Mebane Sports Hall of Fame Induction Gala
The Mebane Sports Hall of Fame recognizes and perpetuates the noteworthy athletic tradition of the Mebane Community by honoring and memorializing individuals and /or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to this tradition.
Saturday, June 18, 2022
Tickets
- $25.00 per person (tables will seat a maximum of 8)
- Purchase tickets online
- Visit the Mebane Arts and Community Center during normal business hours.
Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
JJ Knox began teaching and coaching at Eastern Alamance High School in 1977 and 1979, respectively. He started the Cross-Country Program in 1979 and took over as head track coach in 1981. In 1980 Coach Knox started the indoor track program. Coach Knox led his CC and Track teams to numerous conferences, regional and state championships. The Eastern Alamance track and a trail at Lake Michael Park have been named after coach Knox.
Gerald Smith is known as the first player to make a basket in a game for Eastern Alamance High School and was also in their first graduating class. Mr. Smith was named to the 1963 All-State Team and was MVP of Alamance County that same year. Gerald was the only basketball player from Eastern Alamance for 41 years to play college basketball.
2005 Eastern Alamance Women’s Relay State Champions – The five women who combined for the 2005, 4×200 and 4×400 state championship relay teams are; Augusta Bartis, Hannah Flippin, Lakeyshia Foust, Fairren Thompson, and Courtney White. Those participating in the 4×400 held the state record for 14 years until it was broken in 2019. These ladies were coached by Anthony Noel and truly wanted the best for each other. The five ladies were interchangeable, and once they had won the 4×400 relay, they changed out one member to create an “all seniors” team and won the 4×200.
Sports Hall of Honor Inductees
Glendel Stephenson is the recently retired mayor of the City of Mebane with 35 years of service. Stephenson saw the City grow from 2,600 to 16,000 people, which includes all the athletes both in the Recreation and Parks programs and at Eastern Alamance. Stephenson supported numerous Athletic Facility additions and improvements, including the new Mebane Community Park.
Chip Foushee – Served as President. Vice President, Treasurer, or Board Member each year since MYSA’s inception. Chip coached Co-ed Recreation teams ages 4 through 8 and High School Recreation teams along with boys Travel Teams ages 9 through 17. Since 2015 he has exclusively coached girls travel teams, more specifically high school junior and senior ages. These girls teams have competed at the Classic Div 2 and Div 1 levels winning pre and post-season tournaments. Mr. Foushee was the driving force behind girls soccer in Mebane, as recently as 2014 MYSA was not able to field girls travel teams at every age level. With his hard work and dedication, girls soccer is making it’s mark on the state and national level.
Debbie Timberlake Bullins played Basketball and Volleyball at Elon College in each of her four years from 1970-1974. After completing her Master’s Degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, she began teaching PE, Health, and Social Studies at Woodlawn Middle School. She was also the Woodlawn Middle School Athletic Director from 1975-2008. Debbie coached numerous teams at Woodlawn, but also travel ball, and recreational teams.
Keynote speaker
Kirk Puckett – A couple of coaches helped Kirk Puckett understand early on; he couldn’t play dead in a cowboy movie! But he found a place in sports behind the microphone. A professed better talker than player, his semi-professional career started in high school, as the PA announcer for any event requiring one. In 1976, he hit the airwaves to broadcast his first high school football game. Since then, Kirk has worked for every radio station in Alamance County, pursuing his passion. In 2009, he took Eastern football to the world, introducing internet webcasting for 8 seasons. His broadcast career also included 2 seasons with Elon football, and color announcer for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Kirk took off his headset for the final time at the conclusion of Eastern’s 2016 season. He has been resting comfortably in retirement ever since.
Future inductees
The Hall of Fame Committee has an ongoing search for potential inductees. If you would like to submit an entry to be considered by the committee you may e-mail the recommendation to Aaron Davis.