Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame set for 19th induction class Sunday

Public Service workers jockey bleachers into place at Legion Stadium. City of Wilmington workers were adding seating for 400 spectators for a soccer match between the Wilmington Hammerheads and the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 2013.

New Hanover's Reggie Shufford (left) drags down New Bern's Ken Tankson as the Wildcat defense paralyzed the Bears behind the line during action at Legion Stadium in 1994.

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

The pooch plunge took place at the Legion Stadium Pool in Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, September 11, 2021. The City of Wilmington and the YMCA organized the annual event that takes place on the weekend following Labor Day.

Graduates take selfies Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Legion Stadium before graduation.

Hundreds of kids and volunteers from area schools came out to take part in the New Hanover County Special Olympics Fall Games Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C., at Legion Stadium.

New Hanover's #29 Tre Bennett tries to take a shot at the goal with a bicycle kick as they took on Chapel Hill Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in the NCHSAA boys 7A Soccer Regional Championship at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C. Chapel Hill beat New Hanover 3-1 in overtime.

Former NFL players Roman Gabriel and Sonny Jurgensen stand before Legion Stadium as Mayor Bill Saffo (not pictured) leads a ceremony officially naming the Legion Stadium field Jurgensen-Gabriel Field during halftime of the Hoggard vs. New Hanover game on Friday, Nov. 2, 2007. Both were inducted into The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

Over 500 athletes and 370 volunteers took part in the Special Olympics of New Hanover County. The Fall Games were held on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

New Hanover assistant coach John Fuller goes to his knees after New Hanover beat Eastern Guilford 32-29 in the 3AA East final Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

New Hanover fans cheer on their team as the Wildcats faced Pinecrest on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

A colorful sunset hangs over Legion Stadium before the New Hanover and Ashley High football game on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008.

Wilmington Hammerheads fans cheer in the final minute of the win against Richmond at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.

Volunteers and workers with the City of Wilmington unloaded 1,000 trees Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, at the Legion Stadium parking lot. The trees will be given to members of the community for free on a first come first serve bases thanks to the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees with Arbor Day Foundation and State Farm Insurance Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m.

The pooch plunge took place at the Legion Stadium Pool in Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. The city of Wilmington and the YMCA organized the annual event that takes place on the weekend following Labor Day.

Ric Flair faced Ricky Steamboat in the main event of a pro wrestling card in 1978 at Legion Stadium.

An advertisement in the Wilmington Morning Star on Oct. 2, 1975 promoting Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and a double main event at Legion Stadium, which was slated for two days later. However, the matches did not happen as three of the four wrestlers were in a plane crash near the Wilmington airport. Ric Flair broke his back in three places and didn't return to the ring until early 1976. Tim Woods and Johnny Valentine also survived, but Valentine was paralyzed.

Franklin Graham speaks at his Decision America Tar Heel State Tour at Legion Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

Franklin Graham's Decision America Tar Heel State Tour at Legion Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

Cesar Luengas, left, and Samira Nazer examine an antique Buick during a car show put on by Sun Coast Cruisers before the Concert of Legends on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at Legion Stadium.

New Hanover players cheer on their runners during a third-inning rally at Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington, N.C., Friday, May 19, 2006.

A variety show featuring several bands and solo acts performing live music as well as a comedian made a return to the N.C. Azalea Festival in 2009.

Aerial photo of Buck Hardee Field and Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C., on Aug. 29, 2019.

New Hanover's Megan Howard drives to the goal as New Hanover took on Ashley in the girls first round of the state playoffs for lacrosse at Legion Stadium on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C. New Hanover beat Ashley 10-9 and will move on in the playoffs.

Jody Justice, a 5th grader at Codington Elementary School, plays tennis Wednesday at Legion Sports Complex during the Special Olympics Day in the Park. The event allowed athletes to participate in soccer, tennis, bocce, and kickball and will continue on Thursday.

VTO Sports Regional Combines presented by NCPreps/Rivals.com was at Legion Stadium in 2020. This is the latest stop on the statewide series of events on Nov. 8, 2020.

Nearly 1,000 runners that included more than 400 boys and girls in grades 3-8 came out to take part in William H. Craig Race for Life 5K, the end-of-season celebration for the YMCA's Girls on the Run, Heart & Sole and STRIDE participants Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

Legion Stadium has hosted everything from pro wrestling and horse racing, to auto racing and the old Azalea Festival Variety show. You can add a swine show and sale to that list.

Cape Fear Sea Devils' Kaila Acuna kicks the ball during their game against USC Salkehatchie at Legion Stadium. The Sea Devils won 14-0 on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.

J.D. Causey, former Wilmington city councilman and owner of Causey's Garden Center, shared this aerial photo from 1960 with the StarNews. It shows Greenfield Lake and a horse-racing track at Legion Stadium.

Like today, Friday nights at Legion Stadium were a big deal in 1965. And for many years the stadium did double duty as both New Hanover and Hoggard called the football field home.

Wilmington Hammerhead defender Ashani Fairclough at Legion Stadium on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

The 26th annual BB&T Jamboree took place at Legion Stadium in Wilmington Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. The event featured New Hanover, Ashley, Hoggard, Laney, Jacksonville, Whiteville, South Columbus, West Brunswick, South Brunswick, and Wallace Rose Hill.

Fans arrive at Legion Stadium to watch the Wilmington Sharks on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.

American Legion Post 10 players line up before the game against American Legion Post 46 on Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium in the second round of playoffs on Wednesday, July 7, 2010.

Sharks fans, mostly families, watch the game at Legion Stadium on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.

New Hanover's Lauren Mumford (center) celebrates her goal over Laney with teammates at Legion Stadium Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

High school football returned to the Cape Fear region Friday as Legion Stadium played host to the 23rd Annual BB&T Football Jamboree Aug. 14, 2009. The event gave 10 area teams a chance to showcase their talent in a series of five scrimmage games played back-to-back.

Erika George searches for discarded treasures at Saturday's Lower Cape Fear Hospice yard sale at Legion Stadium in Wilmington on March 1, 2003.

Richard Wetherill, 5, of Cape Fear Country Club, swims during the Wilmington Swim League Championship held at the Legion Stadium swimming pool Saturday.

A pile of rubble is all that remains of much of the interior of Legion Stadium in the early 2000s, which is being gutted and the walls punched out as part of a seven-month renovation project. Supporting beams are being left in place because they are structurally solid.

A worker from Bradley and Barnes Construction rips up the floor underneath Legion Stadium, which is being gutted and the walls punched out as part of a seven-month renovation project. Supporting beams are being left in place because they are structurally solid.

David London of Jacksonville gets his 10-month-old Pomeranian ready to show at the Hanover Kennel Club 80th All-Breed Dog Show held at Legion Stadium Saturday. A new show begins Sunday and runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

New Hanover's #52 Schyler Schlichter, center, #32 William Brown and #2 Tyrone Moore celebrate after beating South Brunswick 25-0 in 2000 at Legion Stadium.

New Hanover Kit Cat Leigh-Ann White, top, pulls a ponytail on fellow kitten Catherine Anderson as Lauri Southerland, left, works on her own locks prior to kickoff at Legion Stadium in 1995. The Kit Cats are a cheering and dance squad that perform at sporting events with the school cheerleaders.

Attending New Hanover High School games since the early 1960s, J.D. Johnson finds a nice corner to watch the game at Legion Stadium early before the kickoff of a game in 1995.

Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff (right in red) gets a little help across the spongy Legion Stadium field as Linda Purl (far left) gets natural and pulls off her shoes, part of the celebrities on hand for the Azalea Festival Variety Show in 1995.

Pothole-ridden parking lot at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C., in 1995.

Local country artist Jamie Lynn Fowler performs for the folks sitting in the grass at Legion Stadium during the Variety Show in 1995.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Public Service workers jockey bleachers into place at Legion Stadium. City of Wilmington workers were adding seating for 400 spectators for a soccer match between the Wilmington Hammerheads and the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 2013.

1 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Public Service workers jockey bleachers into place at Legion Stadium. City of Wilmington workers were adding seating for 400 spectators for a soccer match between the Wilmington Hammerheads and the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 2013.

2 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover's Reggie Shufford (left) drags down New Bern's Ken Tankson as the Wildcat defense paralyzed the Bears behind the line during action at Legion Stadium in 1994.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

4 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

The pooch plunge took place at the Legion Stadium Pool in Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, September 11, 2021. The City of Wilmington and the YMCA organized the annual event that takes place on the weekend following Labor Day.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Graduates take selfies Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Legion Stadium before graduation.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Hundreds of kids and volunteers from area schools came out to take part in the New Hanover County Special Olympics Fall Games Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C., at Legion Stadium.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover's #29 Tre Bennett tries to take a shot at the goal with a bicycle kick as they took on Chapel Hill Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in the NCHSAA boys 7A Soccer Regional Championship at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C. Chapel Hill beat New Hanover 3-1 in overtime.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Former NFL players Roman Gabriel and Sonny Jurgensen stand before Legion Stadium as Mayor Bill Saffo (not pictured) leads a ceremony officially naming the Legion Stadium field Jurgensen-Gabriel Field during halftime of the Hoggard vs. New Hanover game on Friday, Nov. 2, 2007. Both were inducted into The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Legion Sports Complex in Wilmington on April 2, 2026. Originally built during the Great Depression, a variety of improvements are slated for the complex in the coming years.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Over 500 athletes and 370 volunteers took part in the Special Olympics of New Hanover County. The Fall Games were held on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover assistant coach John Fuller goes to his knees after New Hanover beat Eastern Guilford 32-29 in the 3AA East final Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover fans cheer on their team as the Wildcats faced Pinecrest on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

A colorful sunset hangs over Legion Stadium before the New Hanover and Ashley High football game on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Wilmington Hammerheads fans cheer in the final minute of the win against Richmond at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Volunteers and workers with the City of Wilmington unloaded 1,000 trees Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, at the Legion Stadium parking lot. The trees will be given to members of the community for free on a first come first serve bases thanks to the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees with Arbor Day Foundation and State Farm Insurance Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m.

20 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

The pooch plunge took place at the Legion Stadium Pool in Wilmington, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. The city of Wilmington and the YMCA organized the annual event that takes place on the weekend following Labor Day.

21 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Ric Flair faced Ricky Steamboat in the main event of a pro wrestling card in 1978 at Legion Stadium.

22 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

An advertisement in the Wilmington Morning Star on Oct. 2, 1975 promoting Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and a double main event at Legion Stadium, which was slated for two days later. However, the matches did not happen as three of the four wrestlers were in a plane crash near the Wilmington airport. Ric Flair broke his back in three places and didn't return to the ring until early 1976. Tim Woods and Johnny Valentine also survived, but Valentine was paralyzed.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Franklin Graham speaks at his Decision America Tar Heel State Tour at Legion Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Franklin Graham's Decision America Tar Heel State Tour at Legion Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

25 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Cesar Luengas, left, and Samira Nazer examine an antique Buick during a car show put on by Sun Coast Cruisers before the Concert of Legends on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at Legion Stadium.

26 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover players cheer on their runners during a third-inning rally at Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington, N.C., Friday, May 19, 2006.

27 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

A variety show featuring several bands and solo acts performing live music as well as a comedian made a return to the N.C. Azalea Festival in 2009.

28 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Aerial photo of Buck Hardee Field and Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C., on Aug. 29, 2019.

29 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover's Megan Howard drives to the goal as New Hanover took on Ashley in the girls first round of the state playoffs for lacrosse at Legion Stadium on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C. New Hanover beat Ashley 10-9 and will move on in the playoffs.

30 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Jody Justice, a 5th grader at Codington Elementary School, plays tennis Wednesday at Legion Sports Complex during the Special Olympics Day in the Park. The event allowed athletes to participate in soccer, tennis, bocce, and kickball and will continue on Thursday.

31 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

VTO Sports Regional Combines presented by NCPreps/Rivals.com was at Legion Stadium in 2020. This is the latest stop on the statewide series of events on Nov. 8, 2020.

32 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Nearly 1,000 runners that included more than 400 boys and girls in grades 3-8 came out to take part in William H. Craig Race for Life 5K, the end-of-season celebration for the YMCA's Girls on the Run, Heart & Sole and STRIDE participants Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C.

33 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Legion Stadium has hosted everything from pro wrestling and horse racing, to auto racing and the old Azalea Festival Variety show. You can add a swine show and sale to that list.

34 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Cape Fear Sea Devils' Kaila Acuna kicks the ball during their game against USC Salkehatchie at Legion Stadium. The Sea Devils won 14-0 on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017.

35 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

J.D. Causey, former Wilmington city councilman and owner of Causey's Garden Center, shared this aerial photo from 1960 with the StarNews. It shows Greenfield Lake and a horse-racing track at Legion Stadium.

36 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Like today, Friday nights at Legion Stadium were a big deal in 1965. And for many years the stadium did double duty as both New Hanover and Hoggard called the football field home.

37 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Wilmington Hammerhead defender Ashani Fairclough at Legion Stadium on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

38 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

The 26th annual BB&T Jamboree took place at Legion Stadium in Wilmington Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. The event featured New Hanover, Ashley, Hoggard, Laney, Jacksonville, Whiteville, South Columbus, West Brunswick, South Brunswick, and Wallace Rose Hill.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Fans arrive at Legion Stadium to watch the Wilmington Sharks on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

American Legion Post 10 players line up before the game against American Legion Post 46 on Buck Hardee Field at Legion Stadium in the second round of playoffs on Wednesday, July 7, 2010.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Sharks fans, mostly families, watch the game at Legion Stadium on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.

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From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover's Lauren Mumford (center) celebrates her goal over Laney with teammates at Legion Stadium Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

43 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

High school football returned to the Cape Fear region Friday as Legion Stadium played host to the 23rd Annual BB&T Football Jamboree Aug. 14, 2009. The event gave 10 area teams a chance to showcase their talent in a series of five scrimmage games played back-to-back.

44 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Erika George searches for discarded treasures at Saturday's Lower Cape Fear Hospice yard sale at Legion Stadium in Wilmington on March 1, 2003.

45 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Richard Wetherill, 5, of Cape Fear Country Club, swims during the Wilmington Swim League Championship held at the Legion Stadium swimming pool Saturday.

46 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

A pile of rubble is all that remains of much of the interior of Legion Stadium in the early 2000s, which is being gutted and the walls punched out as part of a seven-month renovation project. Supporting beams are being left in place because they are structurally solid.

47 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

A worker from Bradley and Barnes Construction rips up the floor underneath Legion Stadium, which is being gutted and the walls punched out as part of a seven-month renovation project. Supporting beams are being left in place because they are structurally solid.

48 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

David London of Jacksonville gets his 10-month-old Pomeranian ready to show at the Hanover Kennel Club 80th All-Breed Dog Show held at Legion Stadium Saturday. A new show begins Sunday and runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

49 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover's #52 Schyler Schlichter, center, #32 William Brown and #2 Tyrone Moore celebrate after beating South Brunswick 25-0 in 2000 at Legion Stadium.

50 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

New Hanover Kit Cat Leigh-Ann White, top, pulls a ponytail on fellow kitten Catherine Anderson as Lauri Southerland, left, works on her own locks prior to kickoff at Legion Stadium in 1995. The Kit Cats are a cheering and dance squad that perform at sporting events with the school cheerleaders.

51 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Attending New Hanover High School games since the early 1960s, J.D. Johnson finds a nice corner to watch the game at Legion Stadium early before the kickoff of a game in 1995.

52 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff (right in red) gets a little help across the spongy Legion Stadium field as Linda Purl (far left) gets natural and pulls off her shoes, part of the celebrities on hand for the Azalea Festival Variety Show in 1995.

53 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Pothole-ridden parking lot at Legion Stadium in Wilmington, N.C., in 1995.

54 / 54

From football to pooches, this Wilmington sports complex has seen it all

Local country artist Jamie Lynn Fowler performs for the folks sitting in the grass at Legion Stadium during the Variety Show in 1995.

The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame will induct five members for its 2026 class this weekend.

Among the sports figures being inducted this year is longtime Laney basketball coach and current athletic director Fred Lynch. Surfing standout Bill Curry, a Hoggard graduate, will also be inducted.

Three days of events for this year's induction class began with a luncheon on Friday, May 15, at the Wilmington Convention Center, with its fundraiser golf tournament set for Saturday morning at Wilmington Municipal Golf Course.

On Sunday, a reception and auction will start at 5 p.m. at the convention center, with dinner and the induction ceremony at 6. Click here for more information.

SEE THE 2025 INDUCTEES Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame set for 18th induction class Sunday

Fred Lynch

Long time Laney Athletic Director Fred Lynch as the Laney boys took on Broughton in the first round of the NCHSAA 4A Playoffs Tuesday Feb. 23, 2021 at Laney. [KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS]

If you’ve been around Wilmington high school athletics for any significant period of time, you're likely quite familiar with the name Fred Lynch.

The Laney athletic director has served in various roles at Wilmington’s largest public high school for 46 years, joining the school just three years after it opened in 1976. While he started out as an assistant junior varsity coach in basketball and football, Lynch would become an unforgettable figure as the leader of the Bucs boys basketball program for 28 years, leading the team to a 426-242 record, winning six conference championships, the Eastern Regional title and a state championship appearance in 1999.

Lynch served as an assistant coach during Michael Jordan’s tenure at the school and has been interviewed for multiple documentaries about ‘His Airness’, including the hugely popular ‘Last Dance’ documentary from ESPN.

Lynch, now 72, has spent 50 years in high school athletics in New Hanover County, 46 coming at Laney High School. He was the first black athletic director in New Hanover County history.

Bill Curry

Bill Curry surfs in the 3rd heat of the guys open longboard quarterfinals Saturday August 17, 2019 during the O'Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am in Wrightsville Beach, N.C. The event is one of the biggest surfing competitions on the East Coast and attracts surfers from around the globe. Professionals that have won in the past include Rob Machado, Fisher Heverly, and Avon Cormican. [KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS]

The world of surfing holds a special place in the hearts of Port City residents, and there is perhaps nobody in state history who accomplished more on the waves than Bill Curry.

Curry’s rise in the surfing world began along the shores of Wrightsville Beach before turning into one of the most accomplished careers by a North Carolina surfer. The Hoggard High School graduate broke through in 1979 with an East Coast Longboard Championship, then made state surfing history a year later by becoming the first North Carolinian to win the Men’s Division Eastern Surfing Championship.

Over the next decade, Curry became a fixture on the national surfing scene. He posted a top-five finish at the 1981 U.S. Amateur Surfing Championships, collected multiple Iron Surfer Awards and, in 1982, stood out as one of the top performers at both the East Coast and U.S. Surfing Championships.

His success eventually carried on to the international stage. Curry competed for Team USA in Puerto Rico in 1988, earning a third-place finish in Open Longboard competition, and later won both the Longboard and Senior Longboard divisions while representing the United States Surfing Federation in 1993. His career later earned him induction into the East Coast Surfing Legends Hall of Fame in 2004.

Ron Musselman

Wilmington native and resident Ron Musselman is the birth father of U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover. at Hugh McRae Park Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

Long before pitching under the bright lights of Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays stadiums, Ron Musselman was building a reputation in Wilmington.

At Hoggard, Musselman emerged as one of the area’s top pitchers and played a key role on the Vikings’ 1972 state championship team. His success continued at Louisburg College, where he went a combined 20-5 across two seasons, earned back-to-back all-conference honors and helped lead the Hurricanes to the Junior College World Series in 1975.

From there, Musselman took his game to Clemson University and continued to dominate against ACC competition. He again posted a 20-5 record over two seasons, earned all-conference recognition twice and helped guide the Tigers to consecutive College World Series appearances. His four shutouts in a single season still stand among the best pitching marks in program history.

After being drafted three times, Musselman reached the majors with the Seattle Mariners in 1982, then spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1984 and 1985. Across 48 major league appearances, he compiled a 4-2 record with a 3.73 ERA.

Tamera Young

Indiana Fever forward Natalie Achonwa (11) and Las Vegas Aces forward Tamera Young (1) flail after Young was fouled by Fever guard Tiffany Mitchell (3), at right, during fourth quarter action at Banker's Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Las Vegas won, 101-92.

Long before she spent more than a decade in the WNBA, Tamera Young was dominating gyms across Wilmington.

At Laney High School, Young developed into one of the top girls basketball players to come through the area in the early 2000s. By the time her career ended, she had scored more than 1,500 points, pulled down nearly 800 rebounds and done enough to have her No. 11 jersey retired by the Buccaneers. She earned all-conference honors three straight seasons and was twice named Mideastern Conference Player of the Year.

Her game only expanded at James Madison University, where Young became one of the most decorated players in program history. During her senior season in 2008, she averaged 20.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while leading the CAA in both categories. That same year, she earned conference player of the year honors and helped rewrite the school record book, finishing her career atop several major categories, including scoring average, steals and consecutive double-digit scoring performances.

Young closed her college career with 2,121 points across 127 appearances for the Dukes before becoming the eighth overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream.

After one season in Atlanta, Young spent the bulk of her WNBA career with the Chicago Sky, helping guide the franchise to multiple Eastern Conference semifinal appearances and a trip to the WNBA Finals in 2014. She later finished her playing career with the Las Vegas Aces and returned to Chicago in 2024 as an assistant coach.

Even then, basketball continued taking Young around the world. Her professional career included stops in Israel, China, Brazil and Turkey, turning a standout Wilmington career into an international one.

Ed Wilson

For nearly three decades, Ed Wilson became a familiar figure on Wilmington’s youth baseball fields, shaping generations of young players through the city’s growing Little League scene.

When the Winter Park Optimist Little League launched in 1956, Wilson was there from the beginning. Over the following years, he turned the Hanover Center squad into one of the area’s most successful youth programs, piling up 15 league championships, 10 county titles and two state championships.

His teams became especially known for consistency. During one remarkable stretch, Hanover Center won 50 consecutive games, a mark believed to be a world record at the time and one that stood for more than six decades.

But beyond the trophies and records, Wilson’s lasting influence came through the countless young athletes he coached and mentored across Wilmington before his death on Jan. 6, 2016.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 2026 Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame class