The Valdese Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Valdese, with support from the Town of Valdese Parks and Recreation Department, seeks to preserve the community’s sports history by recognizing and honoring the achievements of individual athletes and teams from the Town of Valdese who have differentiated themselves through extraordinary performance in their respective sport. 

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The Sports Hall of Fame will showcase the Town’s rich sports history and traditions and will not only celebrate the legacy of past generations but will honor current and future generations of athletes, coaches and teams who will have had the opportunity to learn about all the great athletes and teams who came before them and who may inspire them to achieve greatness in their own endeavors.

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Nominations to the Sports Hall of Fame are open to the public but may also be made by the Valdese Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee.  Any Valdese athlete, coach, administrator, sportsman or contributor of good character and reputation who meets the eligibility criteria and who has been out of the sport for at least five (5) years is eligible for nomination. Eligibility criteria comprise three categories:

 

1. Athletes

2. Coaches

3. Contributors.

 

Eligible teams will not be members of the Hall of Fame but will be recognized and honored as “Teams of Distinction."

 

Nominees must be:

 

1. A Town of Valdese native or resided in the Town of Valdese, and 

2. Attended Valdese, East Burke, or Draughn High School at the time of their participation.

 

Full eligibility criteria (Guidelines) and the Nomination Form are available below.   

 

The Sports Hall of Fame is governed by an Executive Committee of up to six (6) members who will also be members of the Selection Committee.  The Executive Committee will determine eligible candidates from the nominations received and the number of inductees in any given year.

 

Hall of Fame inductees will be selected from the list of eligible candidates by the Valdese Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is made up of up to fifteen (15) total voting members and will include a Town of Valdese government official, the Parks and Recreation Director, Rotary Club of Valdese members, past or present coaches or athletic directors, and past or present community members at large. 

 

The Valdese Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet is held each year on the third Monday in May and Hall of Fame plaques honoring each inductee will be permanently displayed at the Valdese Community Center at 312 Massel Avenue, Valdese, NC, 28690.

 

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Tickets on sale! 

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Valdese Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet, to be held on May 18, 2026! Tickets are $35 per person (dinner included) and can be purchased by contacting:

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Karen Linkous | karenlinkous20@gmail.com

Rexanna Lowman | rexannalowman@gmail.com

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or at Brinkley Insurance in Valdese (see Annette).

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Tickets for the Ceremony Only ($10 per person) are also available and will be on sale at the door during the event.

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