Gilbert Ferrell enjoyed a stellar 38-year career as a teacher, coach, and athletic administrator. Born in Wilson, he was a graduate of Charles Coon High School there and then graduated from Atlantic Christian College. He spent the bulk of his career in Wilson County, including 20 years as head baseball coach at Wilson Fike, during which his team won the state 4-A title in 1968 and a total of 215 games, and 13 years as athletic director there. From 1978 through ’94, he was athletic director for the Wilson County school system. He served as president of the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association in 1978 and twice was named the state’s Athletic Director of the Year. Gilbert is a member of the Fike Senior High School Hall of Fame and the NCADA Hall of Fame. He has also received numerous awards and recognition from the NCHSAA.