Gene Knight
York High School

As a 1950 graduate of Erskine College, Gene Knight came to York and served as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach from 1950 until 1958.  As a high school athlete at St. George High School in Dorchester County, he was a three year player in football, basketball and baseball.  As a collegian, Gene played three years of both football and baseball at Erskine College.  During his coaching career at York High School, Coach Knight was on the staff that lead the Green Dragons to a 28 game unbeaten streak over two seasons in the 1950's.  As head baseball coach, he built the program up and led the squad to the 1955 Upper State Championship Series, where they lost to Clinton High School, 2 games to 1.  Leaving York High in 1958, Coach Knight continued his work with young people 29 more years at the Episcopal Church Home for Children in York until his retirement in 1986.  He also served on the York School Boars from 1962 until 1980.  An avid golfer, Coach Knight established the "Play for the Child" Golf Tournament, which now bears his name.  He is married to the former Lettie Harper and has two children, Gene and Elizabeth, and three grandchildren.

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Butch Ashley
York High School

Still a familiar face at YCHS Athletic Events, Butch Ashley began his involvement with York High Athletics as a student from 1963 to 1966.  During that time, Butch earned 10 varsity letters in Football, Baseball and Track.  Although he was an excellent all around athlete, Butch excelled in football.  As a four year, two way starter, he was twice voted as the team's best blocker and once voted Green Dragons' Most Valuable Player.  He was named to the All Area and All Conference Team for three years.  As a senior, Butch was named to the All State Team.  He played in both the 1965 North-South Allstar game and in the 1965 Shrine Bowl.  Currently Butch is in his fifteenth year of active membership and is a past president of the YCHS Booster Club.  He is a member of the American Cancer Society, on a Relay for Life team, has donated 88 pints of blood to the Red Cross and is a former Youth League Football Coach in York.

Billy Joe Bolin
Hickory Grove High School

As a 1955 Graduate of Hickory Grove High School, Billy Bolin was an outstanding basketball and baseball player for the Red Cardinals.  It was Billy's baseball career that attracted professional baseball scouts to the small town of Hickory Grove.  Billy was one of the top baseball catchers in the southeast and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1956.  Billy is the Youth Director of his church in Michigan and is the former pastor of a church in Montana.

Family of Jim Bowen

Jim Bowen
Jefferson High School

Former York native Jim Bowen, one of eight children born to James Bowen and the late Thomasina Bowen, is a 1968 graduate of Jefferson High School.  In 1966 and 1967, Jim led his team to consecutive district football championships and helped Jefferson secure state basketball titles in 1967 and 1968 as well.  He was an all-state selection in both football and basketball as a senior and was twice an all-league selection in American Legion baseball.  Jim captained both his football and basketball teams as a senior and was named Most Valuable Player in football.  At Moorehead State University, Jim was one of eight graduated to be inducted into the Minnesota school's Hall of Fame.  He played basketball for two years at MSU, leading the Dragons in scoring both seasons.  During his long softball career, Jim played on three World Championship teams, making first team All-American twice.  Jim also played two seasons of professional softball for the now defunct Minnesota Norseman.  In 1997 he was inducted into the ASA Softball Hall of Fame.  A second honor was accorded him on January 24, 2004, when he was inducted into the Minnesota State USSSA Softball Hall of Fame in Minneapolis, where he now resides.  Jim also coached basketball at Minneapolis Washburn High School.  He is married to Teresa Bowen and is the father of three children.

Tom Weaver
York Comprehensive High School

As a 1968 graduate of Appalachian State University, Tom Weaver came to York and served as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach at York High School and York Comprehensive High School from 1969 - 1979.  As a high school athlete at Rock Hill High School, Tom was a four year letterman in football and baseball.  Tom was also voted the Most Valuable Player in baseball in 1962, 1963 and 1964.  At Appalachian State University, he lettered in baseball in 1965 and 1966.  During his coaching career at York, Coach Weaver's baseball teams won 129 games in 7 years, placed third in the state two times and won the AAA State Baseball Championship in 1977.  Coach Weaver was named Region Coach of the Year four times and State Baseball Coach of the Year in 1977.  Coach Weaver is a member of the Friendship United Methodist Church in Rock Hill and is an avid fisherman.