Hall of Fame
John Charles (Lenoir-Rhyne, 1950) (posthumous) was a three-time Team Most Valuable Player and all-conference honoree (1947-49) as a member of the Bears’ football team under legendary Head Coach Clarence Stasavich. Charles was also an inaugural class inductee into the Surry County Sports Hall of Fame. Charles was a 21-year high school head coaching veteran that included the following sports: football, baseball, basketball and track and field. Charles led Taylorsville (N.C.) High School to the 1956 state championship in women’s basketball and Elkin (N.C.) High School to the 1967 state title in football. Charles, who also coached in the 1967 Shrine Bowl, finished his prep football coaching career with a 124-31-2 record and eight league titles. Charles led four track teams to undefeated campaigns at Elkin as well. Charles, a native of Lewiston, Pa., is also a World War II veteran and served in the 82nd Airborne.
