THE COMMUNICATOR Phone: (336) 835-2511 Fax: (336) 835-5248 Email: [email protected] Since January 1990 www.WIFMRadio.com www.VintageRoseWeddingEstate.com December 2018 Veterans Day Celebration is its standout senior forward, No. 14 Carson Long, an East Surry High School graduate and local hero. On a dreary, rainy day, Nov. 13, we gathered We also were encouraged to see Guilford start four at the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Airy to area players. They are Carson Long; Joah Logan praise our veterans. Under the leadership of Kelly from East Wilkes High School; Jordan Wallis, North Epperson of WBRF, WPAQ and WSYD fame, more Wilkes High School; and Kyler Gregory, Starmount than 100 crowded the sacred church. Groups and High School. individuals playing key roles were the North Sur- We’ll also remember how the game ended. With ry High School Greyhound Sound; the North Sur- Greensboro leading 73-72 and shooting one-and- ry JROTC led by Lt. Col. John Bowes and 1st Sgt. one foul shots with 1.7 seconds to go, the Greens- Ken Goetzke; Mount Airy Mayor David Rowe; local boro Pride called time-out. Guilford’s only hope was politician Deborah Cochran; Elizabeth Martin; Cadet for Greensboro to make both foul shots with no Weatherly Reeves; Cadets Quinn Walker, McCain time running off the clock, then for Guilford to make Griffith and Anahy Rincon; Mount Airy Commission- a court-long pass and make a three-pointer to tie. er Jim Armbrister; U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Casey Greensboro’s shooter purposefully missed the free Kerr; Mark Alderman representing the Elks Lodge; throw, the clock started, Greensboro rebounded and and Dale Badgett, U.S. Air Force (ret’d). we lost 73-72. Great strategy! Noted guests were Mickey and Alice Venable Head Coach Tom Palombo, in his 16th year as and their daughter Nicki Brame. Mickey heads the Guilford’s 14th head coach, is the all-time winnin- Eldora Ruritan Club that honored 120 veterans with gest leader in Guilford’s history. Coach Palombo’s dinner and a ceremony on Nov. 5 featuring noted teams in his 20 seasons as a head men’s basketball speakers Robert Holder and Surry Community Col- coach have won 372 games, lost 181 and finished lege President Dr. David Shockley. Alice joined the only one season with a sub-.500 record, according Eldora Ruritans in preparing the meal and serving to his biography on the Guilford.edu website. the honored veterans. She retired after more than 30 years as administrative assistant and secretary Oakwoods Grocery’s Team to the Mount Airy City Schools Board of Education. Daughter Nicki Brame is the Mount Airy City Clerk A group of dedicated givers gathers quarterly who provided administrative assistance to organize at Robert and Sue Rizoti’s Oakwoods Grocery, 1639 the Veterans Day ceremony and plays a key leader- Brushy Mountain Road in Wilkesboro, to cook and ship role in the city. prepare chopped barbecue on a fresh Merita bun Nicki is my “go-to” player, and she can fix any with cole slaw, a bag of chips and a 12-ounce soda challenge that occurs. Seeing her, Mickey and Alice in a paper bag. sitting together at the memorial ceremony was a The fundraising operation begins by cooking 13 grateful experience. Boston butt pork shoulders. The team forms an as- sembly line of meat choppers, sandwich preppers, Guilford College Men’s Basketball and two designated wrappers who meticulously wrap the sandwiches in wax paper. The operation Eddie Brown, Shoals farmer and sports enthu- produces 1,000 lunch bags that are delivered by siast, called to invite me to the Guilford College vs. noon in Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro to pre- Greensboro College men’s basketball game Nov. 13 sold clients. The effort yields $2,000 for a most on the Guilford campus. Spending a couple of hours worthy cause. Oakwoods Grocery’s legacy and rich in deep conversation with Eddie is an honor and heritage benefits many worthy initiatives. great opportunity as he, wife Brenda and son Kevin Robert and Sue Rizoti met at a Wilkesboro NA- have achieved significant success in business, bank- SCAR race and were married 28 days later. They ing, farming, charity and community endeavors. bought the grocery in 1982. They enjoy a wonderful Part of our interest in Guilford College basketball marriage and devoted mutual love. Surry County Sports Hall Of Fame dimensionally designed to fall within the shape of a “golden triangle” when viewed from the side. This On Nov. 3 we celebrated the induction of the shape is most pleasing to the eye and has been 13th class of the Surry County Sports Hall of Fame used throughout history in classical buildings and and the Ring of Honor on the campus of Surry Com- monuments. munity College in Dobson. At 3 p.m., the inductees, families, admirers and staff gathered at Fisher River Coach Sam Moir Park north of Dobson to unveil the etched names of those so honored on our majestic N.C. Granite We deeply regret the passing of our dear friend, monument. Well-wishers are breathless when they mentor, inspirer, encourager and coach, Sam Moir. view the faces of the inductees after the black tarp He dedicated his life to being an exemplar of ad- is pulled to the ground and those so honored grasp mirable character, hope, opportunity, humility and the reality of seeing one’s name etched in stone undeniable faith. His selfless devotion to God, fam- for perpetuity. Fisher River Park, visited by over ily and friends endeared Coach to all he met and 250,000 people annually, is the most fitting home influenced. for our monument, just evidence of meritorious Born in Francisco, N.C., he was a graduate of achievement. Appalachian State University, a World War II veter- The 2018 Hall of Fame inductees are: an, professional baseball player, Christian and Sun- • James W. Blackburn, Elkin High School wres- day School teacher. He led men’s basketball teams tler. at Mount Airy High School and Catawba College, • Keri W. Campbell, Mount Airy High School and including the MAHS team that was State 3A Cham- Abilene (Texas) Christian University tennis. pion, going 25-0. He coached for 45 years before • Scott H. Hauser, North Surry High School and retiring in 1994 and his teams won 725 games. He Clemson University baseball. was inducted into six Sports Halls of Fame. • The late Harry O. Monday, Mount Airy High Coach Sam’s brother Charles also was a herald- School football. ed coach whose teams won 840 games. His 1972 • Sarah Parker Stroud, AAU women’s basketball. Roanoke College team won the national D-II cham- • Willard Swift, Mountain Park High and Appala- pionship. Coach Charles said, “We talked daily on chian State University baseball and basketball. the phone. I not only lost my brother, I also lost my The Ring of Honor inductees are: best friend.” The Moir brothers’ teams won 1,565 • Jim Hemric, East Wilkes High School and St. games, a national record. Louis Cardinals baseball and youth baseball coach. We shall treasure the memory of how Coach • Ann Hollar Garner, Surry County Special Olym- Sam’s former students, players and friends en- pics founder and leader, 1978-2003. joyed reunions and celebrations. Attendees were We praise each inductee for his or her oratory, drawn to Coach Sam’s magnetism, appreciation and humility and gratitude, and supporting families and leadership prowess. In 2017, 27 devotees gath- friends. ered at Cross Creek Country Club in Mount Airy to We congratulate the Surry County commission- honor Coach’s 10 years leading the Granite Bears. ers, the Parks & Recreation staff (Daniel White, His mentees were drawn to his vivid memories of Crystal Whitt, Bradley Key and Audine Royall), the accomplishments, name recognition and specific Selection Committee, and Eddie Wilmoth and Don- recollection of wins. He was most generous with na Collins of the Recreation Advisory Committee. detailed compliments. Post-induction refreshments provided by the college These grateful followers from Mount Airy at- are prepared by Cheryl Largen, Amy Goins and Del- tended his funeral: Charles, Bobby and Page Moir; phra Wall. John Barber handled security. Johnny and Sonnie Sanders; Jim and Nancy Basty; ——— Ernie and Sandy Nester; Fred Goins; David Rowe; The Surry County Sports Hall of Fame Monu- Dick Foy; Ron Ellis; Ray Rodgers; Gary York; Mike ment is constructed of Mount Airy White Granite Cooke; Tom Childress; Gene Rees; and Jim Ses- mined and fabricated at N.C. Granite Corp. in Mount soms. Airy. The two solid granite cubes weigh approxi- These were several of his truths: mately 26,000 pounds. The larger cube measures • “The 1960 Granite Bears was my best team 5 feet square and the smaller 3 feet square on a and career highlight.” side. The upper, smaller cube has a 10-inch by 18- • “Our parents provided love, education, charac- inch bored and capped hole that serves as a time ter and opportunity.” capsule. It’s filled with sports-related items to be • “God gifted me countless blessings.” opened July 4th, 2056, fifty years from the pioneer • “Brother Charles was my favorite coach.” Hall of Fame inductees’ selection. The two cubes Coach Sam was a devout servant of God and and concrete platform on which they rest have been righteous friend to many. Farewell, Coach! 2 Lupe Chavez lenges. 3. Gene Everette and R.O. Lanier’s teamwork at Lupe Chavez and I met in 2010 at the Armfield Surry Central High School for 21 years. Recreation Center in Pilot Mountain. A resident of 4.