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NC
Sports Hall of Fame History
By: Dick Herbert |
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Formation of
a North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame had been discussed
by a number of individuals and groups for some time
prior to its actual birth in 1962 when the Sports
Award Committee of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
did something about the idea.
Jack Wood, merchant, and Lloyd Caudle, attorney, were
two of the leaders in establishing the Hall. The first
official meeting was held in Charlotte on February
8, 1963.
A constitution was adopted, and the first five inductees
were elected: Jim Beaty, Wes Ferrell, Charlie Justice,
Ace Parker, and Estelle Lawson Page. The first induction
banquet was held in Charlotte in December, 1963. The
Board of Directors has remained a combination of leading
citizens and prominent Hall members.
At each induction banquet, the inductees leave the
Hall some memento of their career. From the beginning
there was a desire to someday have permanent home for
the Hall and these mementos, but there was a reluctance
to become involved with commercial enterprises and
fund raising for a building and maintenance. In 1969,
the Charlotte Coliseum agreed to display the mementos
in trophy cases in the corridor of the building, with
the hope that expansion of the building would include
a Hall of Fame Room. Unfortunately, expansion was rejected.
The memorabilia was transferred to the North Carolina
Museum of History in Raleigh, which already was overcrowded
and could offer only a limited exhibition.
In February of 1982, a two-year Hall of Fame exhibit
was opened at the Museum. Increased attendance proved
the effort to be successful.
The Hall of Fame decided it would await the outcome
of hoped-for expansion of the Museum of History before
locating elsewhere. The General Assembly approved the
construction of a new museum. Four thousand square
feet of space was allotted for a permanent Hall exhibit
and in 1987 the Legislature voted $250,000 for its
design. Another $475,000 was given in 1992. The monies
were used to assist in exhibit construction and to
sustain the Hall's annual operation. Grand opening
was in April of 1994. |
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