rich brenner

(1946-2012)

During Rich Brenner’s 21 years as Sports Anchor at WGHP FOX 8, his reach in touching people and helping causes was immeasurable. Brenner never met a stranger, he never rushed people, and he seemingly never forgot a face, name or sports statistic. The studio was his classroom and the number of interns and college students who studied under Rich and then got into the business reaches well into the hundreds. Rich also tutored kindergartners and taught a broadcasting class at Elon University. A tireless community volunteer, Rich was instrumental in Kyle Petty’s charity motorcycle ride for the Victory Junction Camp, the Carolina Field of Honor at Triad Park, and numerous other projects. With his unforgettable voice and love of the community, Rich Brenner served on the Founding Committee for the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame and was the voice of its banquet for the first seven years.

herk deGraw

Coaching the boys’ and girls’ teams at Grimsley High School, Herk DeGraw has amassed more than 800 soccer victories. DeGraw’s girls’ teams won 444 matches and six NCHSAA State Championships (1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2002, and 2004) and were in the Championship Game six other times. The Grimsley boys’ teams, which DeGraw coached from 1979-2005, won 391 matches and made the state playoffs 17 times, playing for one state title. During his coaching career, DeGraw was named Conference, Regional, State and South Region Coach of the Year and served as the Head Coach of the East-West All-Star Game in 1992. DeGraw played soccer at Greensboro College from 1972-74 where he was Honorable Mention All-Conference and served as an Assistant Coach after graduation. DeGraw is a member of the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame, Greensboro College Athletics Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association Field of Honor.

woody gibson

A 1975 graduate of High Point University, Dr. Woody Gibson was instrumental in the growth and development of intercollegiate athletics at High Point. He was appointed Director of Athletics in 1998 to lead High Point through the transition to become an NCAA Division I program and served in that capacity until 2008. Gibson was men’s head soccer coach (1978-1998), amassing a 211-138-27 record, winning seven regular season and conference tournament championships, and advancing to post-season play 15 times. He was voted Coach of the Year on eight occasions, was runner-up for National Coach of the Year (1987), and was named a coach for the East team in the 1991 Senior Bowl game. He also founded a women’s soccer program in 1992 and served as head coach for three seasons. Gibson coached the men’s golf team (1975-1992), winning two conference titles, twice being named Coach of the Year, and earning a trip to the 1991 NAIA National Championships. He served as Sports Information Director (1975-1992) and was a longtime faculty member (1978-2012) with the rank of Associate Professor in the School of Business prior to his retirement. In 2011, Gibson was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame.

dino hackett

Dino Hackett played football, basketball, and baseball at Southern Guilford High School and was selected to the Shrine Bowl and East-West All-Star Game in 1982. A member of Appalachian State’s 75th Anniversary Team, Hackett starred as a linebacker at ASU from 1982-85. He holds eight school records including most solo (106), assisted (94) and total tackles (200) in a single season, which he accomplished in 1985 en route to first team All-America accolades. Hackett was an All-Southern Conference honoree in 1984 and 1985. Drafted in the second round in 1986 by the Kansas City Chiefs, Hackett enjoyed a seven-year professional career, spending six seasons with the Chiefs and one with the Seattle Seahawks. Hackett started all 16 games as a rookie and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1988. Hackett’s 16 tackles versus the Seahawks on September 20, 1987 is still a Kansas City record. In 2005, Appalachian State retired Hackett’s No. 38 jersey. Hackett is a member of the Southern Guilford Hall of Fame.

Julia ann holt

(1931-2015)

A Greensboro Senior High graduate, Julia Ann Holt made winning tennis titles a habit for sixty years from 1946 to 2006. In 1946, Holt swept singles and doubles titles at the First Annual Greensboro Public Parks Tennis Championship and captured her first doubles State Championship. She was chosen to be on the first Junior Wrightman Cup Team in 1948. In 1966, Holt won the N.C. State Closed Championships in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles propelling her to the top ranking in the state in singles and doubles and #7 in the south. Holt stood out in the North Carolina state event, winning the singles and doubles championship 11 times and the mixed doubles title five times. Holt was dominate as a Senior winning seven singles, 29 women’s doubles, and 17 mixed doubles titles. In addition, Holt was a member of the North Carolina Southern Cup team for 18 years (1987 captain) and twice named to the National Intersectional Team. Holt was selected for the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980.

torry holt

A Gibsonville native, Torry Holt was a star football and basketball player at Eastern Guilford. Holt was a receiver and defensive back catching a career 129 passes for 2,573 yards and scored 42 touchdowns. Holt was a human highlight film for N.C. State from 1995-98. Rewriting the Wolfpack record books, Holt set single game, single season and career records in almost every passing category. With a record 3,379 career reception yards, Holt was a two-time All-ACC performer, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American as a senior. A first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams, Holt won a Super Bowl ring as a rookie and led the NFL in receiving in 2000. Holt was named to the NFL Pro Bowl seven times and retired with the 10th most receiving yards in the NFL after eleven seasons. Holt’s No. 81 jersey has been retired at North Carolina State, Eastern Guilford, and Hargrave Military Academy. He is also a member of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.

John inman

John Inman started his golf career at Grimsley High School where he won the 1980 North Carolina High School State Individual Championship. Inman went to the University of North Carolina where he won the 1984 NCAA Individual Championship, was named All-American three times, and was selected the National Collegiate Golfer of the Year in 1984. Inman won the 1982 Eastern Amateur, the 1984 Western Amateur and the 1985 Azalea Invitational. During his 12 years on the PGA Tour, he won the 1987 Provident Classic and 1993 Buick Southern Open. Inman returned to North Carolina as Head Coach in 1998 where he led the Tar Heels to 16 team championships and five top-20 NCAA finishes during his 13 seasons as coach in Chapel Hill. Inman became the first person to win the ACC Championship as a player (1982) and a coach (2006). Inman returned to the Nationwide Tour in 2011.

zack osborne

A runner in track and cross country, Zack Osborne competed at Grimsley and the University of North Carolina. Graduating from UNC in 1974, Osborne began teaching English and Journalism at Page. Osborne is proud that as a teacher, he never had an absence on the day after a game. Osborne started both soccer programs at Page. As the boys’ coach (1974-2000), Osborne had a record of 410-112-35: winning State Championships in 1977, 1979, 1980, and 1981. Osborne began the girls’ soccer program in 1980 and amassed a record of 442-111-48 before retiring in 2010 with three consecutive State Championships (1986, 1987, and 1988). Osborne coached the Pirates in the first NCHSAA State Championship contest for both boys (1977) and girls (1986). He was the West coach of the first Boys’ East-West All-Star Game in soccer in 1991 and also coached the West girls (2002). Osborne has served as Assistant Track Coach, Head Track Coach, and has been the Cross Country Coach since 2001. Coach Osborne is a member of the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame.

wayne robinson

A standout basketball player at Greensboro Day School, Wayne Robinson was chosen as the 1976 Guilford County Player of the Year. Robinson played four seasons at Virginia Tech, three as a starter, and helped the Hokies to an 81-35 record, two NCAA appearances and one NIT appearance and was named to the 1979 All-Metro Conference Team. Robinson led the team in rebounding three straight years and averaged 15.2 points as a senior. Robinson was the 31st selection in the 1980 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers and was traded to the Detroit Pistons where he averaged 7.4 points per game in the 1980-1981 season. Robinson played seven seasons in the European professional basketball leagues in Italy and Spain. While playing for Real Madrid, Robinson was a part of three National Championship teams (1983-1986) and one European Championship in 1983. Robinson received The Order of The Long Leaf Pine in 1997; was inducted into the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame in 2003; and was named an Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Legend in 2011.

marty sheets

(1953-2015)

Marty Sheets is one of Greensboro’s most decorated Olympians and has been a tremendous ambassador for his city, state, and country. In 1968, Sheets participated in the very first International Special Olympics and won a swimming gold medal. Through the years, Sheets competed in various sports and won more than 250 medals in local, state, national and international competitions, the last coming in 2007. Sheets won international medals in swimming, skiing, tennis, powerlifting, and golf. His lengthy list of accolades include: leading the United States delegation into the stadium during the World Games Opening Ceremonies; sitting with President Bill Clinton during the opening ceremonies of the World Games in 1995; featured on ABC Wide World of Sports in 1991; and being selected as one of five athletes to be included in a portrait with Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 2007. Sheets has long worked as an advocate to raise awareness of people with disabilities.