E. NILES BROWN
 

*Elizabethton High’s head football coach from 1926 to 1947, winning the 1938 state championship with a 12-0-1 mark.

*Guided the Cyclones to six conference titles (four outright), prevailing in 1931, ’38 (Co-champs), ’41, ’42 (Tri-champs),’ 43 and ’44.

*Won approximately 125 games for the Cyclones.

*Elizabethton’s football stadium is partly named in his honor.

*Coached Elizabethton’s boys basketball team for more than 10 years, divided into two stints.

*Won the Big Five Conference title and led the Cyclones to their first district tournament championship in his first year (1931-32) on the hardwood. In his final season, guided EHS to the 1944 state championship game.

*Headed the EHS girls basketball program for two seasons. In the first of those years, he ushered the Lady Flashers (EHS) to a runner-up finish in the 1931 Upper East Tennessee Regional Tournament.

*Later coached Science Hill’s football team for several seasons.

*1988 Northeast Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee.

*Elizabethton High Sports Hall of Famer.

LESLIE CAMPBELL

*Starred on the Little Milligan Elementary basketball boys team (no girls team at the time). Played on the school’s first regional championship squad.

*Played for Hampton High from 1983-84 to 1986-87.

*Three-time all-state performer.

*Four-time All-Watauga Conference player.

*According to school records and published reports, scored close to 2,500 career points (tops in school history) for the Lady Bulldogs — posting an average of 24 points per game.

*Had reached the 1,000-point plateau before the end of her sophomore campaign.

*Averaged 18 points per game as a freshman, then more than 20 in each of her final three seasons.

*Scored 39 points in a game at Johnson County as a junior.

*All-District and All-Regional tournament selection as a senior.

*Ranks third in Milligan College history with 2,313 points.

*Enjoyed a successful tenure as Little Milligan’s girls basketball coach.

*Succeeded Doug Phillips as the Hampton High girls basketball coach in 2001. Coached the Lady Bulldogs for three seasons and part of a fourth, guiding the team to the 2002 District 1-AA tournament championship.
 

DAN CROWE

*Lettered in track & field for Elizabethton High School in 1949 and ’50.

*Lettered in track & field for East Tennessee State University in 1954 and ’55.

*Organized and coached first track & field team at Hampton High in 1956. Continued in that role through 1963.

*Helped organize county-wide track & field meets for Carter County.

*Coached at East Forsyth High School in Winston Salem (N.C.) for three years (1963-66).

*Coached at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport from 1967 to 1979.

*Between 90 to 100 team championships were won in his years as a high school coach.

While at Dobyns-Bennett:

*Three state championships (1971, ’72, ’79) and a pair of runner-up finishes (1969, ’70).

*Undefeated in Big 10 Conference with 13 titles.

*13 District 1 championships.

*Duke-Durham Relays champions in 1969 and ’71.

*Southern Classic champions in 1969 and ’71.

*Six East Tennessee Regional crowns.

*Selected East Tennessee Coach of the Year by the Knoxville Track Club in 1970, ’71 and ’72.

*Six conference and regional titles in cross country. Three-time state runner-up.

*Is a member of the Elizabethton High, TSSAA and Tennessee Sports halls of fame.

ETCETERA

*Born and raised in the Horseshoe Community (Wilbur Dam area) of Carter County.

*Called into service with Co. F, 278th Infantry in 1950. Saw combat with first Calvary and 45th division in Korea.

*Married to Wilma Lewis, former math teacher at Elizabethton High School. Has one daughter, Judy Reedy — wife of Dr. Gary Reedy — and one granddaughter, Bailey, in Clark’s Summitt, Penn.

CARMON DUGGER

*After high school, played three seasons in the old Six Star Baseball League.

*From there, joined the Marine Corps and enjoyed great success in military baseball.

*Played in Japan (1949-50) with U.S. Marine team, recording a brilliant pitching mark of 49-2. Threw a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts against the 5th Calvary squad from Camp McGill.

*Pitched against the San Francisco Seals, a Class AAA club on tour of Japan, in 1949. Dugger was the only pitcher to beat them on their tour.

*Played at Pearl Harbor in 1951 for Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller, who remains one of the most, if not the most, decorated members in the Marines Corps’ history.

*Appearing in 74 games (41 starts) as a pitcher, Dugger registered a 25-17 record and 3.66 earned-run average during three years (1953-55) of Minor League Baseball. Batted .266 with eight doubles, three triples and two home runs in 256 career at-bats (68 hits).

*Started with Winston Salem (Class B) of the Carolina League. Pitching in 34 games (24 starts), he went 10-10 with a 3.68 earned-run average.

*Played for both Lynchburg (Piedmont League, Class B) and Omaha (Western League, Class A) in 1954 — breaking even from the mound with a 3-3 mark.

*Spent his final season with the Salem Rebels of the Appalachian League (Class D). Enjoyed his best statistical season, recording a 12-4 record with a 3.63 ERA in 28 appearances — including 17 starts. Turning in a career-high 110 at-bats, Dugger hit a career-best .318 with five doubles and three triples.

*Very first Elizabethton Parks & Recreation Department director (1966-91). Played an integral role in bringing a Minnesota Twins rookie league club to Elizabethton in the 1970s.

*Started first Senior Citizens Center.

*Remodeled old armory building for recreation center.

*Built 13 ball fields, 13 tennis courts and five playgrounds.

*Built Twins’ field in 1974. Riverside Park (where Twins play) has since been renamed “Carmon Dugger Park.”

JIM ENSOR

*The Ensor family would like to thank the Carter County Sports Hall of Fame committee for choosing its father, grandfather and great-grandfather for this honor.

*Beginning in 1955, Ensor recorded a 28-year career in Carter County youth baseball. It all started when then-Boys Club director Buck VanHuss told Jim he should get his son Richard, who was 12 at the time, to play Little League. Jim began helping and got involved, and he never left.

*Managed Little League, Junior Babe Ruth and Pony and Colt League teams during this time, most of it with the Citizens Bank team in the American Little League.

*His teams won several league titles over the years. A Colt League team he coached made the national tournament in Tampa, Fla., in 1958. In 1962, his Colt League team won the regional tournament. He also took several all-star teams to tournaments.

*Was a great manager to play for as he did things in an easy-going fashion with a desire to help kids learn and enjoy a sport he loved.

*American Little League baseball field is named in his honor.

*Jim was a great athlete himself, playing semi-pro baseball in the Six Star League as a pitcher, for another club in Gatlinburg as a pitcher, and a CCC team in Oregon.

*Ensor was an avid sports fan and loved to go to all sporting events. He also loved to attend his church and sing in the choir. He was not only a great coach, his family expressed, but a wonderful person.

WILLIAM “BILLY BOB” GARRISON

*Participated in Elizabethton High athletics from 1951 to 1955. Member of the EHS Sports Hall of Fame.

(Basketball)

*Scored about 850 career points for Elizabethton in basketball, averaging 10 a game as a junior and senior. 

*Three-time All-Big Five Conference performer (twice on second team, once on first team) and two-time Elizabethton Star All-County selection (once on first team, once on second team). 

*Voted to Maryville all-tournament team as a sophomore.

(Baseball)

Batted .326 as a sophomore, .319 as a junior and .351 in senior campaign.

(Football)

*As a junior, finished third in Big Five Conference scoring with 44 points. The fullback rushed for 493 yards, including a team-best 476 during the regular season.

*Johnson City Press All-Big Five pick and honorable mention for The Associated Press All-State team. Had good senior season shortened by a broken leg in fourth game.

OFFICIAL

*Entered the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2010, based on a long and distinguished career in officiating (football, baseball, basketball).

Most notably, worked six state baseball tournaments and served for 20 years as a basketball supervisor. Also worked regional basketball and baseball tournaments, as well as several football playoff games.

*Was long a fixture umpiring church and industrial league softball games. Softball field beside jail is named in his honor.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

*Played two seasons of Class D ball. Spent 1955 with Welch/Marion and Bluefield of the Appalachian League — then 1956 with Fitzgerald of the Georgia-Florida League. Appeared in 58 games and totaled 29 hits, including seven doubles, two triples and a home run.
 

SID HATHAWAY

*Played basketball and baseball for Elizabethton High School (1943-47).

*As an EHS basketball player, topped the Cyclones in scoring three consecutive seasons (1944-45 to 1946-47). Was an All-Big Five Conference and All-District 16 tournament performer in each of his last two years with EHS.

*Played basketball for Milligan College from 1947 to 1951. Still ranks as the 10th-leading scorer in the history of the program with 1,692 points — an average of 16.9 per contest.

*Was Milligan’s top scorer for the 1949-50 campaign.

*Spent three years playing baseball (1949-51) in the Appalachian League, batting .318 for Elizabethton in 1949 before hitting .344 and .362 in two seasons with Johnson City. His hit totals, in order, were 150, 150 and 156 — giving him a career total of 456. Also collected 20 or more doubles (71 total) during that stretch (20, 27, 24) and homered 13 times. 

*Finished his pro career for the Lynchburg Cardinals (Class B) of the Piedmont League in 1954. 

*In between his Appy League years and time spent with Lynchburg, Hathaway was a baseball player for an accomplished Fort Jackson (S.C.) team while in the military.

*Also participated in semi-pro baseball in the old Six Star League.

*Was at T.A. Dugger from 1954 to 1970. Coached the basketball team to a 259-21 record, going 30-4-1 in football.

*Spent 1971 to 1985 at Elizabethton High. Worked as an assistant coach in football.
 

DAVID HOLTSCLAW

*After attending Elizabethton High as a freshman, Holtsclaw transferred to Hampton and played football under coach John Pansock from 1954 to 1956.

*Ran for 1,400 yards as a senior, distinguishing himself as the Bulldogs’ first 1,000-yard rusher. In the process, Hampton won its first Watauga Conference championship — finishing 6-0 in league play.

*Also as a senior, Holtsclaw rushed for a school-record 303 yards against Jonesboro in a game at Memorial Stadium. That record stood for 55 years, finally falling in 2011.

*Was an All-Watauga Conference selection as a senior.

*Entering the Marines after high school, Holtsclaw proved successful in military base football.

*Joined the team at East Tennessee State in 1962, quickly earned a scholarship and went on lead the Buccaneers in rushing as a freshman, junior and senior. Holtsclaw became a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference performer (’62,’63,’64) — and was named a Little All-American as a junior (’64).

*Helped the Buccaneers go 7-3 and tie for the OVC championship in 1962, then achieve a 7-2 mark the following season.

*Former high school head coach. Remains the only coach to lead David Crockett to more than one winning season, doing it back-to-back in 1973 and ’74.

NICK HYDER

*Played four years of football for Elizabethton High, working at fullback and linebacker. Team lost only one game during the 1951 and ’52 seasons and appeared in two bowl games.

*Led the Cyclones in rushing and scoring as a senior (1952).

*Graduated from EHS sixth academically in a class of 206 with a 93.6 GPA.

*Awarded a football scholarship to Carson-Newman College, where he became a two-way starter for coach Roy Harmon. The Eagles never had a losing season in Hyder’s four years.

*In 1956, topped Carson-Newman in scoring and voted by teammates as Most Versatile Man.

*Earned undergraduate degree from Carson-Newman in 1957 and entered the University of Tennessee.

*Gained master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in 1958. Hired by Paul Kennedy at Georgia’s West Rome High School as teacher, junior varsity girls basketball, junior varsity football and head baseball coach.

*High school head football coach in Georgia for 28 years (1968-1995), putting up a 302-48-5 record for a remarkable .858 winning percentage.

*Coached West Rome from 1968 to 1973 (six seasons) before spending his final 22 years at Valdosta.

*Went 53-12-3 with three Region 7-AA championships and a state semifinal appearance at West Rome. Served as an assistant coach on Rome’s 1965 state title winner.

*Hyder coached the WRHS baseball team a 124-67 mark and two state crowns (1960, ’62).

*Posted a 249-36-2 record with Valdosta, capturing two national championships (1984, 1986), seven Class 4A state championships and a pair of state runner-up showings.

*Captured countless coaching awards over the years. In 1970, was selected as an “Outstanding Young Man in America” by the National Junior Chamber of Commerce.
 

DANNY “PERT” JENKINS

Elizabethton High football

*First-team All-Big Nine Conference pick (linebacker) as a junior (1971). Also made Elizabethton Star’s All-Big Nine team (LB).

1972

*First-team Associated Press All-State (lineman)

*UPI All-State.

*Second-team Sportswriter Association All-State (lineman)

*First-team All-Big Nine (LB)

*Elizabethton Star All-Big 9 (G and LB)

*Bristol Herald-Courier All-Big Nine (Lineman of the Year, linebacker)

*First-team Johnson City Press All-Big Nine (guard)

*Team went 9-1, rising to as high as No. 2 in the state polls.

*Bulldog Laws Award winner

University of Tennessee football

*Honorable mention All-SEC as a senior.

*Recorded 90 tackles (55 solo), four fumble recoveries and team-high 5 sacks in his final season as a Volunteer.

*Member of Elizabethton High Sports Hall of Fame.
 

RHUDY JOHNSON

*Finished his Cloudland High basketball career (1958-62) with more than 1,600 points, leading the team in scoring as a sophomore, junior and senior.

*Pumped in 35 points in a game against Sulphur Springs as a sophomore.

*Watauga Conference scoring champion as a junior, averaging 18.5 points a game during regular-season play. Reached double digits in all but two games that season. Top highlight was a 36-point performance vs. Jonesboro.

*Posted three 30-point games as a senior. Scored 31 at Sullivan, 35 at Happy Valley and 44 at Bluff City. At this time, his output against Bluff City represented a school record. Had a four-game stretch where he put up 120 points, plus a five-game stretch that saw him tally 127.

*Tallied more than 500 points in each of his final two seasons.

*Two-time All-Watauga Conference pick (junior and senior years). As a senior, made the All-Watauga, Elizabethton Star All-Watauga and All-Johnson City Invitational teams. Honorable mention all-state.

*Played for East Tennessee State University.
 

LORI LYONS-WILSON

*2002 Western Carolina University Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

*Elizabethton High Sports Hall of Famer.

HIGH SCHOOL

Scored 1,435 career points for Elizabethton, including 623 in her senior season (1988-89).

*Two-time All-Big 10 performer (junior and senior years).

*Additional senior-year honors include making two All-Upper East Tennessee squads, gaining first-team recognition from both the Johnson City Press and Kingsport Times-News. District Tournament MVP, honorable mention all-state and Little Caesars Classic All-Tournament, in which she scored 40 points vs. South Greene.

*Also competed in track & field at EHS.

COLLEGE

*Received scholarship to Western Carolina University and played for the Lady Catamounts from 1989 to 1993.

*Finished collegiate career with 1,249 career points, ranking 11th in school history.

*Totaled 527 career rebounds (22nd on WCU charts).

*Two-time All-Southern Conference selection, making the second team as a junior and first team as a senior.

*All-Southern Conference tournament pick (first team) in 1992.

*Three-time SoCon Player of the Week.

*1992 Academic All-American.

*Scored a school and Southern Conference record 48 points vs. East Tennessee State on Jan. 30, 1993. She shares the SoCon mark with two other players. A SoCon-tying best at the time, her eight 3-pointers in the game ranks second in league annals. Her 20 field goals also puts her at No. 2 in the league’s single-game record book.

*In 1992-93, led Southern Conference in free-throw percentage (78.3).

*Ranks in Western Carolina’s top 10 in the following categories:

SEASON: First in free-throw percentage (89.1 in 1990-91), sixth in made free throws (130 in 1992-93), tied for sixth in points (1992-93), seventh in points per game (18.3 in 1992-93), ninth in free-throw attempts (166 in 1992-93) and tied for 10th in made field goals (176 in 1992-93).

CAREER: First in free-throw percentage (79), fifth in field-goal percentage (.507), seventh in scoring average (12.9), eighth in made free throws (321) and ninth in made field goals (457).

PERSONAL

*Husband Mike is the athletic director and a former basketball coach (girls and boys) at EHS.
 

KEN NAPIER

*Lettered three years in basketball, two in football and one in track/field at Elizabethton High.

*After averaging eight points a game in basketball as a junior, led the Cyclones in scoring in his final season at EHS. Senior honors include All-Big Seven, Elizabethton Star All-Big Seven (first team), Bristol Herald-Courier All-Big Seven and All-District 2 tournament.

*Played two seasons for Isothermal Jr. College in Forest City, N.C. Averaged 16 points per game as a sophomore and was voted conference defensive player of the year.

*Two-year point guard for Gardner-Webb. Served as team captain and averaged eight points a game as a senior. Played for Eddie Holbrook.

*Emerged a very successful junior high and high school basketball coach in North Carolina, compiling a 443-122 record. Coached on the middle school level for Ashley, York Chester and King’s Mountain. Also served as King’s Mountain Junior High’s football coach and athletic director. He posted a 207-83 mark at Shelby High, leading the school to a state runner-up finish in 2006.

*Recorded six 20-win seasons and four conference championships as Shelby’s coach. Won a regional title in his final year, and experienced just one losing season (12-13 in first year).

*Asst. Coach of East-West All Star Game in 2002.

*Asst. Coach of Carolina Classic All-Star Game in 2004-05.
 

DAVID “BUDDY” NIDIFFER

HIGH SCHOOL

*Lettered in all four major sports (football, basketball, baseball, track & field) for Elizabethton High in his junior and senior years.

BASKETBALL

*As a junior, made the 1953 All-State tournament team. Regional tournament MVP who was also selected to All-Maryville tournament team that season.

Posting three 30-point performances — topped by a 37-point night at Unicoi County — Nidiffer poured in 445 points as a senior. Was name Elizabethton Star All-Big Five MVP, Elizabethton Star All-County Co-MVP, first-team All-Big 5 and honorable mention All-State.

FOOTBALL

*Helped lead the Cyclones to the 1953 Big Five championship and a 9-1-1 record, including an 18-0 Tobacco Bowl victory over Morristown, in his senior season of 1953. Playing end, Nidiffer was voted All-Big Five, Johnson City Press All-Big Five and honorable mention all-state. Also received the Bulldog Laws Award.

BASEBALL

*All-Big Five Conference performer as a junior and senior.

COLLEGE

*Accepted a football scholarship from the University of South Carolina in 1954.

*Three-year starting center fielder for the University of South Carolina. Received All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after leading the conference in home runs as a senior.

*Starting end and leading receiver on the Gamecocks’ freshman football team in the fall of 1954 (freshmen were not eligible for varsity play at that time). After a redshirt year, played two years of varsity football. Had one year of eligibility remaining when he signed a pro baseball contract with the New York Yankees’ organization. Wrapped four years of minor league ball around a two-year stint in the Army.

*Was chosen in the 22nd round by the Detroit Lions in the 1958 NFL draft.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

*Played two years for Greensboro, a season for Modesa (Calif.) and one year for Bingamton. Along the way, collected 38 doubles, 10 triples, 21 home runs and 121 RBIs and 143 runs.

ETCETERA

*Later coached his son Mark’s Pony League baseball team to a state championship.

*Retired from Ross Laboratories after roughly 33 years in sales. Performed many good civic and community works over the years while living in Columbia, S.C.

*Nidiffer’s daughter, Elise Wilson, recently composed the following thoughts: “He was a phenomenal educator of sportsmanship on and off the fields. He walked his talk, and he was a fantastic father — and a true Christian.”
 

CARL RAY NIDIFFER

*Three-time All-Watauga Conference performer for Unaka High’s football team.

*All-conference defensive end as a sophomore, helping the Rangers win the 1955 conference championship with a 5-0-1 mark.

*Second-team All-Watauga back in junior campaign. Finished third on the team in scoring with 28 points (four touchdowns, four conversions).

*First-team all-conference back as a senior, spearheading Unaka to a share of the 1957 Watauga title with a 4-1-1 record. Also made the Johnson City Press All-Watauga squad.

*League scoring champ as a senior with 88 points. Rushed for four touchdowns in a 32-0 shutout of Cloudland. Totaled three TDs and four conversions in a victory at Johnson County.

*During Nidiffer’s years at Unaka, the Rangers captured three winning seasons (21-16-2 combined record), a 19-3-2 conference mark, two Watauga championships (one outright) and a pair of runner-up finishes.

*First Unaka football player to receive a college scholarship, playing at George Washington University.

*Played three seasons in the Canadian Football League, two with Ontario and one with Hamilton.

JAY NIDIFFER

*A distinguished three-sport player at Unaka High, competing in basketball, football and baseball.

*In basketball, averaged approximately 12 points a game in his senior season (1950-51) for the Rangers.

*Attended ETSU for one and a half years

*Then drafted and performed two Two years of military service (Army) Korean Conflict.

 *Awarded a baseball scholarship to Lincoln Memorial University, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. Achieved his master’s degree at East Tennessee State.

*Gained his first coaching job at Johnson County in 1958, heading up the basketball and baseball programs while serving as an assistant in football.

*Moved on from there to coach Valley High School in Hot Springs, Va., for two seasons. His 1960 basketball team, which included professional golf legend J.C. Snead, won the state championship.

*After Nidiffer made a short stay at North Carolina’s East Surry High School, his professional journey led him Clinton High School in Clinton, Tenn. In 1963, he coached the first black athlete — Raleigh Boulware — to ever play for a state-supported high school in the South. Raleigh’s son Peter would become a star football player at Florida State before making four Pro Bowls as a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens.

*Next for Jay came a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Mercer University. He then followed coach Dwayne Morrison to Georgia Tech and spent eight years on the Yellow Jackets’ staff.

*Following his time at Ga. Tech, Nidiffer would work as an assistant at both South Carolina-Aiken and Auburn. He was part of Auburn’s 1985 Elite Eight team that included future NBA players Chuck Person and Chris Morris — and was coached by Roan Mountain native Sonny Smith.

*Returned to LMU as athletic director (1987-91).

*Joined East Tennessee State’s basketball staff in 1991 and later moved to campus recreation, working until retirement until 1999.

*Walters State coach Bill Carlyle Returned to LMU as athletic director in 2003,stayed till 2008. then retired.

*Member of LMU Sports Hall of Fame.
 

WILLIAM A. “BILL” PIKE, SR.

*After moving from Harlan, Ky., became a football and boxing standout for Elizabethton High in the 1930s. Is a member of the EHS Sports Hall of Fame.

*As an EHS boxer, was named team captain and won all of his fights by knockout.

*Spent several years as a Golden Gloves boxer, posting a sparkling record of 55-2. As a welterweight, captured the district championship in 1937 and the Southern Championship three years later.

*Lettered two years in football at Elizabethton under fellow Hall-of-Fame inductee E. Niles Brown. Represented one third of the famed (Mack) Pierce, Pike and (Paul) Shatley backfield in his senior campaign (1935), earning All-Big Five Conference honors at halfback along the way.

*A versatile performer, Pike also played fullback and quarterback on the offensive side of the ball at EHS. Was named a second-team QB on the Johnson City Press’ All-Big 5 team in 1935.

*Went on to become a four-year letterwinner in football for Milligan College.

*Played halfback and became a three-time all-conference performer with the Buffs. Twice served as captain or co-captain for coach Steve Lacy.

*After graduating from Milligan, did a year as a teacher and coach at Hampton High.

*Organized and coached the very first HHS football team, which played six-man ball in the fall of 1940, and also coached boys basketball.

*Came up with the “Bulldogs” nickname for Hampton, which had previously gone by “Hornets” in male athletics, as well as the school colors (blue and white)

*Later in life, joined Fred Thompson in founding the Elizabethton Boys Club. Originated the first Little League and midget football programs.

*Along with Thompson and Don Marshall, Pike coached the local Golden Gloves boxing team. Among his proteges were champions Jackie Range, Badly Cornett, Deacon Bowers and Colbert Riddle. 

*Served as Golden Gloves commissioner of Upper East Tennessee for five years.

*Former chairman of the Elizabethton Parks & Recreation program. During that time, he initiated the tennis program.

*Son Billy and grandchildren Brandon and Amanda each part of at least one sports hall of fame.

DOUG PHILLIPS

*Coached the Lady Bulldogs in basketball from 1981-82 to 2000-01, compiling more than 325 victories over the course of those 20 seasons.

*Registered seven 20-win campaigns. His final season was his best, with Hampton going 31-3.

*Took the program to its first three state tournaments (1998, 2000, 2001) — each in Class A.

*Led Hampton to a pair of substate appearances in Class AA (1990, 1992).

*Assistant coach in football for 40 seasons (1969-1999, 2001-09), establishing himself as one of the top defensive and line coaches in Northeast Tennessee. Key part of three consecutive state semifinal squads from 2005-2007, when the team generated a combined record of 37-5. Also helped the Bulldogs to a final 10-0 record in 1969, plus state quarterfinal showings in 1979, ’83, ’96 and 2009. Continues to help the program in an unofficial capacity on game nights.

*Led Hampton’s baseball program for more than a decade. Enjoyed a successful run with the Bulldogs in the mid-1970s.

*One of Johnson County High’s most decorated athletes, starring in football, basketball and baseball.

*Went on to play four years of collegiate baseball for Appalachian State.

*Doug and wife, Barbara, have a son, Neal, and daughter, Jennifer. Both were successful basketball players at Hampton, where Neal also excelled in football.
 

SAM ROGERS

*Scored better than 1,800 career points for the Cloudland Highlanders from 1964 to 1968, making him the school’s all-time leading scorer.

*1965-66 — Averaged 11.9 points per game. Honorable mention All-Watauga Conference.

*1966-67 — Averaged 19.7 points per game. All-Watauga and Elizabethton Star All-Watauga selection. Honorable mention all-state.

*1967-68 — Poured in 843 points for an average of 22.2 points per game as Cloudland won the Watauga Conference and district tournament championships, was regional runner-up and posted the only state tournament victory (over Memphis Frayser) in school history.

*Senior-year honors included All-Watauga, Elizabethton Star All-Watauga, District Tournament MVP, Regional Tournament MVP and honorable mention all-state.

*Scored 36 points vs. Morristown in a 76-71 regional semifinal victory (overtime) that secured state tournament berth.
 

JOE TREADWAY

Happy Valley basketball

*Part of three straight district tournament championship teams (1946-48).

*In 1946-47, Treadway averaged about 15 points per game. Happy Valley won the regional championship as it advanced to the state tournament.

*Averaged approximately 16 points per game in senior season (1947-48), helping Happy Valley to a runner-up regional effort and third-place finish at the state tournament. All-state selection who made state all-tournament team. First-team all-regional tournament selection.

*Two-time letterwinner for the University of Tennessee.

*Upon graduation, returned to Carter County to begin a very satisfying career as vocational agriculture teacher at Hampton High for 21 years. He continued his education, receiver a master’s degree from UT in 1970.

*Served as superintendent of Carter County Schools from 1974 to 1979, when he joined the State Department of Education as adult basic education supervisor for East Tennessee.

*Was a member of the House of Representatives in the Tennessee Legislature for one session in 1985 and returned to the State Department of Education, where he worked until retiring in 1992.

*Was an active member of former board member at First Christian Church.
 

DON VERRAN

*Recorded a 39-year coaching career at Happy Valley High School.

*Oversaw the Warriors’ track & field and cross country programs his entire time at HV. David Hughes (mile, two-mile and twice in cross country), Andy Curde (cross country, mile), Doran Marcus (440-yard dash) and Jeff Vance (800) combined for eight individual state championships under Verran’s watch. There were also many second- and third-place state finishes during the Verran era. On two occasions, HV finished third in team scoring at the state meet.

*Verran’s 2003 Lady Warriors posted a runner-up state finish in cross country. One of his harriers, Katie Williams, was a four-time all-state performer.

*Captured many Watauga Conference track & field championships, and the school’s track is named in his honor.

*Performed two stints as Happy Valley’s football coach, first from 1972 to 1981. During this period, he guided the Warriors to four Watauga titles (1973, ’74, ’76, ’77) over a five-year stretch and their first-ever playoff appearance (’77).

*The 1973 team posted six shutouts. Yielding 43 points to Sullivan West, the Warriors surrendered just 16 in the other nine games combined.

*Happy Valley’s 1974 squad held the opposition under 10 points on seven occasions. The ’77 team achieved five shutouts while giving up a mere 63 regular-season points.

*Verran came back to coach HV football in 1993 and 1994. His ’93 playoff squad went 8-3 and rose as high as No. 4 in the Class 3A poll.

*Finished with a 64-57 record in his 12 years as football coach, crafting a 38-21 conference worksheet. Led the Warriors to three unbeaten conference marks (1973, ’76, ’77).

*Walked away as the program’s all-time leader in coaching wins. Still ranks No. 2 in that department.

*A 1962 Happy Valley graduate, Verran excelled as a player for the Warriors. A halfback/defensive back, he led the team in scoring (36 points) and touchdowns (6) in his senior campaign. Also passed for a score that season.

*Named an All-Watauga Conference defensive back following his senior season. Was selected as a “back” on the Elizabethton Star and Johnson City Press All-Watauga squads.

*Gained his college education at East Tennessee State.

*Don and his wife, Nancy McKeehan Verran, have two children — a son, Scotty, and daughter, Shavon — and three grandchildren.

*Scotty remains a school record-holder in the 300 dash and 1,600 relay while Shavon emerged a solid performer in track and field and cross country.

*Scotty, now the football coach at North Greene, was also an all-state football player for the Warriors, had a standout career at Emory & Henry College and later coached the Warriors himself. He served as an assistant coach under his father in track & field, cross country and football. 

*Don is a member of the HVHS Sports Hall of Fame.