Willie Frazier McNulty Davis
Jefferson High School
Class of 1956

Willie Davis was an outstanding basketball player for the Lady Blue Devils, 1952 - 1956.  She served as captain of the Jefferson Lady Blue Devil Basketball Team, 1954-1956.

Mrs. Davis played college basketball and tennis at S.C. Area Trade School in 1956 and 1957.  Mrs. Davis was selected as Miss S.C. Area Trade School in 1957.

She graduated college with honors and served as the Secretary for the S.C. State Superintendent of Education for over 30 years.

Daniel Lee Lowry
Jefferson High School
Class of 1956

Daniel Lowry was an outstanding football and basketball player at Jefferson High School.  He was an All-Conference basketball player and selected most valuable player his senior year.

Mr. Lowry averaged 20 points per game in basketball during his junior and senior year.

He played college football for Johnson C. Smith and was a four year letterman in college. 

He was Senior Class President and Salutatorian of the Class of 1956.  He was President of the National Honor Society.

Mr. Lowry was employed by the U.S. Department of Labor for over 30 years and appointed Deputy Director of the National Job Corps Program.

Bill Wilkerson
Hickory Grove High School
Class of 1965

            Bill Wilkerson was an outstanding point guard for the Hickory Grove Cardinal's basketball team.  He was an All-Conference basketball player in 1964 and 1965.  He led his team to the 1964 Upper State Championship and to the 1964 State Runners-Up and the 1965 State Play-Offs.  Mr. Wilkerson was a four year letterman for the Cardinals and captain of the team his senior year.  He played college basketball at Spartanburg Methodist College and was a two year letterman for the Pioneers.

Mr. Wilkerson is the owner of J.L. Gaddy Enterprises, a former town councilman of Hickory Grove and board member of the American Red Cross.  He is also a strong supporter of the York School District.

Walter Franklin Blanton
York High School
Class of 1956

Walter Blanton lettered in football and basketball at York.  He was an outstanding basketball player for the York High School Green Dragons.  He was a four year letterman for the Green Dragons and was an All Region basketball player his junior and senior year and All-State his senior year.  He was named the second best basketball player in SC in 1956.  He was captain of the basketball team his senior year and voted MVP his junior and senior year.

Mr. Blanton played basketball at Erskine College and lettered all four years.  He has been called "one of the best rebounders to ever play at Erskine". 

He is Executive Director of Parent Anonymous of Maryland.  He serves on the Governor's Council on Child Abuse and is a member of the National Juvenile Justice Task Force.

Leslie Eugene Costner
York High School
Class of 1969

Leslie Costner was a three sport letterman for the Green Dragons.  He participated in football, wrestling and track.  He served as captain of the wrestling, football and track teams his senior year.  Mr. Costner was also an All-Region player in all three sports.  He broke the discus throw record his senior year with a throw of 138 feet and the shot put record with a throw of 42 feet and six inches.

He attended Gardner-Webb College on a football scholarship.  He is the manager of Financial Planning in Connecticut.

Rod Benfield
York Comprehensive High School
Class of 1985

Rod Benfield was an outstanding track and football player for the Cougars.  He was an All-Conference selection for four years in Track and Field.  He served as the captain of the track team his junior and senior year and was voted Track MVP all four years in high school.  He was voted Mr. South Carolina in Track and Field in 1984-1985.  Mr. Benfield was parade All-American Top 25 in Track and Field in 1985.  He was 1984-1985 State champion in the 100 and 200 meter.

Mr. Benfield attended the University of Alabama on a track scholarship.  He was selected All-Conference in the 200 meter in Alabama.

Mr. Benfield was appointed Clerk of Court for York County by Gob. Carroll Campbell in 1993.  He is currently a Shriner and Shrine Bowl representative for S.C.

Hope Black
York Comprehensive High School
Class of 1992

Hope Black was a three sport participant for the Cougars.  She lettered in volleyball, basketball and softball and served as team captain for all three sports.  She was selected to the All-Region team in all three sports and was an All-State selection in 1992.  Ms. Black was selected to the North-South All Star Team in softball in 1991 and 1992. 

She attended Converse College on a basketball scholarship.  During her senior year, she received a number of academic awards, such as:  WSOC Best of Class Award, Converse Milliken Scholarship, McDonald's Scholar/Athletic Award, Girls State Rotary Award and many more.

Doug Bennett
Sharon High School/York High School
Class of 1944

Doug Bennett was an outstanding athlete for the Green Dragons.  He was one of the top football players in the state.  Mr. Bennett attended Erskine College on a football scholarship in 1947 and played half back on the football team for four years. 

Although he was an outstanding athlete at York, it is his high school coaching career that he is best known for in the state of S.C.  He coached at Sharon High School, Fort Mill High School and Swansea High School.  As a head football coach, he compiled a record of 265 wins, 140 losses, and 6 ties, ranking him as the 6th "winningest" football coach in S.C.  In 1956, 1960, and 1975 he coached teams that were undefeated. 

Mr. Bennett is retired and lives in Swansea where the high school football stadium is named in his honor.