LENOIR – The Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 will be recognized during their induction ceremony on October 28th at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center. It will mark the 35th class of inductees since the service project was started by the Caldwell County Rotary Club in 1989. The purpose of the Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame is to recognize and perpetuate the noteworthy sportsman traditions of Caldwell County by honoring and memorializing the individual who have made extraordinary contributions to sports traditions in Caldwell County. The four new inductees bring the total number of 142 individuals recognized during the 35 classes. Plaques for all previous inductees are displayed upstairs at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center.
The individuals of the 2024 class to be inducted into Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame this year are: Robert Neil Adams, Joel William Carroll, Myron Randall Day, and James Junior Rich (posthumously). The Hall of Fame will also honor a team of excellence, the 1981 Caldwell County Junior League All-Star baseball team.
Robert Neil Adams was born on April 7, 1967, to Robert and Sue Adams. He attended and graduated from Hibriten High School in 1985, where he was a multi-sport athlete. Prior to high school, Adams was the Little League Most Valuable Player in 1979 with the Exchange, a Senior League All Star, and a member of the District 7 Championship team. He played baseball, basketball, and football at Hibriten H.S. Adams was the Defensive MVP in football in 1984, earning both All County and All Conference during his junior and senior seasons. Selected as a two-time Player of the Week and a member of Hibriten’s Conference Championship team in 1983. A four-year starter for the basketball team, winning the Coach’s Award during his senior year. He was a four-year starter in baseball and a member of the Junior Varsity Conference Championship team. A member of Hibriten NWC championship team in 1985, advancing to the third round of the state playoffs. In baseball, during his senior season, he won the Hustle Award as he batted .358 with 4 home runs and 25 RBIs. He was selected as both All County and All Conference during his junior and senior seasons. Adams earned the Jamie Tuttle Merit Award, a member of the National Honor Society, and an Army National Scholar. Adams was a three-year starter for the American Legion Post 29 baseball team and a member of the 1985 team that was the State Runner-Up. He attended Montreat Anderson Junior College on a baseball scholarship and one year at Milligan. After his playing career, he has served as youth sports coach in the Happy Valley community. He is a supervisor at Bemis Manufacturing. He is an active member and serves as a Deacon at Crestview Baptist Church. Neil and his wife, Kim, have one son, Zack, and two grandchildren.
Joel William Carroll was born August 8, 1946, to George and Stella Carroll. He played for the Hudson Little League that won the Caldwell County Championship four times and was the best hitter and catcher on the 1958 team. He graduated from Hudson High School in 1964. Carroll played baseball, basketball, and football for Hudson H.S. where he made All-County and All-Conference in all three sports. He was a member of the WNCHSAA Basketball championship team in 1963 and played in the NC Lions Bowl football game in 1963. He coached the Hudson Little League team to the county championship in 1966. After high school, Carroll attended Gardner-Webb College playing baseball, basketball, and football. They won the WCJCC basketball championship in 1965 and the conference championship in 1966, as Carroll led the nation in rebounding in 1966 and was an All-Region 10 selection. He then went to Lenoir -Rhyne College, where he lettered in baseball and basketball. Carroll served as a teacher, coach, assistant Principal, and Principal in the Caldwell County school system from 1968-1999. He served as the first Hudson Recreation Director from 1984-1986. He was recognized as the Principal of the Year in 1985 and the Hudson Man of the Year in 2008. His community involvement includes serving as the President of the United Way in 1985-1986, Burgess Foundation Board of Directors since 2017, and the Caldwell Community College Board of Trustees since 2020. Joel Carroll is married to his wife Kathy. He has a son, Ryan, and a grandchild, Zoey.
Myron Randall Day was born October 10, 1958. He was an All Star for the Hudson Little League. Day attended and graduated from Hudson High School in 1976. He was a four-year letterman in Track & Field during high school and holds the Hudson H.S. record in the broad jump. He earned All-Conference honors and was MVP in 1976 as part of the Conference Championship team. Day attended Wilkes Community College and graduated with Honors with a degree in TV/Radio Communications. After college, he worked at WJRI, WKGX, and WHKY. He was owner/operator of Day’s Hardwoods for over 40 years. He was instrumental in developing the I-40 Fall Baseball League and had a significant role in the lighting project for the South Caldwell baseball field. Day’s love of coaching youth first began as a 15-year-old coaching in the Hudson Youth sports league. He spent over two decades coaching baseball and basketball. His coaching success included: the 1999 Tar Heel League State Runner-ups, 23 years as an assistant and head coach of the American Legion Post 29 baseball team that won a state championship in 2000 and finished third in 2015, and accumulated over 100 wins as head coach. Day was active for years with South Caldwell Boosters including serving as President. Myron Day and his wife, Ginger, have two children, Josh and Mindy, and four grandchildren.
James Junior Rich was born January 17, 1944, to James and Mable Rich. He graduated from Collettsville High School in 1963 where he excelled as basketball player. Rich was a four-year starter for Collettsville, playing center, excelling as both a scorer and rebounder. He averaged over 20 points per game, with numerous 30+ scoring games. He outscored Patterson single handedly with 32 points, in a 52-30 victory. Rich led Collettsville H.S. to four conference regular season and tournament titles. He earned Collettsville MVP three times in 1961, 1962, and 1963. He also received both All-County and All-Conference honors during those same three seasons.
After high school, Rich played Industrial League Softball in 1964-1965, where he led the league in hitting and was named the All-Star catcher. He also played Industrial Leage Basketball for a variety of teams, including winning League titles in 1966 and 1967 for Blowing Rock Furniture. James Rich had one daughter, Shannon, and a grandson, Xavier Brunet. His sisters were Hazel and Ann. Rich passed away on March 7, 2022, at age 76.
Members of the 1981 Caldwell County Junior League All-Star baseball team will recognized as the team is honored as a team of excellence. In 1981, Little League, Inc. organized a Junior League Championship made up of thirteen-year-olds that had played on a senior league team (ages 13-15) during the regular season. Caldwell County Senior League was composed of players from the Baton, Collettsville, Gamewell, North Catawba, and Whitnel communities. These teams were sponsored by the Baton Ruritan, Collettsville Ruritan, Gamewell Optimist, Gamewell Ruritan, North Catawba Optimist, and the Whitnel Optimist Clubs. The league president was Clyde Whittington. Manager Dusty Crump and Coach Ralph Braswell led the team to three victories to win the District Tournament, four victories to win the state tournament, and to playing three games in the Southeastern Regional Tournament in Sterling, Virginia. Players on the All-Star team were Jeff Martin, Jeff Moffitt, Michael Torrence, Eric Nichols, Michael Gragg, Travis Braswell, David McCall, Brett Stories, Ray Boyett, Jeff Norwood, Tim Bentley, Ricky Beane, Jimmy Farr, and Andy Johnson.
The induction ceremony is sponsored by Blue Ridge Energy as a corporate sponsor and the banquet will be catered by the J.E. Broyhill Catering Group led by Chef Corey Hooks. Tickets are now on sale for $25 per person and can be purchased at any First Horizon Banking Center in Caldwell County. For more information about the Hall of Fame tickets, please contact Karen Trivett at 828-244-5511 or to obtain a nomination form for future consideration, contact Chris Cole at 828-496-2038