WS Chronicle

Photo by Timothy Ramsey

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY

THE CHRONICLE

The Winston-Salem Sportsmen Club in cooperation with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools system and others just ushered in their 34th class of the High School Hall of Fame.  The event, which took place on Friday, May 5, at the Benton Convention Center, welcomed 11 new members into the hall.

Since its inception, The Winston-Salem Sportsmen Club has been committed to recognizing and rewarding excellence in athletics.  In 1981 an idea was proposed of a high school sports hall of fame and on May 25, 1983, the first ceremony took place.

The new inductees were; Joe Burchette, Jerry E. Echols, Joe Bill Ellender, SamQuan RaJohn Evans, David Brooks “Dave” Goren, Michael A. Grace Jr., Michael J. Hardee, Hansel Hentz, Whitney Knight, Greg D. Scales and Talmadge “Tab” Thacker.

The ceremony was a love-filled event where family, friends and fellow hall of famers all celebrated the new inductees.  All of the new members seemed to be on cloud nine as their induction day had finally arrived.

“I’m pretty excited and feeling a little anxious,” said Greg Scales, a 2017 HOF inductee.  “It will be like I finally arrived because it took a while for me to put my stuff in the hat, but I’m so glad I did it.”

Goren, who served double duty as the event emcee and inductee, says he was honored to be entered with all of the former athletes.

“Gratitude, humility and it’s very exciting,” he said of the emotions he was feeling that evening. “To go in with so many people that I covered, whether they were coaches or players is really neat. It’s a great thing this organization does for high school athletics and the community at large.  You never feel worthy of being inducted but I definitely wont give it back.”

As the event started the inductees were brought in one by one and seated on the stage. Singing was provided by vocalist Ralph Meadows.

Mayor Allen Joines and other elected officials greeted the 2017 class for their outstanding achievement.  Once dinner was finished the hall of famers were recognized and given a chance to deliver their speeches.

Sportsman Club President, Robert Wynn, said he was honored to have such a diverse group enter the hall of fame.  As a hall of famer himself he has seen the best the county has to offer for many decades.

“It is a great feeling I have because of the great talent and varied group that we have going in tonight,” he said.  “I am overjoyed with the caliber of people that we have coming in tonight but more than that I am overwhelmed with what they have accomplished after finishing high school.”

Hansel Hentz, who was honored posthumously, was represented by his daughter Malika Fletcher, who said she wished her father could have been there to receive the honor in person.

“This is great and I know the emotion will hit me once I get that medallion around my neck,” she said.  “This is something he really wanted, he wanted it last year and he is not here now so I know I will be really emotional.  I just wish he was here to experience what I am experiencing now.”