nelson bobb

Nelson Bobb was the Director of Athletics for UNC Greensboro from 1983 until 2009 directing the athletic program in their movement from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I in only five years. UNCG is one of only a dozen institutions to ever compete in all three divisions. During his tenure, Bobb oversaw the construction or renovation of all of the Spartans’ athletic venues. During Bobb’s 26 years, women’s basketball appeared in the NCAA Tournament seven times, men’s basketball twice, men’s soccer 16 times – including five national championships, women’s soccer eight times, volleyball three times, baseball twice and softball once. The Spartans were highly successful under Bobb’s leadership winning 37 conference tournament titles, 28 as an NCAA Division I member. Spartan teams also won 67 conference regular season titles, 41 of those since moving to NCAA Division I. With Bobb’s leadership, the UNCG Soccer Stadium was transformed into a venue for more than 10,000 fans and played host to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship in 1997 and 1998.

richard broadus “dick” culler

(1915-1964)

Culler was born in High Point and was a shortstop for the Philadelphia Athletics (1936), Chicago White Sox (1943), Boston Braves (1944-47), Chicago Cubs (1948) and New York Giants (1949). Culler attended High Point College where he was a three-sport letter winner playing baseball, basketball, and soccer. On the soccer field, Culler served as player/coach for three of his four years. Culler was captain of the basketball team and his #9 jersey was the first ever retired at the school. As a baseball player, Culler was the first freshman to be named to the all-conference roster. At graduation, Culler was named the most outstanding athlete in High Point College’s history. During his eight seasons in the professional leagues, Culler played in 472 games and totaled 1,527 at bats, 195 runs, 372 hits, 39 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs, 99 RBI, 19 stolen bases, 166 walks with a .244 batting average, a .320 on-base percentage and a .281 slugging percentage. Following retirement from baseball, Culler devoted most of his time to officiating high school, ACC, and Southern Conference basketball games.

sammy johnson

Sammy Johnson played numerous positions at High Point Central which made him famous for “never leaving the field except for halftime.” Johnson was named All-Conference, All-State and All-Southern. Johnson was the starting quarterback and captain of the East-West All-Star game and the Shrine Bowl. Johnson chose North Carolina where he played from 1970-1973 under Coach Bill Dooley. Recruited as a quarterback, Johnson started his career as a linebacker but moved to running back as a junior. The Tar Heels were the ACC Champions in 1972 finishing 11-1 and champions of the Sun Bowl. Johnson was selected All-ACC and Most Valuable Player in 1973 and was a 1,000 yard rusher. Johnson was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1974 draft as a running back and spent six seasons in the NFL where he returned kickoffs, played on special teams and served as a third down specialist. Johnson ran for a 9-yard touchdown on his first NFL carry and scored a touchdown in both NFC Divisional and Championship games. Johnson played in Super Bowl XI for the Minnesota Vikings before signing with Green Bay in 1978. After retiring in 1980, Johnson opened what would be the first of several Sportscenter Athletic Clubs in Concord in 1982.

allen morris

(1932-2017)

Morris was a top tennis player and coach. Morris was ranked 16th in U.S. in 1956 and advanced to quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Morris was an alternate on three U.S. Davis Cup teams. Morris won a record seven N.C. Open singles titles. Morris has also won state singles titles in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and South Carolina. In 1978, Morris was ranked in the top 10 in world seniors. Morris captured 1977 and 1978 U.S. Senior Clay Court Championships in both singles and doubles. Morris was named the Men’s Tennis Coach at the University of North Carolina in 1980 where his teams won two ACC titles and he earned four ACC Coach of the Year honors. Morris was the Athletic Director at his alma mater Presbyterian College from 1994 to 2000. Morris is a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame. During his tennis career, Morris had wins over Arthur Ashe, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Neil Fraser, and Ashley Cooper.

siri lynn mullinix

Siri Mullinix led Ragsdale to the 1994 NCHSAA State Title and was named the Most Valuable Player. Skipping her senior year in high school, Mullinix went to North Carolina to play soccer where she was a three-year starter playing in 90 career games, won three ACC Championships and four NCAA Championships. In 1997, Mullinix was named the Defensive MVP of NCAA Championship game in Greensboro. Mullinix was a member of the U.S. National Team which won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. As the starting keeper for the U.S. team in 2000, Mullinix appeared in 29 matches, recording 15 shutouts and an 18-5-5 mark. Mullinix was named the best goalkeeper at the 2000 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. She spent three seasons with the Washington Freedom of the WUSA making back-to-back Founders Cup game appearances in 2002 and 2003 and won the 2003 championship and a place on the WUSA All-Star team. In May of 2009, Mullinix joined Mia Hamm as the first-ever inductees to the Washington Freedom Hall of Fame.

william douglas “doug” henderson, Sr.

(1937-2018)

Doug Henderson coached Western Guilford to the 1977 NCHSAA 3-A State Football Championship with a 26-20 win over South Caldwell. Coach Henderson was the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director from 1972 to 1989 at Western Guilford and also served as the Head Track Coach. In 1977, Henderson was named Head Coach of the North-South All-Star Game and the Kellogg Coach of the Year. Henderson won six conference titles at Western Guilford and was also the Triad 3-A Coach of the Year in 1977. The UNC graduate amassed over 216 football wins against 101 losses and 5 ties in his career included stops at Shallotte, Elizabethtown, and East Bladen High Schools before Henderson arrived at Western Guilford. On the track, Henderson’s teams amassed an outstanding 180-5 record in dual and triangular meets. Henderson was a founder of the NC Football Coaches Association in 1988 serving as Executive Secretary from 1988-2003. Henderson was President of the North Carolina Coaches Association in 1986 after serving a term on its Board of Directors.

haywood franklin jeffires

While best recognized as an NFL Pro-Bowl receiver, Jeffires stood out as one of the key athletes for the Page High boy’s basketball team that earned a #2 national ranking and a 4-A State Championship title in 1983. Jeffires was named Most Valuable Player in the state title game as well as the Western Regional Championship. In football, Jeffires helped lead the Pirates to State Runner-Up honors in 1983. Jeffires was an outstanding receiver and defensive back at Page, earning a full scholarship to North Carolina State University where two of his Wolfpack teams earned bowl berths, capturing the victory in the 1996 Peach Bowl. Jeffires was selected as the first receiver in the 1987 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers with the 20th pick. Jeffires went on to star in the “Run and Shoot” offense and became one of the greatest receivers to ever play in the NFL. Jeffires is the Houston Oilers second all-time leading receiver and was the 3rd player to record 100 catches in a season. Jeffires was the leading receiver in the AFC in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and was selected to the NFL Pro-Bowl in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

johnny evans

Evans played high school football at High Point Andrews High School and was selected for the 1973 Shrine Bowl and the 1974 East-West All-Star Game. Evans played under Coach Lou Holtz at NC State from 1974-1977, where he was a quarterback and punter. Evans still ranks as NC State’s top punter both season and career statistics. He was the Peach Bowl Outstanding Player in 1977 and was named the Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s College Athlete of the Year in 1978. The Cleveland Browns picked Evans in the Second Round of the 1978 draft and he played three seasons as the Brown’s quarterback and punter. Evans went on to play three more years in the Canadian Football League. Evans is the current radio sportscaster for the North Carolina State Wolfpack football team and the Eastern North Carolina Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

william “bill” hayes

An alumnus of North Carolina Central University, Hayes played four seasons as a center in football, earning three All-American citations before graduating in 1965 with a degree in Physical Education. In 1976, Hayes became the Head Football Coach at Winston-Salem State University. During his 12 seasons at WSSU, the Rams captured three CIAA Championships (1977, 1978 and 1987), including back-to-back undefeated regular season marks in 1977 and 1978 and posted an overall record of 89-40-2. In 1988, Hayes was hired at North Carolina A&T State University, and guided the Aggies to three MEAC titles, two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances and an overall record of 106-64-0 in 15 seasons. During his 27-year career as a collegiate head coach, Hayes accumulated a 195-104-2 overall record which established himself as the winningest coach at both Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T. Hayes has more career victories (195) than any other college football head coach in the state of North Carolina. Hayes has continued his athletic career as Athletic Director at NC Central, Florida A&M and Winston-Salem State.