|
Bryson, Pressley inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame
Two new members were inducted into the Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame during Sunday’s 16th annual banquet at the Cherokee Holiday Inn.
The class of 2008 includes Forrest Bryson and Joe Pressley.
The speaker was Dennis Wagner, the new football coach at Western Carolina.
“We’ve got to change the culture quickly,” Wagner said of rebuilding the Catamount program.
He presented a “pyramid of success” with love, trust, commitment and belief as the foundation.
He said 60 players are attending summer school this year giving them a chance to work on their football skills and academics.
Forrest Bryson (left) and Joe Pressley were inducted into the Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame during Sunday’s 16th annual banquet at the Cherokee Holiday Inn. – Herald photo by Nick Breedlove
Members of Sylva-Webster’s 1983 football team, which posted an 11-1 record, were honored Sunday at the Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet. Those attending included, from left: (kneeling) Tim Hawkins, Brian Bryson, Steve Wilson, Greg Brooks and Darren McDonald; (standing) assistant coach Dennis Proffitt, assistant coach Dave Greene, Brian Lyons, Barry Foxx, Denny Wood, Coach Babe Howell, Dan Fisher, Kip Place, Eric Brooks, Jim Hair, Jimmy Hill, Lee Spangler, Jimmy Cleaveland and Jack Caldwell. – Herald photo by Nick Breedlove
Art Elleck (center) received the Patron Award at Sunday’s Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet. Making the presentation were banquet speaker Dennis Wagner (left), Western Carolina’s football coach, and Babe Howell (right), president of the Hall of Fame Board. – Herald photo by Nick Breedlove
Scholarship winners at Sunday’s Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet were, from left: Stephanie Nichols, Brittany Gilbert, Megan Taylor, Kelly Childress and Andy Potter. – Herald photo by Nick Breedlove
The Sylva-Webster High School 1983 football team was honored. The Golden Eagles were 11-1 with their lone loss to Randleman in the state 2-A semifinals. Randleman went on to win its third state title the next week.
Coach Babe Howell and players Brian Bryson, Greg Brooks and Denny Wood spoke about the season. Wood presented Howell a framed picture of the team.
Five county high school seniors received scholarships during the banquet, and a Patron Award was presented.
Brittany Gilbert, who has been an all-conference volleyball, basketball and softball player at Smoky Mountain, received the $1,000 Tommy Love/Gary Cowan Scholarship. She also was named her school’s Outstanding Senior Athlete.
Stephanie Nichols received a $500 scholarship as the Blue Ridge Outstanding Senior Athlete. She earned all-conference honors in volleyball and basketball while also playing softball. She played in the Blue-White All-Star Basketball Game.
Smoky Mountain softball standout Megan Taylor, an All-Western North Carolina and honorable mention all-state selection, was given the $500 Spirit of the Smokies Scholarship.
Smoky Mountain’s Kelly Childress was presented the $500 Kate Rhinehart Scholarship. Childress plays volleyball, basketball and soccer for the Lady Mustangs.
The $500 Jimmy Streater Scholarship went to Smoky Mountain’s Andy Potter. He is an all-conference football player and also plays baseball for the Mustangs.
Art Elleck, a Hall of Fame supporter, received the Patron Award.
Following is a brief look at the inductees.
Forrest Bryson – Bryson was a star player on Sylva-Webster’s first state championship football team in 1963. He was a triple threat as a runner, passer and kicker in Coach Joe Hunt’s single wing offense.
He was chosen to all-conference and All-Western North Carolina teams following his junior and senior seasons in 1962 and 1963.
During his career, he had a 90-yard kickoff return and a 78-yard punt return for scores.
Bryson ran track three years for the Golden Eagles and was part of a conference championship 440-yard relay team as a junior in 1963.
The school did not have baseball at that time, but Bryson was chosen for the all-star baseball team that went to the Senior League World Series in 1961. He declined to participate so he could play high school football.
Bryson has remained active in athletics coaching youth football, serving on the Little League Board of Directors and most recently being on the advisory board of the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department.
After retiring as an executive with Haywood Savings Bank, Bryson went into the real estate business. He lives in Sylva.
Joe Pressley – Pressley, a 1948 graduate of Cullowhee High School participated in athletics for the Rebels and the Sylva Golden Hurricane.
Cullowhee did not have football at that time so he transferred to Sylva to play as a junior and senior. He played basketball for Cullowhee as a junior but stayed at Sylva to play basketball as a senior.
Following his senior season, Pressley was chosen to play in the Optimist Bowl football game.
He was a member of Sylva’s district championship basketball team as a senior.
Pressley served in the U.S. Army from 1951-53 and played football and baseball.
Following his discharge, he played football and baseball for Western Carolina University (then Western Carolina Teachers College).
Pressley taught and coached for 32 years, including stops at Webster and Glenville in Jackson County. He also coached at Tryon, Nantahala, Brevard, West Henderson and Rosman, working at times with football, basketball and baseball.
Pressley is retired and lives in Cullowhee.
|
