One by one, they came onstage Sunday night.
They received a plaque and a medallion as big as a tea saucer for their athletic accomplishments, and after the crowd’s roar subsided, they stood – or in one case sat in a wheelchair – and put into words how they felt.
They talked about family, teammates, coaches and God. But mainly, they talked about memories made and relationships formed on campus that molded them into who they are today.
And always, they said they are forever grateful.
They are the chosen eight, the inaugural class of the Athletics Hall of Fame at High Point University.
“This is the grandest thing that has happened in a long time,’’ said Bob Davidson, who coached for 39 years at High Point. “I’ve seen so many familiar faces. They say they are happy to see me, and I am happy to see them.’’
One was Brian Payne, his former star hurdler from two decades ago. Payne is a Hall of Famer, too.
On Sunday night, in front of 325 people inside the Millis Athletic Center, Payne sighed before he spoke one word. But when he began, he knew whom to thank first — the man he still calls Coach Davidson.
“The love I have for you is immense,’’ he said. “I remember what you used to say when I was running the 55-meter hurdles. ‘Think of something positive,’ you’d tell me. And I did.
“One thing I didn’t think about was being here.’’
Over seven decades, the eight members of the inaugural class of HPU’s Athletics Hall of Fame have created records and many memories.
On Sunday night, the chosen eight – and representatives of the chosen eight – were all in one place.
Basketball greats Andreia Blanchard, Karen Curtis-McConico and Gene Littles. Baseball star Otis Foster and the family of former major leaguer Dick Culler, a three-sport alum who is considered the school’s best all-around athlete.
Then, of course, Jerry Steele. He is the High Point legend, the tall, barrel-chested man who coached basketball for 31 seasons and helped create the school’s athletics department as its director.
Because of declining health, he now gets around in a wheelchair. On Sunday night, he sat near the stage with family and friends. After pushed near the podium and handed a microphone, he asked his former players to stand.
At least a dozen – maybe more – rose as if on command.
“How fantastic,’’ Steele said.
A touching moment. One of many Sunday night. And so many standing ovations.
They came in waves.
Blanchard quoted Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. Curtis-McConico asked the people who helped support her to stand. Nearly three dozen people rose from three tables close to the stage.
Dick Culler’s son, Dick Jr., told how his dad paid for his college tuition. He worked third shift in a local hosiery mill, and after graduation, he played 13 seasons in the major leagues as a shortstop.
“Dad would be humbled by this recognition,’’ said his son, wearing a baseball tie. “But one thing’s for sure, he was always a Panther.’’
The push for a hall of fame started 18 months ago with Bryan Norris, HPU’s new assistant athletic director for development. He wanted to find a tangible way to connect former student-athletes to the school.
He saw the success at other schools. Their halls of fame had helped with recruiting, stoked tradition, created a bond with former players and coaches and turned a few of them into household names.
Norris wanted to see that happen at HPU.
So, Norris created a committee of 13 alumni and former student-athletes who came up with potential candidates. A pool of 30 was narrowed down to eight.
It’s far from over. Every year, the committee will choose four to five new members. The members will become part of a hall of fame display in the Steele Sports Center and an information kiosk in the school’s new basketball arena.
“This is something student-athletes can strive for,’’ Norris says. “They want to be all-conference or All-America. This is something else. They can make the Hall of Fame in their sport. That makes the Hall of Fame a special thing.’’
It will always be special to Payne.
He’s the former kid from small-town North Carolina. He grew up without a father and was raised by his mother and aunt. When he came to High Point, Davidson became like a father to him.
Payne is now 45, a teacher in Atlanta. He still holds three track records at High Point University.
On Sunday night, 20 minutes after the ceremony had ended, Payne stood near the stage, talking, smiling and hugging everyone he saw. He told anyone who asked about the future of his plaque and medallion.
It’ll go on his mantle above his fireplace. He wants to see it every day.
The Inaugural Class
- Andreia Blanchard, Class of ’81. A three-time All-American. Ranks second on HPU’s all-time scoring list with 2,374 points and led the school to its only national championship in 1978.
- Dick Culler, Class of ’36. A three-sport athlete for High Point College. Played basketball, soccer and baseball. His No. 9 basketball jersey was the first retired in school history. He played shortstop for 13 seasons in the major leagues.
- Karen Curtis-McConico, Class of ’98. A two-time All-American. Holds the school’s records in women’s basketball for scoring (2,612), single-season scoring (778), career points per game (22.7), single-season points per game (25.1) and career assists (645).
- Bob Davidson, Class of ’55. Played baseball and basketball as a student. Served as head coach of the school’s men’s and later women’s cross-country and track program. He coached for 39 seasons, the longest tenured coach in the school’s history.
- Otis Foster, Class of ’78. Holds nine baseball records at High Point, including career home runs (60). Only school baseball player ever drafted in the first round. Selected 15th overall by the Boston Red Sox in 1975. Finished his degree in 1978. Played five seasons in the Red Sox organization. Member of the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame.
- Gene Littles, Class of ’69. The school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball (2,398). Played six seasons in the ABA. Enjoyed a 28-year career in the NBA, which included coaching stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Charlotte Hornets and the Denver Nuggets. Member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame.
- Brian Payne, Class of ’93. Holds three of the school’s track records, all in hurdles. Was the two-time NAIA national champion in the 110-meter hurdles. Won the individual title in the 55-meter hurdles during the 1993 indoor NAIA National Championship.
- Jerry Steele. School’s athletic director from 1972-1998. Coached basketball for a school-record 31 seasons from 1972-2003. Guided the school to eight conference titles in NAIA and NCAA’s Division II. The school’s winningest coach (457). Member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, North Carolina Hall of Fame and Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame.