Ellen Griffin

(1933-2000)

Griffin combined her love for golf and teaching by establishing a facility in Greensboro known as “The Farm.” A 1940 graduate of Woman’s College (now UNCG), she taught in the Physical Education Department until 1968. She was recognized for her work by the LPGA as its national Teacher of the Year in 1962. The LPGA also honors her with the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award, presented annually to an outstanding golf teacher. Griffin was co-author of the textbook “Golf Manual for Teachers” and received the UNCG Distinguished Service Award in 1980.

Jack Warmath

(1929-2013)

Warmath began his tennis career on the municipal courts of Greensboro, where his family moved from his native Louisville. He honed his game at Darlington School in Rome, Georgia and went on to play at Duke for three years. Warmath won the Greensboro city championship twice. He made his mark in state tennis by winning the state junior title and seven doubles titles with three partners, including three times with Allen Morris, another Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame member. He served as president of the Greensboro Tennis Association and ran the state tournament for many years when it was played in Greensboro. Warmath was named to the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.

Virgil Yow

(1907-1984)

Yow grew up in Gibsonville and played basketball, football and baseball at High Point College in the 1920s. In 22 seasons as High Point College men’s basketball coach, Yow had a career record of 308-191; he also coached baseball and football. In 1946, Yow began an eight-year stint coaching the Hanes Hosiery men’s and women’s team. He led the women to three straight AAU national championships, which included a 102-game winning streak. He returned to High Point to coach the Panthers for nine more years. Yow was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1958 and the Helms Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

ethan albright

At Grimsley High School, Albright was a standout in football, basketball and baseball. As a senior, he was selected to the Shrine Bowl and East-West All-Star Game; he was also named All-State in football and the NCHSAA Male Athlete of the Year. A first team All-ACC selection in 1993, Albright was first a tight-end then an offensive tackle at the University of North Carolina from 1989-93. Known for his hard work, Ethan Albright entered the NFL in 1944 as a free agent and spent 17 years in the league with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. Nicknamed “The Red Snapper” because of his position as a long-snapper, he was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2007.

Larry boswell

Boswell, who lives in Jamestown, won 13 Carolinas Golf Association Championships, third highest in CGA history. He didn’t start playing golf until several years after college, winning his first tournament in 1978. He won the inaugural Carolinas Mid-Amateur in 1981 and won it four more times thereafter. Boswell has won CGA championships in five different decades. He has competed in 11 national amateur tournaments conducted by United States Golf Association. In 2009, he was recognized as the PGA Senior Amateur player of the year.

reuben davis

Davis was a standout football player in high school, college and in the NFL. At Grimsley High School, he was an All-State defensive lineman; he also excelled in track, winning the state discus title in 1983. He played at UNC and was first-team All-ACC as a junior. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Davis also played with Arizona and San Diego. He was a member of the 1994 Chargers team that played in the Super Bowl. Davis played 11 NFL seasons and recorded 20½ sacks. He also returned an interception 13 yards for a TD and recorded a safety.

Sandy gann

Gann excelled in coaching boy’s basketball and baseball at Northwest Guilford. He compiled a record of 212-145 in 15 years in basketball, winning four conference titles and five tournament championships. In his 32 seasons as baseball coach, his teams went 422-248, winning six conference titles; in his final year as head coach, the team won NCHSAA State 4-A championship. Gann also served as Northwest’s athletic director for 22 years. As a baseball player at Guilford College, Gann earned all-conference honors in 1965 and 1966 and helped lead his team to fourth-place in the NAIA Tournament.

Dick grubar

As a Greensboro City Council member, Grubar was instrumental in the expansion of the Greensboro Coliseum to over 23,000 seats, and gaining support to pass the referendum to build a new downtown baseball stadium. He has been active in the community as a board member and chairman of the Greensboro Sports Commission, the Coliseum War Memorial Commission, and the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Grubar was chairman of the committee to establish the Atlantic Coast Conference Hall of Fame. A native of Schenectady, N.Y., he was a point guard at North Carolina for three years, 1967-69, during which the Tar Heels won three straight ACC regular season and ACC Tournament titles and made three straight Final Fours. He played for the legendary Coach Dean Smith.

joey hackett

Hackett was a three-sport star in high school and a football and baseball star in college. A quarterback at Southern Guilford, he converted to tight-end at Elon College, where he helped his team to the 1980 NAIA national championship and was named an All-American. He also earned that accolade playing for Elon’s baseball team, hitting .396 with 17 homers and 28 stolen bases as a senior. Twice chosen in the major league draft, Hackett decided to pursue a pro football career. He spent two years with the San Antonio Gunslingers in the USFL, catching 63 passes for eight TDs. Hackett played with Green Bay and Denver in the NFL and participated in Super Bowl XXI with the Broncos.

Jean lojko

Few people have served one school in as many capacities as Jean Lojko. At Greensboro College, she was head coach in volleyball, women’s basketball and women’s tennis; she served as athletic director, other administrative roles, and was an associate professor of physical education. Her volleyball teams won 649 games in her 31 seasons, earning national rankings four times and regional rankings 14 times. Lojko was an all-around athlete at Western Guilford High School and at UNC Greensboro. At Western, she lettered in volleyball, basketball, track and tennis. She had a similar career at UNCG, playing volleyball and softball for four years and basketball for two years.

stahle’ vincent

After an exceptional career in three sports at Dudley High School, Vincent wanted the opportunity to play quarterback in college; however, he didn’t set out to be a pioneer. That chance came at Rice, where he was one of the first three African-American football players. As a sophomore in 1969, Vincent earned the starting position and became the first black quarterback in the Southwest Conference. He moved to halfback for his last two seasons gaining 1,675 yards in his career, setting a school record with 945 yards as a senior. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing one season before a knee injury ended his career. He was inducted into Rice’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

roger watson

Watson has made his mark on golf as a player, teacher, club pro and businessman. He was an NAIA All-American at High Point University. Electing to become a club professional instead of a PGA player, Watson was the head pro at courses in Lexington and Cary. He won the 1969 North Carolina Open and the 1976 Carolinas PGA titles. His best-known win came in 1974, when he won the National PGA Club Pro championship in a sudden-death playoff over all-time great Sam Snead at Pinehurst No. 2; he repeated as champion in 1975. Over the years, he has founded several partnerships and developed many golf courses in North Carolina.