2006 AHS Sports Hall of Fame

2006 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
MARTIN SMITH, CLASS OF 1961
Martin Smith has spent a total of 45 years of his life in the Asheboro City School systems. At AHS he lettered in both baseball and basketball. He was selected to All-conference, All- Tournament, All-State, and East/West All-Star team while participating in these sports. He was a starter for three conference championship teams and a state runner-up team (1958) (WNCHSAA) in basketball. Upon graduation he attended Catawaba College where he started in both basketball and baseball. He returned to teach and coach at AHS. He coached twenty-eight conference championship teams, fourteen tournament championship teams and two state championship (WNCHSAA) teams in three sports: cross-country, baseball and basketball. His teams recorded more than 1,150 victories and he was honored a total of twenty-five times as Conference Coach of the Year. After thirty-three years of teaching and coaching, Martin Smith retired in 2004.
DR. DAVID DALTON, CLASS OF 1959
Dr. Dalton was a very talented athlete in football and wrestling. Serving as co-captain of the famed 1958 team, he anchored the defense of the WNCHSAA champions which allowed only thirteen points in thirteen undefeated contests. The 1958 team has been recognized as one of the most outstanding teams ever in North Carolina history. This 1958 Mr. Blue Comet was named to the NC Shrine Bowl team, the East-West All-Star team, and also selected to the high school All-American team. Dalton was also an outstanding wrestler. He was the individual NC state champion in his respective weight class his junior year and runner-up state champion his senior year. He continued his education and athletic career at Duke University. Dalton returned to AHS in the 1963 – 1964 school year to teach and coach wrestling. After completing his Doctoral degree at Duke, Dr. Dalton opened an orthopedic medical practice in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He has retired and lives in Megget, SC.
JOE SPINKS, CLASS OF 1990
Joe Spinks was a tremendous basketball player and greatly admired by all. A prolific scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker, Joe was named the Randolph County Player of the Year both his junior and senior years. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the conference and led the Blue Comets to the NCHSAA regional championship game. Joe received an athletic scholarship to Campbell University. He was named the Big South All-Conference Rookie of the Year in 1991,named to three Big South All-Conference teams, and was the MVP of the team his senior year. Mr. Spinks played twelve successful and rewarding years in the European Professional Basketball League. He has just been named as the head coach of the Demon Astronauts that are based in Amsterdam, Holland.
WARREN HAWKINS, COACH
Warren Hawkins was the head basketball coach at AHS from 1947 to 1948 and assistant football coach for the legendary Lee J. Stone. His basketball teams won two WNCHSAA titles in back to back years (1953-1954; 1954-1955) and four consecutive conference titles. This Appalachian State University graduate starred in both football and basketball. Coach Hawkins played for the McCrary Eagles basketball team from 1947 to 1953. His thirty-six years in education included stints as a teacher, a principal at Lindley Park Elementary School and Albemarle High School, and assistant superintendent in the Albemarle system. Coach Hawkins was not just a coach; he was a friend, a mentor and a teacher. Hawkins currently resides in Albemarle, NC.
BRUCE VONCANNON, CLASS OF 1972-
Bruce was an outstanding tennis and basketball player, as well as student government president. He was the singles champion of the WNCHSAA in 1971 and singles runner-up in 1972. Bruce was also a state champion twice and runner-up twice in the North Carolina state age group championships. He also played point guard in basketball and was AHS Defensive Player of the Year and won the Scholar Athlete Award in 1972. Upon graduation, Voncannon attended Princeton University. His collegiate career included three consecutive Ivy League and eastern intercollegiate titles and the Princeton team being ranked as high as number seven in the country. He played on the European satellite tour and participated in ATP tennis in Asia. He also served as the national coach for the republic of China-Taiwan and led them to their first ever Davis Cup victory in 1979. Bruce currently works as the executive director in UBS Financial Service Group based in Geneva, Switzerland. He resides beside Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
DONNA ANDREWS, CLASS OF 1973
Donna Andrews contributed significantly to women’s athletics at AHS and North Carolina State University. She was a three time All-Conference basketball player and won the Most Valuable Player award in 1972. Donna also earned three varsity letters for the Blue Comets tennis team. Enrolling at NC State, she was a member of the University women’s club team that was elevated to Division 1 Status under the legendary and present coach, Kay Yow. Andrews was not only a team captain for the Lady Wolf Pack basketball team, but also served in the same capacity for the University volleyball squad. The three year letter winner was named Most Outstanding Senior Player. She was one of the first females at NCSU to receive an athletic scholarship. Donna, the 2005 winner of Top City Employee, continues to use her outstanding skills to help provide quality recreational activities for others by serving as the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director for the city of Hickory.