TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR NCHSAA HALL OF FAME CEREMONIES

CHAPEL HILL – An event that has become a highlight of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association year is scheduled for Saturday, April 24.

The annual NCHSAA Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremonies are set for the George Watts Hill Alumni Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, with dinner starting at 6 p.m. Tickets for the general public are fifty dollars each and can be ordered by going to www.nchsaa.org, under Hall of Fame in the Select A Topic area on the web site.

Honorees at this year’s event will include:

— Brad Faircloth: one of North Carolina’s top officials who worked as a high school and college football official, including 20 years in the Atlantic Coast Conference office as coordinator of football officials

— Gilbert Ferrell: a native of Wilson who was an outstanding teacher, coach and administrator, including coaching baseball at Wilson Fike and then 16 years as athletic director of Wilson County schools

— Bruce Hardin: a successful football coach at the high school and collegiate level, serving as head coach 27 years and two state championships; he served at Marvin Ridge, Providence, Kannapolis Brown, West Charlotte and Harding

— Jim Maxwell: for 29 years he was the volunteer head swimming coach at Durham Jordan, earning five state championships; he also served as chairman of the National Federation Swimming and Diving Rules Committee and for years as been the legal counsel for the NCHSAA

— Vickie Peoples: her swimming teams won nine state titles at Enloe to go with 18 regional crowns and 27 conference titles during her career at the Raleigh school from 1982 to 2007

— Pete Stout: this successful football coach had stints at Altamahaw, Western Alamance, Salisbury Boyden, Burlington Williams and Morganton Freedom, rolling up a record of 234-63-14 in 28 years in the high school ranks, with a pair of NCHSAA 3-A championships

— Carolyn Shannonhouse:a resident of Cary, this successful coach has been the assistant executive director of the NCHSAA since 1986, where she supervises the women’s sports and combination sports (those played by both men and women, like soccer); she has also held key roles on the national level

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 23rd induction class for the NCHSAA Hall of Fame, which now numbers 125. 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 would be present to support those who have meant so much to so many people,” said Davis Whitfield, NCHSAA executive director.”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.”