March 2024 Issue

CONTENTS

A Family Mountain

By Layne Hendrickson

“We’re so fortunate here at Sugar. Gunther puts money back into the programs. I mean, our snow making is the best. Our grooming is the best. Our ski school is the best. We are a family mountain.” - Len Bauer

Lansing, NC

By Joshua Biggers

“Lansing just feels like home and brought me feelings of my hometown. Lansing is a place you can tell is deeply rooted in its foundation but has the energy of people from all over from different backgrounds. Locals and transplants intertwine and the energy that is produced is indescribable.” - Shelby Tramel

Reflections of a National Championship

By Tim Gardner

“The 1973-1974 NC State team was one of the most special teams that has ever played college basketball. We had great players, a wonderful supporting cast to our starters, great over-all team chemistry, special cohesiveness, and each of our players had a tremendous hard-work ethic.” – Norman Sloan

Ashe CrossFit

By Joshua Biggers

“The coaches love to help people of all different fitness levels and ages and will challenge you or give you the modifications you need no matter what the workout is. This is a great gym for people who love CrossFit and for people who simply want to improve their health and have never tried CrossFit." - Lindsey Calverley

Pat Allen's Bucket List

By Sherrie Norris

“My parents worked long hours, which allowed me to spend a lot of time with my two loving grandmothers, who helped shape my life in many ways. I also had time for a lot of reflection; writing became therapeutic for me, as well as fun.” - Pat Allen

Ashe County's Little's Gym

By Joshua Biggers

“The staff at Little's Health and Fitness are friendly and helpful. They offer a wide variety of weight machines, free weights, and cardio equipment as well as a juice / shake bar. If you are looking to get in shape or maintain your physical health, Little's Gym offers great equipment and an even better atmosphere.” - Errol

Brown

Sam Garrett is pictured with his eldest daughter, Madison, and her two sons Rhett (holding the game ball) and River, with Sam’s youngest son, Gunner, the night he scored his 1,000th point during a Gate City High School victory. Yes, Gunner, Rhett, and River all have the same barber.

March Madness is here!

Basketball has been part of my life for over 40 years. As a former coach, scout, and lifelong fan, I have learned the importance of fitness, exercise, and teamwork, and have observed how basketball has a way of building a sense of community.

Ballers in the High Country showed up and showed out this year. The Watauga Pioneer and Appalachian State University Mountaineer basketball teams kept fans tuned in with their exciting seasons. Congratulations to all the athletes!

Beyond the High Country, March Madness tips off the spring season with continued elite competition. Whether you go all out to support your favorite team during March Madness, or, inexplicably, you are blissfully unaware of all the hoopla, March is an invigorating month full of renewed exuberance. Hibernating animals awake from their winter slumber. The green begins to return to trees and grass, reminding us that spring is rapidly approaching. And, as the temperatures bring more warmth to our days, the High Country calls residents and visitors to get out into nature for a hike or other outdoor adventures.

This issue of High Country Magazine features several stories about the fitness community. Tim Gardner offers our cover story, which celebrates what some have called the birth of March Madness –college basketball in the late 1960s and early 1970s. NC State showcased the ACC’s legitimacy 50 years ago as they won the 1974 NCAA men’s basketball championship. The High Country’s own Tommy Burleson was part of that trailblazing team.

Joshua Biggers gives a look inside Ashe CrossFit and Little’s Gym, and their missions that extend beyond physical fitness. He also takes us on a tour of the Lansing community, with its unique charm and intriguing people. Layne Hendrickson explores the relationship between ski coach Len Bauer and his students at Sugar Mountain and Sherrie Norris highlights local author Pat Allen.

When you are not watching basketball, enjoy this edition. Happy spring and, as always, thank you for choosing High Country Magazine!

Sam Garrett - Publisher

Advertising d irector Michelle Harrell

contributing Writers

Joshua Biggers

Tim Gardner

Layne Hendrickson

Sherrie Norris

Jan Todd cover Photogr APh NC State University Athletics Department

High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga, Avery and Ashe counties of North Carolina.

HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607

828-264-2262

Copyright © 2024, All rights reserved

Tommy Burleson takes one of his famous sky hook shots over UCLA’s Bill Walton in the NC State Wolfpack’s regular season game in the St. Louis, Missouri Arena. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department. ON THE

mountain echoes

High Country Caregivers and Hawksnest Tubing unite for evening of winter fun

High Country Caregivers expresses heartfelt gratitude to Hawksnest Tubing Park for generously offering a day of winter joy to 46 children in their program. The tubing adventure, courtesy of Hawksnest, created unforgettable memories and a day of fun for the families. Caroline Johnson, a social worker at High Country Caregivers, highlights the thrilling experience and thanks Hawksnest for making this day possible.

"We are so thankful to Hawksnest Tubing Park for their generous donation of this incredible field trip to our families," said Caroline Johnson, a social worker at High Country Caregivers. "Tubing at Hawksnest is such a fun experience for the kids in our program. It also strengthened the bonds within our caregiver community. We deeply appreciate the support and commitment shown by Hawksnest in making this event possible. We are also very thankful for the volunteers that participated, tubing and helping out with the kids, to give our grandparents some respite time.”

Hawksnest Tubing Park, renowned as the largest snow tubing park in the Southeast, offers 30 exhilarating lanes of snow tubing, ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet long. The park's dedication to providing a unique winter experience aligns seamlessly with High Country Caregivers' mission to support and uplift kinship caregivers and their families.

High Country Caregivers, operating in Avery, Watauga, Ashe, Yancy, Mitchell, and Wilkes counties, serves 399 children and 314 caregivers. The organization focuses on providing advocacy, support, and education to kinship caregivers, contributing to the well-being of families in the High Country region.

For more information about High Country Caregivers and their initiatives, please visit www.highcountrycaregivers.org. To explore the winter wonders at Hawksnest Tubing Park, visit www.hawsnesttubing.com. t

COURTESY OF HIGH COUNTRY CAREGIVERS

Photo courtesy of High Country Caregivers.

mountain echoes

W.A.M.Y. Community Action Celebrates 60 Years of Fighting Poverty in the High Country

W.A.M.Y. Community Action is proud to announce its 60th anniversary of combating poverty and fostering self-sufficiency in the High Country. Over the past six decades, W.A.M.Y. Community Action has dedicated its resources and efforts to uplift individuals and families from poverty, making a significant impact on communities in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.

Sixty years ago, in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act on July 2 and the Economic Opportunity Act on August 20. Other essential pieces of the War on Poverty and civil rights legislation were quick to follow and became intertwined from the federal level down to the grassroots level. Beginning that year and continuing in subsequent years, local coalitions of people used Economic Opportunity Act funding to establish Community Action Agencies (CAAs). The first grants were soon announced and 1,600 new CAAs serving people in urban, suburban, rural, and frontier communities across America had been established, including W.A.M.Y. Community Action.

Since its founding in 1964, W.A.M.Y. Community Action has been instrumental in assisting thousands of individuals and families in our region. The organization has offered a variety of services, including preservation of affordable housing, childcare assistance, education support, and emergency assistance, all aimed at reducing poverty and improving the quality of life for those in need.

"Reaching this milestone is a testament to our commitment to alleviating poverty and the impact we've made in our community," said Allison Jennings, Director of Development. "We are immensely proud of our achievements over the past 60 years, but we also recognize that there's much work still to be done. As we celebrate this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to our mission and look forward to continuing our efforts in the decades to come."

To mark this significant occasion, W.A.M.Y. Community Action will be hosting a special charity fundraiser, "Denim &

Diamonds", on May 23, 2024. This event is designed to honor our legacy, highlight our impact, and inspire further action in the fight against poverty. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this significant milestone and contributing to our ongoing mission.

For more information about W.A.M.Y. Community Action, our 60th anniversary celebrations, and the "Denim & Diamonds" fundraiser, please visit www.wamycommunityaction.org or contact Allison Jennings at 828-264-2421 ext. 107 or allison@ wamycommunityaction.org.

About W.A.M.Y. Community Action

Established in 1964, W.A.M.Y. (Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey) is a Community Action Agency and was the first humanservice non-profit to come to the High Country’s four-county area. WAMY’s mission is to partner with families and communities to provide the disadvantaged with the support they need to become self-sufficient. WAMY conducts a community needs assessment every three years and programs are designed according to the needs of the community. Currently, WAMY has four programsHousing & Energy, Youth Development, Food & Nutrition, and Family Development. Even though WAMY Community Action receives federal and state funding, it still requires donations from individual private donors as these contributions offer greater flexibility to meet growing needs in our communities.

To learn more or donate visit wamycommunityaction.org.

About Community Action Agencies

A Community Action Agency (CAA) is a local organization with the mission of reducing poverty through locally designed and delivered programs and services, targeted to the specific needs of the community. CAAs exist in virtually every county in the U.S., numbering more than 1,000 nationwide. Most are private nonprofits, but some are units of local government. They are state-designated but locally controlled, governed by a tripartite board that represents the low-income community, local elected officials, and private and public community stakeholders. t

COURTESY OF W.A.M.Y. COMMUNITY ACTION

When the Critters Come a Callin’ Carolina Gal

By Jan Todd

Folks who live in the mountains often find themselves with more houseguests than they anticipated — particularly during leaf season, hurricane season, or those weeks when it is a hundred degrees in the lowlands.

During football season, my husband and I have our guest rooms booked up months in advance. It’s always fun to see old friends and college buddies, cousins, and our own grown children who come up to enjoy a Mountaineers home game.

What I don’t enjoy are those uninvited houseguests — those you don’t see coming and never want to see inside the house. When your house is nestled in the woods, it is pretty much a given that critters will find their way indoors when the seasons change.

When my daughter, Rachel, was about eight years old, she stepped over what she thought was a plastic snake in her room. Then, it moved.

It was just a harmless black snake. We chased it around, trapped it under a trash can, and let Daddy deal with it. From that day forward, though, Rachel has been terrified of snakes.

Years later, another paid a visit — this

time in our garage. My husband was out of town, but I wasn’t too concerned. I just left the garage door open and figured it would crawl out. Rachel, however, couldn’t stop thinking about that snake. She called her boyfriend (in the middle of the night, I might add), and he came over, caught the snake and removed it from our garage. That’s true love. Or — it wasn’t, as it turned out. Enough about that boyfriend.

With all the snakes, you’d think mice wouldn’t be a problem. But almost every spring, and again when the weather turns cold, we have a mouse or two that finds its way inside. Particularly when my husband is out of town.

I shouldn’t be squeamish about mice. As a kid, I had my first pet rodent after my second grade year, when the teacher decided to let the class pet, a white rat named Snowball, go home to live with a lucky student. The teacher sent home permission slips for the children to participate in a drawing to select the winner of dear Snowball.

My dad was an engineer, so approached this opportunity in a logical manner. He reasoned that with 26 students in my class, I had only a small chance of winning, and

signing the permission slip would bring his child a moment of happiness that really wouldn’t cost him anything.

Imagine his surprise when I came home the next day with Snowball — after being the ONLY child to return a signed permission slip! I was absolutely thrilled with my new pet, and we lived happily ever after. Until Snowball didn’t. Life expectancy for rats is only two years or so. But enough about Snowball.

Later, I had a pair of mice as pets. After all, we already had a cage. Yet all of this childhood rodent experience did nothing to prepare me for the sheer terror of coming eye-to-eye with a bonafide WILD mouse staring at me from atop a can of chicken noodle soup in my pantry. Or finding a pair of my boxed dress shoes filled with bird seed, where a varmint had been raiding the bag of food and stashing some snacks for a long winter’s nap.

These home invaders do not come to a happy end in our home, by the way. I’m hoping the word gets out to all of their little furry friends. Mountain life is not for the squeamish. But at least we’re never lonely! t

Composite photo of a computer generated (AI) mouse in Jan’s shoe. You didn’t think she’d get this close to a live, wild mouse, did you?

Sugar: A Family Mountain

STORY BY LAYNE HENDRICKSON

When envisioning skiing, I always picture a svelte professional rocketing down an alpine pass. Piercing eyes deftly surveying all approaching obstacles from within fancy yellow lensed goggles. A determined chin cutting through the icy wind as they effortlessly glide, jump, and contort their way down the frosty white mountain. At long last whooshing to an abrupt stop at the bottom of their death defying run by turning sideways and spraying powdery snow on adoring onlookers who are themselves, in turn, showering the intrepid skier with well-deserved adulation. Well, that’s the picture. But even ski gods have to start somewhere. And even the best of them begin their careers as tiny little bumbling kids with tiny little skis and someone who cares enough to pass on what they know.

Len Bauer is a level three skier. Not many of those in the Southeast I’m told. He is also a level two Aussie snowboarder, and an Eastern Region Professional Instructor. And he cares about passing on a tradition of skiing that spans many decades. He

takes a moment to talk to us about his time on Sugar Mountain and what it has meant to him.

“Where are you from originally?” I ask.

“I’m originally from Raleigh. Came up here to go to school at Lees-McRae. Skied at Lees-McRae. I worked at Beech Mountain for three years teaching skiing. I taught grass skiing up at Beech Mountain for two summers too, back in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s. And then I graduated from college and went out west for a year and worked at Alta in Utah. Actually, my oldest daughter is a snowboarder right next to Alta. She’s been out there nine years. But, I’d work at Elk River Golf Course in the summertime. I’ve been there 41 years! I’ve been here 38 years. But I went to Okemo, Vermont and worked in the racing program and special adaptive program for two years. After that, I came down here to Sugar, because a good friend of mine, Alan Griffin, was ski school director, and we were starting the race team here. I was one of the first coaches we ever had here. And I did the racing program here

Ski School Director Len Bauer adjusts a young student's 'Sugar Bear' bib. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

for six years. I actually skied with Gunther and Kim’s two kids. Andrew was seven and Heather was five at the time. Andrew is one of the mountain managers now.”

“Gunther?” I naively enquire.

“Gunther Jochl and Kim Jochl are the owners of the mountain,” Len informs. “But I did the racing program here for six years and then I took over the ski school for the last 32 years. It’s been good! I’m so fortunate that I get to come and work with my friends. I’ve got a good nucleus crew that’s been here for years. We’re so fortunate here at Sugar. Gunther puts money back into the programs. I mean, our snow making is the best. Our grooming is the best. Our ski school is the best. We are a family mountain. We have a great kids’ program. Thursday, we did 48 private lessons. Our clientele are families. If somebody wants to go to group sales, they go to Beech or Appalachian. They give such better prices. Our group sales, we don’t give it away here. But we have families. We have by far the best lift system. We have three highspeed lifts here. There’s nobody in the Southeast that has anything like we do. Our snow making operation is probably one of the best in the world. He puts money back into programs. Everything is new underground. I’m really lucky to have the instructors that I have. I have some that have been here even longer than I have. I have some that have been here 43 years! We have a really strong group of instructors.”

“How many instructors do you have?” I ask.

I’m so fortunate that I get to come and work with my friends. I’ve got a good nucleus crew that’s been here for years. We’re so fortunate here at Sugar. Gunther puts money back into the programs. I mean, our

snow making is the best. Our grooming is the best. Our ski school is the best. We are a family mountain.

- LEN BAUER

“I’ve got about 65,” Len responds with pride. “And I’ve got about five race coaches. The racing program is still under me.”

“What age range of students do you normally work with?” I ask.

“About 70% of our business are kids right now, especially here as a family mountain. I was fortunate to raise all three of my kids here. Dakota, she’s 29 now and she works at Snowbird. She was a chemist for eight years. She got bought out and retired and now she’s working full-time at Snowbird. Lilly went to Lees-McCrae, was national snowboard collegiate champ up in New York three years ago. Last year she took off and graduated at 20, but she was national champ at 19 and she’s in Australia now. And Sam, my youngest son is working with me here

4-year-old Laney having a blast with Instuctor Sarah during her first lesson at Sugar Mountain. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

Knuckle bumps for this young ski student at Sugar Mountain. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

now, but he goes to University of Vermont, and he leaves Saturday. He went there for the skiing. That’s what’s kept me here. It’s a family mountain and to have my kids raised here to ski. And to

schooling, and they bought passes. We were just very, very busy. And we’ve been very, very busy the last three years since Covid.”

“There has been a shift out of the cities,” I observe.

“It is a good problem to have,” Len affirms. “And too, it’s a challenge with sickness now. You know, back six years ago, if somebody would call out sick, or say they had a little fever, I’d say ‘Suck it up buttercup! Come on in to work!’ But now, if they have a little headache, you have to say, ‘Whatever you feel like you need to do.’ So, it’s kind of tough in that situation, but you have to do the right thing.”

“What’s the upper end of the age range that you’ve taught in your career?” I enquire.

The amount of business has gotten, I don’t know, overwhelming is not a good word, but with the lift system, the snow making, the volume of people since Covid has increased, the families. When Covid happened, that next year everybody was home-schooling, and they bought passes. We were just very, very busy. And we’ve been very, very busy the last three years since Covid.

- LEN BAUER

The School keeps around 65 instructors very busy helping create future generations of skiers and snowboarders. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

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“Just everybody! We’ve had some 80-year-olds,” Len replies.

“That’s brave!” I declare. “I just turned 60 and it would seem daunting to me now. To start trying to learn to ski at 80 is simply amazing to me. How do you get the word out about this place?”

“We’re really fortunate here that all the ski shops know us and they send

business our way,” Len responds. “They know me, and they know that we’re going to take care of anybody they send our way. But like I said, Sugar is a family resort and a family mountain. Like, the snow makers, the lift operators, they’re all my friends. The two main ski patrollers, they worked in ski school teaching lessons. Tommy, the head of the ski patrol, was with me seven years on the weekends. We all communicate. It’s a really good atmosphere.”

“I can tell that there is a really good vibe here,” I point out. “The parents, the kids, the instructors, everybody is having such a good time. I mean, if people aren’t enjoying

YEARS

This young skier is good-to-go at the Sugar Mountain Ski School. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

Ski School Director Len Bauer takes a moment to talk to future slope shredders Brayden and Henry.

Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

themselves, it shows. But these folks are all having a blast!”

“It’s a good feeling when you get somebody and introduce them to a new sport, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing,” Len shares. “The people I have working for me, a lot of them don’t do

Fridays, and Saturday afternoons at 3:00. We’ve been having a pretty good crowd, 15 people or so. And last year I was really fortunate, I had ‘Wounded Warriors’ call and I asked Gunther, and we didn’t charge them anything. They were all ready to pay us, had

It’s a good feeling when you get somebody and introduce them to a new sport, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing. The people I have working for me, a lot of them don’t do it for the money. They do it because they love teaching and giving people the experience of learning. When you teach someone, and they become a skier, they’re a skier for life.

- LEN BAUER

it for the money. They do it because they love teaching and giving people the experience of learning. When you teach someone, and they become a skier, they’re a skier for life.”

“Snowshoeing is interesting to me. I didn’t know that y’all did that,” I remark.

“Yep! We do snowshoeing on Mondays, Wednesdays,

the check ready for us and everything, but I was able to say, ‘No, this is on us today.’ They had about 26 people. It was really heartwarming, and we took a lot of pictures. It was pretty cool.”

“That is beyond cool!” I remark effusively. “Good for you! Now, what would you like to see for the future of this

Len Bauer is proud of the many instructors he has cultivated over the course of his tenure as director of the Ski School at Sugar Mountain. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

Only her second time seeing snow, 4-year-old Laney waves to mom at the successful end to her first lesson with Instructor Sarah. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

program down the road?”

“I’d like it to continue being a family mountain,” Len repeats to drive home the point. “We’ve got a really neat kids’ program. It’s called the ‘Sugar Bear Program.’ We put bibs on them and this weekend we’ll do almost 80 kids. And we’ll do 150 or so private lessons on Saturday. The people know us and they keep coming back to us. Safety will continue to be a big issue for us. What I always teach our coaches is safety first, fun second,

and what they learn comes third. If you learn something that’s great. But if you were safe and had a good time, you’re going to come back.”

So, from now on, in addition to daredevil pro skiers with their grace, speed, and arial acrobatics, I shall first envision them as pumpkin headed little toots wearing ‘Sugar Bear’ bibs over their ridiculously puffy coats and falling on their butts with a whoomph in the snow. We all have to start somewhere. t

Even after 38 years, Ski School Director Len Bauer still enjoys getting out in the snow with the students at Sugar Mountain. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

A confidant young skier shows how it's done on a more advanced slope. Photo by Layne Hendrickson.

Five Paths, One Destination:

LANSING

STORY BY JOSHUA BIGGERS

Lansing, nestled in the picturesque landscape of Ashe County, is a charming community that captivates locals and visitors alike with its serene beauty and small-town charm. Located deep in the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by the borders of Virginia and Tennessee, Lansing offers a retreat into nature's embrace, where rolling hills, meandering streams, and lush forests create a backdrop of tranquility.

This quaint town boasts a rich history and a close-knit community that warmly welcomes both residents and tourists. As a former stop along the Virginia Creeper Railroad, Lansing exudes a timeless appeal, with its historic buildings, local shops, and a genuine sense of Southern hospitality. Incorporated on May 16, 1928, Lansing is comprised of a single, three-way intersection. Over time, many

Lansing just feels like home and brought me feelings of my hometown. Lansing is a place you can tell is deeply rooted in its foundation but has the energy of people from all over from different backgrounds. Locals and transplants intertwine and the energy that is produced is indescribable.

- SHELBY TRAMEL

bluegrass musicians have made Lansing a frequent destination. The unhurried pace of life invites exploration, encouraging strolls through the town's streets where each corner reveals a piece of its storied past. Downtown Lansing is directly parallel from the incredible and enchanting Lansing Creeper Trail park surrounded by 77 acres, guaranteeing Lansing’s naturistic beauty stays intact for generations to come.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Lansing is a gateway to adventure. Surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge, the town provides access to hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and opportunities for fishing along the Big Horse Creek, one of the prime streams for trout. The Big Horse Creek, with its diverse ecosystems and recreational offerings, is a natural playground for those seeking a connection with the great outdoors.

Lansing captures the essence of North Carolina's mountain charm, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Whether it's the breathtaking views, the warm embrace of the community, or the simple joys of mountain living, Lansing invites you to discover the allure of this hidden gem in the heart of Ashe County.

The following article will show how Lansing is setting a new path for rural North Carolina. This story will take you down five different paths, which all lead to the same place – Lansing is a town made of compassion, authentic artistry, entrepreneurship, and most of all, love of one another.

Shelby Tramel

Lansing is not just a town; it's a close-knit community where stories intertwine, and the spirit of neighborly warmth prevails. This sense of community is precisely what drew Shelby Tramel, the new owner of the Old Orchard General Store, to make Lansing her home.

Shelby's journey to Lansing is a tale of serendipity, a story of how connections and shared passions can lead someone to discover their perfect place. Having resided in Lansing for three years, Shelby's love for the town deepened when she crossed paths with Walter Clark and his partner Johnny Burleson, the proud owners of a local blueberry farm and former owners of the Old Orchard General Store. The meeting, like the ripening

The Lansing Creeper Trail Park is many people’s favorite part about the historic area. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

Shelby Tramel is the new owner of the Old Orchard General Store. Photo submitted.

of summer fruit, signaled to Shelby that Lansing was more than just a location – it was a community filled with kindred spirits and where she felt she belonged.

When asked about her journey to Lansing, Shelby expresses a sentiment shared by many who have found solace in the town's embrace.

"Lansing just feels like home and brought me feelings of my hometown. Lansing is a place you can tell is deeply rooted in its foundation but has the energy of people from all over from different backgrounds. Locals and transplants intertwine and the energy that is produced is indescribable,” she shared, her voice resonating with a genuine affection for the place she now calls home.

Reflecting on her three years in Lansing, Shelby has observed the tangible transformations that have taken place. She notes the emergence of unique and artistic shops that have breathed new life into the community.

"So many people have opened cool shops that support various forms of artistic projects," she said.

The town, once a hidden gem, has become a vibrant canvas where creativity flourishes, and the spirit of entrepreneurship thrives.

Shelby envisions Lansing continuing to prosper in an authentic way, free from comparisons to other tourist destinations. Her hope is that people appreciate Lansing for what it is – an idyllic haven where the pulse of community beats strongly.

"Most importantly," she emphasized, "it's a place where people continue to look out for one another."

As the new steward of the Old Orchard General Store, Shelby Tramel is not just a business owner; she is an advocate of community spirit. Through her eyes, Lansing is not just a town – it's a canvas waiting to be painted with the strokes of shared experiences, local talents, and the warmth of human connection. The Old Orchard General Store, under Shelby's thoughtful guidance, stands not just as a retail space but as a testament to the enduring charm of Lansing, a place where community, creativity, and caring hearts converge.

Walter Clark

Walter Clark's story with Lansing reads like a love letter to the mountains, a narrative woven with passion for the land and a commitment to preserving the natural beauty that defines this picturesque town.

Over two decades ago, in 2001, Walter first set foot in Lansing, where he laid eyes on a blueberry farm that whispered promises of undiscovered beauty and untapped potential. Two years later, in 2003, Walter, alongside his partner Johnny Burleson, made the decision to turn that vision into reality by purchasing the very blueberry farm that had captured his heart. Thus began their enduring

The Old Orchard General Store welcomes locals and visitors alike. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

There is much to explore inside Old Orchard. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

The Old Orchard General Store. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

journey in Lansing – a journey that would see them become integral parts of the town's vibrant tapestry.

Walter's connection to the mountains runs deep, rooted in his upbringing in the foothills of Surry County. His love for the land and the mountains became evident during his tenure as the director for over a decade at the Blue Ridge Conservatory. It was a role that reflected his dedication to preserving the natural wonders that define the region.

When asked about his favorite part of Lansing, Walter's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as he declared, "Lansing Creeper Trail Park." This natural haven, nestled in the heart of the town, encapsulates the essence of Lansing at its purest form. The park, along with the surrounding acres, stands as a testament to Walter's vision of ensuring that generations to come will continue to behold the untouched beauty of nature in Lansing.

Describing Lansing with poetic precision, Walter portrayed it as "a beautifully geographically unique town made up of a culturally rich history." He speaks of the town as being connected by two iconic mountains, strung together by the gentle flow of water through Big Horse Creek. It's a place where the past and present converge, creating a harmonious blend that resonates through every corner of Lansing.

Walter reflects on the growing interest he has witnessed from people drawn to Lansing's natural beauty, particularly those actively involved in preserving the environment. He expresses excitement about Lansing evolving into a welcoming space for all, a testament to the collaborative efforts of those who share a love for the town's uniqueness.

As Lansing continues to evolve, guided by the hands of those like Walter Clark, the town remains a haven where nature's beauty is not just celebrated but safeguarded for the enjoyment of generations to come. In Walter's eyes, Lansing is more than a town — it's a living testament to the enduring allure of the mountains and the collective spirit of those who call it home.

James Littlejohn

James Littlejohn, a steward of Lansing's renaissance, has woven his story into the fabric of Lansing's history, playing a pivotal role in its transformation. James has been a part-time resident since 2014 and a full-time inhabitant since 2020.

As the president of Greater Lansing Area Development (GLAD), a 501c3 nonprofit, James is at the forefront of ensuring that Lansing is not just a town but a legacy set up for success for generations

The Town of Lansing and the NC Land and Water Fund honored Walter Clark for his extraordinary success in conservation for mountain land for public use for generations to come. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

Walter Clark, former owner of the Old Orchard General Store. Photo submitted.

The Big Horse Creek. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

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to come. His journey began with a quaint hunting cabin, a simple structure that would become the anchor for a profound connection to Lansing.

"This is where I'm meant to be," James realized, and from that realization, his dedication to the town blossomed.

James's description of Lansing is akin to a priceless painting –a snapshot in time attempting to rediscover itself. He eloquently likens the town to an "Andy Griffith feel," drawing parallels with the timeless charm of the beloved sitcom. His words evoke a sense of nostalgia, a yearning for simplicity and community, much like the fictional Mayberry portrayed in the show.

Reflecting on the recent history of Lansing, James notes the dramatic shift from a town where buildings were challenging to give away in 2020 to one that is now experiencing a revitalization, making it difficult to find an unclaimed space. The unexpected turn of events during the COVID-19 pandemic might have indirectly jump-started the positive growth witnessed in Lansing.

Over the past three years, Lansing has witnessed a cultural renaissance under the leadership of James and many others. Arts development has flourished, live music has found a new home, and an array of boutique stores have sprung up, adding to

James Littlejohn attends the Ashe County tree cutting ceremony. Photo submitted.

A new mural honors the life and legacy of Ola Belle Reed. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

the town's inherent charm. What was once a ghost town of sorts has become a vibrant hub of creativity and community yet still has the quiet town charm.

In James's eyes, Lansing is not just a town; it's an incredible community on the cusp of rediscovery. He considers himself fortunate to be part of Lansing's rejuvenation, a process that he hopes will continue to unfold positively. As Lansing grows, James envisions a united community that thrives together – a sentiment echoed by those who share a passion for this charming town nestled in the embrace of the Blue Ridge Mountains. James Littlejohn, through his dedication and leadership, has become an integral figure in Lansing's narrative, steering the town toward a future filled with promise and communal growth.

Caroline Renfro

In the vibrant tapestry of Ashe County, nestled amidst the majestic Pond Mountain, resides a remarkable individual who has seamlessly woven herself into the cultural fabric of the community. Caroline Renfro, a newcomer to Lansing since the fall of 2021, has discovered in this quaint town a perfect

blend of artistic allure, natural beauty, and the comforting embrace of family.

Caroline's journey to Lansing is rooted in familial ties, with her parents having called the area home since the early 2000s. Drawn by a magnetic pull toward the arts community, the breathtaking natural surroundings, and, not least, the presence of her loved ones, Caroline found herself making a home in the middle of nowhere—a place she lovingly refers to as near Pond Mountain.

Upon settling into Lansing, Caroline wasted no time in immersing herself in the heartbeat of the town's cultural scene. Joining the Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts (LPCCA), she became an invaluable addition to both the community and the board of LPCCA. Her passion for the arts and her commitment to fostering cultural engagement have left an indelible mark on the creative landscape of Lansing.

When asked about her favorite aspects of Lansing, Caroline's eyes light up with enthusiasm. Describing Lansing as a "hidden gem," she marvels at the geographical perfection that ensures the town retains its intimate charm. For Caroline, the uniqueness of Lansing lies

Caroline Renfro serves on the board of the Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts. Photo submitted.

in its inherent limitation on size, preserving the hometown appeal and fostering a deep sense of community love.

One of Caroline's favorite features of Lansing is the delightful convergence of exceptional experiences within a single block. She notes the rare opportunity to savor an excellent slice of pizza, enjoy a great craft beer, and revel in incredible live music – all within close proximity. This trifecta of delights encapsulates the essence of Lansing, where diverse pleasures come together to create a truly enriching experience.

Since Caroline's arrival in 2021, Lansing has witnessed a remarkable transformation, experiencing a downtown rebirth fueled by a wave of new-age ideas. The local youth have stepped up, bringing fresh perspectives and contributing to the vibrancy of the community. The changes have been nothing short of incredible, breathing new life into the town and inspiring a collective vision for the future.

Caroline Renfro envisions Lansing evolving into the Arts District of Ashe County – a hub where creativity, community, and cultural vibrancy intersect. Her enthusiasm, coupled with her active involvement in the LPCCA and the broader Lansing community, serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of growth and artistic exploration that defines this hidden gem in the heart of Ashe County. Caroline Renfro has not only found a home in Lansing; she's helping shape its future as a beacon of artistic expression and community connection.

Ann Rose

In the heart of Lansing, Ann Rose stands as a steadfast pillar, marking 28 years of dedication to this charming town. Ann's journey began in 1996, driven by a desire to provide her children with a community where neighbors weren't just faces in passing but guardians who looked out for each other – a vision that was soon discovered in Lansing.

As a home health nurse, Ann Rose seamlessly integrated into Lansing's fabric, leaving an immediate and lasting impact. Describing the town, she encapsulated its essence with poetic simplicity: "Echoes of the past and whispers of tomorrow." These words paint a vivid picture of Lansing, a place where history and

potential intertwine, creating a unique tapestry of community and promise.

Ann Rose's commitment to Lansing extends beyond her role as a resident; she serves as a board member of Greater Lansing Area Development (GLAD), actively contributing to the town's growth and environmental stewardship. One of her proudest projects is the Lansing Park, a testament to her dedication and the collaborative spirit of the community.

Nearly a decade ago, Lansing Park emerged through grants spearheaded by Ann Rose herself. Today, it stands as the heart of the town, drawing both locals and tourists alike. With Big Horse Creek running through it, boasting one of the cleanest water ratings in North Carolina, Lansing Park has become a scenic oasis and a hotspot for those seeking a connection with nature.

The Lansing Post Office is located at 9294 NC Highway 194 N. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

Individuals are invited to come to the farmers’ market. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

One of Ann Rose’s proudest projects is the Lansing Park. Photo submitted.

During our conversation, Ann Rose emphasized Lansing's commitment to environmental cleanliness. She highlighted the town's designation as a scenic byway, ensuring that its roadways will never transform into a four-lane road. This commitment safeguards Lansing's natural beauty, preserving it for generations to come – a testament to the town's dedication to environmental sustainability.

As our discussion drew to a close, Ann Rose shared her vision for Lansing's future. She aspires to see Lansing evolve into a trail town, inviting hikers and cyclists to pause and experience the

town's unique charm during their journeys. In Ann's eyes, Lansing is not just a little town; it's a little town with a big heart, where the sky's the limit for future possibilities.

Ann Rose, with her enduring commitment and vision for Lansing, exemplifies the spirit of those who call this town home. As Lansing continues to echo with the stories of its past and whisper promises of a vibrant future, individuals like Ann Rose ensure that the town remains a beacon of community, environmental consciousness, and limitless potential.

Like numerous villages throughout Ashe County, Lansing began as a small trading center. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

Pie on the Mountain is a popular restaurant offering flavorful pizza and other delicious options. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

Conclusion

Lansing, nestled in the serene landscapes of Ashe County, stands as a testament to the enduring allure of smalltown charm and community warmth. This hidden gem, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, invites residents and visitors alike to experience the tranquil beauty of nature and the genuine hospitality of a close-knit community.

Downtown Lansing, set in parallel with the enchanting Lansing park spanning 70+ acres, reflects a town committed to preserving its naturalistic beauty for generations to come. As a backdrop for the town's rich history, Lansing offers a picturesque journey through historic buildings, local shops, and an unhurried pace of life that encourages exploration.

The stories highlighting Shelby Tramel, Walter Clark, James Littlejohn, Caroline Renfro, and Ann Rose shed light on the individuals who have become integral to Lansing's recent story of revitalization. These passionate residents and community leaders have played pivotal roles in steering Lansing toward a future filled with promise, growth, and a vibrant arts scene.

Shelby Tramel, the custodian of community spirit through the Old Orchard

General Store, envisions Lansing as a canvas painted with shared experiences, local talents, and the warmth of human

connection. Walter Clark, with his love for the mountains and commitment to preserving natural beauty, has become a guardian of Lansing's ecological heritage. James Littlejohn, as the president of GLAD, has been instrumental in Lansing's renaissance, guiding the town from a period where buildings were challenging to give away to a revitalized community with a newfound energy. Caroline Renfro, a newcomer drawn to Lansing's arts community and natural beauty, actively contributes to the town's creative landscape and envisions its evolution into the Arts District of Ashe County. Ann Rose, a dedicated resident and home health nurse, stands as a testament to the town's big-hearted spirit and limitless possibilities for the future.

In conclusion, Lansing is more than just a town; it's a narrative of rediscovery, compassion, authentic artistry, entrepreneurship, and love for one another. As the community continues to grow and thrive together, Lansing stands as a beacon of mountain charm, inviting all to discover the allure of this remarkable town nestled in the embrace of the Blue Ridge Mountains. t

A creek-front park with paved walking and biking trails make Lansing a beloved destination. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

The town provides access to hiking trails for everyone to enjoy. Photo submitted.

50th Anniversary Reflections of Tommy Burleson’s National Collegiate Championship

STORY BY TIM GARDNER

Shortly after defeating Marquette in the 1974 National Finals, a jubilant NC State team is shown with its National Championship plaque. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

The most famous basketball star ever from the North Carolina Mountains and the most well-known native in Avery County’s 113-year history, Tommy Burleson, has a multitude of fond memories from his playing career. Those include helping teams win many games, various championships, and achieving stardom for his exploits at old Newland High School – among many other accomplishments. For example, at Avery County High School, next at North Carolina State University, as a member of the 1972 United States Olympic Team and the 1973 World University Games team, the latter of which claimed the Championship Gold Medal, and in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for four professional clubs – the Seattle Supersonics, Kansas City Kings, Atlanta Hawks, and Chicago Bulls.

And this year, the 7-foot, 2-inches tall former center, who NC State listed as 7-4 in height to make him the then-tallest college

basketball player, and who moved back to Avery County after his NBA retirement and where he still lives and hosts a youth basketball camp every third week in July, is celebrating the 50th Golden Anniversary of one of his favorite and milestone memories – playing on NC State’s 1974 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Championship team.

The then senior Burleson, along with his fellow star players, 6-4 junior forward David Thompson and 5-7 junior point guard Monte Towe, led NC State to a 30-1 record, that also included winning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season

(with a perfect 12-0 mark) and tournament championships in addition to the national title.

The Wolfpack beat defending National Champion, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), 80-77 in double overtime in the 1974 national semi-finals (March 23) enroute to winning the National Title with a 76-64 win over Marquette two nights later (March 25). The victory over UCLA avenged the Wolfpack’s lone loss of the season (84-66), to the same Bruins, played on the St. Louis, Missouri Arena’s neutral court.

The significance of NC State’s triumph over UCLA in the national semifinals can never be overstated as Coach John Wooden’s Bruins had won seven straight NCAA championships and nine of the previous 10 before the Wolfpack beat them, and would rebound in 1975 to win the title again.

It was a far different time in college basketball back then, before the 3-point line and shot clock, and one-and-done teenagers opting for the NBA. Dunking in games was against the rules, and the NCAA Tournament field consisted of 25 teams, which had since expanded several times to its current number of 68.

But some of the best teams in college basketball history came from that era, including this NC State Wolfpack team under the direction of head coach Norman Sloan. Five decades later, it ranks among the best in NCAA history. In alltime ratings, the 1973-74 NC State team is usually in the top 10 and often in the top five. Some expert analysts have even declared it the best ever.

I have often referred to us, even back in the 1970s, as the 'Big Three.' Monte was a good quarterback running the team, David was our special piece, what you call a go-to guy, and of course myself at center as a solidifying force inside.

- TOMMY BURLESON

Thompson was the team’s foremost star. Some have maintained that “Thompson is the Michael Jordan of his era.” However, it would be much more accurate to say “Michael Jordan is the David Thompson of his era.” In fact, Jordan named Thompson as his top basketball hero. Thompson’s collegiate career came ten years before Jordan’s, and while both will always be known as two of the best players ever, Thompson compiled better statistics and received higher all-star status as a collegian than did the University of North Carolina’s Jordan. Thompson was a three-time choice each as an All-American, ACC Player of the Year, and National Player of The Year, while Jordan was a two-time All-American, two-time National Player of The Year, and the ACC Player of The Year once.

David Thompson with a net draped around his neck after N.C. State defeated Marquette 76-64 to win the 1974 NCAA National Championship.

Tommy Burleson-Avery County Native and NC State University Two-Time AllAmerican and 1973-1974 National Championship Basketball Team Center.

Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

He knew he had a tremendous team, and he didn’t want to overcoach us. He wanted to give us freedom within the offense. And he also is one of the best defensive coaches in college basketball history. We were as good defensively as we were offensively. We caused so many problems for our opponents on both ends of the court.

- TOMMY BURLESON

The alley-oop pass, now a staple of college basketball’s high-flying, above-the-rim game, was "invented" by Thompson and Towe. It was first used as an integral part of the Wolfpack’s offense by Sloan to take advantage of Thompson's phenomenal leaping ability (his vertical jump was 48 inches or 4-feet) and Towe’s knack for making perfect passes. It was such a treat for any basketball enthusiast to see Thompson leaping far off the backboards, magically floating in to catch a pass, and dropping the ball through the basket with ease for two points.

Thompson was also especially known for almost always making long-range jumpers, Towe for his exceptional ability in leading the offense besides his passing skills, and Burleson for his shooting, rebounding, shot-blocking prowess, and

excellent defense near the basket.

NC State’s other 1973-1974 team starters were 6-7 junior forward Tim Stoddard and 6-1 junior shooting guard Moe Rivers.

And the rest of that team's roster with each player’s height and class year listed included: 6-8 sophomore forward Phil Spence; 6-5 senior forward Greg Hawkins; 6-8 senior forward Steve Nuce; 6-5 sophomore forward Jerry Hunt; 6-3 junior guard Mark Moeller, 6-5 junior guard Craig Kuszmaul, 6-0 sophomore guard Dwight Johnson; 6-2 freshman guard

Bruce Dayhuff; 6-11 Freshman Center Bill Lake; 6-10 sophomore center Steve Smith; 6-10 Freshman Center Mike Buurma; and 6-9 freshman center Ken Gehring.

As Burleson recalled, the Wolfpack team was a perfect blend of starters and role players.

“I have often referred to us, even back in the 1970s, as the 'Big Three,'” Burleson said. “Monte was a good quarterback running the team, David was our special piece, what you call a go-to guy, and of course myself at center as a solidifying force inside.”

Norman Sloan, legendary head coach of the North Carolina State Wolfpack’s 1973-1974 National Basketball Championship team. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

Thompson averaged 26 points per game, while shooting 54.7 percent from the field (325 of 594). He scored 805 total points. Thompson also pulled down 7.9 rebounds a game (245 total). Burleson averaged 18.1 points per game and scored 562 total. He shot 51.6 percent from the field (228 of 442), and grabbed 12.2 rebounds per game (377 total). Towe averaged 12.8 points per game, shot 51.7 percent from the field (168 of 325), and dished out a per-game average of 3.8 assists. Thompson’s, Towe’s and Burleson’s points per game averages are three of the best for a single season in North Carolina State University history. Stoddard, who would go on to a long major league career as a pitcher, and Spence “were monsters” as forwards, Burleson declared. Rivers, a transfer who had been one of the nation’s best junior college scorers the previous season, was the Wolfpack’s fourth option on offense and the team’s primary defensive stopper.

Several of the Wolfpack’s reserve players such as Moeller, Nuce, and Kuszmaul “would have started for any team but us, UCLA, and perhaps Maryland, because each of these three teams had several all-star players who had already solidified themselves as starters with their vast aspects of excellent play and production,” Burleson noted.

Sloan, meanwhile, proved to be the perfect head coach for the Wolfpack and in leading that season’s team to the national championship.

“He developed his offense to his player personnel,” Burleson said.

Sloan’s offense was a triangle system, with Thompson, Burleson and Towe at its heart. At the end of games or in key situations, the other Wolfpack players also in the game would get the ball to Thompson, get out of his way,

Right: Tommy Burleson takes one of his famous sky hook shots over UCLA’s Bill Walton in the NC State Wolfpack’s regular season game in the St. Louis, Missouri Arena. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

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NC State Head Coach Norman

was

plaid

“Our

gift is an act of love.”

—Family of the late Will Pierce

and let him break down the defense. The offense was first an isolation set for him. But if the defense collapsed, Thompson dished to his teammates for easy baskets.

“Coach Sloan had a system in place and provided exceptional coaching and leadership to me and our other players,“ Burleson continued to explain. “But he let his players play. He knew he had a tremendous team, and he didn’t want to overcoach us. He wanted to give us freedom within the offense. And he also is one of the best defensive coaches in college basketball history. We were as good defensively as we were offensively. We caused so many problems for our opponents on both ends of the court.”

Burleson added: “Every player on our team, including myself, all our coaches, and everyone else associated with our team in any capacity, believed we had as good a team as there was in college basketball, and we wanted to prove it. And the foremost way to do so was to win the national championship, which we did.”

The 1973-1974 season marked the eighth for Sloan as the Wolfpack’s head coach. One of the all-time top legends of the coaching fraternity, Sloan compiled a stellar 624-393 won-loss record as head coach at Presbyterian College, The Citadel, the University of Florida (two stints), and N.C. State. His record as NC State’s head coach for fourteen seasons (1966-1967 through 1979-1980) was a sterling 266-127.

Sloan

known for wearing

sports jackets and his fiery demeanor during games, encourages his Wolfpack team during the 1974 National Championship game victory over Marquette. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

Sloan’s 1973-1974 Wolfpack coaching staff assistants consisted of Eddie Biedenbach, Art Musselman, and Sam Esposito.

Like Burleson, Sloan and Esposito moved to the Newland area of Avery County during their later years and lived there until they passed away in 2003 and 2018, respectively. And Biedenbach was in Avery County so often while recruiting Burleson to play for NC State that perhaps he should have had to pay county taxes there.

The

1973-1974 NC State team was one of

the most

special teams that has ever played college basketball. We had great players, a wonderful supporting cast to our starters, great over-all team chemistry, special cohesiveness, and each of our players had a tremendous hard-work ethic. And all these components combined

“The 1973-1974 NC State team was one of the most special teams that has ever played college basketball,” Sloan commented on tape in a 1990 interview. “We had great players, a wonderful supporting cast to our starters, great over-all team chemistry, special cohesiveness, and each of our players had a tremendous hardwork ethic. And all these components combined to propel us to great success highlighted by the national championship.”

the NCAA Tournament due to probation stemming from rules violations that school officials denied had been committed. The NCAA, the governing body of collegiate sports, is not known for its consistency in many facets, one of the foremost being which schools it hits with penalties, including probation, and which ones it does not, for alleged rules violations. The NCAA has allowed some schools that committed many proven rules violations, even major transgressions, off scot-free without any sanctions, while severely penalizing ones that allegedly committed very minor, if any, violations.

to propel us to great success highlighted by the national championship.

- NORMAN SLOAN

NC State also won the 1972-1973 ACC regular season and tournament titles. Its two-year record of 57-1 for the 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 seasons is remarkably still the best of any ACC school in the league’s 70year history.

NC State is also considered by some as the best team in the 1972-1973 season and its national champions after finishing with an undefeated 27-0 record, instead of then also undefeated UCLA (30-0). But the Wolfpack was ruled ineligible to play in

Burleson, a two-time All-American player, said the turning point for the Wolfpack’s 1973-1974 national championship season came in its first game against UCLA. Early in the second half, the Bruins’ backup center Ralph Drollinger was in the game instead of star Bill Walton (who was in foul trouble), and

The 1973-74 NC State University Basketball Team. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

he hit Burleson in the face with his elbow, knocking out one of Burleson’s teeth, breaking his nose, and giving him a slight skull fracture.

Burleson had to leave the court, but amazingly, he returned to play in the game. But from the time he got hurt, Burleson said he was “in a daze the rest of the game and couldn’t provide much help on defense as the Bruins took over and went on to win handily.”

He healed from the injuries quicker than expected and declared that game “motivated my team and me as much as anything else did the rest of the season.”

He added: “It would have been good if we could also have played UCLA my junior season. Had we played, only the winner would have been undefeated at that point. Both teams were awesome. But I think that NC State team maybe was a little better than UCLA and would have won a game between the two. And if I had not gotten hurt in our first game against UCLA my senior season, I think we may have won it as well and finished unbeaten. But we beat the Bruins that season in the game that mattered most. Because had we not defeated UCLA then, we would not have won the national championship, nor got to play for it.”

NC State had a 2-1 record after that initial game with UCLA. But the Wolfpack swept through the rest of its schedule, with just a few close games, until reaching the ACC Tournament final against Maryland.

NC State beat its top rival, fourth-ranked (each game) North Carolina, three times that season to push its total number of consecutive wins to seven against the Tar Heels, dating back to

Burleson’s sophomore season of 1971-1972.

But Maryland, under the direction of its legendary head coach, Charles “Lefty” Driesell, was generally considered one of the nation’s three best teams along with NC State and UCLA, and featured six future NBA players, including guard John Lucas, forward Tom McMillen, and center Len Elmore.

“It’s hard to duplicate that pressure, as far as getting into the NCAA tournament,” Burleson said. “We had to win that game against a Maryland team that, like ours and UCLA’s, was one of the most talented of all-time.”

Maryland jumped to a 25-12 lead and late in the game took NC State to overtime with two late baskets. After three lead changes in overtime, the top-ranked Wolfpack hung on to prevail against the fifth-ranked Terrapins.

Burleson played maybe the best game of his collegiate career, scoring 38 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the Wolfpack to a 103-100 win in that game, which has been called the “greatest of all-time” by many basketball experts, and also marks its golden anniversary in 2024.

It marked the sixth straight win by NC State against Maryland, dating back to the 1972-1973 season.

The NCAA Tournament began allowing multiple teams per conference starting in 1975. This was in response to several highly ranked teams being denied bids during the early 1970s. These included South Carolina in 1970, which was undefeated in conference play, but lost in the ACC tournament; secondranked Southern Cal in 1971, which was left out because its

NC State Assistant Basketball Coach Sam Esposito cuts down the net in the Greensboro, NC Coliseum after the Wolfpack beat Marquette University to win the 1974 National Championship. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

It’s hard to duplicate that pressure, as far as getting into the NCAA tournament. We had to win that game against a Maryland team that, like ours and UCLA’s, was one of the most talented of all-time.

- TOMMY BURLESON

conference was represented by top-ranked UCLA; and Maryland in 1974. Also, in 1975, to accommodate at-large bids, the NCAA Tournament expanded to include 32 teams and eliminated byes.

Burleson received the Everett Case Award, named after another legendary NC State coach, as the 1974 ACC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He also received the honor the season before after leading the Wolfpack past Maryland (76-74) in the championship game.

After that 1974 ACC Tournament Championship victory over Maryland, still top-ranked N.C. State next beat fifthranked Providence 92-78 and then Number 13 Pittsburgh 100-72 on the Wolfpack’s homecourt in Reynolds Coliseum in the Eastern Regional Semifinals and Finals, respectively, to reach that year’s Final Four. It was played in the Greensboro, North Carolina Coliseum, where the Wolfpack also won the ACC Tournament a couple weeks before. Burleson and Thompson were named Co-Most Valuable Players (Co-MVPs) of the Eastern Regionals. Burleson had 42 points and 36 rebounds in the two games, while Thompson scored 48 points in the two.

Besides NC State, UCLA, and Marquette, the Final Four also included Kansas.

The NC State-UCLA rematch in the national semi-finals was loaded with dramatics. And if the NC State-Maryland game is the best ever, the Wolfpack-Bruins clash in the national semi-finals would be a strong contender for the second best of all-time. It again brought together teams ranked Number 1 (NC State) and Number 2 (UCLA) in the nation, which was a reversal of their first game when UCLA was ranked Number 1 and NC State was ranked Number 2. The Bruins would have been ranked Number 1 because of their previous victory (especially by such a wide margin) over NC State had they been unbeaten. But UCLA suffered upsets in Pacific 8 Conference games at Oregon State (61-57) and at Oregon (5651) on consecutive days during the regular season, after also having its 88-game winning streak, spanning three seasons, end with a 71-70 loss at Notre Dame.

Burleson remarked: "Although we lost by 18 points early in the season to UCLA, we knew that they (UCLA) weren’t 18 points better than us. And what's more important is that they knew it."

The game's main matchups again included four of the finest players in the sport – Burleson versus Walton and Thompson versus UCLA’s star power forward Keith Wilkes. And there was no hiding the bad blood that remained from the teams’ first meeting that season.

Wearing 15 stitches as a result of one of his spectacular high-wire dives in the regional finals the week before, Thompson might have been expected to be less than his usual perfect-playing self. But N.C. State enthusiasts need not have

worried, as he played a magnificent game.

The Wolfpack rallied from 11 points behind in the second half, not once but twice, and from seven points behind in the second overtime to claim the 80-77 win. Burleson, Thompson, and Towe combined for 25 baskets and NC State's final 24 points of the game. And the Wolfpack received solid performances from its other players who saw action in it. NC State forced the Bruins to start their offense farther out than they like, and NC State consistently stopped UCLA’s backdoor plays. Thompson held Wilkes to only five baskets in 17 attempts while scoring 28 points himself. Towe dazzled the UCLA guards and Burleson prevented Walton, who like Thompson, was a three-time National Player of The Year by some organizations, from dominating him like he had most of his opponents. Though Walton scored more points (29 to 20) and pulled down more rebounds (18 to 14), Burleson outplayed him on more of the game’s biggest plays.

It was UCLA’s first tournament loss in 39 games, dating all the way back to 1963. And truly, the Wolfpack won the game as much as UCLA lost it.

The NC State-UCLA semi-finals seemed like the real championship game. For all intents and purposes, it likely was. However, the winner of that game still had to defeat the winner of the other semi-final game, in which fourth-ranked Marquette defeated the sixth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks of head coach Ted Owens, 64-51.

UCLA beat Kansas 78-61 in the third-place consolation game, and N.C. State beat Marquette in an almost anticlimactic final, 76-64, to cut down the championship nets and reign atop the college basketball world.

Burleson consistently denied Marquette shooters access to their basket in the national championship tilt, while Towe

Burleson was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Eddie Biedenbach, North Carolina University Assistant Coach cuts down the net in the Greensboro, NC Coliseum after NC State defeated Marquette University to win the 1974 National Championship. Photo courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

We were on a mission to prove we were the best team and would not be denied as we accomplished that, which meant winning the national title. Our team

had a special bond and those of us on it remained close. Besides Coaches Sloan and Esposito, Bill Lake (2017), Dwight Johnson (2020), and Bruce Dayhuff (2021) passed away. They all are greatly missed, but our team’s living members are still close. Our team was, and still is, blessed as much as any sports team ever has been.

- TOMMY BURLESON

consistently kept Marquette’s defense from creating turnovers with his adept ball control and precision passes. And Thompson gave another of his outstanding pinnacles of performance, which helped mean that Marquette had little chance of pulling an upset.

Thompson led the Wolfpack with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Towe added 16 points while Burleson and Rivers had 14 points each, with Burleson grabbing 11 rebounds.

Burleson was chosen to the All-Final Four Team, and Thompson was named its Most Outstanding Player.

Burleson and Towe were both named to the All-ACC First Team during their NC State playing careers.

And three times that season Burleson was featured on the cover of the world’s most noted sports magazine – Sports Illustrated – once by himself for the college basketball preview issue, once with Walton previewing the national semifinal game, and the other recapping NC State dethroning UCLA in it.

North Carolina State University honored the 1974 National

Champions during halftime of this season's Wolfpack's Atlantic Coast Conference game on Saturday, February 24 versus Boston College in the Wolfpack’s PNC Arena in Raleigh to cap a 50th Weekend Reunion Celebration of that team.

When Burleson, a man of deep Christian faith as an ordained minister, reflected further on the 1973-1974 season, he shared that he can’t help but think that the Wolfpack was a team of destiny, one that was going to become national champions no matter what.

“We were on a mission to prove we were the best team and would not be denied as we accomplished that, which meant winning the national title,” he said, then added: “Our team had a special bond and those of us on it remained close. Besides Coaches Sloan and Esposito, Bill Lake (2017), Dwight Johnson (2020), and Bruce Dayhuff (2021) passed away. They all are greatly missed, but our team’s living members are still close. Our team was, and still is, blessed as much as any sports team ever has been.” t

Tommy Burleson, David Thompson, and the 1974 National Champions were welcomed back to Raleigh to be honored at halftime of a recent NC State basketball game. Photos courtesy of NC State University Athletics Department.

The Ashe CrossFit Experience: Breaking Barriers in Rural Fitness

STORY BY JOSHUA BIGGERS

A look at the Ashe CrossFit space. Photo by

Ashe CrossFit, founded by Ashe natives Marty and Heather Peters in October 2017, stands as a testament to the transformative power of high-intensity interval training. Marty Peters, originally a CrossFit instructor at Family Central, took the plunge to elevate his training and teaching methods, giving birth to Ashe CrossFit. Two years into its journey, Maggi and Travis Birdsell joined the Ashe CrossFit team, adding new dimensions to the fitness community in Ashe County.

What is CrossFit?

CrossFit, a form of high-intensity interval training, is a strength and conditioning workout that revolves around functional movements performed at a high intensity level. These movements mirror actions performed in day-to-day life, such as squatting, pulling, and pushing. Unlike traditional workouts that prescribe a set number of reps, CrossFit emphasizes load, distance, and speed, aiming to develop high levels of power.

The CrossFit Journal notes the effectiveness of CrossFit workouts, attributing it to the focus on load, distance, and speed. Utilizing various equipment, including kettlebells, rowers, bikes, medicine balls, speed ropes, rings, and plyo boxes, CrossFit provides a versatile and

dynamic fitness experience.

It's more than just a workout; it's a lifestyle.

When Marty Peters was asked, “What is CrossFit to you?” He responded with, “CrossFit gives me an avenue for health that I could not maintain pre-CrossFit. The high intensity and competitive aspects of CrossFit gives me a place to release stress, stay as young as possible so that I can keep up with my kids, fight bad cholesterol/heart disease heredity, and an environment based around a community that I consider myself fortunate to be a part of. I am not in this alone! All these things drew

David Calhoun.

The Ashe CrossFit youth program. Photo by David Calhoun.

CrossFit gives me an avenue for health that I could not maintain preCrossFit. The high intensity and competitive aspects of CrossFit gives me a place to release stress, stay as young as possible so that I can keep up with my kids, fight bad cholesterol/heart disease heredity, and an environment based around a community that I consider myself fortunate to be a part of. I am not in this alone!

- MARTY PETERS

me to CrossFit. As a result, my eating habits have changed, my cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, resting heart rate and fat composition have dramatically reduced. I am a believer, and I am proof that work and due diligence pays off, and I actually enjoy the work! I have also learned many new skills in my 40s, and I feel more fit/healthy now than I have since my early 20s."

Challenges and Triumphs in a Rural Setting

However, introducing CrossFit to a rural area is no easy feat, especially when battling misconceptions. One prevalent myth is that CrossFit is for elite athletes and prone to causing injuries. Ashe CrossFit challenges these notions, demonstrating that CrossFit is inclusive and accessible to everyone. Addressing excuses and stigmas, such as being too old, out of shape, or lacking time, Ashe CrossFit demonstrated that there's always a way to overcome these barriers. The gym's diverse age range spans from 5 to 75 years old, dispelling myths and fostering a sense of inclusivity. From the young to the young-atheart, Ashe CrossFit is proving that age is not a limitation.

Amid the challenges, Ashe CrossFit has been breaking down barriers and crossing over roadblocks themselves. Children's programs have played a crucial role, focusing on movement, play, and instilling a love for fitness from an early age. During the era of COVID-19, these programs became a lifeline, providing avenues for children to stay active and healthy. These programs kept Ashe CrossFit with the ability to stay open providing programs to the children of Ashe County.

Community Engagement and Partnerships

Ashe CrossFit is more than just a gym; it's a community hub. The team collaborates with booster clubs at Ashe High School, fostering partnerships with various sports teams. Working

A CrossFit athlete. Photo by David Calhoun.

An athlete performing a squat exercise. Photo by David Calhoun.

closely with Boys and Girls basketball teams, as well as volleyball teams, Ashe CrossFit has become an integral part of the community, contributing to the overall well-being of its members.

Maggi Birdsell encapsulated Ashe CrossFit's philosophy with a profound saying in the CrossFit community: "The needs of an Olympic athlete and your grandmother differ by degree, not kind." This principle underscores the gym's commitment to inclusivity, reinforcing that fundamental fitness goals remain consistent across diverse demographics irrespective of fitness levels or age.

Joining & Working with Ashe CrossFit Coaches

Joining Ashe CrossFit involves a straightforward yet personalized onboarding process slightly different from traditional fitness centers. It begins with a meet and greet, followed by four personal training sessions. The emphasis is on finding ways for individuals to succeed, tailoring the approach to each person's unique needs and goals. The gym revolves around three key ingredients: accountability and guidance, expert instruction, and a supportive community.

The coaches love to help people of all different fitness levels and ages and will challenge you or give you the modifications you need no matter what the workout is. This is a great gym for people who love CrossFit and for people who simply want to improve their health and have never tried CrossFit.

- LINDSEY CALVERLEY

Talented coaches delivering expert instruction and support for maximum results can lead to mountains being climbed and oceans being crossed that were never believed to be possible. The job of Ashe CrossFit coaches is to provide the best experience to their members every single day. In an industry plagued with mediocrity, coaches strive to set a higher bar. Through a culture of excellence and a dynamic development framework CrossFit arms their coaches with the tools and resources they need to

Marty Peters, original owner of Ashe CrossFit. Photo by David Calhoun.

help people excel and evolve their perfect skills. The coaches possess in-depth knowledge of fitness/health to help guide individuals toward new heights and lead their members to greatness. Ashe CrossFit prides itself on creating a familial environment where everyone is welcomed and supported, regardless of age, abilities, or goals.

"When you are here, you are family," is more than a slogan—it's the ethos of Ashe CrossFit. The gym welcomes and supports individuals of all ages, abilities, and goals. Ashe CrossFit is not just about sets and reps; it's about forging connections, inspiring personal growth, and transforming lives.

Reviews Allowed Growth

Local resident Lindsey Calverley said, “I love Ashe CrossFit! The coaches love to help people of all different fitness levels and ages and will challenge you or give you the modifications you need no matter what the workout is. This is a great gym for people who love CrossFit and for people who simply want to improve their health and have never tried CrossFit. The coaches take the time to clearly explain all of the movements before the workout and makes sure you are doing them correctly during the workout. Ashe CrossFit is the best place in Ashe County to meet specific fitness goals especially if you do best in a group environment like me. I love it and have seen lots of improvement in the six months I've been going.”

Two years into Ashe CrossFit, Travis Birdsell joined the team.

Photo by David Calhoun.

Another participant Hannah Philips described Ashe CrossFit by simply saying, “Favorite place to workout in Ashe County. The coaches and other members are amazing and very supportive.”

Ashe CrossFit Stands Apart

Ashe CrossFit stands as a beacon of fitness, debunking myths, and fostering a supportive community. It's not just about working out; it's about transforming lives, one functional movement at a time. Ashe CrossFit is more than a gym; it's a lifestyle, a community, and a testament to the enduring spirit of Ashe County.

Maggie Birdsell, Registered Dietitian. Photo by David Calhoun.

Heather Peters, Family Nurse Practitioner. Photo by David Calhoun.

Elevation Health: A Holistic Approach to Primary Care

In 2019, Ashe County welcomed another venture by Heather Peters and Maggi Birdsell—Elevation Health. Positioned as a primary care practice, Elevation Health offers traditional services but with longer, more personalized visits.

Elevation Health adopts a lifestyle-first approach to medicine, forging relationships with patients to address various aspects of well-being, including food, fitness, stress, sleep, and chronic medical conditions. Patients have the opportunity to work with Heather Peters, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Maggi Birdsell, Registered Dietitian, in a collaborative journey toward optimal health.

Elevation Health faced similar stigmas that often surround alternative healthcare approaches. The practice, however, emphasizes that it is not against medicine but seeks to provide patients with more than just a prescription. Developing meaningful relationships with clients and offering direct care and accessibility are the hallmarks of Elevation Health.

Maggi encourages athletes. Photo by David Calhoun.

Right: Heather Peters, Family Nurse Practitioner. Photo by David Calhoun.

The practice's approach begins with a focus on a client's lifestyle, acknowledging that health is a multifaceted aspect. Going a step further, Elevation Health provides a 24/7 text line, offering full-time access to support. Services range from annual physicals and nutritional consultations to blood draws and addressing various health concerns.

Maggi Birdsell highlights a crucial perspective, stating, "Just because you have health care doesn't mean you are healthy."

Elevation Health, like Ashe CrossFit, represents a commitment to fostering holistic well-being and challenging traditional healthcare paradigms.

Elevation Health in West Jefferson understands the unique needs and values that define Ashe County residents. With a commitment to holistic health and personalized care, they align perfectly with the spirit of the area’s tightknit community. The duo of Maggi Birdsell and Heather Peters of Elevation Health goes beyond medical care; they prioritize preventive wellness, empowering individuals to lead healthier lives. Their approach resonates with the Ashe County beliefs, promoting overall well-being in sync with the serene surroundings. Elevation Health isn't just a healthcare provider; it's a partner in the journey towards a healthier and happier life. Their dedication to the community, combined with a patient-centered philosophy, makes them an ideal fit for the people of Ashe County.

I feel a sense of community when I visit Elevation Health. I love that CrossFit is available there. I never thought I'd be interested in CrossFit, but Maggi and Heather recommended I add it on. Jessica is always so warm, friendly, and helpful. Maggi and Heather are a great team. They work together to figure out the best course of action for your well-being. It's a very refreshing concept for healthcare.

- JEAN, LOCAL ELEVATION HEALTH MEMBER

Heather Peters and Maggi Birdsell with Elevation Health. Photo by David Calhoun.

Heather accompanied by CrossFit athletes. Photo by David Calhoun.

Customer Reviews

Jean, a local Elevation Health member, recounts her first time at Elevation Health as, “I feel a sense of community when I visit Elevation Health. I love that CrossFit is available there. I never thought I'd be interested in CrossFit, but Maggi and Heather recommended I add it on. Jessica is always so warm, friendly, and helpful. Maggi and Heather are a great team. They work together to figure out the best course of action for your well-being. It's a very refreshing concept for healthcare.”

Betsy described her first experience as, “I found Elevation Health through a recommendation on a community Facebook page. I am so glad I did! My initial consultation with Heather and Maggi was over one hour long! I have never had that much undivided attention from two health care professionals. I have since had appointments with each of them individually and am so

I’ve been going to Elevation Health for the last five years. They work together as a team to truly serve my family and myself. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this place. As someone that is afraid of the doctor ‘s office, this place gives off a totally different vibe, and they make you feel more than just a number.

- DAVID, LOCAL ELEVATION HEALTH MEMBER

of feeling

David, a long-time client said, “I’ve been going to Elevation Health for the last five years. They work together as a team to truly serve my family and myself. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this place. As someone that is afraid of the doctor ‘s office, this place gives off a totally different vibe, and they make you feel more than just a number.”

Conclusion: A Synergy of Fitness, Nutrition, and Primary Care

Ashe CrossFit and Elevation Health emerge as local businesses offering unique and versatile opportunities. Whether it's fitness, nutrition, or primary care, individuals can choose from one or all three services. The synergy between these establishments reflects the resilience and vibrancy of the Ashe County community. Ashe CrossFit and Elevation Health weave a narrative of transformation, inclusivity, and a holistic approach to health. These enterprises stand not only as symbols of resilience in a rural setting but also as beacons guiding Ashe County towards a healthier and more connected future. t

happy I found this office. If you are tired

unheard and rushed during and after your doctor’s appointments, you must check out this office.”

In 2019, Ashe County welcomed another venture by Maggi Birdsell and Heather Peters—Elevation Health. Photo by David Calhoun.

Heather stands with a client. Photo by David Calhoun.

At 80, Pat Allen Never Gave Up On Her Bucket List

STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS

For Pat Allen of Boone, journaling has been an important part of life, especially in recent years. In 2023, she marked off a significant item from her bucket list in having a compilation of those journals published into a book.

“Keeping the A in Abstract Random: A Trilogy of Musings” is an insightful book of inspiration that gives readers a glimpse into Pat’s life’s journey. Faith, family, and friends share space as the primary focus of her work, but the bigger picture, the main idea, Pat insists, is about keeping sight of one’s bucket list – and trusting in God for the possibilities – as well as having the courage to mark off each item, one by one.

Having turned 80 on October 6, 2023, Pat celebrated the milestone with family and friends the next day. The caring wife, loving mother, and doting “Mimi” had just a short time prior fulfilled her dream of becoming an author.

“It is a memoir, and as its title suggests, the short story form I chose, or musings as I have referred to it, allowed me to jump from one topic to another without keeping things in any consecutive order,” Pat explained.

She further shared that the purpose of the book is to entertain and possibly inspire.

“It’s about my love for writing and is by no means a scholarly attempt – somewhat like a diary,” Pat described.

The first homecoming queen returns to Landrum High for her 35th LHS class reunion and parade. Photo submitted.

And like a diary, much of the book contains a very personal perspective on some of life’s greatest joys, accomplishments, disappointments, doubts, fears – and realities.

Pat admitted that she is probably more transparent in her writing than some of her subjects might prefer.

“Personal stories of family and friends enliven the narrative; any events, quotes, persons or ideas are solely windmills of my mind,” she said. “I take full responsibility for distractions, mistakes and confusion. It is the work of the lifetime of musings and may be taken seriously – or not. It’s the reader’s choice.”

And she added, “Any part of the book may be reproduced, copied or even burned with the permission of the author!”

The book title was conceived from a personality test she completed years ago.

Pat said, “As a school teacher at the time, I was a little insulted that my (test) results identified me as ‘abstract random,’ meaning that my mind easily jumped from one thing to another. I didn’t think that personified very well the traits needed as a teacher. I thought it made me sound kinda flighty.”

My parents worked long hours, which allowed me to spend a lot of time with my two loving grandmothers, who helped shape my life in many ways. I also had time for a lot of reflection; writing became therapeutic for me, as well as fun.

- PAT ALLEN

But, she later learned to embrace the label as one who is able to successfully multitask while not being bogged down with the details. An admirable trait, many would agree.

And, there is much to be admired about Pat Allen.

From the Upstate of SC

Having made her home in Boone for the last 30 years with her husband, Judd Allen, who is now retired from his successful career as a financial planner and advisor, Pat easily found her niche when she moved to the High Country from upstate South Carolina.

She was raised in Landrum, the only child of hardworking parents who set an admirable example for her to follow. Surrounded with loving family members, cousins and friends, her formative years were overall wonderful, she recalled.

“My parents worked long hours, which allowed me to spend a lot of time with my two loving grandmothers, who helped shape my life in many ways,” she said. “I also had time for a lot of reflection; writing became therapeutic for me, as well as fun.”

School has always been a part of her life and one that she enjoyed, whether as a student at Landrum Elementary or at Landrum High, where she was a cheerleader, and in 1961, was elected as the school’s first homecoming queen.

“My boyfriend, Ronnie, who was my [first] husband for 23 years, and father of my two sons, was a football player,” she

Patti Howard’s senior picture from Landrum High in 1961. Photo submitted.

“Mimi” is now a girl of the 80s with her own paparazzi at the big birthday bash. Photo submitted.

shared. “I was elected a senior class officer and the girl with Most School Spirit in our class. The boy with Most School Spirit, Steve Greene, and Freida Dowda, our class valedictorian, who also married within our class, were killed in a car accident after I had moved to Boone, which touched me deeply. We had 60 in our graduating class of 1961, and about a third of my classmates are now deceased, including Ronnie.”

Pat compared life in a small town – and attending a small school – to being in a fishbowl, of sorts.

“We were in a tiny pond, but we didn’t know it,” she shared. “We thought we were bigshots. I was honored to write the sports news for our hometown newspaper, the Landrum Leader. I loved seeing my name, Patti Howard, as the byline.”

Jerry Allen, for having never obtained her master’s degree; but by the time she was 25, Pat had received three undergraduate degrees, already had two careers, was a wife and mother, and held leadership roles in her church. In college, she had majored in religion and sociology and was certified as an elementary school teacher while she was already teaching.

“When the state department reviewed my credentials, I had a lot that counted toward my degree in elementary education,” Pat explained. “I was already teaching while taking classes to become certified.”

While earlier completing her sociology degree, between her junior and senior years, she worked with the Spartanburg County Department of Public Welfare.

“Upon graduation, my job as a social worker was waiting for me,” Pat said.

Her favorite roles have always been in her church; she taught Sunday School for junior and senior high students for 12 years and served as the director of the Women’s Missionary Union for four years.

After moving to Boone, Pat enjoyed working as a substitute teacher for over 25 years, mainly at Watauga High School.

“And I loved it,” she said. “Especially the students. I formed a bond with many of them who are still in my life today.”

Life Goes On

By the time she was introduced to Judd Allen by her cousin, Michelle Bolick (Boone resident attending Greenway Baptist Church where Judd’s brother pastored), Pat’s marriage had ended in divorce, as had Judd’s.

“We were both alone at the time, and we believe it was something that was meant to be,” Pat reflected.

The Allens have enjoyed their life together and say they are truly blessed.

They have enjoyed extensive travels, initially through Judd’s business, and later taking trips with Christian Tours.

Mrs. Pat always has a smile on her face and a gentleness in her voice. She loves to share from her personal experiences and to encourage the girls to flee from evil and to love the Lord with all their heart.

- DAPHNE PETREY

After graduation, Pat attended nearby Converse College in Spartanburg.

Much later, she was often chided by her late brother-in-law,

“World travel was on Judd’s bucket list,” she said. “But, I didn’t know it before we were married.”

Among her favorite journeys, Pat described, include those to the Holy Land.

“I have had prayers answered that I prayed over there and especially those I had written out and placed into the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, which is a custom,” she explained.

Traveling in the footsteps of Jesus and their favorite Biblical writer, the apostle Paul, was a highlight of their trips.

Pat described, “To sit on a rock in [Caesarea] Philippi and

Thirty years ago, Pat and Judd Allen visited the Great Wall of China. Photo submitted.

read my life verses in the book of Philippians from my mother’s Bible was a dream come true.”

Pat and Judd are longtime members at Mount Vernon Baptist, where Pat has been involved in the prayer ministry since its conception; she enjoys sending countless “prayer grams” to remind others that they are not alone through their life’s journey.

She also volunteers on Wednesday nights with the church youth group, primarily the high school girls.

“That particular age group [of girls] has always been my favorite to teach and mentor,” she said.

Daphne Petrey, a group leader, said, “Mrs. Pat always has a smile on her face and a gentleness in her voice. She loves to share from her personal experiences and to encourage the girls to flee from evil and to love the Lord with all their heart. She is also known for her weekly sheet cakes that she brings to share with the kids. They love her baking!”

Petrey explained, “We are small group leaders and facilitate a discussion/prayer time with the high school girls for about

20-30 minutes after each Wednesday evening youth meeting. We try to encourage the girls in their walk with the Lord and to listen as they share from their hearts.”

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Judd and Pat Allen during the 2023 celebration of Pat’s birthday, on which Judd gifted her with 80 roses, representing each year of her life. Photo submitted.

Among those teenage girls, Elizabeth Coley, said, “Mrs. Pat is such a sweet lady, and she always has something wise to help us with or a story to relate to us. We love her so much.”

Ruthie Petrey added, “Mrs. Pat has been a wealth of wisdom and speaks to us not like we are beneath her, but as someone who has walked through what we are walking through and wants to come alongside with us.”

And, it’s not just the young people who benefit from her presence at Mount Vernon.

“Pat Allen has been a dear friend to our family for many years,” said Bud Russell, Associate Pastor of Congregational Care and Adult Discipleship. “She truly loves people and demonstrates this with touches through timely notes of encouragement, reminders of her prayers for our family and many others. She shows up for youth weekly and goes the extra mile at other times by attending their ball games and other activities. These actions speak loudly as to how much she cares for younger people. Parents and grandparents, alike, love it when an adult who walks with integrity shows genuine love and concern for the lives of their child by giving them their time. While many adults feel they lose touch with teens as they age, I can say with certainty that this lady will never age out!”

Southern Living at Its Best

Pat and Judd share a lot of common interests as well as those they enjoy individually.

Pat is “a black-eyed peas kinda girl,” she surmised. “I’m very much Southern at heart,

In 1961, Patti Howard was elected the first homecoming queen at Landrum High School. Photo submitted.

and I am not one who has to have diamond rings on every finger. I learned to appreciate what I had as a child when my parents worked hard to provide for me what I needed and so much of what I wanted. I have an appreciation for nice things, but I am very frugal and love shopping at thrift stores.”

She also loves to cook and entertain; time in the kitchen seems to be a special outlet for skills she inherited from her grandmothers.

“My mother did not like to cook; she didn’t want the kitchen messed up, but I learned so much from my grandmothers about cooking – and life, in general,” Pat shared.

She still has a place in her heart and mind for those early days, a connection to the small South Carolina town to which she occasionally returns for special occasions – to visit a cousin and decorate their family’s graves.

“And the way I cook,” Pat added. “We are both from the south and always loved the typical southern foods that we grew up eating, but we’ve had to adapt to a different lifestyle.”

In following a healthier diet, focused on more proteins, vegetables, less carbohydrates and increased exercise, the couple has lost a significant amount of weight in the last few years.

Pat Allen has been a dear friend to our family for many years. She truly loves people and demonstrates this with touches through timely notes of encouragement, reminders of her prayers for our family and many others. She shows up for youth weekly and goes the extra mile at other times by attending their ball games and other activities. These actions speak loudly as to how much she cares for younger people.

- BUD RUSSELL

“Landrum is now a preppy little town, big on horse shows, and it reminds me somewhat of our quaint village of Blowing Rock,” Pat described.

Health concerns in recent years have changed the way she and Judd look at life, and especially how they both eat.

“Our health has greatly improved, overall,” she said.

Time with family is treasured for both Pat and Judd, and with their five children, nine grandchildren, (eight girls and one boy), they love special occasions together – summer vacations and holidays, in particular.

Pat and Judd are known in their circles and beyond as encouragers and prayer warriors. And the only strangers in their world are simply people they haven’t met yet.

“We love to strike up conversations with people wherever we go,” she said.

Pat admitted that she has often struggled through the years with her self-image, but she has relied on her faith for confidence to persevere and overcome much of her insecurities.

Surrounded by her family, Pat Allen celebrates at her 80th birthday party in October 2023. Photo submitted.

“I’ve learned to rely on God for my strength, to not be ashamed of my appearance, my mistakes, the past, in general,” she added. “God loves us – warts and all.”

Becoming a Published Author

As Pat began to contemplate her 80th birthday last year, just as her book was nearing publication, she began to realize that fulfilling her dreams, marking items from her bucket-list, were major accomplishments, of which she had only dreamed.

“The Lord led me to put it all together,” she explained. “Some people might not get it, but that’s all right, I get it. And that’s all that matters. I’ve always wanted to write a book. And now I have done just that.”

But something that should come as no surprise to this youthful octogenarian, is the fact that we do get it. That her transparency in sharing some of her most personal experiences – her “musings,” as she refers to her collection, is impressive, as well as motivating, poignant, funny and sad, often at the same time. The open door to her heart helps Pat’s readers to pause for retrospection, as well as introspection, in considering that we all are just frail humans in need of a power much greater than ourselves to thrive and survive.

Pat is quick to say the book likely would not have happened as it did without the assistance of several close friends and associates who encouraged her to follow her dream and helped with her book.

“Judy Geary was my editor and was so very helpful to me,” Pat said. “Also, Jim and Janice Hamby, Barbara Beach, Elizabeth Starkey, and Linda Shomake were all there for me, too.”

Geary, in particular, said that it was a privilege to be part of the team that helped produce Pat's book.

“From her handwritten journals to a published memoir, it took a village,” Geary described. “It's great that her quiet dedication is being recognized.”

As part of her book promotion and marketing, Pat is available for speaking engagements to church, civic, and community groups.

Among the reviews of the book, the following have been posted: “A great read, ” “A beautifully-written memoir,” “A mustread!” and “Such a beautiful piece of work.”

“Keeping the A in Abstract Random: A Trilogy of Musings” is available through Amazon.

For more information or to schedule the author to speak at your next event, call or text (828)773-5257. t

Pat is pictured placing prayers in the Wailing Wall, as is customary for visitors to Jerusalem. “And those prayers were answered,” she said. Photo submitted.

During a tour of New York City, Pat, far right, has an opportunity to meet TV news anchor, Diane Sawyer,center. Photo submitted.

SUZIE, BLOWING ROCK "FIVE

RALPH, MEAT CAMP

Little's Gym: 40+ Years of Fitness, Community, and Generosity in Ashe County

STORY BY JOSHUA BIGGERS

Founded on March 16, 1981, Little's Gym stands as a testament to Martin Little's dedication to health, community, and philanthropy. Rooted in the beautiful landscapes of Ashe County, Martin, a born and raised local, transformed a small basement gym into a thriving fitness center that has become a cornerstone of the community.

Little’s Health and Fitness was the first fitness center in Ashe County and has been dedicated and passionately driven to making Ashe County the healthiest county in North Carolina for the last 40 years. This article briefly dives into the 41-year journey of Little's Gym, exploring its evolution, impact on Ashe County, and the remarkable stories of generosity that have shaped not only the gym but the lives of countless individuals.

Martin Little: Ashe County Native and Visionary

Born and raised in Ashe County, Martin Little's journey reflects not just personal success but a deep commitment to his community.

His father ran the "Friendly Shoe Store" in downtown West Jefferson over six decades ago, marking the beginning of a family legacy in the heart of Ashe. However, Martin, with his forward-thinking mindset,

Little’s Gym is located at 1114 NC-194 in West Jefferson. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

Brigette Memoli and Martin Little. Photo submitted.

recognized the inevitability of change.

"Life's always changing; nothing ever stays the same," he emphasized, encapsulating his philosophy that allowed Little's Gym to adapt and thrive.

In 1981, Little's Gym started in a modest 1,000 sq. ft. space in the basement below another business in downtown West Jefferson. Charging $2 for workouts, Martin's approach was accessible, reflecting his belief that fitness should be available to everyone.

As the fitness landscape evolved, so did Little's Gym. Within five years, the gym moved to its current location at 1114 NC-194, West Jefferson, where it has stood as a pillar of health and wellness for nearly four decades.

The Evolution: A Complete Revamp

Fast forward two decades to 2006, Martin embarked on a significant journey of improvement, performing a complete revamp of Little's Gym with all-new equipment. This overhaul not only modernized the facility but also showcased Martin's commitment to providing the best workout experience for members. His belief in the importance of keeping equipment updated has been central to maintaining Little's Gym's reputation as a top-tier fitness center in Ashe County.

Little's Gym continues to embody the spirit of growth and positivity. In 2023, they underwent remarkable renovations that have transformed the gym into a beacon of fitness and well-being.

The addition of new space for fitness classes and state-of-the-art equipment, including multiple treadmills, new ellipticals, and an extra cable machine, reflects their commitment to providing top-notch facilities for their members. The renovations extended beyond the workout areas, with both bathrooms receiving a makeover that includes more lockers and urinals for added member convenience. Moreover, the gym's complete facelift, featuring vibrant colors and upbeat signage, mirrors the optimistic and positive attitude that defines Little's Gym.

This uplifting transformation not only enhances the physical space but also fosters an environment

A Smith machine. Photo submitted.

Seated bicycle machines. Photo submitted.

Little’s has a variety of merchandise available for purchase. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

where members can embark on their fitness journeys with enthusiasm and motivation. Little's Gym is not just a place to work out; it's a dynamic community that inspires growth, vitality, and a zest for life.

A primary objective of Martin’s was to design Little's Gym as a place more than just to work out; it's a sanctuary for the people of Ashe County—a judgment-free space where individuals can better themselves physically and mentally, step by step. Martin's vision for the gym goes beyond physical fitness; it encompasses creating a safe, inclusive environment for personal growth and improvement.

The impact of Little's Gym on Ashe County is immeasurable. It's a place where people not only work on their physical well-being but also forge connections and find support in their personal journeys. The sense of community fostered within its walls is a testament to Martin's commitment to creating a space that transcends the traditional gym experience.

Reviews and expectations can go a long way when running a local establishment. Locals and tourists love using Little’s Gym.

Melantha, who left a review online, described Little’s as, “Great gym! I went to Little's Gym because I was in town on vacation and

The staff at Little's Health and Fitness are friendly and helpful. They offer a wide variety of weight machines, free weights, and cardio equipment as well as a juice / shake bar. If you are looking to get in shape or maintain your physical health, Little's Gym offers great equipment and an even better atmosphere.

- ERROL BROWN

There’s a bulletin board for gym members to stay in the know about classes and offerings. Photo submitted.

Bench presses and squat machines. Photo submitted.

A standing shoulder shrug machine. Photo submitted.

wanted to work out. I lifted weights and was pleasantly surprised to see they have a power rack and a squat rack as well as plenty of weights, dumbbells, and machines. They provide belts if desired, but hand chalk is not allowed, so bring your gloves. There are showers, towels upon request, a room for floorwork, all in all very well equipped, clean, and friendly staff. I highly recommend Little's gym in West Jefferson!”

Next, local resident Errol Brown said, “The staff at Little's Health and Fitness are friendly and helpful. They offer a wide variety of weight machines, free weights, and cardio equipment as well as a juice / shake bar. If you are looking to get in shape or maintain your physical health, Little's Gym offers great equipment and an even better atmosphere.”

The Little's Gym Philosophy

Martin's philosophy extends beyond the walls of the gym. He understands that real transformation is a gradual process, and judgment has no place in this journey. Little's Gym, under his guidance, has become a community where individuals are empowered to improve themselves little by

Gym members are allowed to purchase protein shakes. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

little, creating lasting change in their lives. Members are allowed 24/7 access to the gym with key fobs. Also, Little’s Gym offers student, military (retired, inactive and active) senior and corporate discounted rates. Lastly, there are a variety of health and fitness classes offered.

Scott Ballard, who is an ISSA certified personal trainer, said, “The gym is one of my favorite places to be, not only because my body thrives on the training and conditioning, but because the gym is filled with so many friends and so much mutual support. I am very happy to extend my participation in the gym to include personal training. After receiving professional training, I have a greater respect for and know the importance and impact of the trainer-client relationship. I call my program the Great 8, and it is tailored to fit the abilities, skill levels and goals of each individual client.”

The gym is one of my favorite places to be,

not only because my body thrives on the training and conditioning, but because the gym is filled with so many friends and so much mutual support. I am very happy to extend my participation in the gym to include personal training.

- SCOTT BALLARD

Another personal trainer, Brigette Memoli, who is ASFA certified said, “Nothing in life is worth more than attaining good health and a strong body, so that living can be enjoyed to the fullest. Let me guide you on that journey. Together we can make your goals a reality. Take the first step, and you won’t look back!”

Philanthropy Beyond the Gym: Shoes for Kids

Martin's generosity isn't confined to fitness; it extends to philanthropy. Martin is actively involved in multiple non-profits, one of which is "Shoes for Kids."

This initiative was inspired by a

Little’s Gym has a variety of cardio machines including treadmills and ellipticals. Photo submitted.

Dumbbell workout area. Photo submitted.

Shoes for Kids helps provide no cost, properly fitting, season appropriate footwear for Ashe County kids. Photo courtesy of Shoes for Kids.

heartwarming encounter during the winter of 2012 when Martin was driving to get coffee one morning from the local McDonald’s. He noticed a man on tough times walking down the road that he had recognized from school. Martin caught himself thinking about that guy throughout the day and wondering why life had allowed him to be where he was and the other gentleman where he was. Suddenly an idea popped into Martin’s head.

Collaborating with Melody Rector, “Shoes for Kids” began in 2013, providing shoes for thousands of children in Ashe County. The impact of this initiative was recognized in 2022 when the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce presented "Shoes for Kids" with the Annual Non-Profit of the Year award.

A Power Couple: A Cultural Contribution to Ashe County

The impact of the Little family extends far beyond the realms of fitness, making significant contributions to the cultural fabric of the community.

While Martin Little carved a niche for Little's Gym, his wife, Debbie Little, has been instrumental in shaping the artistic landscape of Ashe County through the evolution of "Dancing Debbie's" into the "High Country Performing Arts Academy" (HCPAA). Debbie Little started "Dancing Debbie's" in 1978, providing dance and acting opportunities to Ashe County residents. After marrying in 1993, Dancing Debbie's transformed into the "High Country Performing Arts Academy" (HCPAA), offering dance and theatre training for youth and adults. Dancing Debbie's found a new home next to Little's Gym. This union created a unique space where physical fitness and artistic expression coexisted, fostering an environment that catered to both the body and the soul. HCPAA has become a creative hub, providing countless opportunities for the community to engage with and thrive in the performing arts.

HCPAA: Fostering Dreams in the Performing Arts

Over the years, Dancing Debbie's evolved into the "High Country Performing Arts Academy" (HCPAA). This transformation expanded the scope of the academy, offering comprehensive dance and theatre training for both youth and adults in Ashe County. HCPAA became a beacon for those with dreams of

The HCPAA office is located next door. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

The High Country Performing Arts Academy shares a building with Little’s Gym. Photo by Joshua Biggers.

The HCPAA Student Lounge. Photo submitted.

HCPAA is proud to build on the legacy that Debbie Little began when she opened her own dance studio in Ashe County over 40 years ago. Today HCPAA offers dance and theatre training through group and individual classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Acting for Stage and Screen, Playwriting, and Screenwriting.

- SUZANNE RIEDER

pursuing a career in the performing arts, providing a nurturing space for talent to blossom.

HCPAA has played a pivotal role in empowering the youth of Ashe County to strive for their dreams in the realm of performance arts. The academy's commitment to fostering talent has created a generation of young performers who have found their voice, confidence, and a sense of belonging on the stage. Countless opportunities provided by HCPAA have allowed Ashe County's youth to explore and develop their artistic potential.

Kaitlin Carpenter described HCPAA as, “HCPAA is a studio packed full of expertise, creativity and quality instruction in dance and theatre. We love HCPAA for the opportunities available for our daughter, performing at Carowinds, Martinsville speedway, multiple competitions across the Carolinas and the attention to detail in classes. Ms. Suzanne carefully builds each class/dance choreography- with specific attention to performance quality, technique, costume design- every detail down to the hairstyle- the perfect formula to set my daughter up for success. Not only is she learning how to perform on stage, but what to

The HCPAA Dance Studio. Photo submitted.

Suzanne Rieder, Owner and Director of Dance at HCPAA. Photo courtesy of HCPAA.

expect within herself during every class- character building that will stay with her long beyond HCPAA.”

The impact of HCPAA extends beyond the individual dancers and actors it trains. It has become a cultural hub in Ashe County, enriching the community with performances that showcase the depth of artistic talent nurtured within its walls. Whether

through dance recitals, theatrical productions, or community events, HCPAA has woven itself into the vibrant cultural tapestry of Ashe County.

Suzanne Rieder, Owner and Director of Dance at HCPAA shared, “HCPAA is proud to build on the legacy that Debbie Little began when she opened her own dance studio in Ashe County over 40 years ago. Today HCPAA offers dance and theatre training through group and individual classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Acting for Stage and Screen, Playwriting, and Screenwriting. We are also a certified Acrobatic Arts Studio offering Tumbling and Acro classes for ages Pre-K and up. We feel very lucky to be a part of the wonderful community of Ashe and the larger High Country region.”

Conclusion: The Little Legacy Lives On

The legacy of the Littles—Martin and Debbie—stands as a testament to the power of combining fitness and the arts. Their vision, dedication, and commitment to the community have left an indelible mark on Ashe County. Little's Gym and HCPAA are not just establishments; they are living embodiments of the Littles' belief in the transformative power of physical well-being and artistic expression.

Martin's commitment to fitness and Debbie's passion for the arts have created a harmonious blend that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of individual pursuits. Little's Gym and HCPAA represent more than establishments—they represent the fulfillment of dreams, the nurturing of talent, and the enduring impact a family can have on a community. Contact can be made through Littleshealthandfitness.com and https://www.hcpaa. com. t

Dancers from HCPAA participating in a techniques class. Photo courtesy of HCPAA.

Debbie Little opened "Dancing Debbie's" in 1978. Photo courtesy of Dancing Debbie's.

Watauga County Grieves Unexpected Death of Beloved Teacher and Coach Michael Neff

STORY BY SHERRIE NORRIS

Asnow day for Watauga County Schools on Wednesday, Jan. 31, was a fun day for most students, faculty and staff. However, upon reporting to school on a twohour delay on Thursday, Feb.1, those same students, faculty and staff were in disbelief at the news awaiting their arrival.

Just hours prior, a beloved teacher and coach suffered a medical emergency from which he did not survive. The county, as a whole, was in deep grief as word began to spread that the life of Michael Neff had come to an unexpected end.

A statement released early on Thursday morning by Watauga County Schools helped put the loss into perspective: “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of beloved Hardin Park P.E. teacher and district coach Michael Neff. School staff and personnel have been notified and support will be available today to students and staff at Hardin Park and Watauga High School. Please keep the Neff family, Hardin Park, Watauga High School and our entire school community in your thoughts and prayers.”

The social media message was acknowledged and shared by hundreds by the end of the day, with many contributing their own thoughts and memories — and all with similar sentiments: Neff was a man who made an impact, he loved well and was loved by all who knew him, he treated everyone equally; he was a mentor, a motivator, an advocate for kids, and as one parent shared, he wanted everyone to be a winner, whether in the classroom, on the track, on the field or in life, in general. He knew hundreds of students, their family members and even their pets by name — and he never met a stranger. He was compassionate, he was fair, he was as much a cheerleader as he was a coach.

From his days as a student at Watauga High, Appalachian State University and beyond — to his student teaching days at Bethel Elementary to his role at Hardin Park School at the time of his death, “Neff,” as to which he was fondly referred, made a difference, engaging on a professional, as well as a personal, level, with everyone in his corner. He was fully involved in life and in the community.

In particular, since the inception of Hunter’s Heroes, a nonprofit organization started after the death of another hometown hero, Neff played a big part, along with his wife, in keeping alive the memory of fallen officer, William Mast, Jr., and in celebrating the lives of others through annual fundraising efforts. For that reason, and because Neff has now been added to that list of heroes, a

scholarship bearing his name has been established.

The following statement was issued by Hunter’s Heroes:

“Today has been such a sad day for so many in our community once again. Today we lost one of our own, Coach Michael Neff. Coach Neff's wife Emily, started Hunter's Heroes back in 2013 and Michael was a big part of it. Our hearts and love go out to Michael's family and to all the students and athletes he coached. He truly loved all his athletes and kids at Hardin Park Elementary. This scholarship fund will go to any middle school or high school athletes that need financial help for equipment, fees, or anything else that they need help with. Michael loved coaching and we will honor him by continuing to love and care for his kids and athletes that loved him so. If you would like to donate, please go to our website, www. huntersheroes2013.com.” t

“This. This is how we will remember you. Always cheering. Always making an impact. Celebrating state championship in Middle School track 2022.” — Charlena Townsend

MARCH 2024