Shu Carlton was a highly successful football coach, athletic director and principal during a career that covered five decades in education. A 1948 graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College, he began his coaching career at Kings Mountain, where his teams posted 43-27-8 marks and won two conference crowns. Then from 1957 through 1972, he served as head football coach and athletic director at Ashley and then Gastonia Ashbrook High Schools, guiding his clubs to an outstanding 115-47-9 mark and eight berths in state playoffs. He was selected to coach in both the Shrine Bowl and East-West games. Carlton also served as principal of Ashbrook from 1973-77 before finishing his career as director of athletics for the Gaston County Schools, but also found time to be active in civic and church affairs. He was selected as the North Carolina High School Athletic Directors' Association AD of the Year in 1983 and is a member of the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame.