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< Back Chad Flack 2024 Chad Flack is one of the newer members of the pantheon of great baseball players to call the Diamonds of Rutherford County home. The Forest City native had an outstanding high school career, leading the East Rutherford Cavaliers to three consecutive State Titles, setting numerous program and NCHSAA records along the way. Flack made just as big a mark on the college level, as he was an integral part of the North Carolina Tar Heel teams that made the College World Series from 2006-2008. Flack was the centerpiece for the East Rutherford Cavaliers & dominance on the baseball diamond in the early 2000’s. Under the tutelage of legendary coach and fellow Rutherford County Sports Hall Of Fame member Bobby Reynolds, Flack rewrote the record books during his time in Forest City from 2001-2004. The consummate home run hitter blasted 44 round-trippers during his high school career, which set a NCHSAA record that stood for six years. Flack’s 19 homers during his Senior season also ranks third in NCHSAA history. Flack’s efforts led the Cavaliers to State Titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and he was named conference Player Of The Year as a Junior and Senior, along with North Carolina State Player of The Year as a Senior in 2004. In addition, Flack garnered All-American Honors and a Silver Slugger Award in 2004. Flack starred off of the baseball diamond, as well. He played football for two seasons and tried his hand at basketball for one season. He played American Legion Baseball in the Summer of 2003, hitting at a .489 clip. Not to be outdone in the classroom, Flack was a member of the National Honors Society and graduated from East Rutherford with a 3.75 GPA. “You hear Emmitt Smith talk about setting the Standard for the Dallas Cowboys,” Bobby Reynolds said. "Well, Chad Flack set the Standard for East Rutherford baseball. Everybody that has come after that has an example to live up to. Not only was Chad athletic, his baseball knowledge was very good. All we had to do as coaches was fine-tune it.” Flack was just as impressive playing for the Tar Heels. He made an immediate impact when he stepped on campus in Chapel Hill. He hit .335 with 15 homers and 49 RBI on his way to earning Freshman All-American honors. As a Sophomore, Flack hit at a .389 clip with 13 homers. One of those home runs was a walk-off vs. Alabama in the NCAA Super Regionals to send Carolina to the College World Series (CWS). While his numbers dipped a bit as a Junior, Flack was still a vital part of a Tar Heel team that won the 2007 ACC Championship and made another CWS appearance. Flack rebounded as a Senior, hitting .277 with seven homers and 49 RBI as UNC made their third straight trip to the CWS. In that CWS, Flack connected for a game-winning two-run homer vs. Fresno State. Flack garnered many awards and achievements during his time at Chapel Hill. He was the Patterson Medal recipient for the 2007-08 season, which is awarded to the top Male Student-Athlete regardless of sport. He holds numerous Tar Heel program records, including base hits (328), at-bats (1,058), total bases (526) and most games played (267). Flack also holds the record for the most at-bats by any player in CWS history with 73. “I almost cry when I talk about what Chad Flack means to Carolina baseball,” former UNC coach Mike Fox said. “He hit two of the biggest homeruns I have ever witnessed and the one he hit in 2006 vs Alabama to send us to the World Series was probably the best moment of my coaching career. I could spend hours talking about Chad Flack, but whatever adjectives I come up with, it would not do him justice.” After graduation from Chapel Hill, Flack spent the 2009 season as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels. He is currently President of Main Street Insurance Group and resides in Concord, NC with his wife Lauren and son Channing.

< Back Smokey Burgess 2017 from Caroleen, NC, was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949-1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits with 145. He became one of the best pinch hitters in major league history. In his playing days, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. "Smoky" made his major league debut as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs in April of 1949 at the age of 22. He went on to play with the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies. While with the Pittsburgh Pirates, they became World Series champions in 1960. During an eighteen-year major league career, Burgess played in 1,691 games hitting for a 295 career batting average with 126 home runs, 673 RBI and a .362 on-base percentage. He accumulated 1,318 career hits with 230 doubles and 33 triples. His .295 career batting average ranked him 10th among Major League catchers as of 2006. A six-time All-Star, Burgess led National League catchers in fielding percentage three times, in 1953, 1960 and 1961. When his playing career ended, Burgess spent many years with the Atlanta Braves as a scout and minor league batting coach with the Pulaski Braves in Pulaski, VA. Burgess was inducted to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1975.

< Back Randy Ingle 2019 The name Randy Ingle is synonymous with Rutherford County baseball. A standout two-way player at East Rutherford, Ingle led the Cavaliers to the 3A Western State Championship as a senior in 1976, going 17-0 from the mound with 16 complete games. Even though Ingle was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 10th round of the 1976 MLB draft, he elected to attend Appalachian State where he and a stellar collegiate career for the Mountaineers. During his three seasons in Boone, Ingle transitioned to shortstop and batted no lower than a .365 average. His average of .477 as a junior was second best in the nation. It still stands as a Mountaineer program and SOCON record. Combined with strong defensive play that saw Ingle commit only two errors that season, he was named a first team All-American and Southern Conference Player of the Year. Following his college career, ingle was drafted in the 12' round by the Atlanta Braves and remained with the club as first a player then a coach for 39 seasons (1979-2018). As a player, Ingle rose as high as the Triple-A level, winning one championship, but made his most significant contributions as a coach. During Ingle's 33 years as a coach and manager, he won four Minor League Championships and is a six time recipient of the Bobby Cox Award, given to the organization's top coach. For his career, Ingle has 801 victories, second most in South Atlantic League history. He joined the Colorado Rockies organization asa Developmental Supervisor in 2019. Ingle's success as a player and coach has led to numerous awards and honors, including induction into the East Rutherford, Appalachian State, South Atlantic League and now Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fames. His number has been retired at both East Rutherford and Appalachian State and he has received the Willie Duke Lifetime Achievement Award from the Raleigh Hot Stove League.

< Back Lewis Young 2022 Lewis Young enjoyed success on the basketball court both at home and abroad, earning impressive accolades as both a player and coach. Young starred on the local hardwood at R-S Central from 1971-75 for Coach Andy Callahan. Young finished his Hilltopper career on a high note, averaging a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds during his senior season. He led the Hilltoppers to a 17-7 record that season, scoring 43 points and grabbing 15 rebounds during his final game. Young's accomplishments led to him being named The Charlotte Observer Player of the Week, while also earning Conference Player of the Year in 1975. Young garnered MVP honors at the East-West All-Star Game later that year. After concluding his prep career, Young chose to attend nearby Gardner-Webb University where he was a vital part of the Runnin' Bulldogs' success under legendary coach Eddie Holbrook. While at GWU, Young averaged 17 points per game, finishing his career in Boiling Springs with 1,703 points and was named a NAIA All-American in 1978. In 1976, Young also garnered MVP honors as Gardner-Webb won the WBTV Carolina Classic Tournament. Following his college career, Young earned tryouts with the Detroit Pistons and the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters but decided to play overseas. During a pro career that spanned 17 years (1979-1996), Young played in both Scotland and Australia. During his 11 seasons in Scotland, Young won four championship titles. He also has the distinction of holding the Guinness Book of World Records for most points ever scored in a professional basketball game, tallying 108 points, including 21 three-pointers, in 1988. While in Scotland, Young also spent some time on the sidelines coaching the Scottish Women's National team. Young finished his career by going "Down Under", playing and coaching in Australia from 1991-96. He served as a player/coach for the Singleton Supersonics and his club made the league's Final Four. In 2007, Young won a Silver Medal in the Sydney Olympic Master Class Division before coaching the Newcastle Hunters women's team to the Final Four in 2008. When asked what being inducted into the RCSHOF means to him, Young responded: "I'm so proud to be nominated and to be able to represent Spindale, North Carolina. I'd like to say thank you to my family, friends and coaches who encouraged and supported me throughout my journey. Basketball has meant everything to me, my place of comfort and peace. I'd like to say to all of the young kids like me from small town America, "Fight for your dreams".

< Back Don Padgett 2017 from Caroleen, NC, was an American professional baseball player, catcher/outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals (1937-41), Brooklyn Dodgers (1946), Boston Braves (1946) and Philadelphia Phillies (1947-48). He attended Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina, where he excelled in baseball, football and basketball. Padgett signed with the St. Louis Cardinals' organization in 1935. The left-handed hitting outfielder made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 1937, playing 123 regular season games and batting an impressive .314 with 74 RBIs. In 1938, his average dipped to 271 but he came back with an incredible 399 batting average in 92 games in 1939 while adjusting from being an outfielder to a catcher. On December 10, 1941, the Cardinals sold Padgett to the Dodgers for $25,000. On March 28, 1942, Padgett left Brooklyn's training camp to report to his home draft board for induction into the Army. On April 1, 1942, he chose instead to enlist in the Navy and was sworn in. On July 7, 1942, Padgett was selected for an All-Service team that played against an American League all-star squad at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. Before 62,059 fans, the American League beat the servicemen, 5-0. Padgett's main contribution to the game was a screeching single to left field in the first inning but he was left stranded on base. By August 1944, Padgett was coaching a US Navy team in Australia. In January 1946, at the age of 34, Padgett was released from military service after missing four professional baseball seasons.

< Back Bobby Reynolds 2022 Bobby Reynolds is such a baseball coaching legend, he belongs to five different Hall of Fames (Rutherford County, Gaston County, East Rutherford High School, American Legion and North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association), and all of them for good reason. He has found success at every level of America's Past Time from a player to coaching high school and American Legion. Reynolds is a Cherryville, NC native and won two State Championships as a player at Cherryville High School in 1980 and 1982. Upon graduating in 1982, Reynolds went on to play collegiately at UNC-Wilmington, where he was a four-year starter for the Seahawks. During his college career, Reynolds set the single season record for the most doubles and the program mark for the most doubles in a career. After his playing days were over, Reynolds returned toCherryville as an assistant coach and helped guide the Ironmen to the 1992 State Title. After that '92 title, Reynolds became the head coach of the East Rutherford Cavaliers and remained at the helm until retiring in 2020. During that time, Reynolds and the Cavs have claimed 15 conference championships, nine West Regional Titles, three State Runner-Ups and an impressive six State Titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2016). During his 27 years at East, Reynolds compiled a record of 533-185 for a .748 winning percentage to go with a .720 winning percentage in the postseason. Reynolds also enjoyed success coaching American Legion baseball and he is still going strong after 33 seasons. He began coaching Cherryville Post 100 in 1988 until 1991 before becoming the head coach at Gastonia from 1992-96. While with Gastonia Post 23, Reynolds garnered a 90-53 record. Reynolds returned to coach Cherryville in 1997 and has become synonymous with Post 100’s success over the years. He has led them to 14 Area IV Titles, five State Championships, (1997, 1998, 2003, 2007 and 2011) and a pair of Southeast Regional Titles in 1998 and 2003. By winning those Regional Titles in ‘98 and ‘03, Cherryville advanced to the American Legion World Series, where Reynolds guided them to a second-place finish on both occasions. In all, Reynolds combined coaching record between both high school and Legion baseball is 1308-522, a .715 winning percentage. He is currently the assistant coach at East Rutherford with his son, Cavalier head coach Drew Reynolds. “All the credit for this honor goes to my players,” Reynolds said. “I did not throw, catch or hit a single pitch. It was all them. The thing I’m most proud of is the .720 winning percentage in the playoffs (with East Rutherford). Not many teams can say that.”

< Back Belus Smawley 2017 A Rutherford county native from Ellenboro, is a credit for the development and regular use of a jump shot. Smawley developed his shot in the abandoned train depot near his home that was fashioned into a basketball court. When Smawley was 13, his father bought a small farm a half mile from an abandoned railroad depot along the old Southern Line. "In that depot, the young boys of Ellenboro improvised a peach-basket gym to play in during inclement weather, and in the fall of 1934, Belus used his incredible jumping ability - developed by leaping up to touch high tree limbs while on his farm chores to improvise a shot that no one had ever seen before. Off a dribble, he would stop suddenly, then with his back half to the basket leap high into the air, twisting to face the basket as he rose.. After high school, Smawley played guard/forward for Appalachian State prior to becoming one of the early stars of the Basketball Association of America (known today as National Basketball Association.) From 1946 to 1952, Smawley competed for the St. Louis Bombers, Syracuse Nationals, and Baltimore Bullets, averaging 12.7 points per game. During the 1948-49 BAA season, Smawley ranked sixth in the league in total points and fourth in field goals made. In 1992, Smawley was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Once his playing career ended, Smawley served as a school principal and basketball coach. Between 1951 and 1956, Smawley served as the Athletic Director and head men's basketball coach at Pembroke State College, known today as The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, in Pembroke, North Carolina. In December 1951, he took a three-month leave of absence from Pembroke State College to finish his playing career with the Baltimore Bullets. In his absence, Vernon Felton, a member of the Pembroke State faculty and former Appalachian State athlete, led the team to 12 wins and five losses; finishing the season at 12-10. Smawley was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.

< Back Tonya Philbeck Hobbs 2019 Tanya Philbeck Hobbs only hit the pool one season for the East Rutherford Lady Cavaliers, but she certainly made quite a splash during that time. As a senior in 1988, Hobbs set numerous regional and state records and was ranked the top prep recruit in the country following her senior season, along with being named the Rutherford County Athlete of the Year. 1988 was a good year for Hobbs swimming on the club level as well. She qualified for the Olympic Trials in three different events (100 M backstroke, 200 M backstroke and the 100 M Fly) while representing the YMCA swim club of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Other highlights of Hobbs' club career include being ranked second in the nation and eighth in the world for the 100 M backstroke at the age of 17, while finishing third at the US Open and first at the YMCA Nationals (an all-time record that stood until 2015) that same season. Hobbs was also named the South Carolina Swimmer of the Year in consecutive seasons, 1988-1990. All of that success led Hobbs to join the University of Georgia Swim Team in 1988 on full scholarship. Though she battled injuries as a freshman, Tanya went on to have an outstanding collegiate career for the Bulldogs. While at UGA, Hobbs qualified for the 1992 Olympic Trials, finishing ninth. She also garnered All-SEC and All-American status in the 100 yard backstroke and the 200 yard freestyle from 1990-92. In 1992, Hobbs was part of the 800 yard freestyle relay team that broke a school record with a time of 1:44.14 and was a two time SEC Scholastic All-American. Hobbs retired from competition after finishing her UGA career, but made a comeback in the Olympic years of 1996 and 2000. She did not qualify in either attempt, but in 2000, Hobbs did set the Master Class World Record (ages 29-34). Hobbs overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2012 and says it was the fight and tenacity learned during her swimming career that helped her win that battle. Hobbs was inducted into the East Rutherford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

< Back William "Bill" Keever 2018 Olympic athlete in the trap shoot category, was born in Rutherford County, graduating from R-S Central High School in 1994. He was a four-time All-American 1991-1994, winning 13 state trophies. He was a member of the 1995 Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs and as a part of the 2000 Olympic Team, finished 12* in a select field, earned a bronze in the 2007 World Cup in Korea and a gold in 2006. Keever served as a shooter/instructor in the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit from 1996 to 2012. He earned an AA in General Studies from Isothermal Community College in 1996. He graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Applied Management Business Management, Marketing and Related Support Services. Keever is currently the West Region President of Heavy Equipment Colleges of America in San Bernardino, CA. Keever is a volunteer with GameDay for Heroes, saying: "Working with Wounded Warriors is a passion intertwined in the fiber of my being."

< Back Venson Hamilton 2019 Shad Venson Hamilton made his mark on basketball courts here in Rutherford County, in Americas Heartland, and even overseas. The Forest City native played at East High School before finishing his prep career at the prestigious Oak Hill Academy in 1995. The seven foot tall Hamilton attended the University of Nebraska and made an immediate impact for the Cornhuskers at the center position. He set several program records that still stand today. Hamilton holds the school record for most blocked shots in a career at 241, and the most rebounds, 1,080, breaking the old mark by more than 300 boards. Hamilton filled almost every column on the stat sheet at Nebraska, shooting 52.7 percent from the field for his career while scoring 1,416 career points. He also dished out 164 assists, and compiled 186 steals in his college career. For those exploits, Hamilton was named BIG XII Player of the Year as a senior in 1999 and was also selected to the conference's All-Defensive team that season. Following his college career with the Cornhuskers, Hamilton was selected in the Second Round of the 1999 NBA Draft (50* overall pick) by the Houston Rockets. He also began playing overseas during the 1999 season, the beginning of a productive 15 year professional career. Career highlights include winning a Spanish League Player of the Year and the League Championship with club Tenerife during the 2002-03 season. He also won a Spanish League Title and Player of the Year for club Bilbao Berri the next season. Hamilton's best seasons were arguably 2005-09 when he played Center for Real Madrid. During his tenure with the most prestigious club in the Spanish League, Hamilton won Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006. During the 06-07 campaign, Hamilton led Real Madrid to a Euro Cup Title (the best team in all of European basketball) and was named as the best defensive player in all of Europe for his efforts. Hamilton left Real Madrid after the 2009 season and played for several more clubs before his retirement in 2014. He is a member of the East Rutherford Athletic Hall of Fame.

< Back Wendy Henson Stafford 2022 Wendy Henson Stafford was something of a prodigy in the pool even before a stellar career for CHASE High School and later Clemson University. She began swimming at the age of three after a near-fatal accident at a hotel pool led her parents to enroll Stafford in swimming lessons. Stafford showed such an affinity for the water, she joined the Forest City Swim Team and by the time she was eight, Stafford was setting pool and team records. At age nine, Stafford competed in the North Carolina Junior Olympics before transferring her club affiliation to the Rutherford County Swim Team and later to the YSSC Spartanburg SpartAquatics in South Carolina. During that time, she once again competed in the North Carolina Jr. Olympics in several events, ranking as the seventh best swimmer in the 10U age division. When she was 12, Stafford was chosen to attend the Olympic Training Select Camp in Colorado Springs. Stafford attended CHASE High School from 1991-1995 and swam under coach Rhett Oglesby and she never lost a race while swimming for the Lady Trojans. During her CHASE career, Stafford held NCHSAA records for the 100, 200 and 500 Meter Freestyle events, while also setting the state record in the 200 IM (Individual Medley). These accomplishments led Stafford to be named the 1-3A NCHSAA Swimmer of the Year all four seasons during her prep career. During that time, Stafford continued to excel for her club team in Spartanburg. She was an eight-time YMCA National Champion, setting National Records in the 100, 200, and 400 Meter Freestyle, and for also setting South Carolina State records in six different events. While in high school, Stafford earned a spot on the 18U U.S.A. National Team and was a three-time high school All-American. All those accolades led to Stafford earning a full scholarship to Clemson in 1995 and she found immediate success for the Tigers. Stafford earned 30 first place finishes for Clemson during the 1995-96 season, while also placing in the top four in six different events at the ACC Championships. She earned All-American status at the National Championships in the 200 Freestyle, along with many other honors. As a result, she was named as Clemson's Rookie of the Year and Swimmer of the Year. Stafford's success continued as a sophomore, nearly qualifying for the U.S.A. Olympic team in the 200 I EMS Freestyle, missing the cut by .02 seconds. She finished the season with the third fastest time in Clemson history in both the 100 and 200 Freestyle. As a junior, Stafford earned a spot on the ACC Academic Honor Roll and was named as the "Most Dedicated" swimmer on the team. Stafford concluded her junior season by once again competing at the National Championships. She finished her Clemson career by securing a Top 15 national ranking in the 500 Freestyle, in addition to a second-place finish at the ACC Championships in the 200 Freestyle and sixth place in the 100 Freestyle. After graduating from Clemson, Stafford entered the banking industry, but still found time to coach various clubs. Stafford and her family currently live in Powdersville, South Carolina where she founded the Powdersville High School swim team in 2018. "I feel lucky to have called Rutherford County my home," Stafford says. "It is an honor and privilege to be nominated. I hope by accepting this honor, others will be motivated to achieve their goals through hard work, perseverance and a positive attitude."

< Back Charles "Dean" Huffstickler 2023 Charles “Dean” Huffstickler not only had an outstanding athletic career in the ring as a boxer, he also found success as a coach and professionally as a police officer, as well. He has received numerous awards and honors as a coach and community leader, including being inducted into the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022. Huffstickler developed a passion for the “Sweet Science” at an early age. When he was 15 and a student at R-S Central High School, Huffstickler met Officer Red Bowers, who was the coach of the Rutherfordton Police Boxing team. In 1958, during his senior year at R-S, Huffstickler won the Middle-Weight Title at the High Point Golden Gloves AAU Tournament in High Point. In all, Huffstickler posted a record of 18-3 in the ring. During that same year of 1958, Huffstickler showed his athletic versatility by winning the NCHSAA State Title in the Mile (run) as a member of the Hilltoppers’ track team. He also played football and basketball during his time at R-S. After graduating from R-S in 1958, Huffstickler joined the United States Air Force and served until he was honorably discharged in 1962. Huffstickler joined the Gastonia Police Department in 1964 and enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an officer. Early in his career, while on his beat, Huffstickler saw several boys fighting in the streets and that motivated him to form the Gastonia Police Youth Club in November of 1971. The Club quickly grew and became part of the National Police Athletic League (PAL). Huffstickler also oversaw the club’s expansion to include baseball, football, and cheerleading teams involving hundreds of youths. In 1972, Huffstickler was chosen to coach the Regional Jr. Olympic Boxing team, a post he held from 1972-1977. During that time, Huffstickler traveled with the team to numerous events throughout the United States, even to Squaw Valley, California, the Official USA Junior Olympic Training Facility. Huffstickler’s notoriety in the boxing world allowed him to meet and coach true legends of the sport. In 1979, he was the head coach for the Cuban National Boxing Team when they faced off with the USA and Irish National teams at a tournament held at the Charlotte Coliseum. At that event, he got to coach future three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Teafilo Stevenson. In 1983, Huffstickler was the corner coach for rising star Evander Holyfield who eventually became World Heavyweight Champion. He also met Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Frazier, Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali), and many others during his coaching career. Huffstickler retired from the Gastonia Police Department in 1990, but started his own business, Offshoot Academy. He taught handgun concealment classes, along with basic and advanced training classes until he retired again in 2018. Huffstickler currently resides in Gastonia with Peggy, his wife of nearly 60 years. The couple has three children and five grandchildren.