NCHSAA HALL OF FAME CEREMONIES 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 on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, with dinner starting at 6 p.m.
Honorees at this year’s event will include:
•Donnie Baxter—Born in Pinehurst and now from Randolph County, Donnie is an outstanding administrator and was a great coach in several sports. He guided Eastern Randolph to a state football championship in 1983 and also coached at Asheboro and Lexington.
• Ronnie Chavis—a lifelong resident of Robeson County who was an outstanding athlete, teacher, coach and administrator there, for many years Ronnie has served as the athletic director of the Public Schools of Robeson County. He has been very active in the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association.
• Lawrence Dunn— Lawrence enjoyed a great coaching career in basketball and baseball as well as other sports at Wake County schools. He won a state 4-A title in women’s basketball at Garner and well over 400 games as head coach in men’s basketball at Athens Drive.
• Doug Henderson— superlative coach in both track and football at several different places in North Carolina. He won an NCHSAA state 3-A football title at Western Guilford, where he coached for 17 seasons, and helped to organize the North Carolina Football Coaches Association.
• Lindsey Page— born and raised in Caswell County, Page went on to teach and coach at Bartlett Yancey High School there. He is best known for an outstanding career as a basketball coach, winning 519 games and a 1988 NCHSAA state men’s basketball title.
• Larry Rhodes—Rhodes grew up in High Point, playing for NCHSAA Hall of Famer Tony Simeon at High Point Central. He became a great coach in basketball and golf in Gaston County, at Ashley High and then at Ashbrook. He earned a total of 336 basketball wins and 10 conference titles.
• Robert Steele—this Hall of Famer grew up in Rowan County and has gone on to coaching excellence there. He has established North Rowan as a track and field powerhouse with a total of 15 NCHSAA state championships in that sport, including five in a row for his men’s teams from 1994 through ‘98.
• Jim Taylor—a native of Franklin, Jim coached at Polk Central and then had a tremendous career at Shelby High School, where his football teams won 201 games against just 54 losses and earned a couple of NCHSAA state titles. He has also been an outstanding athletic administrator.
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 64th induction class for the NCHSAA Hall of Fame, which now numbers 148. 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 will 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.”
