coach in NCAA I. She has coached 33 All Conference award winners and 85 Atlantic Sun All Academic team members. She was coach of the year in 1987, 1991, and 2001. Her teams Program captured conference championships in 1989 and 2000. She has led Campbell to six Big South Conference Championship games, two NAIA District playoffs, and two NAIA District Finals and one NCAA tournament appearance. Wanda Watkins continues to coach women’s basketball at Campbell University and resides Welcome ........................................................... Brookie Honeycutt in the Cleveland community of Johnston County. Principal West Johnston High School Mike Wooten was born in Roanoke, Virginia and moved to Johnston County in 1969 when his father was hired as an Asst. Principal at the newly completed Smithfield-Selma Senior High National Anthem .......................................... Whitney Kornegay School. While a student at Smithfield-Selma, Mike Wooten excelled in Football, Wrestling and Track from 1978-1981. Mike made All- West Johnston High School Conference, All-State selections in football at Tight End and Varsity Cheerleader Defensive End as well as playing in the North-South All-Star game his senior year in Greenville. Mike received a Full-Football Scholarship his senior year to attend Virginia Military Institute. Recognition of Mike played Center at VMI from 1981 to 1985. He was selected Special Guests ................................................ Warren Singleton his senior year as Co-Captain as well as being projected as a Preseason All-American in Division I-AA. Mike’s Offensive Coordinator, Joe Bush said, “Mike may be the best we have ever had at Athletic Director the Center position.” In 1985, Mike was recognized as All-State Center for all Universities in the West Johnston High School State of Virginia. Mike graduated with a degree in Economics and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Army and later received an honorable discharge as 1st Lt. After graduation from college, in 1985, Mike signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins. Head Table Mike was released the last cut and later called back by Joe Gibbs in 1987 once again to play Introductions ............................................................ Mike Joyner Second Annual during the NFL strike. During this 1987 season, the players for the Redskins were able to win 3 conference games to launch the Redskins to the Super Bowl. Although the strike team known Athletic Director as “Scabs” was not part of the team during the Super Bowl, they played a very important part Smithfield-Selma High School of that season for the Redskins and were vested for that year due to the number of games they played. Johnston County Mike began officiating in 1986 in Middle School and High School games. Opportunities led Invocation ............................................................ Mickey Bridgers him into the college ranks starting with a Division II conference, known as the South Atlantic Athletic Director Conference and then to the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2003. Mike currently officiates in South Johnston High School the Atlantic Coast Conference at the Umpire position, which is right behind the defensive Athletic linebackers. Mike has been honored with post season games for the past three years. These games consist of the Army-Navy game in 2005, the Texas Bowl in 2006, Golden Isles Bowl in 2006 and the Cotton Bowl Classic in Jan. 2008. Dinner Mike is also very active in the local community. Mike is employed by Four Oaks Bank & (Dinner music provided by Luke Copeland, West Johnston High School Varsity Track) Hall of Fame Trust Co. in Smithfield and proud to be a part of that institution. He is a volunteer Fireman with the Smithfield Fire Department, an active member of the Smithfield-Selma Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Smithfield Parks and Rec. Advisory Board, a head coach for Recognition of Inaugural numerous Parks and Recreation youth teams, Campaign Chairman for Habitat for Humanity Hall of Fame Class ............................................. Shelley Marsh Bankers Build, and finally an active member of the Princeton Church of God. Mike enjoys many Banquet hobbies, but most important to him is God, family and friends. He is a loving husband and father Athletic Director and cherishes the quality time spent with his wife, Paula Holland Wooten and his two wonderful Johnston County children, Michael Paul and Meredith Wooten. History of the Introduction of Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame Master of Ceremonies ...................................... Brent Walston Tonight we celebrate another chapter of the rich history of Johnston County Athletics. In G the fall of 2005, the high school athletic directors and principals met with the Johnston County Athletic Director Schools Administrators and recommended the need to preserve the accomplishments and memo- North Johnston High School ries of the 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 possi- bility of establishing our own Hall of Fame. After a year of researching other models with Recognition of colleges, high schools and athletic organizations, the committee established their own by-laws and Inductees - Class of 2008 ...................................... Tim Stevens West Johnston High School continued their efforts. In the fall of 2006, each high school was challenged to find individuals from their communities who were deserving of Hall of Fame recognition as an athlete, coach, or Raleigh News and Observer a support person. The Hall of Fame Committee has met many times during the 2007-2008 school Saturday, April 26, 2008 year planning tonight’s event. We hope that you will enjoy the program as we recognize our own ...................................... Dr. Anthony Parker athletic heroes. Tonight we are celebrating the 2nd class in this annual event on the last Saturday Closing Remarks in April each school year. The committee would like to thank all those that have supported the Superintendent 6:30 p.m. idea that Johnston County needed to preserve our athletic history. Johnston County Schools Frederick L. Bartholomew, Jr. affectionately known as Mr. Elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 1978, Etheridge quickly to associate superintendent. Hinnant was the Johnston County Schools athletic director for ten “B”, Fred was born in Warren County and graduated from Graham became one of the powers in the state House, rising to become a chairman of the House years from 1993-2003 before retiring. High School in Warrenton. During high school he was all conference Appropriations Committee. He introduced the Basic Education Plan which pumped millions of Hinnant’s four year basketball playing career was capped as the North Johnston team in its in football and baseball. dollars into the public school budget for North Carolina. Basketball was not entirely forgotten. first year won the 2A Eastern Plains Conference regular season and tournament titles as well as After high school he attended and played baseball at Louisburg During his 10 years in the House of Representatives, Etheridge was a key player when lawmakers the 2A District 1 title to advance to the 8 team 2A state championship tournament. Hinnant College. Following graduation from Louisburg, he later attended from South Carolina and North Carolina got together for a basketball challenge game. was named all-conference, all-tournament, 2A all-east and all-state from all classifications. He East Carolina College where he received a Bachelor of Science In 1988, Etheridge ran for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, becoming the only concluded his high school career as Johnston County’s leading scorer. degree in Physical Education. He received his Masters degree in non-educator to hold that post. In eight years as superintendent, Etheridge cut the state While the county athletic director, Hinnant was most pleased with helping to upgrade Educational Administration from East Carolina University in 1996. bureaucracy in half and instituted an accountability system that has greatly improved student facilities county-wide”. West Johnston High School was built, track programs were added at Fred Bartholomew officiated high school basketball and baseball test scores. Princeton and North Johnston, and middle school athletic programs were expanded. games in the 1960’s and also played semi-pro baseball with several organizations. He began his In 1996, Etheridge was elected to Congress from North Carolina’s Second District. He is Hinnant and his wife, Julia, have retired to Oak Island, NC and have a son, Richard, and a teaching and coaching career at Smyrna High School where he received Coach of the Year in currently serving in his sixth term. He has used North Carolina common-sense values to guide his grandson, Ricky, who live in Smithfield. both basketball and baseball. In 1964 he initiated the football program at Smyrna High School. work in Congress and has distinguished himself as a strong spokesman for public education, a Mr. “B” moved to Princeton in 1970 and became the principal of Princeton High School. balanced budget, first responders, and working families. Glenn Richard Nixon was born in Buffalo, New York. He During his 28 years as principal, he initiated many educational and athletic programs for both Four institutions of higher learning have seen fit to confer honorary degrees on Etheridge.