Hall of Fame Members
The inaugural class of the WNC Sports Hall of Fame, inducted May 7, 1978 at Great Smokies Hilton as part of the 20th annual WNC Sports Awards Banquet (from left) Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice, Mrs. Pat Werth, in honor of her late husband Freddy Crawford, HOF president George Chumbley, Jr., Tony Waldrop and Dan Hill. Class member Billy Joe Patton not in photo.
2024 Inductees
Paul Johnson
Head football coach at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech with career record of 189-100. Saw nine bowl games, one ACC title and three appearances in the ACC championship game. Named ACC Coach of the Year three times. .
Cameron Maybin
Lead Roberson High baseball to a state championship as a freshman in 2002 and was named Tournament MVP. Had 15-year major league baseball career including Houston Astros 2017 World Series championship. Career batting average of .254 with 72 home runs, 187 stolen bases and 354 RBIs.
Tom Smith
Baseball Coach at Roberson High for 28 years. 478-183 overall record, winning three state championships, 19 trips to the state playoffs, 14 conference championships and nine Buncombe County titles. Coached three players who reached the major leagues and earned 11 Coach-of-the-Year awards. Member of the Roberson Ring of Gold and the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Jayne Arledge
Only women student-athlete to have her number retired at Western Carolina as program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,928 points. Established seven records including most points in a season with 544 and highest career scoring average with a 19.5 per game average. Arledge was inducted into the Western Carolina Hall of Fame in 1992 and her number 25 was retired in 2006.
2023 Inductees
Cetera DeGraffenreid
Standout basketball player at Smoky Mountain HS (2003-07). Currently Western North Carolina’s all-time leading scorer with 3,081 points. Played at UNC as a four-year starter for the Tar Heels. Earned All-ACC honors three times and finished career with 1,562 points, 589 assists and 371 steals
Greg Parker
State champion golfer at McDowell and then earned All-American honors at UNC. Won five college tournaments, including the 1987 ACC Tourney. Won the local Skyview Pro/Am Tournament a record nine times. Set a 54-hole scoring record with a 20-under par effort in 2018 and then topped it with a 21-under score in 2019
Robert “Buzz” Peterson
1981 North Carolina Player of the Year in basketball while at Asheville HS. Parade and McDonald’s All-American. Member of the UNC 1982 national championship team. Coached college at five different schools including a 2001 NIT title. Coached for Charlotte Hornets.
Jim Pardue
Coached at Hendersonville High, winning state championships in baseball and basketball. In basketball, he posted a career record of 391-98. He was named WNC Coach of the Year three times and coached the West squad in the annual East-West game in Greensboro. Teams won 20 or more games 12 different times in basketball.
2022 Inductees
Tara Saunooke Alexander
1990 4-A state championship MVP when she helped lead Reynolds to the state championship. Averaged 25 points per game her senior year and was named as the Top Female Athlete of the Year in Western North Carolina in 1991.
Darren Holmes
Helped lead Roberson to the 3-A state championship in 1983. Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1984. He finished his career with a 35-33 overall record and 4.25 ERA. Accumulated 581 career strikeouts and earned 59 saves including 25 for the Colorado Rockies in 1995.
Bob Pressley
Captured seven Asheville Motor Speedway track titles during his career in 1965, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977 and 1992. Won more than 500 races in his career from Canada to Florida.
Robert Pressley
Won the Asheville Motor Speedway Track four times in his career in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. Won 10 different Busch Cup series races and started more than 200 races in the Winston Cup Series.
Judy Stroud
Began her basketball career at McDowell HS in Marion where she was an All-Conference performer for four years, winning MVP for three of them. Coaching career began at Boiling Springs HS (SC) and led to school to a state championship in both girls’ basketball and volleyball. Had a distinguished 20-year career in women’s college basketball officiating.
2021 Inductees
Kenny Ford
Head football coach at Owen High from 1986-2014. Only coach in the history of Buncombe County to win 200 games at the same high school. Never finished lower than third in league play.
Rhonda Mapp
Basketball player leading Asheville High to first state title in 1987, won ACC championship with NC State in 1991, and led the LA Sparks to the 2001 WNBA championship. Played a total of 13 years overseas and seven seasons in the WNBA making her a champion on every level of her career.
Mike Silver
In 32 seasons as girls basketball coach at McDowell High (1975- 2007), Silver won 76 percent of his games (650-201). He ranks second in the history of WNC in wins among girls basketball coaches, trailing only 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Tom Pryor.
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2019 INDUCTEES
Susan DeWeese
Coached volleyball, basketball and softball at Enka. Posted a 491-196 (.716) record in volleyball.
“Tiger” Greene
Multi-sport athlete at East Henderson High/ Two-time All-American defensive back at Western Carolina.
Tom Pryor
Legendary girls high-school basketball coach. He won 594 games at Edneyville (now North Henderson).
Caroll Wright
31 years as a high-school football coach, Wright posted a 232-108-8 (.696) record at Brevard, Pisgah, Swain, West Henderson and Hartsville, S.C.
2018 INDUCTEES
Bobby Poss
Won five state 4A titles as a football coach, including two at Reynolds. Posted a 241-89-1 record in 28 seasons.
Cindi Simmons
Coached basketball and volleyball for 25 seasons at Sylva-Webster and Smoky Mountain High. Won three state titles in volleyball, and basketball state title in 2007.
Jan Stanley
Coached volleyball at West Henderson for 35 years Won five state titles and finished with 699-115 record.
2017 INDUCTEES
David Gentry
WNC's all-time coaching leader in high school football wins (381 through the 2016 season).Won seven 1-A titles at Murphy High (986, ‘87, ‘91, ‘96, 2011, ‘13, ‘16).
Carolyn and Ron McKee
Worked in management of Asheville Tourists for 26 years (1980-2005)Built WNC's most successful pro sports franchise. Both are members of South Atlantic League Hall of Fame.
2016 INDUCTEES
Jerry Moore
Coached Appalachian State Football Team from 1989 - 2012. Posted 215-87 (.711) record at ASU. Won 10 Southern Conference Titles and three FCS national titles (2005-07).
Connie Rogers-Newcome
Basketball player scored more than 3,000 points at Erwin High and N.C. State. Parade All-American in 1978. Averaged 18.9 points and 12 rebounds a game.
2015 INDUCTEE
Roy Williams
Coached University of Kansas Men's Basketball Team from 1988 - 2003. Coached UNC Chapel Hill Men's Basketball Team. Over 700 career wins with seven final four appearances.
2014 INDUCTEE
Eddie Biedenbach
Coached UNC Asheville to 256 wins, 3 NCAA Tournaments (1996-2013). All-Time Big South Conference leader in victories (158)N.C. State’s Player of the Decade (1960s) as point guard.
2010 INDUCTEE
Brad Johnson
Won Super Bowl XXXVII (2003) as Buccaneers’ quarterback. 15-year career (166 TD passes); also led Vikings, Redskins, Cowboys. Football, basketball four-year star at Owen, Florida State.
*There were no inductees from 2011-2013
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2009 INDUCTEE
Lou Fogle
Coached Asheville High, Dorman (S.C.), finished with 213 wins. South Carolina Coach of the Year, 1981, ‘88Four-year starting receiver at Clemson; All-ACC as senior (1963).
2008 INDUCTEE
Ray Roberts
First-team All-America offensive tackle at Virginia (1991). Chosen 10th overall by Seahawks in 1992 NFL Draft. Captained Lions (’96-2001) to conclude 10-year career.
2007 INDUCTEE
Gerald D. Austin
Referee for Super Bowls XXXI (1997), XXXV (2001).NFL official 1982-89, referee 1990-2007. Graduate of Erwin High, Western Carolina.
2006 INDUCTEES
Lawson Duncan
Clay-court tennis specialist rose to No. 48 in world (1985).Advanced to quarterfinals of 1989 French Open. Asheville native NCAA finalist for Clemson (1985)
Amy Pless Fleming
Four-year All-America swimmer at North Carolina. Won 1980 Willis Casey Award as state’s top female athlete. Inaugural member of Carolina Day School HOF.
2005 INDUCTEES
Boyce Deitz
Won five state championships at Swain County. Finished with career record of 218-73-1Outstanding left guard for Sylva-Webster in mid-1960s.
Sam Gash
Fullback for Super Bowl champion Ravens (2000). Started two Pro Bowls; played for Patriots, Bills. Starred at Hendersonville High, Penn State.
2004 INDUCTEES
Bruce Peterson
Successful football coach at Asheville High (1974-83). Four-sport standout at Lee Edwards. Captained football, basketball, tennis at WCU.
Billy Wells
Four-time all-conference basketball player at Lenoir-Rhyne. Coached Bears to 166 wins, two NAIA Tournaments (1957-65).Compiled 225-26 record as coach at St. Stephens High
2003 INDUCTEES
Joe Hunt
Guided Hendersonville to state football titles, 1967-68. Coach of Sylva-Webster’s first state champions, 1963. Finished with 205-83-8 career record
David Carey
Tennis standout has defied age barriers. World 85s champion in singles, twice in doubles (1999-2000) Born to English parents in Malaysia; Rhodes Scholar.
2002 INDUCTEE
Heath Shuler
Tennessee quarterback third pick in 1994 NFL Draft. 1993 Heisman Trophy runner-up. Parade All-America at Swain County
2001 INDUCTEE
Bob Clark
Renowned amateur golfer with 100+ titles. First amateur to capture WNC Open (1996). Career spanned four decades.
2000 INDUCTEES
Earl and Mary-Low Acuff
World class senior racquetball players. Inducted together into National Masters HOF, 1996Each captured U.S. Open titles in two age divisions.
Dave Bristol
Managed Reds, Brewers, Braves, Giants, Andrews resident won 657 games from 1966-80.Helped build foundation for Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine
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1999 INDUCTEES
Jack Ingram
Short-track wizard finished with 340 wins. Elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013. Successful stock car owner, builder.
Ann Brandis
Top player, promoter of amateur golf. 19-time Country Club of Asheville champion. Won two State Senior Women’s Association titles
1998 INDUCTEES
Buster Brown
Nationally ranked tennis player at all levels. 1994 U.S. 40s Indoor singles champion. Opened Asheville Racquet Club in 1974.
Charles “Babe” Howell
Guided Sylva-Webster to two-sport glory (1965-87). Won 301 games, five state titles in football. Collected 628 baseball wins, two state crowns.
1997 INDUCTEES
Brad Daugherty
All-America 7-0 center at North Carolina. No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland in 1986 NBA Draft. Ex-Owen Warhorse 5-time all-star in 9-year career.
Joe Paul Eblen
Dean of Athletic Officials in WNC. Oversaw 5,500+ games in three major sports for 50 years. First referee chosen for NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
1996 INDUCTEE
Bill Rucker
WNC girls basketball coach, guided Owen to 90 straight wins in 1960s. Concluded career at Enka with 638-252 overall record, won state title in 1978.
1995 INDUCTEES
Dave Anderson
Finished 1,125-175 for Canton fast-pitch team. Hurled 12 no-hitters as Champion Paper ace. Member of N.C. Softball Hall of Fame
Ralph “Jug” Wilson
Legendary football coach at Glen Alpine, Freedom. Career record of 262-102-10 included four state titles. Little All-America center at Catawba
1994 INDUCTEES
Chuck Hines
Coached three aquatic sports at highest levels. Guided athletes in water polo, kayaking, swimming. Member of U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Banjo Matthews
NASCAR pioneer as driver, owner, engine designer. Helped build 72% of top-division winners, 1974-85. Dominated McCormick Field track, 1956-58.
1993 INDUCTEES
1993 Inductees
Mary Emma Manley
Excelled as senior women’s amateur. Captured N.C. Golf Association title, 1974-75.
Don Dalton
Three-year starter as WCU quarterback, 1967-69. Guided Cats to first top 10 NAIA ranking (1969; 9-1).Led nation in passing as senior (2,626 yards).
1992 INDUCTEE
Nancy Merki Boland
Set 4 world marks, including 1500 freestyle by 0:17 (1941).Finished eighth in 400 freestyle at 1948 London Olympics. Overcame polio to break three U.S. freestyle records (1939).
1991 INDUCTEES
Gene Hamilton
Tennis standout at Asheville Country Day. Played No. 1 singles at UNC. Won 9 N.C. singles/doubles titles.
Mickey Marvin
Talented offensive guard for Raiders, 1977-87. Started in Oakland/LA Super Bowl XV, XVIII wins. Standout career at Tennessee, West Henderson.
Loyd King
Averaged 17.1 points in three seasons at Virginia Tech, Captain senior year, entered VT hall in 1998, Standout career at Erwin High,
1990 INDUCTEES
Boyd Allen
Coached Canton, Pisgah to three state football titles. Finished with 133-31-3 record at those high schools. Died following 1969 game versus rival Tuscola.
Herb Coman
Historic figure as three-sport player/coach, administrator, official. First AD at Asheville-Biltmore College (now UNC Asheville). Star athlete at Lee Edwards, then South Carolina.
J.C. Hyatt
Buncombe County golfer won 80 tournaments. Held 11 course records at one point. Captured Beaver Lake Invitational 10 times.
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1989 INDUCTEES
Bob Colvin
Coached Robbinsville to 11 state 1-A football titles (1969-83)Compiled 20-season record of 177-52-2 with Black Knights. Inducted into North Carolina State Hall in 2014
Ronald Rogers
Western Carolina’s first NAIA basketball All-America (1951-53).Finished with 1,960 career points from 1949-53.First Catamount basketball player to have number retired.
Bob Waters
Winningest football coach in WCU history (116 from 1969-88).His 1983 team advanced to NCAA Division I-AA title game. Former Presbyterian College, S.F. 49ers quarterback.
1988 INDUCTEES
James “Nemo” Coleman
Captain of 1919 UNC football team (4-3-1). Coached football at defunct Bingham Academy. Also guided Asheville School program.
Jim Gudger
Won 311 games in 19 seasons as WCU basketball coach. Guided Catamounts to 1963 NAIA national title game. Broke ground with recruitment of hall member Henry Logan.
Cap Isbill
Three-sport letterman at East Tennessee State. Guided Lee Edwards High football from 1951-62. Won 574 games during three-sport coaching career.
Gene Ochsenreiter
Founder of WNC Sports Hall of Fame. Captained Maryland Terrapins basketball, 1941. Excelled at half-mile run, later in golf.
Sam Patton
Founder of Blue-White All-Star Basketball Games (Boys & Girls). Founded Hominy Valley youth sports programs as American Enka AD. Asheville Tourists MVP as right fielder in 1946 after starring at WCU.
1987 INDUCTEES
Carlton E. Weatherby
All-State football player at Duke, 1929. Compiled 213-51 record at Waynesville High. Won 443 games as girls basketball coach.
John Lanning
Won 58 games with 3.58 ERA in 11 NL seasons. Right-hander for Braves, Pirates (1936-47). Asheville native 3-sport star at N.C. State.
Dick Fayssoux
A legendary figure in Christ School athletics. Won 723 games in three major sports (1920-66).Continued as athletic director after retiring as coach.
1986 INDUCTEES
Lee Farmer
NAIA All-America tailback/tight end at Lenoir-Rhyne, 1959/60. Bears (11-0-1) won NAIA football title his senior year (1960). L-R compiled 37-4-2 record during his four-year career.
June Lingerfelt
Little All-America end in 1924, first in Rollins history. All-state in football, basketball, baseball at Asheville High. Charter member of Rolllins’ hall of fame.
Cliff Melton
Left-hander was 20-9 in rookie year (1937) with NY Giants. Only WNC native chosen for All-Star Game (1942) until 2013. Finished 86-80 in eight seasons, all with Giants.
C.C. Poindexter
“Father of Western Carolina University Athletics”. Coached football at WCC (1931-35); Bethel & Canton H.S.Four-year letterman in three sports at UNC.
1985 INDUCTEE
Tommy Burleson
Center, 7-4, for N.C. State’s 1974 national champions. Avery County native was ACC Tournament MVP, 1973-74. Member of 1972 U.S. Olympic Silver Medal basketball team. NBA '74-'81 Seattle, Kansas City, Atlanta.
1984 INDUCTEES
Dick Covington
Nine-Time City of Asheville Open singles champion. Member of U.S. Junior Davis Cup team at Wimbledon. N.C. Tennis Hall of Fame for career spanning 1920s-‘90s.
Joe Justice
All-American baseball, football player at Rollins, 1936-40. Coached alma mater to second place in 1954 College World Series. Brother of hall’s first inductee, Charlie Justice.
Norment Quarles
Registered 71 wins (27 knockouts) as boxer/attorney, 1934-41. Hendersonville welterweight also fought for UNC. Co-managed by legendary heavyweight Jack Dempsey.
1983 INDUCTEES
C.L. Moore
Coached post-war Stephens-Lee High in football, basketball. Owner, manager of Asheville Blues of Negro League minors. Star athlete at Shaw University.
Ralph James
Three-sport star at Wake Forest in 1920s. Attended Asheville High, returned to coach Charlie Justice. Also guided football programs at High Point, Western Carolina.
German “Nazi” Miller
Member of N.C. Softball Hall of Fame. Compiled fast-pitch mound record of 441-82. All-regional selection three times.
1982 INDUCTEES
Gil Coan
Center fielder played 11 seasons in major leagues, 1946-56. Brevard resident spent eight years with Washington Senators, batting .303 in ‘51. 1945 Minor League Player of the Year with Chattanooga.
O.K. Smathers
Captured World Archery Championship in 1957. Asheville native was 11-time Southeastern champion. Appeared on “I’ve Got a Secret,” CBS-TV game show.
Edward W. “Eddie” Sutton
All-ACC halfback/defensive back at North Carolina, 1954-56. Sylva native played three seasons for NFL’s Redskins, Giants. Morehead Scholar earned medical degree at University of Tennessee.
1981 INDUCTEES
Claude “Hoot” Gibson
All-ACC cornerback, kick returner at N.C. State, 1957-60. Former Lee Edwards High star drafted by AFL’s Chargers. Led AFL in interceptions (’62), punt returns (’63-64 Raiders).
Henry Logan
Guard scored 3,290 points (30.7 pg) at Western Carolina (1964-68). Broke ground in college after starring at segregated Stephens-Lee High. Played two seasons in ABA before suffering knee injury.
Mary Montgomery
AAU All-America swimmer, 1975. Sixth in 400-meter individual medley in 1972 Munich Olympics. Asheville native had standout post-Olympic career at Florida State.
1980 INDUCTEES
Al Dowtin
Golf standout who shot record 63 at Biltmore Forest CC, 61 at Asheville CC. Buncombe County native basketball All-America at Wake Forest, 1926-27. Former minor-league shortstop in WFU Hall of Fame as administrator.
Eliza Coxe Jackson
First female inductee in WNC Hall. Excelled in golf and tennis. Member of N.C. Tennis Hall of Fame.
Fred Worthy
Buncombe County native starred in 1940s football, baseball. Member of Shaw University Hall of Fame for gridiron exploits. Shortstop for Asheville Blues in post-war Negro minor leagues.
1979 INDUCTEES
Forrest (Smoky) Burgess
Batted .295 for five major league teams, 1949-67. Retired as all-time leader in pinch-hits. Rutherford County native five-time All-Star catcher.
John Brooks Dendy
3-time Negro National Open golf champion in 1930s. Captured 52 tournaments before retiring in 1940. Asheville native began career as caddy at Asheville CC.
Bill Milner
Waynesville native starred at Duke in 1940s. First team All-America in 1943, second team in ‘46. Played for NFL’s Bears and Giants, 1947-50.
Brad Shaver
Accomplished mountain climber.Lost in descent from Himalayan peak Mount Dunagiri, 1978.Founded groundbreaking outfitter Mountaineering South.
1978 INDUCTEES
Fred Crawford
1933 Consensus All-America tackle/end at Duke. Waynesville native first from N.C. to earn such honor. College Football Hall of Fame member, 1973.
Dan Hill Jr.
Asheville native center/linebacker at Duke, 1936-3.8Earned All-America honors as co-captain of 1938 “Iron Dukes”. College Football Hall of Fame member, 1962.
Charlie “Choo Choo “ Justice
Heisman Trophy runner-up at North Carolina, 1948-49. Ex-Asheville High tailback set UNC total offense record (1946-49) that stood 45 years. Former Washington Redskin first WNC Hall inductee.
Billy Joe Patton
Tied for 1954 Masters back-nine lead, finished third. Morganton golfer enjoyed outstanding amateur career. Wake Forest Hall of Fame.
Tony Waldrop
Set world indoor mile record in 1974. All-America runner at North Carolina. Columbus native won two NCAA titles, Pan Am gold.