In 1942, he was called up again to the Cardinals and won the World Series as they defeated the New York Yankees. He gave an autographed baseball of the World Series champion Cardinals to the Kiwanis of NC who auctioned it across the state. This baseball raised $1 million for the war effort. The Cardinals again played Program in the World Series the next year but lost to the Yankees. In 1948, he managed and played for Smithfield in the Tobacco State League. In 1949, he became the first bullpen coach in the major leagues and went to the Welcome ...... Kirk Denning World Series with the Brooklyn Dodgers who lost to the Yankees. He then became the bullpen coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1950s and was with them when they won the World Series in 1960 defeating Principal the Yankees. He retired from professional baseball in 1964. In 1988, he was elected to the Kinston Hot Stove Baseball Hall of Fame. Narron passed away on Dec. Princeton High School 31, 1996. He and his wife, Susie, have two children, Rooster Narron and Becky Murphy, and 4 grandchildren. Mr. Narron’s family established the Sam Narron Baseball Award in 1998 to honor a Johnston County Schools’ baseball standout who demonstrated his same qualities of determination, hard work, and sacrifice. ATHLETIC For the past twelve years, baseball players from around the county have received this coveted recognition. Recognition of

Donald “Clyde” Sinclair Donald “Clyde” Sinclair is a lifelong resident of Special Guests ...... Gary Fowler Clayton and a 1977 graduate of Clayton High School. While at Clayton he played football but left his mark as a member of the basketball team. Donald was a Athletic Director member of the 1976 state championship team. After graduation he attended and played basketball at Kings Community Clayton High School College and then transferred to North Carolina Central University where he graduated in 1981. While at NCCU, he was a member of the basketball team averaging 17.1 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, and set a school record for assists. On two occasions he was voted Defensive Player of the Year and earned Head Table All Region and All CIAA honors. Donald joined the Harlem Globetrotters as a player in 1987. “The Glide” was an Introductions ...... Mike Joyner outstanding guard and considered one of the Globetrotters’ best defenders and finesse players. Following the 1998 tour, Donald was named “Mr. Globetrotter” by his teammates and coaches Athletic Director in recognition of a player who represents the true Harlem Globetrotter spirit. He has also received the Globetrotter Legacy Award and helped represent the team when they were inducted into the Naismith Smithfield-Selma High School Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. “The Glide” is currently in his seventh year as a coach, mentoring a new generation of Globetrotters. Fifth Annual Wayne Stephenson Wayne Stephenson played all sports: baseball, basketball, Invocation ...... Keith Durham and football. He received a South Johnston High School monogram award in 1973. He allowed only 14 hits while recording 136 strike outs in 1973; both records still Athletic Director stand as the best in the history of South Johnston. He is 2nd in Innings Pitched (89 2/3 in 1973), 2nd in Fewest Earned Runs (6 in 1973), and 2nd in Lowest South Johnston High School Earned Run Average (.471 in 1973). He was All Conference and All State in 1973. Johnston County While he played for the American Legion, he earned most valuable player awards for both his junior and senior years. A 1973 Smithfield Herald article reported that he had 5 shutouts, 4 no-hitters and 1 one-hitter in 6 starts, with 94 strike outs. At that time, his record was 7-0. According to another Raleigh Times article Dinner on May 1, 1973, he had 4 no-hitters and countless one-hitters, ending with a record Athletic of 12-0 for the season. In another Smithfield Herald article, Coach Bruce Coats called his star hurler “the most complete pitcher I’ve ever seen.” Recognition of Past In his first game of the summer league right out of high school, he pitched against UNC and won. He was 5-0 and pitched a two-hitter that summer. He continued his education at Louisburg College on a Hall of Fame Classes ...... Shelly Marsh baseball scholarship. In his first year there, the team finished in 5th place in the National Junior College Hall of Fame World Series. As a relief pitcher, he as 2-0 with 4 saves. The second year at Louisburg, 1975, the team played Deputy Superintendent • Athletic Director in the NJCAA World Series again. Wayne was a relief pitcher and was called in with his team behind 9-4. He allowed no runs and recorded 4 strike outs, and Louisburg won. Louisburg finished in 3rd place. Johnston County Schools Wayne was injured during this time, but fought back and headed to Campbell after graduation from Louisburg. He played for Bobby Murray Chevrolet Semi Pro Team and Lynwood Jones’s team, the Cleveland Indians, after college, but his arm just did not hold up. He started the Strike Zone in 1988, a batting range for baseball and softball players of all ages. He raised his daughters, Danielle and Jessica, to love sports as Recognition of Banquet he does. Wayne continued his love of the game through them; he coached them in the Cleveland Athletic Association from T-ball in 1990 through the ranks until they got to high school. They both played softball Inductees - Class of 2011 ...... Johnston County High School and basketball, and hold records. Their dad is their idol; and their accomplishments are evidence of his love of the game. Athletic Directors History of the Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame Tonight we celebrate another chapter in the rich history of Johnston County Athletics. In the Closing Remarks ...... Dr. Ed Croom  fall of 2005, the high school athletic directors and principals met with the Johnston County Schools administrators and recommended the need to preserve the accomplishments and memories of the Superintendent men and women who established athletic history in Johnston County. A Hall of Fame committee consisting of Johnston County School personnel was encouraged to pursue the possibility of Johnston County Schools establishing our own Hall of Fame. After a year of researching other models with colleges, high schools, and athletic organizations, the committee established their own by-laws and continued Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame their efforts. In the fall of 2006, each high school was challenged to find individuals from their Class of 2007 Class of 2008 Class of 2009 Class of 2010 Princeton High School Bruce Coats Fred Bartholomew, Jr. Jeff Adams Ron Avery communities who were deserving of Hall of Fame recognition as an athlete, coach or support Reginald Ennis Bob Etheridge Mike Atkinson Harvey Brooks person. The Hall of Fame Committee has met many times during the 2010-2011 school year plan- Barry Foote Harvey Heartley Genia Beasley Alfred Coats ning tonight’s event. We hope that you will enjoy the program as we recognize our own athletic Doug Parnell Dwight Hinnant Roy Brown, Jr. Norvell Lee Saturday, April 30, 2011 Robert Poole Glenn Nixon Waverly Jones, Jr. Andy Pleasant heroes. Tonight we are celebrating the 5th class in this annual event on the last Saturday in April Ray Tanner Wanda Watkins Shelly Marsh Frank Skinner each school year. The committee would like to thank all of those that have supported the idea William Wellons Mike Wooten Dr. Anthony Parker Ben Strifert that Johnston County needed to preserve our athletic history. The Johnston County Athletic Hall 6:30 p.m. of Fame is located in the A.G. Glenn Building on 3rd Street in Smithfield. Photography Compliments of Lifetouch Evelyn Story “Lyn” Andrews Lyn Andrews is the daughter of the late Dr, George Drawhorn George Drawhorn attended Princeton High School from the need for self-esteem in young people and designed the program in a way so that every child had playing and Mrs. Stratton R Story Sr. Lyn began playing basketball competitively in 1968 1972-1976. He was All-Conference and All-Tournament in football and basketball. time and felt like a valued member of the team. Perfect attendance was rewarded at the end of each season in the Saturday Morning Basketball Recreational League that was coordinated He was All-Conference in football and basketball in 1975 and 1976; All-East and with a special awards program. This program can boast alums that include doctors, lawyers, teachers, and directed by Amby Foote. Her first experience at interscholastic competition All-Metro in football in 1976; All-Tournament in basketball in 1975 and 1976; accountants, professional athletes, coaches, and many other professions, certainly bolstering his philosophy came in 1970 when she played for the Green Waves of Wilson’s Mills Elementary and MVP for basketball in 1976. He also ran track and served as team captain that playing sports builds life skills leading to success. Many participants are mainstays in the community School during her 8th grade year. During her 9th grade year, 1971, she played in football and basketball in 1976. to this day. Amby considers himself a mentor. Harry Edwards, with his encouragement, became one of the for the Red Devils of Smithfield Jr. High. In 1972, she entered Smithfield Selma Drawhorn attended Chowan Junior College and Pembroke State University. most respected basketball referees in the state. Junior Creech, a baseball umpire, rose to the professional Sr. High School and began her high school career in basketball. She played for While at Chowan, he was All-Tournament in football, basketball, and track. He ranks, a career that lasted over 12 years. The greatest reward that he has is the appreciation of the young the late, Virgil Payne. In September of 1974, she signed a scholarship to play graduated from Chowan in 1978 with an Associate of Science degree in Education. men and women that credit him with enhancing their lives and giving them the self-assurance to excel in basketball at Peace College. This scholarship was the first basketball scholarship He attended Pembroke State from 1978-1980, where he received All-Tournament life. signed by a female in the state of North Carolina. She graduated from Smithfield in basketball. He graduated from Pembroke State University in 1980 with a Bachelor Although he is not necessarily a spring chicken anymore, he still volunteers at the high school level. In Selma in 1975. In July of 1975, she played in the first East-West All Star Game for females of Science degree. 2002, at the invitation of Coach Mike Joyner, he joined the baseball staff at Smithfield-Selma as the pitching which was sponsored by the North Carolina Coaches Association. He taught 10 years at Hoke County High School in Radford, NC, where he was a 9th grade football coach and bench coach. Subsequently, the team won five conference championships and has been in the In her career at Peace she competed at the regional and national level. She was coached by Nora coach, assistant varsity football coach, head JV basketball coach, assistant varsity boys basketball coach, head play-offs nearly every year. Under the direction of Coach Joyner and with Amby’s help, scholarship awards Lynn Finch, currently the Associate Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Her freshman year, varsity boys basketball coach, girls track coach, and cross country coach. His boys basketball teams at Hoke since 2002 have exceeded those awarded in the 32 prior years. For these efforts and accomplishments he Peace College finished third in the nation in the AIAW (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women). went to the state playoffs 5 times and his cross country teams went to the state playoffs 3 times. was recognized as a News and Observer Tar Heel of the Week in 2006. Her sophomore year, the Peace College Giants finished second in the nation with a loss in the national Drawhorn left Hoke County High School in 1990 and went to Fike High School in Wilson, NC where While not a native of Johnston County, it is Amby’s adopted home. He hopes his contribution to championship game against Temple Jr. College by a score of 54-52. She served as a co-captain of the team he coached Track and Cross Country. In 1991, he was appointed Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach. During sports have made an impact on Johnston County and a positive contribution to the young people of our her sophomore year. She graduated from Peace College in 1977. In 2002, Lyn was inducted into the Peace his tenure there, he received numerous awards. He was named teacher of the year in 1992, coach of the community. Amby has always said “if I leave a legacy, may it be that my passion for sports contributed to College Athletic Hall of Fame. year for cross country in 2002, East-West All-Star coach in 2004, Coach of the Year in 2005-6, and North/ our county and our state by building better citizens”. Lyn completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education at Appalachian State South Head coach in 2008. He had winning seasons for 17 years, going to the state playoffs 18 years. He University with a minor in Sports Medicine. Immediately following graduation, she returned to Smithfield has won over 400 games in basketball. John D. Kernodle John Dailey Kernodle was born on June 22, 1933. He was Selma High School as the school’s first female physical education instructor. Along with her teaching In 2008, he was inducted into the Princeton Athletic Hall of Fame. He currently resides in Wilson and raised on Main Street in Benson and graduated from Benson High School in responsibilities, she coached girls’ volleyball, girls’ basketball and girls’ track from 1980 – 1985. Her teams is married, has two children, a son-in-law, and one granddaughter. 1951. After graduation he headed for East Carolina University where he hoped consisted not only of extremely talented athletics, but also very successful students. In 1985, she returned to play baseball, his first love. He left there to attend Campbell College on a to Wilson’s Mills Elementary and Smithfield Elementary as a teacher of Physical Education, Health and Sci- Amby Foote For the last sixty plus years, Amby has called Johnston County work scholarship. He was at Campbell only a short time when he finally ended ence. home. He came to Smithfield in 1948 to play professional baseball for the up at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson where he played baseball for two During her years teaching at the elementary level, she met and grew to truly love a special group of Smithfield-Selma Leafs in the Tobacco State League. He played for the Leafs from years before graduating. students with disabilities. In 1989, she accepted a position as the first Adapted Physical Education teacher in 1948-1949, the team’s only winning seasons in a five-year history according to Upon graduation from college he was hired to coach the boys and girls Johnston County. With this position began the opportunity to be involved with Special Olympics of Johnston Baseball-Reference.com. This was highlighted by Amby’s 18 wins in 1949. I basketball teams at Deep River High School in Lee County. His first year was County. Lyn has been involved with coordinating various activities with Special Olympics, especially the local guess you could say he was an impact player! 1955-56 and it did not take him long to instill his winning ways. His only year games, since 1989. In 1994, Lyn completed a Master’s Degree program in Exercise and Sports Science from Smithfield certainly had an impact on his life. It is where Amby met his at Deep River his girls team won the Lee County Championship and his boys team East Carolina University. Her concentrated area was in Adapted Physical Education. She was recognized as beautiful late wife, Sue Ennis. They married in 1950 and rounded out their family finished second. Volunteer of the Year for Johnston County Special Olympics in 2008. She was also recognized as the 2008 with three wonderful children. Sue herself came from a very athletic family. Her John Kernodle coached high school sports in southern Johnston County for nearly 30 years. Though Volunteer of the Year for the Triangle Area. brothers Ronald, Phil, and Craig, were all exceptional athletes at Smithfield High he coached other sports, he is most recognized for his accomplishments with girls and boys basketball at Lyn’s involvement in Adapted Physical Education allowed her to become extensively involved in the School. With all of those good sports genes, and lots of encouragement from him, it Meadow High School and later at South Johnston High School. At Meadow he found kids, parents, and a Exceptional Children’s Program of Johnston County Schools. She received her Master’s Degree in School is little wonder that Barry, their first offspring, made it to the Big Leagues after a stellar community that mirrored his own character. They were “old school” and valued team accomplishments over Administration from North Carolina State University in 2001. After working in various aspects of the Excep- three-sport career at Smithfield High School and Triple S. individual accolades. During his tenure at Meadow his girl’s teams won 245 games to only 33 losses while tional Children’s Programs, she was named the Director of the Exceptional Children’s Programs in 2008. In Early in his arrival in Smithfield, Amby committed his life to coaching and mentoring, not only the great his boy’s teams won 164 games with only 114 losses. In his 13 years at Meadow, his girls won 15 conference September of 2010, Lyn retired from Johnston County Schools and accepted a position as Supervisor of the athletes but also those who just wanted to play the game. Having always played sports during his youth in and tournament championships and his boys won 5 championships. At the time of consolidation in 1969, Aquatic Area for the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatic Center. She has served on the Smithfield Recreation New York, where he lettered in seven sports in high school including soccer, football, bowling, volleyball, his girls were riding a 47 game win streak and they had won 89 of their last 91 games. Unfortunately this Advisory Council for numerous years. She is also a member of the Friends of the Park Council for the Town basketball, track, and baseball. was during a time before state championships were recognized for girl’s basketball. The old barn was the of Smithfield and the Miracle League of Johnston County. In 1961, he began employing his professional skills in baseball to equip young men in Johnston site for many great games for the Meadow faithful. If you played there or watched games there you came to Lyn is married to Don Andrews, teacher and coach at Corinth Holder High School. In June, they will County with skills to advance their talents in sports and, more importantly, to face the challenges of the understand that Coach Kernodle’s teams used the timber posts that lined the sidelines to their advantage celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Don and Lyn are the proud parents of Will and Taylor Andrews. world as confident adults knowing the value of both individual effort and teamwork. He coached Little with their aggressive trapping defense. Both sons are graduates of Smithfield-Selma High School. Will is married to the former Maria Pressler and League Baseball for 4 years, winning the championship each year. He coached Babe Ruth League Baseball The consolidation of Meadow, Benson, Four Oaks, and Cleveland High Schools in 1969 brought new resides in Oakboro, NC. Taylor is married to the former Jena Whitley and resides in the Brogden Community. for 3 years. Several stints of coaching American Legion baseball followed. He tried to enforce the belief in challenges for Coach Kernodle. He took on the responsibility of coaching the boy’s basketball team at the new Lyn is a life-long member of the First Christian Church of Smithfield, NC. the young athletes of Johnston County that excellence in sports leads to excellence in fulfillment of adult South Johnston High School. His first challenge was to mold this group of bitter rivals into a cohesive responsibilities. He often pushed them beyond what they expected they could produce. Many of the young team. The Trojans did not have a gym to call their own until the 1973-74 season. South Johnston initially James Clyde Boyette James Clyde Boyette, son of Gladys and the late Red men he coached played at the college level. competed at the 3-A level until growth prompted a move to the 4-A level in the mid 70s before returning Boyette, is a Kenly Native. He attended Kenly Elementary School and graduated Although most of his accomplishments have been in baseball, he never forgot his love of basketball. to 3-A in 1977. His teams showed some of the same intensity and passion exhibited by earlier squads but from North Johnston High School in 1981. While at North Johnston, he was a One of his most pleasant memories came in 1966 when it came to his attention that several of the young success was sometimes harder to come by at this new level of competition. His South teams did win a 3 sport letterman participating in football, basketball, and baseball. He was freshmen had a desire to play basketball but no team to play on. For two or three years, no freshman boys couple of tournament championships in the early 70s but the move to 4-A proved difficult for the team from coached by two Johnston County Hall of Fame Members; Waverly Jones and Doug made the JV team at Smithfield High School, yet there were boys that wanted and needed to play to improve southern Johnston County. His last 4-A team finished 2nd in a very competitive Cap Eight Conference and Parnell. Under Coach Parnell’s direction, Clyde excelled as a pitcher with a 27- their skills. He solved the problem by organizing a freshman team. He taught those boys fundamentals and returned almost everyone for the 1977-78 3-A campaign where they won a conference title, went 21-4, and 5 cumulative pitching record. He was an all-conference standout his sophomore individual skills, and instilled teamwork. Many of his boys couldn’t even shoot a lay-up properly in those eventually lost 72-70 to Western Harnett in the District Finals. In 1975 he won his 500th game and 10 years through senior years. His junior year, he was a member of the 1980 baseball early days but he took extra time to teach proper techniques. Amby taught them that by practice, techniques later in 1985 won his 600th game. He lost his life-long companion and support when his wife Lou died of team that went 19-2 and lost to Fuquay Varina in the Eastern Finals. The team would become second nature. cancer in 1985. He retired from coaching the next year. His record stands at 620 wins to 386 loses and 25 rebounded his senior year to win the 1981 NC 2A State Championship. Clyde Those boys learned man-to-man defense, how to balance the floor, and how to do a fundamental weave. championships during his 30 year career. was selected as an All-State Player and was named the Wilson Daily Times Player of He scheduled the gym for practices, lined up games, got them uniforms, taught them good sportsmanship, The numbers speak for themselves, but his biggest accomplishments were not necessarily measured the Year. Simultaneously while in high school, Clyde played for the Johnston County and rewarded good free-throw shooting with gift certificates for ice cream (often paying for that out of his in wins and losses. Those accomplishments can be better measured by the young men and women that American Legion team coached by Mr. John Stott. own pocket). The biggest reward for him was hearing his former players say that this was the best experience he tutored in both basketball and life. Many of these young people have used the discipline, sacrifice, Clyde was offered a baseball scholarship to East Carolina University. After playing fall ball his freshman in team sports they had ever had. One of his former players, a prominent attorney boasts that “Mr. Foote and dedication taught by Coach Kernodle to become successful adults. Many have served their country in year, he realized he was not ready for college life and enlisted in the Army. He served for 3 years. Once was one of the best teachers I ever had in any subject.” the armed forces, become accomplished businessmen and women, or are contributing members of their discharged, he attended Louisburg College, playing for JUCO Hall of Fame Coach, Russ Frazier. As a member Around this same time, he organized the Saturday Morning Recreation League in Smithfield. From very communities in many other ways and professions. A few have even been successful in the teaching and of Louisburg’s baseball team, Clyde led the team in pitching and was named as team MVP his freshman early in the morning until Saturday afternoon, he directed basketball games for four girls’ teams and four coaching fields. All of his former players still hold the man they called “Coach” in high regard. Thank you year. His sophomore season, he helped the team to advance to the Junior College World Series in Grand boys’ teams through regular season and tournament competition for five years. He opened and closed the Coach Kernodle, for sharing your insights on the game of basketball and Junction, Colorado where they finished as one of the top ten JUCO teams in the nation. Transferring to N. gym, recruited the coaches, referees, scorekeepers, and timekeepers, and kept them all moving toward the the game of life. C. State, he joined the Wolfpack baseball team under the leadership of Johnston County native and fellow common goal and the common good, orderly instructive competition that was great fun to boot. You may Hall of Fame Member, Ray Tanner. While at State, he continued to pitch and also played first base. His career recognize the names of a few of the boys that coached and refereed for him: Durwood Stephenson, Barry Sam Narron Sam Narron was born in 1913 and raised in the Emit Community record at NC State was 4-0. Foote, Joe Austin, Jimmy Allen, Craig Ennis, and Dwight Wiggs. near Corinth Holders. He developed a passion for baseball as a young boy and, After finishing at NC State in 1989, Clyde joined the Wake County Sheriff ’s Office. He is currently Over 200 youngsters benefited from the Saturday program during the sixties. It was the first of its kind like most, had a dream to play Major League Baseball. He knew he wasn’t the assigned to the patrol division as a Sergeant. He has been married to his wife Carol, a middle school guidance in Johnston County and was considered the premier program, not only in Johnston County, but also in the fastest or most gifted athlete, though he had an exceptional throwing arm, keen counselor, for 21 years. They have two sons: Kyle, a freshman Teaching Fellow at N.C. State and Kevin, a State of North Carolina. Before Title IX, it gave equality to girls in a time when their access to team sports eye, strong body and a tremendous baseball mind. seventh grader at Dillard Drive Middle School. In an odd twist, Clyde’s father-in-law, Fitzhugh Thompson, was limited. Amby went the extra mile by campaigning with the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Director In 1934, Mr. Narron followed his dream. With practically all the money was one of Coach Doug Parnell’s long time rivals during Clyde’s high school playing years. to allow participation by two underage girls. He had noticed that they had raw talent that needed to be he had, he purchased a ticket to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to attend the first ever Today, Clyde and his family live in Raleigh and he remains actively involved with the sport of baseball. developed. Both girls (including the former Lynn Story, later a great high school coach herself ) ultimately baseball school. His willingness to work earned him a contract with the St. Louis He worked as a high school and college baseball umpire for 8 years before moving on to become a youth went on to success in high school and were awarded college basketball scholarships to Peace College, the Cardinals. In 1935, he met Branch Rickey, who converted him to a catcher. He baseball coach in the Garner area. He has coached youth baseball for 15 years and is a long time member first woman from Smithfield-Selma Senior High to achieve that honor. was called up to the major leagues with the Cardinals at the end of the season and of the Garner Baseball Incorporated Board of Directors. Amby prided himself in knowing every child and greeted each one by name. He always understood faced Carl Hubbell in his first major league at bat. In 1938, he married Susie Finney.