A virtual Who’s Who of influential North Carolinians has agreed to serve as an advisory board for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
    The group, a first for the North Carolina Hall, will be chaired by former North Carolina and NBA basketball star Lee Shaffer of Chapel Hill. Shaffer is president of Kenan Transport Company and a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1993.
    The volunteer board will play an important role as the Hall embarks on an ambitious program to become more visible and relevant to citizens throughout the state.
    “We are gratified that so many people who already have done so much for the state of North Carolina would join forces with us as we move into the future,” said Nat Walker, who became president of the Hall on January 1. “We already have benefited from their support and we know that we can reach our goals with their help.”
    High on the Hall’s list of priorities are a renovation and expansion of exhibit space at the North Carolina Museum of History, the creation of a far-reaching education program that will be made available electronically to primary and secondary teachers and students throughout the state, and a mobile exhibit that would take the message of the Hall to all corners of the state.
    The board currently numbers 16, but others will be added, Walker said.
    Joining Shaffer on the advisory board are:
    Charlie Adams of Chapel Hill, executive director of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and a member of the Hall of Fame (Class of 2006).
    Don Beaver of Beaver Sports Properties in Conover. Beaver is owner and developer of the Rock Barn golf course near Hickory and owner of the Hickory Crawdads minor league baseball franchise.
    Steve Bryant, owner of the Zebulon Mudcats minor league franchise and a business executive.
    Marc Bush, president of the Greensboro Sports Commission, one of the moving forces in bringing various sports events to Greensboro.
    Richard Childress of Welcome, president and chief executive officer of Richard Childress Racing, one of NASCAR’s most successful teams, and owner and operator of Childress Vineyards and Winery.
    Van Eure of Raleigh, owner of Angus Barn, Inc., who has played a major role in various Triangle and state development initiatives.
    University of North Carolina System President Emeritus William Friday of Chapel Hill.
    Jim Goodmon of Raleigh, president and chief executive officer of Capital Broadcasting and owner of the Durham Bulls minor league franchise.
    Charlotte businessman John W. Harris, president and chief executive officer of Lincoln Harris, LLC, a full-service commercial real estate company.
    Frank Holding Jr. of Raleigh, president and chief executive officer of First Citizens Bank.
    Wendell Murphy of Rose Hill, a former state legislator and one of the driving forces behind the construction of the RBC Center and the expansion of Carter-Finley Stadium.
    Ben Sutton Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of ISP, a national sports marketing company headquartered in Winston-Salem.
    John Swofford of Greensboro, commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Swofford is one of six who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the organization’s 2009 banquet at the North Raleigh Hilton on May 14.
    Richard Vaughn of Mount Airy, chairman and chief executive officer of the John S. Clark Co., general building contractors.