LIFETIME MEMBERS of the PIEDMONT ATHLETIC HALL of FAME Thank You for Your Support of the PAA and May God Bless ***Dan Avery Genice Mciver Thompson Sharley L
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PIEDMONT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME In Appreciation to our LIFETIME MEMBERS OF THE PIEDMONT ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME Thank you for your support of the PAA and May God Bless ***Dan Avery Genice McIver Thompson Sharley L. Hill Wilford Walker Samuel E. Roberts, Sr. Thurman Norris Agnes Young Butch Smith Pauline W. Young Jessie Jamison Della Abercrombie Settles Thelma W. Mike Pinson ***Dr. W.F. Gibson Grady Brooks, Jr. Julius P. Pinson, Jr. Sadie Nesbitt ***Samuel L. Zimmerson, Sr. Abbie O. Collin Ernest Hamilton Ronald Cox Carolyn “Pete” Griffin Louis Blander George L. Stoddard Reginald D. Pearson Alene Bennett Baety Emanuel Sullivan Cora Dickey John Williams, Jr. ***John McCarroll Faye Wilson Rosa Byrd Willie Stephens John H. Williams, Jr. ***Richard Byrd John Melvin Abercrombie Clara Wharton Kilgore Esther Fleming Robinson ***Irvin Thompson M. Frederick Mitchell Grady Cooley Bessie Young Alan L. Mitchell Betty Sullivan Sullivan Bros. Mortuary Inc. Linda J. Sullivan Stewart Spinks Robena Gowens Herman Roberts John Gamble Ernestine Leamon Sandra Davis William C. Fleming Alfred Leamon Eliza Ballentine Marvin (Tub) Drummond U.J. Thompson Ellie D. Johnson Eugene Harrison ***Eddie Jones, Jr. Reginald Epps ***Jessie S. Reeves Thomas Fair Eddie Neal Winfred C. Daniels Ernest Jones Leroy Herbert Lula Yeargin Williams Dr. Patricia Drummond Thomas E. Freeman Rhoda B. Gibson Johnny E. Poole Bobbie J. Goldsmith Samuel M. Bailey William (Dacus) Brown R.C. Gamble, Jr. Louie Golden Vardrey F. Fleming Shirley Ann Lee Ezell Sullivan Hazle Woodard, Jr. Willie Boyd Isaac Johnson Betty W. Golden Lewis C. Sullivan Willie Wooden Earl L. Daniels Gregory Knuckles Annie R. Riggins Willie Henderson Harry Mitchell Special Dedicated Life Members Anna Smith Bobby Riley **We are in the process of updating our Lifetime Members, and if by chance your name was left off this list, please accept our apology and see one of the following: Emanuel Sullivan, Ernest Hamilton. ***Our Deceased Members PIEDMONT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME 1 PIEDMONT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME GREETINGS From the Executive Director of the Association March 2019 Dear Friends: On behalf of the Board of Directors, I welcome you to the Piedmont Athletic Association’s Twenty Eighth Annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremonies. The expressed purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor those males and females who, by their accomplishments in and service to high school sports, bring honor to Greenville County, to South Carolina, and to the nation. I am sure you will agree that we fulfilled our purpose with this evening’s group of 15 inductees from the former Beck, Bryson, Lincoln, Sterling, and Washington High Schools of Greenville County. Also a special recognition presentation. We ask you to join us in congratulating this outstanding group of athletes and sports administrators who have played major roles in developing positive images for today’s students. Our inductees have brought fame and honor to themselves, their families, and their high schools. The Board of Director thanks you for joining us for this induction ceremony, and we hope your evening with us will be an enjoyable and memorable one. Sincerely, Emanuel Sullivan Executive Director 2 PIEDMONT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME PROGRAMME BANQUET AND INDUCTION CEREMONY Saturday, March 16, 2019 Introduction of MC Richard Dawkins Master of Ceremonies PARADE OF CHAMPIONS Grace The Occasion Attorney Ernie Hamilton Memorial Tribute Abbie Collins Hall of Fame General Membership Drive Rosa Byrd SPECIAL RECOGNITION: CHARLES “EDDIE” GARDNER MUSIC BY THE CAROLINA PLAYERS BAND: Please enjoy your Dinner PRESENTATION OF INDUCTEES The Mighty Great & Legendary Beck High School Panthers Carrie Dell Walker ‘69 Charles Gray ‘70 William Shay Lloyd ‘67 The Great & Legendary Bryson High School Hurricanes Mary Wharton Miller ‘67 Shirley Cook Madden Garrett ‘60 Harold Means ‘58 The Great & Legendary Lincoln High School Rattlers Gail Murray Howard ‘68 Annie Jean Sullivan Gaffney ‘56 Edith Byrd Moss ‘68 The Great & Legendary Sterling High School Tigers Claude Smith ‘66 Cheryl Smith Breaux ‘68 Theodore McNeil ‘62 The Great & Legendary Washington High School Falcons Henrimae Downer Pruitt ‘63 Betty Robinson Rucker ‘68 David Lee Beaty ‘70 Good night and get ready for the Hall of Fame 30 Year Full Formal Tuxedo and Ballroom Gown required for admittance Dinning and Show in 2021 PIEDMONT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME 3 PIEDMONT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME SPECIALINDUCTEES RECOGNITION F H G O ON N O I R CHARLES EDWARDR GARDNER R IN R G O “Eddie”OF HON Charles was born to the late Lawrence Lopez and Minnie Thompson Gardner on July 12, 1946 and has been married to his high school sweetheart (Carol Jean Austin) for 51 years. From their union, they were blessed with 6 children, 16 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. He graduated from Washington High School in 1964, where he played football, played trombone in the band, and was an active member of the student council. Pursuing higher education, Charles attended Voorhees College in Denmark, SC. During his junior year, he decided to join the Navy. As he sat for semester exams during his junior year, he received an unexpected call from the Navy Recruiter saying there was an opening, and if he wanted it, he should report immediately. He didn’t even finish his exam; instead, he spent almost five years serving his country in the U.S. Navy. After completing basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois, Charles achieved the following: • Graduated from The Nuclear Power School, Bainbridge, Maryland; • Graduated from The Nuclear Prototype Training School in Ballston Spa, New York as a certified Nuclear Reactor Operator; • Completed Submarine School at Groton Naval Base in Groton, Connecticut, qualifying to serve on submarines; and quali- fied Submarine in one patrol; • He also completed Nuclear Power Welding School, qualifying him to weld on nuclear power systems; • Charles made the rank of E6 in less than 4 years, an achievement made by very few and was a First Class Machinist Mate on the USS Nathaniel Green and the USS Lafayette. When Charles separated from the Navy, he became involved with the Greenville County Library, emphasizing programs for low-income communities. Determined to make a difference, he repaired, painted, and drove an old, big red library van into the neighborhoods blasting music that drew the children. Gardner offered games, films and the gift of a library card. He started a Saturday morning movie program that offered a free ticket for a book read. Eventually, on any Saturday, as many as 200 children participated. This program won the John Cotton-Dana Award, a national honor. As a children’s story teller, Charles appeared on television weekly promoting reading and captivating the attention of children. In 1974, Charles accepted the position of Director of Community Relations with the City of Greenville, and eventually became The Director of Community Development and retired as The Director of community services, with responsibility for Parks and grounds, Recreation, The Zoo, Building Maintenance, Community Development and Relations and all city facilities. During his professional career, Charles compiled over 35 years of community development and affordable housing experience. In his work at the City of Greenville, Charles crafted neighborhood revitalization initiatives and developed workforce and affordable housing programs. Under his direction, the City’s programs set a high standard for progressive, innovative and creative endeavors. Below are just a few of the many achievements Charles recorded over the course of his long career. • Established the Community Development Division in 1975 when the City of Greenville received its Green Avenue neighborhood; first allocation of Community Development Block Grant Funding; • Development of Washington Point - 28 units of affordable rental and for sale homes in the Southern • New community centers were built in the Greenline/Spartanburg, Nicholtown, West Greenville and Side Community; Sullivan Street Communities; Sear Shelter was renovated for senior citizens; • Created the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program for homeowners living on fixed incomes who • John Wesley United Methodist Church and Mattoon Presbyterian Church received funding to improve need assistance with home repairs; their day care facilities; • Developed public-private partnerships involving lenders, corporations, and private developers to • Spartanburg Street was widened and improved; contribute expertise, funding and other resources to the revitalization of neighborhoods and the • Rebecca Street was widened and sidewalks added; development of affordable and workforce housing; • Major rehabilitation initiatives in the Hampton/Pinckney, Nicholtown and Greenline/Spartanburg • Innovative use of federal funds to acquire property, improve infrastructure and provide public services Neighborhoods; to improve the quality of life in our Special Emphasis Neighborhoods; • Initiated the revitalization of the Viola Community. This Neighborhood was named by the Southern • Provided funding for the renovation of Phyllis Wheatley’s Gymnasium and the Field Crest swimming Living Magazine as one of the top ten comeback neighborhoods in the Southeast; pool; • Development of Walker Place Subdivision - 27 units of affordable rental and for sale homes in the • Provided funding for Phyllis Wheatley’s Leadership Development program; West Greenville neighborhood; • Organized