By Colin Ehrman
Staff Writer
Every year, the R.J. Reynolds High School booster club gathers a special group of athletes and coaches to honor and celebrate at the RJR Sports Hall of Fame ceremony. Greatness is a virtue of RJR, and each year’s nominees fully embody it. Throughout its rich 102-year history, great athletes have come and gone, but their legacy lives forever. The heirloom of RJR athletics deserves to be celebrated, and the Sports Hall of Fame gives everyone the chance to do just that.
After decades of RJR prominence in WSFCS athletics, it was beyond time to recognize it.
“In 2008 we had a group of parents who spearheaded the idea to recognize great RJR athletes,” RJR Athletic Director Bradley Fisher said. “They felt after almost 90 years, at the time, RJR needed one.”
While RJR has continued to produce magnificent athletes over the years, not everyone has and can be nominated to the top. Before each class has been decided, a long process ensues to select the top individuals for that year.
“We have a file of all of the past athletes who have been nominated to the hall,” Co-chairmen Stuart F. Vaughn Jr said. “We ask each year for nominations from classmates through all of the different eras of Reynolds history. We combine the new nominations with all of the ones we have received over the years, and each committee member reads all of the files containing each nominee’s achievements. We then get together in the Fall and vote on each person until we can narrow the list down to the eight people that the group deems most worthy for this year’s award.”
Not only is the process time-consuming, but it also requires the athletes to meet some high standards.
“It’s not just their [high school] stats but things they did athletically after [high school] in college or the pros,” Fisher said.
Along with other things, student-athletes must have graduated at least 7 years before being eligible for consideration. These athletes must catch the attention of RJR parents, alumni, current hall of fame members, and the school admin who selects each class.
The RJR Sports Hall of Fame will announce the induction of its fourteenth class, including eight new members. The induction ceremony will be held at halftime of the men’s basketball game between RJR and Glenn, being held on February 14, 2025, at 7:30 PM in Bryson Gymnasium. This event marks the greatness and history of RJR and the importance of sports in our lives.
“This event continues to show how important athletics are to young people’s lives, and it helps showcase the history of our school,” Fisher said.
The legacy of RJR athletics deserves to be celebrated, and the Sports Hall of Fame gives everyone the chance to do just that. Recognize history.