Al Proctor has been called the “Father of Sports Medicine” on the high school scene in North Carolina.

He hosted the first athletic training clinic in the state in 1962, and over a 34-year span, taught 5,000 students his taping and treatment techniques.

As Director of Athletics, Sports Medicine and Healthful Living with the Department of Public Instruction, he supervised the development of sports medicine programs in the state’s high schools and created an adult-teacher certification program.

The addition of student trainers and teacher certified personnel led to a dramatic drop in injuries and re-injuries. Proctor even shared his expertise overseas, conducting clinics in Germany and Hawaii during his serviceable career.

The Newton-Conover, N.C., native earned his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in August 1991 at Michigan International Speedway in a car owned by the famed Wood Brothers. Jarrett captured 3 Daytona 500 victories in his career. In his career Jarrett won a total of 32 Cup races.  Dale Jarrett won the NASCAR Cup Championship in 1999.

Born the son of NASCAR legend, Ned Jarrett, Dale's path to NASCAR stardom appeared inevitable, as a passion for racing fueled Jarrett's ambition early in his career. If not for his desire to race cars, Jarrett's career easily could have detoured down the path of another sport. Jarrett was star athlete at Newton-Conover High School, excelling in football, basketball, baseball and golf.

Larry Lindsey retired from coaching in 1992, but his accomplishments haven’t dimmed with the passage of time.

In 28 seasons as a high school coach, his teams won eight state championships in three different classifications -- 1A, 2A, and 3A. He won the first two at Youngsville and the last six at Wake Forest-Rolesville, where the gymnasium bears his name.

His resume also includes about 20 conference titles, 20 Coach-of-the-Year awards, a 609-156 overall record and induction into three Halls of Fame.

A standout player at Youngsville High and Pembroke State University, Lindsey often took small teams and turned them into giant-killing champions. Aggressive man-to-man defense and disruptive zone presses were staples of his program.

Gene Overby was recognized throughout the Atlantic Coast Conference as the “Voice of the Deacons” for his work with the school’s radio network. Overby was twice named the North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year and began his play-by-play work for the Demon Deacons in 1972. A native of Reidsville, N.C., Overby’s initial involvement with the ACC came as a radio announcer in Durham covering the Duke Blue Devils.  He and his family moved to Winston-Salem in 1966 when he began broadcasting minor league baseball and Winston-Salem State University football. Wake Forest recognized Overby with its “Honorary Alumnus” Award in 1984. He was inducted into the Wake Forest University Sports Hall of Fame in the fall of 1988.

A lifelong North Carolinian, Tom Parham has been a teacher, coach & athletics administrator.  His teams won three National Championships and he was selected National Tennis Coach of the Year four times.  A Professor Emeritus at Elon, Parham was awarded the Elon Medallion in 2004, the University’s highest honor. 

Tom has taught the game of tennis to thousands of North Carolinians, and has been a supporter of junior and college tennis throughout his career.  He has been recognized with three National Community Service awards, and was awarded the “Order of The Long Leaf Pine” by The State of North Carolina in 1979. 

Ricky Proehl is the owner of Proehlific Park, a family sports complex in Greensboro, NC. The complex for families is a way for Ricky to have a positive influence on the lives of young men and women.  Ricky is likely best known for all of his achievements in football.  He is a Wake Forest graduate and still holds the school’s records for receiving yards and touchdowns.  After college Ricky played 17 years in the NFL.  One of his most memorable moments was catching the winning touchdown at the NFC championship game sending the Rams to Super Bowl XXXIV.  Proehl played in 4 Super Bowls winning two; one with the Rams and the other with the Colts.  Ricky Proehl was born in the Bronx, NY.

Star athlete. Championship coach. Renowned author. Community leader.

At Edenton High Tolley earned 15 letters, made Honorable Mention All-America in football, set several state records, and was voted Most Outstanding Player on the 1960 State championship team.

He continued starring in track and football at East Carolina, setting nine school records in the latter sport.

As Elon’s head coach, Tolley won two national titles, compiled a 49-11-2 record and is believed to own the highest winning percentage (80.6) in North Carolina collegiate football lore. He's also the only person in Elon's 120-year history honored with coach emeritus status.

As an author, Tolley produced six books which have sold in every state and  25 countries.

He also is a four-term Mayor of Elon, the longest serving mayor in the town’s 117-year history.