Inductees Announced for the 2013 Class of the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame

GREENSBORO – Thirteen people have been named to the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame with the class of 2013 announced today.

The Hall was created in 2005 and with this ninth class it now has 101 members.

The class includes the ACC’s all-time leading rusher Ted Brown (High Point Andrews, NC State, NFL), the only football player on this year’s list.
Trip Durham
Trip Durham introduces the Class of 2013 – Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame

Tennis is represented by Jane Preyer and Jim Winstead, both former players and coaches. From golf comes former amateur standout Bill Harvey. Gayle Currie of Guilford College and former MEAC commissioner Ken Free represent the coaching and administrative ranks. Wade Garrett was a standout in fast-pitch softball. Tom Martin is being recognized for a wide spectrum of contributions to sports in Guilford County.

Two media members are included. Wilt Browning is a former writer for the News & Record and Woody Durham served as Sports Director at Channel 2 for 14 years before becoming the “Voice of the Tar Heels” at the University of North Carolina.

The first five classes included deceased inductees. A Legends Class for posthumous induction was created in 2010 and will increase with three additions this year. They are major league outfielder Ralph Hodgin, minor league baseball pitcher Rube Eldridge and trap shooter Hunter Galloway.

The class will be inducted on Sept. 16 at a reception and banquet at the Greensboro Coliseum. Reserved tables are $750 and individual general admission tickets at $75. To purchase tickets, please contact the Greensboro Sports Commission (336) 378-4499.

Biographies of the Class of 2013 follow (in alphabetical order):

TED BROWN
Brown was a superb athlete at Andrews High School and played in the East-West basketball game in 1975, however he was better known for his extraordinary skills on the football field. In four years at NC State, Brown rushed for 4,602 yards, which still stands as the ACC record. He made All-ACC for four years and was All-American in 1978. A first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 1979, Brown played eight seasons and rushed for 4,546 yards, 40 touchdowns, and caught 339 passes for 2,850 yards along with 13 more scores.

  • In four years at NC State, Brown rushed for 4,602 yards, which still stands as the ACC record.
  • He made All-ACC for four years and was All-American in 1978.
  • Brown also holds the ACC record for average rushing yards per game (107), career rushing touchdowns (49) and career 100-yard games (27).
  • A first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 1979, Brown played eight seasons and rushed for 4,546 yards and 40 touchdowns and caught 339 passes for 2,850 yards and 13 more scores.
  • Ted was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, the College Hall of Fame in 2013, and the N.C. State Hall of Fame in 2012.

WILT BROWNING
His career spanned more than 40 years as a writer, columnist, sports editor and publicity director for two teams in the NFL. Along the way he was the Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Constitution, publicity director for the Baltimore Colts and Atlanta Falcons, sports editor and then columnist for the News & Record for 20 years and sports editor of the Asheville Citizen-Times. Browning is a five-time North Carolina Sports Writer of the Year and has written six books. He was selected for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

  • Wilt Browning’s career spanned more than 40 years as a writer, columnist, sports editor and publicity director for two teams in the NFL.
  • He was the Braves beat writer for the Atlanta Constitution.
  • Publicity director for the Baltimore Colts and Atlanta Falcons.
  • Sports editor and then columnist for the News & Record for 20 years and sports editor of the Asheville Citizen-Times.
  • Browning is a five-time North Carolina Sports Writer of the Year and has written six books.
  • He was selected for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

GAYLE CURRIE
Currie’s service to Guilford College was long and varied. She coached volleyball from 1974-93, women’s tennis from 1976-83, women’s basketball from 1976-81, and served as athletics director from 1992-96. She won several NAIA District 26 coach of the year honors and in 1981 was the NAIA national women’s tennis coach of the year when the Quakers shared the NAIA championship. She is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and was the first woman elected to the Guilford College Hall of Fame.

  • Currie coached various sports at Guilford College including volleyball from 1974-93, women’s tennis from 1976-83, and women’s basketball from 1976-81.
  • Served as athletics director from 1992-96.
  • She won several NAIA District 26 coach of the year honors
  • In 1981 she was the NAIA national women’s tennis coach of the year when the Quakers shared the NAIA championship.
  • She is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and was the first woman elected to the Guilford College Hall of Fame.
  • She boasts the most wins of any tennis (217) and volleyball (400) coach in North Carolina.


WOODY DURHAM
Before he became the voice of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Durham was the Sports Director at WFMY for 14 years. He moved to UNC in 1971 and broadcast its football and basketball games for 40 years. Durham was especially known for his basketball broadcasts, which included 13 Final Fours and four national championships, two each for teams of Dean Smith and Roy Williams. He is a member of the North Carolina Sports and North Carolina Broadcasters Halls of Fame.

  • Before he became the “Voice of the North Carolina Tar Heels”, Durham was the Sports Director at WFMY for 14 years.
  • He moved to UNC in 1971 and broadcast for their football and basketball games for 40 years.
  • Durham was especially known for his basketball broadcasts, which included 13 Final Fours and four national championships, two each for teams of Dean Smith and Roy Williams, and 23 bowl games.
  • Broadcasted more than 1,800 games.
  • He is a member of the North Carolina Sports (2005) and North Carolina Broadcasters halls of fame.
  • In 1981, Durham was named Vice President and executive sports director at Tar Heel Sports Marketing.
  • Durham has been named North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year twelve times, most recently in 2006


RUBE ELDRIDGE (LEGENDS CLASS)
The career of this colorful character goes back further than any other member of this Hall of Fame. The left-hander began his career in 1909 with the Greensboro Champs of the Carolina Association and ran through 1927 with teams in several states across the South. He came back at age 44 in 1933 to go 4-0 with the Greensboro Patriots and won one more game with them in 1934. In 20 years, Eldridge won 285 games (he lost 218) and pitched 4,490 innings. He spent seven seasons with Greensboro and six with High Point. His finest year came in 1922 when he went 26-9 for High Point.

  • The left-hander began his career in 1909 with the Greensboro Champs of the Carolina Association and ran through 1927 with teams in several states across the South.
  • He came back at age 44 in 1933 to go 4-0 with the Greensboro Patriots and won one more game with them in 1934.
  • In 20 years, Eldridge won 285 games (he lost 218) and pitched 4,490 innings.
  • He spent seven seasons with Greensboro and six with High Point.
  • His finest year came in 1922 when he went 26-9 for High Point.
  • Pitched his last game at the age of 63.


KEN FREE
Ken Free
Ken Free
A Dudley High School graduate who later earned a degree from North Carolina State University, Free was a standout baseball player. He played in the Negro Leagues and professionally with the Hickory Rebels and Raleigh Capitals along with three seasons in the New York Mets system. In five years he had a .289 average. Free moved into athletics administration and in 1978 he became the first full-time commissioner of the MEAC, a post he held for 18 years. He served on the NCAA Executive Committee and became the first African-American appointed to the NCAA Basketball Selection Committee. He also served as Commissioner of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

  • He played in the Negro Leagues and professionally with the Hickory Rebels and Raleigh Capitals and three seasons in the New York Mets system.
  • In five years he had a .289 average.
  • Free moved into athletics administration and in 1978 became the first full-time commissioner of the MEAC, a post he held for 18 years.
  • He served on the NCAA Executive Committee and became the first African-American appointed to the NCAA Basketball Selection Committee.
  • He also served as Commissioner of the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
  • Was involved with media negotiations with ABC, ESPN, and BET, including the production of the “Black College Sports Today”, which aired on ESPN.

HUNTER GALLOWAY, JR. (LEGENDS CLASS)
When it comes to clay target shooting, few have been better than Hunter Galloway. He won more than 200 trap and skeet shooting championships. In skeet shooting he won state championships in all-gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, 410 gauge and the all-around event. In trapshooting he won the doubles, handicap and all-around events. He was also a founding member of the Greensboro Sports Council. Galloway was inducted into the NC Trapshooters Hall of Fame in 1993.

  • Won more than 200 trap and skeet shooting championships.
  • In skeet shooting he won state championships in all-gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, 410 gauge and the all-around event.
  • In trapshooting he won the doubles, handicap and all-around events.
  • He was the first person in North Carolina to be placed at the maximum distance of 27 yards behind the trap house.
  • A founding member of the Greensboro Sports Council.
  • Galloway was inducted into the NC Trap shooters Hall of Fame in 1993.


WADE GARRETT
Wade Garrett (center screen)
Wade Garrett
At now-defunct Nathaniel Greene High School in Guilford County, Garrett was a star basketball player who once scored 55 points in a game. He participated in the 1951 East-West All-Star game. He went on to play basketball at Elon from 1952-54. But he became best known as a fast-pitch softball pitcher, winning 358 games against just 83 losses from 1954-78. Along the way, playing for the Champion Paper team in Canton, N.C., Garrett pitched 40 no-hitters and had a scoreless innings streak that reached 78. He used a rising fastball, a drop, two curves, and a changeup.

  • Garrett was a star basketball player who once scored 55 points in a game.
  • He participated in the 1951 East-West All-Star basketball game.
  • He played basketball at Elon from 1952-54.
  • But he was best known as a fast-pitch softball pitcher, winning 358 games against just 83 losses from 1954-78.
  • Along the way, playing for the Champion Paper team in Canton, North Carolina, Garrett pitched 40 no-hitters and had a scoreless innings streak that reached 78.
  • He appeared in 10 world tournaments and was chosen All-World.
  • He was known for his rising fastball, a drop, two curves and a changeup.
  • Inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2013


BILL HARVEY
Bill Harvey
Bill Harvey
Harvey was a four-sport athlete at Ragsdale High School in the late 1940s who went on to an excellent amateur golf career. He won the Carolinas Amateur three times, the North Carolina Amateur once, the Carolinas Four-Ball three times, the Carolinas Senior once, and the Greensboro city championship four times. Altogether he won more than 300 amateur titles, including the prestigious Porter Cup in 1963. He was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1984.

  • Harvey was a four-sport athlete at Ragsdale High School in the late 1940s who went on to an excellent amateur golf career.
  • He won the Carolinas Amateur three times, the North Carolina Amateur once, the Carolinas Four-Ball three times, the Carolinas Senior once, and the Greensboro city championship four times.
  • Altogether he won more than 300 amateur titles, including the prestigious Porter Cup in 1963.
  • He has helped start some of the most prestigious amateur tournaments we have today.
  • He was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1984.


RALPH HODGIN (LEGENDS CLASS)
A Greensboro native, Hodgin first appeared in the majors in 1939 with the Boston Bees, who acquired him from San Francisco of the Pacific Coast League. He returned to the minors until being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1943. An outfielder and third baseman, he spent five years with them, including seasons when he hit .314, .295 and .294. In 530 career games, Hodgin hit .285 and drove in 188 runs and was exceptionally difficult to strike out. He also played 16 seasons in the minors, including three years at Triple-A, with a lifetime average of .307.

  • A Greensboro native, Hodgins first appeared in the majors in 1939 with the Boston Bees.
  • He returned to the minors until being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1943.
  • As an outfielder and third baseman, he spent five years with the White Sox, including seasons when he hit 314, .295 and .294.
  • In 530 career games, Hodgins hit .285 and drove in 198 runs
  • He was known by many pitchers to be exceptionally difficult to strike out.
  • Along with these seasons he also played 16 seasons in the minors, including three years at Triple-A, with a lifetime average of .307.


TOM MARTIN
Tom Martin
Tiom Martin
Martin’s sports career began at UNCG, where he played on the first men’s basketball and men’s tennis teams. Always a supporter of UNCG athletics, he also became a contributor to other community events. He was Chairman of the Greater Greensboro Open (now Wyndham Championship) in 1981, tournament director for the 1997 and 1998 NCAA women’s soccer championships at UNCG, and an active volunteer for the Greensboro Sports Council who seeks to bring quality athletics events to Greensboro. He is a member of the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame.

  • Led Curry High School to 3rd place finish in 1A State Championship (1947), and hit the game winning shot to defeat #1 Pinehurst in the state playoffs.
  • Martin played at UNCG, where he played on the first men’s basketball and men’s tennis teams.
  • Holds schools record at UNCG for most rebounds in a single game (27, Vs. St. Andrews, 2/13/1970)
  • He was Chairman of the Greater Greensboro Open (now Wyndham Championship) in 1981.
  • He also was the tournament director for the 1997 and 1998 NCAA women’s soccer championships at UNCG in which the school saw record crowds.
  • An active volunteer for the Greensboro Sports Council who seeks to bring quality athletics events to Greensboro.
  • He was inducted into the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.

JANE PREYER
A Greensboro native, Preyer played tennis, basketball, lacrosse and field hockey in high school at Chatham Hall and tennis at UNC, where she was named All-American in 1976. Preyer played professionally from 1977-83, reaching a ranking of No. 43. She played in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1982. Turning to coaching, she led Duke to five ACC championships in seven seasons and was ACC Coach of the Year five times. She is a member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

  • A Greensboro native, Preyer played tennis, basketball, lacrosse and field hockey in high school at Chatham Hall and tennis at UNC.
  • She was named All-American for tennis in 1976.
  • Preyer played professionally from 1977-83, reaching a ranking of No. 43.
  • She played in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1982.
  • Turning to coaching, she led Duke to five ACC championships in seven seasons and was ACC Coach of the Year five times.
  • She is a member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

JIM WINSTEAD
Jim Winstead
Jim Winstead
Born in Roxboro, Winstead played college tennis at UNC. He won numerous city and state championships, including the North Carolina state title in 1960 and the over-50 state championship in 1981. He became the tennis pro at Greensboro Country Club in 1964 and served in that capacity until 1992. He was a renowned teacher who coached many of the top young players in the city. Winstead is a member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.

  • Born in Roxboro, Winstead played college tennis at UNC.
  • He won numerous city and state championships, including the North Carolina state title in 1960 and the over-50 state championship in 1981.
  • He became the tennis pro at Greensboro Country Club in 1964 and served in that capacity until 1992.
  • He was a renowned teacher who coached many of the top young players in the city.
  • Winstead was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992.

Photo Tour of the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame
(located outside Exhibit Hall A in the Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum)
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