Throughout the course of the 2008-2009 academic year, we will seek to recognize some of the great names of the past to highlight the heritage of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in honor of the Association’s 95th anniversary. In this edition we are pleased to recognize the late George Cushwa of Thomasville.

George Cushwa helped establish Thomasville High School as a football powerhouse during his highly successful tenure there.

A World War II paratrooper, Cushwa was a 1949 graduate of Appalachian State. He went on to become a teacher and coach at Bethel Hill and Roxboro Highs, the latter his own alma mater, before going to Thomasville in 1959. From that time until 1983, his Bulldog teams recorded marks of 90-47-6, including a Western North Carolina High School Activities Association (WNCHSAA) championship. His overall career record stood at 159-72-8.

Cushwa coached in both the Shrine Bowl and East-West games and was active in the North Carolina Coaches Association, serving as president in 1975. He is in the North Carolina Association of Educators Hall of Fame and the Thomasville football stadium now bears his name.

George was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 1992.