honored five outstanding individuals as well as major donors to
the First and Ten Campaign for Football.
James (Buddy) Bell '58 received the Distinguished Service
Award. One of the community's most recognizable citizens, he
was captain of PSC's basketball and baseball team his senior
year.
Bell's dedication to the university continues today. He was
a volunteer fundraiser during the successful First and Ten
Campaign, when football returned to UNCP in 2007. He is a
former member of the university's Board of Trustees and is a
founding member of the Braves Club, UNCP's athletic booster
organization.
Dr. Curt Locklear `75, who was also honored Friday night
as a major contributor to the First and Ten Campaign, received
the Outstanding Alumnus award. A veterinarian, Dr. Locklear is
a member of the Chancellor's Club, the university's top donor
organization.
Introducing her brother, Cathy Thomas said Curt Locklear
"demonstrates the core values of this university: self realization,
lifelong learning and mentorship of young people. His
commitment to serving the region extends to churches, schools,
medical care and more," she continued. "He has shared his
time, money and encouragement to foster growth in education,
health, churches, charities, the arts and UNCP."
In his remarks, Dr. Locklear said "nobody could have
enjoyed being at this university as much as I did. I developed a
close relationship with my professors. I spent four good years
here."
Jamie Goins, a school counselor and an advocate for youth
as a professional and volunteer, received the Young Alumna
Award. As an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill, she was a
founding member of Pi Alpha Omega, the nation's first sorority
for American Indians.
"UNCP has been a major part of my life and the lives of my
family members who attended the university," said Goins, who
earned a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Arts in
service agency counseling degree from UNCP. "It continues to
be a big part of our lives with two nephews enrolled."
American wrestler Matt Lynch `75 were inducted as the 74th
and 75th members of UNCP's Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Jones era was a golden age of athletics. The university
joined its first conference, won its first national championship
and constructed the English Jones Health and Physical
Education Center, the home of UNCP athletics.
In accepting the award, his son, Randall Jones '72,
remembered a father's love of sports. "My father truly loved this
institution," he said. "He believed in athletic programs because
it brought students to this school. If he was here today, they'd
have to make a place for him on the bench for football games."
Lynch won 100 wrestling matches at UNCP, and he has
coached at several local high schools and clubs over the past
36 years. He could not attend the induction ceremony due
to another important engagement. He sent a message to the
gathering that athletic director Dan Kenney read.
"This is one of the highlights of my life," Lynch wrote. "I
regret not being able to accept this award in person, but I am a
coach, and this is Friday night.
"If not for wrestling, I doubt I would have found the
motivation to go to college," he continued. "I appreciate the
university taking a chance on a long-haired young man from
New Jersey."
one." Pumped up by a large homecoming crowd, the Braves
busted out of the gate and built a 20-0 lead in the first quarter.
Running and passing at will, they led at halftime, 37-17.
The Pioneers of Tusculum stayed in the game, however,
buoyed by the passing of Torrey Slaven who threw for 448 yards
and completed 33 of 45 passes. But UNCP's balanced air and
ground attacks overwhelmed the visitors.
School records were broken for
total points, 58, and for total yards on
offense, 665. Travis Daniels rushed for
177 yards, and sophomore quarterback
Luke Charles passed for 367 more.
Coach Pete Shinnick was pleased
with the Braves performance that left
them 4-2 for the season.
"It's exciting to see guys make some
of the plays they have been making,"
Shinnick said. "I am just really happy
for our guys and all of the hard work
that they have put in.
"I give Tusculum a lot of credit
because they find a way to score a bunch of points. That's a
tribute to (Tusculum coach) Frankie (Debusk) and his staff,"
he continued. "They find a way to fight and scratch and keep
themselves in games."
Chancellor Carter also praised the team's performance.
"Homecoming is always good fun, but when the home team
wins, it becomes great fun," he said. "Credit goes to Coach
Shinnick, his staff and the team. They were well-prepared and
motivated. The fans truly appreciated their outstanding play."
Award winner Buddy Bell, Outstanding Young Alumna Jamie Goins and for
Athletic Hall of Fame inductee English Jones is his son, Randall Jones. Matt
Lynch, a Hall of Fame inductee, is not pictured