Wednesday, April 11, 2012

NCHSAA Hall of Fame Banquet Set for Saturday

CHAPEL HILL—An event that has become a highlight of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association year is scheduled for Saturday.

The annual NCHSAA Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremonies are set for the Friday Center of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, with dinner starting at 6 p.m.

Honorees at this year's event will include:

• Rosalie Bardin-- outstanding women's basketball, volleyball and softball coach at Southern Nash for many years, with 15 conference championships and a state title in softball, and later was an award-winning principal there

• Sheila Boles--a native of Fayetteville who went on to serve as men's basketball coach at Hoggard, the only woman serving as a varsity men's basketball coach in the state, as well as serving as athletic director

• Jimmy Fleming--coached a number of sports during his career, primarily at South Granville, but built a softball powerhouse there that won seven NCHSAA state championships, five in slow pitch and two in fast pitch

• John Frye--spent his entire career teaching and coaching in Moore County, with service in six different decades at Union Pines; his tennis teams accumulated almost 50 conference titles and two NCHSAA state crowns

• Jerry Johnson--outstanding game official in football, basketball and baseball whose accomplishments include working several NCHSAA championships in football and baseball; he has officiated well over 1000 football games, 1800 basketball games and 3000 baseball games

• the late Mike Matheson--built Bandys in Catawba County into a women's basketball powerhouse, with four state titles in a 10-year stretch and amazing 268-29 mark in that decade before his untimely death at age of 41

• the late John Morris--enjoyed great career as football coach and administrator with success at every stop, including Roxboro, Reidsville and T.W. Andrews; he also served as High Point City Schools athletic director before his death in 1984

• Tom Suiter--legendary sports anchor at WRAL-TV in Raleigh for many years who also made high school coverage a priority with his Extra Effort Awards and the award-wining Football Friday show

GlaxoSmithKline provided an initial gift to help underwrite the NCHSAA Hall of Fame, enabling it to honor individuals who have spent a lifetime in education. It is one of the Association’s most prestigious accolades.

The NCHSAA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to high school athletics in North Carolina. This marks the 25th induction class for the NCHSAA Hall of Fame, which now numbers 140. Each new inductee will be introduced by a special video presentation and will receive a commemorative NCHSAA Hall of Fame ring in honor of the induction.

"We hope that the communities represented by these outstanding individuals would be present to support those who have meant so much to so many people," said Davis Whitfield, NCHSAA commissioner. "The Hall of Fame ceremonies have evolved into a first-class event and it is a great opportunity for former players and other supporters of these honorees to gather together."