WS Chronicle

The R.J. Reynolds High School Booster Club will soon induct the ninth class of their sports Hall of Fame. The Booster Club will hold a reception on January 25 at 5:30 p.m., followed by an induction ceremony at halftime of the basketball game held that evening.

The inductees are JaWaren “Jay” Blair, Greg Cox, Rod Dunlap, Rich Habegger, Mike Jordan, Chris McCoy, Charlton Rolle, Bob Russell, Jim Waller and Loni Worsley.

McCoy, former running back for the Demons, had a stellar career for Reynolds during the mid-1990s. McCoy was a three-time all-conference player who graduated with several school records such as most rushing yards and touchdowns. McCoy went on to play collegiate football at Wake Forest.

McCoy is currently the head JV football coach for Reagan High School in Pfafftown. He says Reynolds will always hold a special place in his heart and being inducted into the hall of fame is an honor he will cherish for life.

“The person that told me was my former principal, Mr. Stan Elrod, and me, Rod Dunlap and Jay Blair have been plotting on how and when we were going to go in, because we wanted to do it together,” said McCoy.  “So, when Mr. Elrod told me and said the other two had made it as well, I was very excited, because he calls us ‘his boys.’ It kind of closes the final chapter of my high school career.

“I just wanted to leave a legacy there and with this I think I have solidified my legacy at Reynolds High School.”

For McCoy, this honor brings back memories of being on the field with his teammates in the huddle. He says it reminds him of times when his offensive linemen and quarterback would tell him they needed him at that moment.  

“It brought back those memories of team bonding in those huddles and the inspiration we gave each other to fight and scrap for every yard,” he continued.  

It is a bittersweet moment when his Raiders match up against Reynolds, but said with such a tough conference, every victory is needed, so he roots for the Demons every game except for the game against his Raider team.  

Never one to toot his own horn, McCoy says he is extremely humbled by this honor and hopes it inspires his players to strive to be the best they can be.

Dunlap will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for his work on the football field and basketball court. The two-sport star is now an assistant coach for Reynolds varsity football team. He said he couldn’t believe he was selected at first and honored to be an inductee.

Dunlap was a two-time All-Northwest selection by the Winston-Salem Journal in football and was also All-Northwest in basketball as well. He went on to play linebacker at Western Carolina and led the team in tackles as a senior in 2003.

“Once everything was confirmed, I was excited and honored to be a part of such an elite group of guys that I either played with, or grew up watching,” said Dunlap. “It’s funny because of the individual accolades that I accomplished, the thing that sticks out to me is team related.”

When his players find out how great Dunlap was on the court and football field, it gives him that much more credibility, he says. A few of his players were shocked when Dunlap informed them he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“We can say how good we were back in the day, but to actually go to a Hall of Fame ceremony and being able to see your coach being inducted, it gives them something to shoot for and tell themselves they can do the same thing,” he said about his players.

The message Dunlap wants to convey to his players is that he wants them to be better than he was. His hope is to have them learn from his mistakes, so they will not have to repeat them. 

Both Dunlap and McCoy say they can’t wait until the night of the ceremony to see old teammates, coaches and friends. To have the chance to coach the next generation of players from the same place they made a name for themselves is a bonus, they said.