Willie Smith Program Willie J. Smith was born and raised in Johnston County by Apostle Beverly Uwodi and Willie O.Smith. He attended North Johnston Middle Welcome ...... Jenna Sauls Hairr and graduated from North Johnston High School, where he was a standout multi-sport athlete. Principal At North Johnston, Smith excelled at both basketball and football. Cleveland High School He was a four year letterman for the Panthers basketball program , twice earning all-conference honors, team MVP as a senior and starting on a Recognition of Special Guests ...... Nicole Davis team that advanced all the way to the state championship in 2004-05 Athletic Director as a junior. ATHLETIC On the gridiron, Smith was a three year letterman and varsity North Johnston High School captain as a senior. Playing defensive end, Smith spearheaded a defense that helped North to its most successful season in Panther history in his Head Table Introductions ...... Jamie Lee senior season. The Panthers went 14-1 in 2005 losing their only game in the fourth round(Eastern Finals) of Athletic Director the state playoffs. Smith was outstanding, tallying over 100 tackles on the season, including 30 behind the line of scrimmage. Cleveland High School This led to numerous college offers, with Smith choosing to attend East Carolina University. He became the fi rst player in North Johnston history to receive a division 1A football scholarship. Invocation ...... Bruce Proctor At ECU, Smith started out as a defensive end , then moved to tight end briefl y. But he began to thrive Athletic Director when he was moved to the offensive line. As a tackle, Smith started for two years, earning All-Conference honors and catching the eye of NFL scouts. In the meantime, he received his BS degree in Business management. Princeton High School After graduation, as an undrafted free agent, Smith became the fi rst and only NFL player in North Johnston history when he signed with the Washington Redskins in 2011. He started 3 games as an offensive lineman for the Redskins as a rookie, then was acquired by the Raiders, where he started 8 games. Smith played two more seasons with the San Diego Chargers and then attended camps with the Redskins and Panthers before Dinner hanging up his cleats. In honor of his achievements, Smith’s football number, 82, was retired by North Johnston in 2016. Twelth Annual Smith has three children, Maya, Willow, and Elena. He and his wife Esther live in Grimesland, NC, Recognition of Past Hall of Fame Classes ...... Brent Walston where he works as a real estate broker with United Real Estate. He attends Temple of Deliverance Church in Wilson, NC. Director of Athletics Johnston County Public Schools Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame Recognition of Inductees - Class of 2018 ...... Johnston County High School Johnston County Class of 2007 Class of 2010 Class of 2013 Athletic Directors Bruce Coats Ron Avery David Bagwell Reginald Ennis Harvey Brooks Joey Barbour Closing Remarks ...... Dr. D. Ross Renfrow Barry Foote Alfred Coats Gary Fowler Superintendent Athletic Doug Parnell Norvell Lee Marion Frazier Johnston County Public Schools Robert Poole Andy Pleasant Charles Hooks Ray Tanner Frank Skinner Raymond Massengill Hall of Fame William Wellons Ben Strifert Jim Montague Class of 2008 Class of 2011 Class of 2014 History of the Fred Bartholomew, Jr. Evelyn Andrews Tol Avery Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame Bob Etheridge Clyde Boyette Thomas Jaskson Harvey Heartley George Drawhorn Dr. Donnie Jones Tonight we celebrate another chapter in the rich history of Johnston County Banquet Dwight Hinnant Amby Foote Mike Vinson Athletics. In the fall of 2005, the high school athletic directors and principals met with Glenn Nixon John Kernodle Class of 2015 Johnston County Schools administrators and recommended the need to preserve the Wanda Watkins Sam Narron E. O. Adams Jr. Mike Wooten Donald Sinclair accomplishments and memories of the men and women who established athletic history Mickey Bridgers Wayne Stephenson in Johnston County. A Hall of Fame committee consisting of Johnston County School Class of 2009 Anissa Gainey personnel was encouraged to pursue the possibility of establishing our own Hall of  Jeff Adams Class of 2012 Alfred (Al) Heartley Fame. After a year of researching other models with colleges, high schools, and athletic Mike Atkinson Rickie Boyette John Chris Johnson, Jr. organizations, the committee established their own by-laws and continued their efforts. Genia Beasley Steve Coats Class of 2016 Roy Brown, Jr. Art Medlin In the fall of 2006, each high school was challenged to fi nd individuals from their Al Byrd Waverly Jones, Jr. Elbert Moye communities who were deserving of Hall of Fame recognition as an athlete, coach or Twana Jeeter Johnson Shelly Marsh Phil Pittman support person. The Hall of Fame Committee has met many times during the 2017-18 Deacon Jones Cleveland High School Dr. Anthony Parker Reginald Poole school year planning tonight’s event. We hope that you will enjoy the program as we Jim Laughter Paul Sanderford recognize our own athletic heroes. Tonight we are celebrating the 12th class in this annual Susan Wall Raymond Sugg event. The committee would like to thank all of those that have supported the idea that Saturday, March 24, 2018 Class of 2017 Johnston County needed to preserve our athletic history. The Johnston County Athletic James Cole Hall of Fame exhibit is located in the West Campus Building on 3rd Street in Smithfi eld. Darryl Lucas 6:30 p.m. Travis Stephenson Van Weeks Photography Compliments of Lifetouch Johnston County American Legion team when it moved from Benson to Smithfi eld. Upon graduation, he Eddie Driver went on to play semi-pro baseball for Angier in the Tri-County League. Eddie Driver was born May 16, 1965 to Coy and Dorothy Driver. After graduation, Johnie attended Wake Tech and obtained an associate degree in Court Reporting. He Eddie was raised in the crossroads community of Emit and has been held various jobs in the Wake County Superior Court where he retired with 32 years of service in 2001. Upon a lifelong resident of Johnston County and the Corinth Holders retirement, he joined the Wake County Sheriff’s Department for more than 5 years. He continues to work ATHLETIC community. He attended Corinth Holders Elementary (K-8) and then at the Wake County Court House and Wake County Sheriff’s Department on a part time basis. graduated from Smithfi eld Selma High School in 1983. Eddie came from In 2000, Johnie became a part of the NC Challenger Girls Fast Pitch Softball Organization after coaching a family and community who were involved in sports as participants many of his daughter’s teams for several years. He remained a part of that organization for 4 years where and fans for many years. Some of his favorite times as a kid growing up several girls earned college scholarships to play softball. were listening to his mom and dad talking about following the original Johnie now resides in Garner with his wife, Trish. He has 2 daughters, Tracie and Annie, and 4 grandchildren. Corinth Holders High School in the state playoffs. He would like to give a special thanks to his former baseball coach at Cleveland High School, Mr. Bruce As a kid, he played football, basketball, and baseball in the local Coats, for not only teaching him the game of baseball, but also molding him into the man that he is today. recreation leagues at Corinth Holders. During his middle school years, He would also like to thank all of his teammates for without them and their defense, he would never have George Daniels Eddie was on the fi rst middle school football team at Corinth Holders experienced the success that he had as a pitcher at Cleveland High School. Elementary and he played basketball and baseball also for Coach Jimmy Carlyle. After completing his years at George Ernest Daniels was born August 18, 1951 to Rufus and Corinth Holders Elementary he attended Smithfi eld Selma High School and played JV baseball as a freshman Annie Dixon Daniels. He grew up in Johnston County along with his for Coach Clint Joyner and lettered 3 years on the Varsity baseball team for Coach Dean Manges. As a senior, Gerald Poplin younger sisters Pamela and Sandra, graduating from North Johnston Eddie was an All Cap 8 All Conference player and voted as Most Valuable Player by his teammates. That High School in 1969. While at North, he was a member of the National summer (1983) Eddie played for Coach John Stott with the Johnston County Legion team. After graduating Melvin “Gerald” Poplin was born in Albemarle, NC in 1935. He Honor Society and various clubs. He played football for three years, from high school, he attended and graduated from North Carolina State University (1987) with a degree in fell in love with sports as a young child playing football, basketball, and ran track for one, and also was manager of the baseball team for one Business Management. baseball with his cousins and neighborhood friends. He especially loved season. Upon graduation, he received the Citizenship Award. As a father, Eddie has been active in his children’s school activities throughout their time in school. football and by the time he reached Liberty High School, he played After high school, Daniels attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where he He was the PTA President for Corinth Holders Elementary for 4 years and was also President of the sports the position of quarterback and was awarded Most Valuable Player. He graduated in 1973 with an A.B. in Journalism and certifi cation to teach booster club at Corinth Elementary and helped start the Archer Lodge Middle School booster club. At also played baseball for Liberty and thought it was really cool to play secondary English. While at UNC he served as dormitory vice president Smithfi eld Selma, he was an active member in the Spartan Club. When the new Corinth Holders High against those Petty boys from Randleman. Gerald graduated from high and President at various times, and was also a charter member of the School was reestablished in 2010, Eddie was instrumental in the establishment of the Athletic Booster school in 1953 and enrolled at Guilford College in Greensboro where UNC Football Club, serving two years as treasurer. Club, and was elected as the inaugural President where he served for 3 years. Being part of the Pirate Club he played football. With the exception of the 1978-79 school year, when he returned to UNC to earn his Master’s in from the beginning was a time he takes pride in since Eddie always believed the kids deserved everything In 1955, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he served his Secondary Reading and Language Arts, he worked at three schools: Mattamuskeet in Hyde County (1973-78 we could possibly give them to succeed. One of Eddie’s proudest moments came with the startup of the country as a helicopter and airplane mechanic. He was honorably and 1981-84), Siler City Jordan-Matthews (1979-81), and North Johnston High School (1984-2014, the last Pirate Club in how the club was formed from two feeder middle schools coming together to form a strong discharged in 1957 after a near death experience with a ruptured 10 years as a non-faculty coach). high school booster club. After Eddie’s tenure as President of the Booster Club came to an end, the booster appendix. In February of 1957, Gerald married the love of his life, Daphne Caple. They moved back to While at Mattamuskeet, Daniels started a Junior Beta Club, the school’s fi rst journalism class, school club named an award in his honor, the Eddie Driver Pirate Award, that would be presented to a worthy Greensboro so Gerald could continue his education at Guilford. He was now too old to play football but as paper, elementary basketball and fl ag football, and middle school basketball program. He also coached JV volunteer who goes above and beyond their time contributing to Corinth Holders High School athletics. a Science, Health, and Physical Ed major, he was able to become a trainer for the team. Gerald graduated boys basketball, worked as varsity girls and boys basketball assistants at various times, coached the school’s Eddie and Angie were given a lifetime season pass from the Booster Club and he is still a member and has from Guilford in 1960 with a degree in Education. He and Daphne moved to Vanceboro, NC where Gerald fi rst girls tennis team and softball team, and designed and laid out the school’s fi rst softball fi eld. His fi rst been a clock operator for various sports. Eddie and Angie still give back by giving a small scholarship to a started his long career of teaching and coaching. JV boys basketball team won the school’s fi rst ever conference championship. worthy senior Male Athlete each year. In November of 1961, Daphne gave birth to the couple’s fi rst child, Sharon. Of course Gerald missed the At Jordan-Matthews he taught the school’s fi rst journalism class and sponsored the fi rst school Eddie has been a volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball offi cial for recreation leagues for 27+ birth as he was on the football fi eld coaching!! In 1963, the family moved to Badin, NC where Gerald taught newspaper, coached JV football and scouted for the varsity. He also coached JV boys basketball, boys track, years. He hopes that over the many years of offi ciating a kid or parent may have seen how much he cares 8th grade and coached football and basketball. In 1965, Gerald and Daphne were given the opportunity to and started the school’s fi rst girl’s track team. for the kids and hopes he has made a positive impression on a child. Eddie was a NCHSAA basketball move back home to Norwood, NC. Gerald became one of the fi rst coaches in Stanly County to integrate In 1984 Daniels returned home to North Johnston to teach English, coach softball, and assist with offi cial and is currently an NCHSAA offi cial for volleyball and softball. He umpired the NCHSAA softball state African Americans onto his ball teams. At the time he received a lot of unpopular comments about this but football. Throughout his tenure he coached a variety of sports: JV boys and girls basketball, varsity boys championship game in 2016. Eddie has umpired many Tar Heel Leagues, Inc. state baseball championships in his words, “God made us all.” 1965 was also the year the family received a new addition, their son, Eddie, basketball, volleyball, and cross country. He also coached the school’s fi rst girls tennis team from 2006-10, over the years and is currently the Treasurer and Executive Board member for Tar Heel Leagues, Inc., after also born during football season!!. Daphne would say, “this was why Sharon and Eddie were such great going 30-28 with three conference runner ups and two State playoff appearances. being the District 6 Director for many years. In 2014, he was inducted into the Tar Heel Leagues, Inc. Hall football fans!”. This was also the year Gerald met one of his lifelong friends, Coach Harvey Brooks at South But Daniels made his greatest mark in softball, which he coached from 1985-2014. He won an amazing of Honor. Eddie is the Treasurer and Board member for JOCO-One volleyball club based out of Corinth Stanly High School. Gerald became Harvey’s assistant football coach. 15 conference championships, made 19 state playoff appearances, fi ve state Final Fours, and won two Holders High School where the club continues to grow the sport in Johnston County. Gerald went on to become the Principal at Ansonville School where Daphne was his secretary. In Eastern Regional titles. He retired with an overall record of 452-268-1, and in 2016 North Johnston named Eddie is married to Angie Parrish from Wendell and they have been married 29 years. Together they 1970, at the urging of Coach Brooks, Gerald and Daphne relocated to Warrenton, NC where Gerald would the school’s softball fi eld, which he designed and laid much of the groundwork for early in his tenure, have two wonderful daughters (Amber and Erica) and a son-in-law (Tim). Eddie currently works for the be an assistant principal and assistant football coach. This is where Gerald met his other lifelong BFF, Fred “George Daniels Field”. Department of Health and Human Services for the Offi ce of the Controller. He is a lifelong active member Bartholomew. Mr. B can share many stories from this era. One particular story involves the Poplin kids and A member of the North Carolina Coaches Association for 43 years and the NC Softball Coaches of Watkins Chapel Baptist Church. Eddie enjoys being outdoors, traveling with family, and playing golf. Bartholomew kids riding in the back of his station wagon showing signs of “peace”. Association for 25, Daniels helped coach the State Games Senior All Star softball teams in 2008 and 2009. In 1972, the Three Musketeers split up with the Poplins moving to Statesville and the Bartholomew He was named Conference Coach of the Year 12 times, Region 3 Coach of the Year in 2013, and was named Johnie King and Brook families moving to Princeton. Gerald was an assistant principal, assistant football coach, girls to the North Carolina Softball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2011. basketball coach, and drivers ed teacher at Statesville Senior High School. His favorite time of the day was Daniels is married to his wife Wanda, and they have three children: Erica, Laura and Gavin, all whom Johnie King III, born August 4, 1948, grew up in the Cleveland telling Daphne how many times he “almost died”. This was also the beginning of Gerald attending Appalachian graduated from North Johnston. When he learned of his induction to the Johnston County Athletics Hall Community of Johnston County. He attended Cleveland High School State University every summer to receive his Masters in School Administration. In 1977, the Poplins returned of Fame, he had this to say: where he graduated in 1966. Johnie began playing baseball in Johnston to Norwood and Gerald took a break from education. He went to work for a hometown company that built “It has been special to have been able to play a small part in the lives of young people for over four County in the Cleveland Little League program. He played with a group and remodeled Belk stores. He always loved woodworking. He made and repaired things at Princeton High decades. I give credit to my success to the hard work of so many young people and the parents who made of young boys who would later go on to play for the NCHSAA 1A State School all the time. He passed on his love of woodworking onto his son, Eddie, who teaches construction so many sacrifi ces for their children to play.” Championship in 1966 at Cleveland High School. at West Johnston High School. “I am most proud of the concern for academics that the vast majority of my players displayed in school At Cleveland High, Johnie enjoyed a very successful career as a left In 1979, Gerald got a call from Mr. B saying, “I need a good science teacher and Harvey needs a good and prouder of the nurses, teachers, business people, public servants and citizens that our athletic program handed pitcher. He played baseball all four years and led Cleveland to assistant football coach!!”. So Gerald came to Princeton leaving his family in Norwood so Sharon could fi nish helped to produce. My favorite record is that from all the many teams I coached over the years, not one three straight Johnston County Championships. During his high school her senior year. In the summer of 1980, Daphne and Eddie joined him living on the school grounds next to player was ever ejected from a game for a sportsmanship violation. I have stressed a priority list for my career, he had many accomplishments on the baseball diamond. In the teacherage. The legacy of Bartholomew, Brooks, and Poplin at Princeton High School had begun. athletes over the years: Your faith, your family, your academics, then your athletics.” 1965, his junior year, he pitched a perfect game against Pine Level to Upon his return to education at Princeton, Gerald’s coaching career included Junior High Basketball “I thank the people of Johnston County for giving me the opportunity to come home 34 years ago, and win the conference championship. According to NCHSAA statistics, this Coach, Assistant Varsity Football Coach, and Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach from 1979 to 1984. During his to thank the administrators, athletic directors and peer coaches who have been so supportive over the years. was the fi rst perfect game ever pitched in Johnston County and remained the only one until 1976. In his coaching tenure at Princeton, the teams he assisted had several successful seasons including some state playoff A special thanks to all the paid and volunteer assistant coaches I have had the pleasure to have worked with, Senior year of 1966, he compiled an 11-2 record on the mound for a team that fi nished 19-3 with two losses appearances. In 1984, Gerald was made Assistant Principal of Princeton High School. He was selected as who have dedicated so much of their time to help me and our athletes” in the State Championship series versus Shelby Crest. He was 4-1 in the playoffs with a no hitter against Elm Johnston County’s Assistant Principal of the Year in 1987. Gerald retired in 1994 after over 32 years of service “Most especially, I want to thank my favorite fans and critics over the years: my wife Wanda and children City and wins over Angier and Acme Delco. In the 1A Eastern Final, Cleveland faced a powerful 17-0 Ayden in education. Gerald and Daphne decided to make Princeton their forever home. It was not uncommon to Erica, Laura and Gavin for their love, patience and support during the trying times as well as the celebrations.” team and Johnie picked up his 4th playoff win with a 2-1 victory to advance to the State Championship. see him on his bicycle, walking the track, lifting weights in the Dawg Pound, or out on his motor cycle. “Nothing of which I have been a part would have happened without my faith in my Lord and Savior, Johnie was named to the All-East 1A team and fi nished his career with an overall 34-7 individual record. Gerald and Daphne loved running into former students all around Johnston and Wayne Counties. They Jesus Christ. He has always been there with divine intervention when I needed it and divine admonition The legendary Cleveland baseball coach, Bruce Coats, said “the team went as far as Johnie took us”. He also loved sharing their stories of old times with their four grandchildren. Gerald passed away in 2012 after when I especially needed it.” was named Male Athlete of the Year at Cleveland High School in 1966. Johnie also played baseball for the a 13 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Gerald’s love for the Princeton Community was undeniable.