Jacob Conley
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 1:13 pm

The Rutherford County Sports Hall of Fame (RCSHOF), presented by Hardin's Drug, announces tickets to the 2023 RCSHOF Induction Ceremony are on sale.The event will take place Thursday, April 20 at the Foundation Performing Arts Center at Isothermal Community College in Spindale, beginning at 6 PM. Tickets can be purchased online or at The Foundation Box Office for $25. A small service fee will be applied to online orders. Quantities are limited, so patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of the event. This year, the RCSHOF will honor an outstanding class of five individuals. Below is a short summary of each individuals' accomplishments, which will be expounded on in greater detail at the ceremony.

Keenan Lee Carpenter

Carpenter was a proven scorer on the basketball court whether it was for the R-S Central Hilltoppers, Anderson (SC) Junior College or the Auburn Tigers of the SEC. Carpenter scored over 1,000 points in his Hilltopper career (1981-1984), leading the Southwestern Conference in scoring those final two seasons. The points kept coming at Anderson. Carpenter was named Region X Player of The Year twice and scored over 1,000 points in just two seasons with the Anderson Trojans. The scoring did not slow down when Carpenter made the jump to high-major basketball with Auburn. He scored 30 points or more five times during his Tiger career. His career high came in 1989 when he scored 44 points vs LSU and also led the SEC in three-pointers made that season. As a result, Carpenter was selected as an All-SEC 2nd Team performer in 1989 and to the Tigers All-Centennial Team a decade later.

Pam K. Harmon

Harmon excelled at every sport she played at East Rutherford High School. She lettered in three different sports during her Cavalier career from 1974-1977. While she earned numerous awards and honors as a member of the basketball and softball teams at East, she really shone on the tennis court. Harmon was a founding member of the women's tennis program at East Rutherford as a sophomore and was the top seed for the Lady Cavs for three seasons, earning MVP and All-Conference honors. She also won the prestigious "Women in Sports Award", which was presented to Harmon by tennis legend Billie Jean King. Following her career at East, Harmon was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Duke University.

Billy Ray Haynes Jr.

Haynes made a name for himself on the gridiron and baseball diamond at CHASE (1985-88) before becoming one of the most prolific tacklers in NC State football history. During his Trojan career, not only was Haynes a four-year starter for the baseball team, holding the record for the most home runs and RBIs in a single season, he also was named Rutherford County Football Player of The Year in 1987. After posting 169 tackles that year, Haynes was selected to the Shrine Bowl roster where he set a record for 16 tackles in the game. Haynes' success continued at NCSU. He garnered over 100 tackles in both his sophomore and senior seasons, helping the Wolfpack to a pair of Bowl victories. In all, Haynes made 364 tackles in his college career, which ranks eighth all-time in Wolfpack history.

Charles Dean Huffstickler

Huffstickler not only had an outstanding athletic career in the ring as a boxer, he also found success as a coach and professionally as a police officer. He has received numerous awards and honors as a coach and community leader. Huffstickler began boxing at the age of 15 while a student at R-S Central High School. During his senior year of 1958, Huffstickler won the Middleweight division of the Highpoint Golden Gloves AAU tournament, competing for the Rutherfordton Police Boxing Team.

After graduation and a stint in the military, Huffstickler became a police officer in Gastonia. In 1971, he formed the Gastonia Police Youth Club, which later expanded to sponsor several sports. In 1972, Huffstickler was chosen to coach the Regional Jr. Olympic Boxing team, traveling around the country. Huffstickler also coached the Cuban National Boxing Team when they came to Charlotte in 1979 where he coached future Olympic Gold Medalist Teafilo Stevenson. In 1983, Huffstickler was the corner coach for future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and he has also met other boxing greats throughout his career, including Joe Frazier, Mohammed Ali, and Sugar Ray Leonard, just to name a few. In 2022, Huffstickler was inducted into the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame.

Chris Michael

Michael was a star on the basketball court and the track for the R-S Central Hilltoppers from 1978-1981. He claimed the 1980 State Title in the Long Jump and was also a vital part of the Hilltoppers' unbeaten State Championship basketball team in 1980. As a senior in 1981, he led R-S to a 27-5 mark and was selected to play in the East-West All-Star game. After a year of postgraduate studies, Michael hit the hardwood for Clemson University where he averaged 7.5 points per game his first two seasons with the Tigers. He remained consistent throughout the rest of his career, as he averaged 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while playing against premier competition in the ACC.

For additional information, please visit the RCSHOF website rcshof.org or call the Foundation Box Office at 828-286-9990.