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T. MAX CHAMPION MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT T. Max Champion T. Max Champion's football coaching career spanned over five decades. Champion coached football at East Rutherford, Chase and R.S. Central. He also coach baseball at East Rutherford. Champion coached football for a total of 36 years and baseball for 12. Champion was a 1969 East Rutherford graduate and 1974 Appalachian State graduate. He began his career in education as the driver's education teacher at East Rutherford. Champion was a founding member of the Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. His guidance and leadership were an integral part in the success of RCSHOF. Champion served as a board member from 2017 until his death on April 19th, 2021. The Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame annual golf tournament is named in his memory. T. Max Champion will not be remembered as just a coach. He will also be remembered as a man of faith, son, husband, father, grandfather and mentor to the thousands of kids he came in contact with during his life. t. max Champion Memorial video T. Max Champion Memorial Golf Tournament 1 What is it? The Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame hosts an annual golf tournament to support their yearly operations including funding their scholarship recipients. We take pride in knowing that celebrating previous athletes can promote the success of rising Rutherford County athletes. We enjoy the sportsmanship of the game, raising funds for a good cause, and playing in honor of T. Max. 2 When is it ? July 26th, 2024 ​ Teeing off at 10 AM ​ View the Course 3 How to enter or sponsor? Our Board Member, Randy Page can give you more information about either playing in the tournament or sponsoring it. Phone: 828-429-7773 Email: info@rcshof.org Team Registration Form Sponsorship Form FROM 2023 TOURNAMENT - Don't Miss Out - SIGN UP FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS‭, ‬INFO AND UPDATES‭!‬ SUBSCRIBE Thanks for submitting!

SCHOLARSHIPS Chase Football Photo: Dustin's Way Info about Scholarships One of our goals when we began the RCSHOF was to start a scholarship program for student athletes. While the RCSHOF was founded in 2017 It was not until 2019 when we were able to make that goal a reality. We give one male and one female scholarship to each of the four county high schools that compete in the NCHSAA . The first class of Scholarship recipients were in 2019 and we awarded eight. Due to covid-19 we were unable to grant scholarships to the classes of 2020 and 2021. But in 2022 we were able to revive that program of work again and grant eight students with scholarships. ​ 2023 Recipients FAQ about our Scholarship 1 Who is it for? One male student and one female student that is a senior and attends one of the four county high schools that compete in the NCHSAA. ​ Those schools being: Chase High School East Rutherford High School R-S Central High School Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy 2 What does it take? Recipients are chosen based on: Having a good academic standing Participation in a sport Financial need 3 How do you get chosen? There is no formal application for students to complete. They are chosen by a group of coaches from each school. 2022 Recipients 2019 Recipients East Rutherford Quay Logan Abbey Ranta RS Central Daniel Luke Ferguson Caitlin Dailey Chase Thomas Jefferson Heath Waldrop Sidney McCranie Issac Roberson Lauren Bennett - Don't Miss Out - SIGN UP FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS‭, ‬INFO AND UPDATES‭!‬ SUBSCRIBE Thanks for submitting!

Nominate Someone to the Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame WHAT DOES IT TAKE? Local to ROCO Must be a native, current or previous resident of Rutherford County, NC. Excellence Must have made an outstanding contribution to your sport or service. Good Character Exemplifies good character and worthy of being emulated. Eligibility Criteria for Hall of Fame Nomination Eligibility - A Nominee Must be a native, resident, or non-resident of Rutherford County, NC, who has played or contributed to a sport in Rutherford County or elsewhere. The nominee must have made an outstanding contribution in their sport(s) or a significant contribution as an athletic supporter. Typically, this may include the attainment of All-Conference honors, Regional honors, All-County, All-State honors, Athlete/Coach of the Year, player/ coach statistics, professional playing career and Hall of Fame inductions. The nominee must exemplify good character and worthy of being emulated. Nominees shall be considered without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, handicap or national origin. Athletes will become eligible for nomination ten years after high school. Coaches become eligible for nomination after retirement. In all circumstances, exceptions can be made by the board. Official Categories Athletic Excellence An athlete that was extraordinary in contributing to the success of the athletes team or as an individual performer in an individual sport. Nominees in this category must have been departed from high school for 10 years. Coaching Excellence A coach that was extraordinary in contributing to the success of a team. Nominees in this category must have been retired from coaching. Athletic Contributor Athletic Contributor can be defined as administrator or benefactor. This category recognizes those who have created lasting values to Rutherford County Athletics. Online Member Nomination Who are you nominating? Nomination Category (Select one of these three) Select an option Nominee Street Address City Region/State/Province Postal / Zip code Phone Email Nominee Occupation Tell us why your nominee should be a Sports Hall of Fame consideration: Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Nominator Name Street Address City Region/State/Province Postal / Zip code Home/Cell Phone Email Endorser (Phone#, Address, Email) Endorser (Phone#, Address, Email) Submit Application Thanks for nominating a member! We'll get back to you soon. Or Download the PDF - Don't Miss Out - SIGN UP FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS‭, ‬INFO AND UPDATES‭!‬ SUBSCRIBE Thanks for submitting!

- Welcome - Entering Rutherford County's Finest Athletics Territory ABOUT US In January of 2017, a committee was commissioned by local citizens of Rutherford County to establish a Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame (RCSHOF) for the purpose of recognizing the efforts and achievements of athletes, coaches, and contributors. Fourteen members make up the Board of Directors of RCSHOF and they created the guidelines and selection process. The inductees should embody the intent, spirit, and historical context or Rutherford County's finest. MEET THE BOARD MEMBERS Upcoming events Annual Golf Tournament July 26th Ball in the air at 10 AM Click here to learn more! Our Mission The Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame is established to provide a means to recognize the extraordinary efforts and achievements of athletes, coaches, teams and contributors throughout Rutherford County. Our Legacy Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info - Don't Miss Out - SIGN UP FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS‭, ‬INFO AND UPDATES‭!‬ SUBSCRIBE Thanks for submitting! SAY HI!

Contact Us hello@rcshof.org Download Board Member Bylaws First Name Last Name Email Phone Message Send Thanks for submitting!

Induction Year Sort by Name Sort by Class Year Angela Hamilton-Jones Basketball Induction Year: 2018 Billy Ray Haynes Jr Football Induction Year: 2023 Carl Bartles Football Induction Year: 2024 Charles "Dean" Huffstickler Boxing Induction Year: 2023 Anthony "Chuck" McSwain Football Induction Year: 2017 Billy Ray Vickers Football Induction Year: 2022 Carolyn Dewberry Bratton Basketball Induction Year: 2019 Chris Michael Basketball Induction Year: 2023 Belus Smawley Basketball Induction Year: 2017 Bobby Reynolds Coach Induction Year: 2022 Chad Flack Baseball Induction Year: 2024 Don Padgett Baseball Induction Year: 2017 1 2 3 4 1 ... 1 2 3 4 ... 4 **No Class of 2020 or 2021 Members due to COVID-19 Pandemic.**

BOARD MEMBERS History THE Board of directors of rcshof Held its first meeting in february of 2017 and meet monthly identifying the needs of the organization. A fundraising idea surfaced to host a golf tournament to fund the financial requirements and provide an induction ceremony for the inductees. the board of directors decided to move forward in a positive direction without hesitation to outline the process of nominations and selections with the purpose to the induct the first class in 2017. Nominations were made in the following categories: athlete, coach, and contributor. Rcshof board Co- Chairman Rodney Greene Co- Chairman Jody Wright Treasurer Linda smith Assistant Treasurer ulysses miller Secretary Lynnette Martin​ Members tony helton phil luckadoo David smith paul tim jones randy page malcolm watson tommy porter LaMonda Miller Davis Stacy lail ANGELA HAMILTON - Don't Miss Out - SIGN UP FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS‭, ‬INFO AND UPDATES‭!‬ SUBSCRIBE Thanks for submitting!

< Back Paul Tim Jones 2024 If there is one name that is synonymous with Track & Field in Rutherford County, it is Paul Tim Jones. The 1959 graduate of Cool Springs High School went on to captain the first-ever Track and Field Team at Western Carolina in 1967 after completing his military service in Vietnam. He began coaching the Catamounts in 1968 as a graduate assistant and took over as the head coach in 1969. Over the next 12 seasons in Cullowhee, Jones coached several All-Americans and was named the NCAA Division II Coach Of The Year in 1974 and 1975. During his high school career, Jones says he dabbled in baseball and basketball, but his true love wasTrack & Field. Jones won a pair of Conference Championships while at Cool Springs, graduating in 1959. After graduation, he went to Western Carolina, but the Catamounts did not have a track team yet. Jones left Western, however, and joined the Marine Corps. From 1965-1967, he served in Vietnam, returning to Western to complete his education when his service had concluded. Jones captained the first-ever Track & Field Team in Western Carolina history in 1967 and he also captained the Cross County team that same season. Jones admits that he was a much better coach than a participant. Jones began his coaching career in 1968 and except for a short time at West Georgia, remained at the head of the Catamount program until 1981. During his coaching tenure, Jones posted an impressive 187-79 record (.703 winning percentage). Under his tutelage, three athletes achieved All-American status while several others earned All- Conference honors. Jones led Western to a Division II Top 20 National Ranking in 1974 and 75, earning National Coach Of The Year honors in both of those seasons. Jones left Western Carolina in 1981 to “Come Back Home” to Rutherford County, but that does not mean he left Track & Field behind. Far from it. Jones helped to strengthen the programs at all the high schools and middle schools in the county. “I wanted to help all the kids in Rutherford County, not just one school,” Jones said. “I was an official for local and District (high school) meets for a long time. When I got older, I could still fire the gun (Starter’s Pistol) until I retired a few years ago.” Along with officiating meets Jones also coached the R-S Middle School Track team to three straight conference championships in the late 1980’s. He was elected to the Western Carolina Hall Of Fame in 2002 and while he says that was a great honor, his inclusion in the Rutherford County Sports Hall Of Fame means more. “I get emotional just thinking about it,” he said. “The Western Carolina Hall Of Fame means a lot, but (being inducted into) the Rutherford County Sports Hall Of Fame is one of the proudest moments of my life, even more than being Coach Of The Year.” Jones currently resides in Rutherfordton and he loves to spend his Summers at McNair Field where he is a member of the Forest City Owls’ Booster Club.

< Back Carl Bartles 2024 Carl Bartles is one of the best Running Backs to ever come out of Rutherford County. The 1967 graduate of R-S Central led the Hilltoppers to an 8-3 record during his Senior Season in Rutherfordton. He was also a standout on the track team for the Hilltoppers, setting school records along the way. After graduation from R-S, Bartles attended Lenior-Rhyne where he also set records on the gridiron for the Bears. Bartles went on to sign a professional contract with the NFL’s Washington Redskins before playing in the Canadian and World Football Leagues. While not many statistics are known about Bartles’ high school career, it is clear he was an outstanding athlete. “As the quarterback, he made my job easy,” former North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton said. “Just get the ball to Carl and watch him run. He was also a phenomenal Defensive End.” Bartles was named to the All-Southwestern Conference Team, and as a result, got to play in an All-Star game held at East Rutherford at the end of the football season in 1966. Bartles showed off his speed on the track, as well. He set the Western North Carolina Athletic Activities record in the 100-yard dash, completing the race in 9.9 seconds. “I still hold that record because they changed to meters right after that,” Bartles joked. Bartles also had an impressive career at Lenior Rhyne, leading the team in rushing in three of his four seasons. In four years with the Bears, he rushed for 3,677 yards which was a school record at the time . As a Senior in 1970, he rushed for 1,261 yards which was a Lenior Rhyne school record that stood for over two decades. Bartles still holds the record for the number of carries in a game (47) and in a single season (297). As a result of his efforts, Bartles was named a NAIA All-American in 1970. In 1974, Bartles was third in career rushing yards among players from the Tarheel State, surpassing players from Duke, UNC and NC State on that list. Bartles continued to play football after his graduation from Lenior Rhyne in 1971. Beginning in 1972, he signed contracts with the NFL’s Wahington Redskins and the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Red Backs. In 1974, Bartles played in 10 games with the World Football League’s Birmingham Americans, rushing for a pair of touchdowns. Bartles moved closer to home in 1975, playing for the WFL’s Charlotte Hornets. After his football career was finished, Bartles stayed involved with the game. He was a head coach and educator at Piedmont High School in Monroe for many years. When asked what his inclusion into the Rutherford County Sports Hall Of Fame means to him, Bartles was at a loss for words. “It’s really hard to describe,” he said. “It means a lot and it is a special moment for me.” Bartles currently resides in Indian Trail, North Carolina.

< Back Randolph Burton Lattimore 2024 Randolph Burton (Bert) Lattimore was equally at home on the football gridiron and the baseball diamond. The Bostic native excelled at both sports while attending Cool Springs High School from 1950-1954. Upon graduation from Cool Springs, Lattimore attended Duke University in Durham on a football scholarship, where he was a Wide Receiver for the Blue Devils. Lattimore’s strong play led him to be drafted 96th overall in the 1958 NFL Draft, but he turned down the opportunity for a chance to play baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. It was a different era for receivers in the 1950’s, as most college teams employed run-based offenses. That did not stop Lattimore from contributing to the Blue Devil's offense. During his Sophomore season at Duke (1956), Lattimore caught two passes, including a 12-yard touchdown vs The University of Virginia. He also scored a defensive touchdown in that game. In 1957, his number of catches doubled to four, totaling 40 yards. Lattimore’s numbers continued to improve as a Senior in 1958. That year, Lattimore caught a career-best seven passes for 82 yards. Lattimore finished his Duke football career with a flourish, as three of those catches came in the prestigious Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma, where he caught three passes for 33 yards. Because of the strong finish to his college football career, Lattimore was named 2nd -Team All-ACC by United Press International. He also caught the attention of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and he was drafted 96th overall in the 1958 NFL Draft. Lattimore turned down the opportunity to play in the NFL, opting to play baseball with his remaining college eligibility instead. He played one season on the diamond at Duke and was a solid pitcher for the Blue Devils. In six games during the 1958 season, Lattimore made three starts. He garnered 29 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched, picking up a win and a complete game along the way. Lattimore also made nine plate appearances that season, registering two hits and a run scored. Lattimore’s best college game came against N.C. State where he struck out 8 of 9 batters faced in a 4-3 Duke win. After graduating from Duke, Lattimore signed a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. When asked by a local news outlet if he received a signing bonus, Lattimore replied, “Yes, but it is too small to talk about”. Lattimore played one season of professional baseball in 1959. During that season, he split time between three teams in Johnson City, Tennessee, Elmira, New York and Tampa, Florida. In all, Lattimore pitched in a combined 26 games that season. Following the conclusion of his baseball career, Lattimore entered the military where he attended the U.S. Navy School of Pre-Flight for three and a half years. During his free time, a friend and colleague, Joe Lowder taught Lattimore how to do handstands on the parallel bars and double backflips on a trampoline, further demonstrating his athletic ability. Lattimore currently resides in Meraux, Louisiana.

Induction Year Sort by Name Sort by Class Year Angela Hamilton-Jones Basketball Induction Year: 2018 Billy Ray Haynes Jr Football Induction Year: 2023 Carl Bartles Football Induction Year: 2024 Charles "Dean" Huffstickler Boxing Induction Year: 2023 Anthony "Chuck" McSwain Football Induction Year: 2017 Billy Ray Vickers Football Induction Year: 2022 Carolyn Dewberry Bratton Basketball Induction Year: 2019 Chris Michael Basketball Induction Year: 2023 Belus Smawley Basketball Induction Year: 2017 Bobby Reynolds Coach Induction Year: 2022 Chad Flack Baseball Induction Year: 2024 Don Padgett Baseball Induction Year: 2017 1 2 3 4 1 ... 1 2 3 4 ... 4 **No Class of 2020 or 2021 Members due to COVID-19 Pandemic.**

< Back Tonya Sanford Boykins 2024 Antoniea (Tonya) Sanford-Boykins found success at every sport she tried during a decorated athletic career at East Rutherford. From 1981-85, Sanford-Boykins played basketball, softball, volleyball and ran track during her time with the Cavaliers. Upon graduation from East, Sanford-Boykins earned a basketball scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte where she also played softball. As a Golden Bull, she won numerous awards and honors and then began a successful coaching career on both the high school and college levels. Even though Sanford-Boykins was a four-year letter winner in track and volleyball at East Rutherford, she had the most success on the basketball court and the softball diamond. She captained the Cavaliers’ softball team in 1984 and 1985, winning All-Conference honors during those seasons. Sanford-Boykins was also named Best Offensive Player In 1984 and Best Defensive Player, along with Co-MVP during her Senior season of 1985. Sanford-Boykins was even more dominant on the basketball court. She earned All-Conference honors in 1984 and 1985, averaging 14.8 points and six rebounds as a Senior in 1985. Due to her success, Sanford- Boykins was awarded a basketball scholarship to play for the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls, becoming the first female athlete from East Rutherford to earn an athletic scholarship. Just as in high school, Sanford Boykins was also a multi-sport athlete at JCSU. As a Senior in 1988-89, she helped the Golden Bulls earn a 2 nd place finish at the CIAA Conference Tournament, while being selected for the All-Tournament Team. She also garnered the JCSU Coaches Award during that same season. Not to be outdone, Sanford-Boykins claimed multiple team awards for the Golden Bulls’ softball team, too including Rookie of the Year, Best Offensive Player, Best Defensive Player and team MVP. After graduating from Johnson C. Smith, Sanford-Boykins was an assistant coach for the Golden Bulls for one season. She returned to Forest City and took a break from playing but came back to the court 10 years later for one final season in 1998-99, playing overseas for a semi-pro team in Brunswick, Germany. When her basketball career was finished, Sanford-Boykins turned her attention to coaching where she was an assistant coach for the Lady Cavaliers’ Basketball and Softball programs for several seasons. Due to her success as an athlete and coach, Sanford-Boykins was inducted into the East Rutherford Hall Of Fame in 2010, while also being named one of Rutherford County’s Top 50 Female Athletes of all time. Sanford-Boykins has taught Business and Information Technology classes at East Rutherford since 2007 and she also serves as a Pastor at True Vine Church Of God in Forest City. Sanford-Boykins and her husband Robert have three children, DeVince, DeVonte and DeVoria.