Whitfield obvious choice for King Coaching Award
By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
Validating George Whitfield’s legendary status in North Carolina baseball circles and beyond is the fact he has been inducted into 10 halls of fame.
In fact, more than 40 years ago he established his own hall of fame, which includes such prominent personalities as Greene County’s James “Rabbit” Fulghum, former Fike High baseball coach and athletic director Gilbert Ferrell, former Fike baseball coach Will Flowers, Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf athletic pioneer Gary Farmer.
However, the 78-year-old Whitfield definitely basked in the occasion during the Wilson Hot Stove League banquet Monday evening when he was named the recipient of the chapter’s newest award — the Clyde King Excellence in Coaching Award, which was established in 2014.
Supposedly retired, Whitfield grabbed attention in 2015 as the head baseball coach at Parrott Academy in Kinston. Parrott, directed by Whitfield, seized the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A championship.
Princie King Evans, the late King’s daughter and Hot Stove board member who introduced Whitfield, hailed him as a “phenomenon.”
Evans noted Whitfield’s coaching careers spans 57 years and leaks into seven decades. Before last season, his win career win count totaled 1,281 with 16 conference titles and four state championships. Whitfield was as equally accomplished as an American Legion head coach, with his teams winning another four state crowns.
The National High School Coach of the Year accolade belonged to Whitfield in 1969 and 1974. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. The honors go on and on.
Whitfield grew up in Kinston and established himself as a star athlete at Grainger High.
As Evans noted: “He was a mighty good high school and American Legion player.”
After graduating from East Carolina University, Whitfield launched his coaching career at Goldsboro Junior High. Then came high school stops in Goldsboro, Hamlet and Richmond County. He also served as the head coach at Pitt Community College and functioned in an assistant’s capacity at ECU.
But as Evans emphasized, Whitfield’s fame extends far beyond playing and coaching the game.
His baseball clinic has been around for 43 years and is regarded as one of the best in the state. He’s still an instructor. Whitfield is prominently linked with generosity. Many a young athlete and fledgling program have benefited from his benevolence.
Whitfield and Evans are long-time acquaintances and Whitfield became a close friend of Clyde King in his later years. When King needed assistance, Whitfield was there.
Evans emphasized Monday night’s distinction honored “the man he is and what he has done for our state and the young men of our state.”
Whitfield willingly grabbed the microphone and offered acceptance remarks. He spoke primarily of his friendship with King, certainly a legend as a manager and top executive for the New York Yankees and other major league organizations.
His opening comment lingered: “I don’t know of anything I would rather have than something with Clyde King’s name on it.”
By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer WILSON DAILY TIMES
Validating George Whitfield’s legendary status in North Carolina baseball circles and beyond is the fact he has been inducted into 10 halls of fame.
In fact, more than 40 years ago he established his own hall of fame, which includes such prominent personalities as Greene County’s James “Rabbit” Fulghum, former Fike High baseball coach and athletic director Gilbert Ferrell, former Fike baseball coach Will Flowers, Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf athletic pioneer Gary Farmer.
However, the 78-year-old Whitfield definitely basked in the occasion during the Wilson Hot Stove League banquet Monday evening when he was named the recipient of the chapter’s newest award — the Clyde King Excellence in Coaching Award, which was established in 2014.
Supposedly retired, Whitfield grabbed attention in 2015 as the head baseball coach at Parrott Academy in Kinston. Parrott, directed by Whitfield, seized the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2-A championship.
Princie King Evans, the late King’s daughter and Hot Stove board member who introduced Whitfield, hailed him as a “phenomenon.”
Evans noted Whitfield’s coaching careers spans 57 years and leaks into seven decades. Before last season, his win career win count totaled 1,281 with 16 conference titles and four state championships. Whitfield was as equally accomplished as an American Legion head coach, with his teams winning another four state crowns.
The National High School Coach of the Year accolade belonged to Whitfield in 1969 and 1974. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. The honors go on and on.
Whitfield grew up in Kinston and established himself as a star athlete at Grainger High.
As Evans noted: “He was a mighty good high school and American Legion player.”
After graduating from East Carolina University, Whitfield launched his coaching career at Goldsboro Junior High. Then came high school stops in Goldsboro, Hamlet and Richmond County. He also served as the head coach at Pitt Community College and functioned in an assistant’s capacity at ECU.
But as Evans emphasized, Whitfield’s fame extends far beyond playing and coaching the game.
His baseball clinic has been around for 43 years and is regarded as one of the best in the state. He’s still an instructor. Whitfield is prominently linked with generosity. Many a young athlete and fledgling program have benefited from his benevolence.
Whitfield and Evans are long-time acquaintances and Whitfield became a close friend of Clyde King in his later years. When King needed assistance, Whitfield was there.
Evans emphasized Monday night’s distinction honored “the man he is and what he has done for our state and the young men of our state.”
Whitfield willingly grabbed the microphone and offered acceptance remarks. He spoke primarily of his friendship with King, certainly a legend as a manager and top executive for the New York Yankees and other major league organizations.
His opening comment lingered: “I don’t know of anything I would rather have than something with Clyde King’s name on it.”
