YORK COUNTY, SC (August 22, 2023)— The York County Sports Hall of Fame will return in May 2024 to recognize and celebrate individuals whose athletic achievements feature outstanding contributions to the sports culture in York County. Following a nearly 5-year pause, Visit York County will operate and oversee the York County Sports Hall of Fame which will include a board of directors and formal selection committee.

“Visit York County is excited to continue this great tradition that Bill Neely and Ed Thompson created to recognize exceptional York County athletes,” said Andy Clinton, President and CEO of Visit York County. 

The York County Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee includes York County coaches, athletic directors, and representatives of the media including Chris Miller of WRHI who will serve as Chair. 

“We are excited to be involved in bringing back the York County Sports Hall of Fame after a 5-year hiatus,” said Chris Miller, Chair of the York County Sports Hall of Fame. “There are so many deserving athletes from our community, and I can’t wait to start publicly honoring them again!”

For more than twenty years, the York County Sports Hall of Fame commemorative plaques have been on display at the Rock Hill Galleria Mall. As a result of a partnership between Visit York County and the Upper Palmetto YMCA, the plaques will live at the Charlotte Avenue YMCA in Rock Hill beginning this fall.   

Nominations for the York County Sports Hall of Fame will occur every other year beginning in 2023. 

Nomination submissions will be open through October 15, 2023.  Nominations can be submitted at https://www.visityorkcounty.com/sports/york-county-sports-hall-of-fame-nomination/.

York County Sports Hall of Fame Nominee Eligibility Requirements

  • Any native of York County or non-native whose athletic career was during the time of his/ her residence in York County 
  • Any administrator, coach, or member of the media shall have reached the age of 62 or shall have retired from the field prior to selection
  • Any exceptions will be considered by the Selection Committee

York County Sports Hall of Fame Leadership

Executive Director: Andy Clinton

Board of Directors: David Angel, Andrew Vinson, Brown Simpson, Lamar Thompson

Selection Committee:

  • Chris Miller, Rock Hill, SC
    • 12-Time South Carolina Statewide Sportscaster of the Year
    • 2013 Radio INK Magazine "Nationwide Top 40 Under 40"
    • 2021 OTS Sports Wall of Fame inductee 
  • Mike Drummond, Rock Hill, SC
    • Playing Career: Spartanburg Methodist College and Greensboro College
    • Served as former coach and Athletic Director at Winthrop University, Wofford College, South Pointe High School, and York Prep Academy
    • Six High South Men's Basketball Championships during his time at Winthrop
    • Six High School Football State Championships as Athletic Director 
  • Perry Sutton, Rock Hill City Council, Ward 5, Rock Hill, SC
    • Retired from the Coast Guard after a highy decorated 30-year career, including Coast Guardsman of the Year award
    • Coached 15 NFL players
    • Key to the City of Rock Hill and Rock Hill's Palmetto Award recipient 
    • Served as Athletic Director of the Youth Shrine Bowl, Head Coach of the Rock Hill YMCA
    • Star Team, and currently serves as Co-CEO of Jadeveon Clowney's Sylvia Circle Demon's free football camp 
  • Steve Boyd, York, SC
    • Served as Athletic Director and Head Coach for baseball, football, and wrestling at Chester High School, Laurens High School, Indian Land High School, Fort Mill High School, and York Comprehensive High School 
    • Inducted into the SC Athletic Director’s Hall of Fame (2019), the York County Sports Hall of Fame (1998), the York School District One Sports Hall of Fame (2026), and the SC Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2019)
    • SC Football Coaches Association Distinguish Football Coach Award recipient (2018)
  • Cindy Elder, Rock Hill, SC
    • Playing Career: Winthrop Softball 1979 – 1981 
    • Served as Volleyball Coach for 31 years and Assistant Athletic Director for 15 years at Rock Hill High School
    • 10-time Region Coach of the Year and 2011 South Carolina Volleyball Coach of the Year 
  • Zharne Glover, Fort Mill, SC
    • Playing Career: Winthrop University Softball: 2012-20162016 Big South All-Academic Team 
    • Janiva Willis Leadership Award
    • Served as Girls Varsity and JV Basketball Coach at Nation Ford High School and Forest Creek Middle School 
  • Dwayne Hartsoe, Fort Mill, SC
    • Served as a coach for football, basketball, baseball, and golf programs at Roy Hudgens Academy, Williston Elko High School, Lancaster High School, South Pointe High School, and Fort Mill High School 
    • President of the 2008 South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association, Head Coach of the Carolina’s All Star Classic 2018, and holds 444 career wins as a Head Basketball Coach 
    • Region Basketball Coach of the Year 1995, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022; State Coach of the Year 1995
  • Gene Knight, Rock Hill, SC
    • Play-by- play announcer for the Sun Bowl of the Carolinas, ACC Women’s Tournament Championship, and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas 
    • Recipient of the Harold C. Johnson Scholastic Award, Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas: Service Award, and SC Broadcasters Association Star Award
    • Inducted into the OTS Sports Wall of Fame in 2013
  • Carroll Hester, Clover, SC
    • Playing Career: Winthrop University: Men’s Soccer and Tennis teams
    • Served as Athletic Administrator, Teacher, and Coach at Clover High School, Greer High School, and North Greenville College 
    • South Carolina Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year (2022) and Clover School District Teacher of the Year (2021)
    • Inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame (2017) and South Carolina High School Strength Coaches Hall of Fame (2015)
  • Mac Banks, Banks Media Group, Fort Mill, SC
    • Served as Fort Mill Times Sports Reporter/Senior Staffer, Fort Mill Times & Rock Hill Herald Sports Correspondent, WRHI/ OTS Sports Network Color Commentator, and Athletic Director, Fort Mill American Legion Post 43 Baseball Program
    • Recipient of 65+ awards from the South Carolina Press Association
  • Lisa Rivers, Rock Hill, SC
    • Playing Career: Francis Marion University basketball with 1,499 career points
    • Served as teacher and coach at Northwestern High School with two regionals titles and recognized as Region Coach of the Year

To learn more about the York County Sports Hall of Fame, visit https://www.visityorkcounty.com/sports/york-county-sports-hall-of-fame-nomination/.

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About Visit York County:

As the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for York County, South Carolina, Visit York County exists to raise the profile and boost the economy of York County through tourism and destination marketing while also contributing to the quality of life for residents. For additional information, visit www.VisitYorkCounty.com.