L. Smith.

The East Jessamine Avenue facility served local National Guard members until 2023. During those decades, soldiers trained at the armory, assisted with hurricane recovery efforts and prepared for overseas deployments, including service in the Middle East in 2004.

Honoring Sergeant William L. Smith

A central part of Thursday’s dedication was the recognition of Sgt. William L. Smith, the Foley soldier for whom the former armory was named.

A 1948 Foley High School graduate and former Foley Lions football player, Smith joined the National Guard as a teenager. Following the activation of his unit during the Korean War, Smith was sent to Korea, where he was killed in action near Kumhwa on November 4, 1951, just nine days before his 20th birthday.

For his extraordinary bravery, Smith was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, one of the nation’s highest military honors.

During the ceremony, Mayor Ralph Hellmich reflected on Smith’s sacrifice and the importance of preserving his legacy as the building transitions to a new purpose.

“Sergeant Smith gave his life on that battlefield in November of 1951, just nine days shy of his 20th birthday,” Hellmich said. “For his extraordinary heroism, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by the United States government.”

Hellmich presented Smith’s brother, Nick Jones, with the Key to the City and a City Council proclamation on behalf of the family.

The ceremony also included the unveiling of a historical marker honoring Smith, made possible through the efforts of the City of Foley Beautification Board.

Local National Guard members, veterans and students from the Foley High School JROTC program were among those participating in the dedication.

A New Chapter for the Former Armory

The newly renovated, 16,000-square-foot Foley Activity Center provides indoor recreational space for residents while also housing offices for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, Communications Department and Leisure Services administration.

The facility includes a new gymnasium that can accommodate three pickleball courts, a basketball court or a volleyball court.

Additional improvements include classroom space for recreational programs and senior activities, a climate-controlled storage area for museum archives and a sensory space for special-needs programming and events.

The renovation, designed by Paul Carpenter Davis Architecture and completed by contractor Del-Con LLC, cost approximately $1.97 million.

The Foley National Guard unit relocated in 2023 to a larger, modern armory near the Foley Beach Express. The city provided land for the new facility in exchange for the former armory property behind City Hall.

The transformation of the historic armory allows the building to continue serving the Foley community while honoring the generations of National Guard members who served there.

Although the building’s purpose has changed, its history and the legacy of Sgt. William L. Smith remain an important part of Foley’s story.

Learn more: Explore 100 years of Foley’s National Guard history and the evolution of its armories.