Cleveland High inducts first Hall of Fame class

Cleveland High School has recognized a number of outstanding graduates by inducting them into the school’s new Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees are longtime coach and teacher Bruce Coats, former U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, author Margaret Maron and N.C. Poet Laureate Shelby Stephenson.

“We all understand that while the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made a name for themselves, it also highlights the greatness that has and will to continue to come out of the Cleveland community,” said student Hannah Adams, who came up with the idea for the Hall of Fame.

Garrett Lee is president of the Cleveland High Student Council. “Ninety years after the first Cleveland High School opened its doors, we gather to honor several extraordinary graduates and to inspire future Cleveland students to excel in all that they do,” he said.

At the ceremony, students led alumni in singing Cleveland High’s original fight song. Each inductee then spoke to the crowd of students, teachers, family members and community.

Coats spoke about his career as a coach and compared his influence in the community to the flight of a baseball, saying a person never knows how far a baseball will go.

Etheridge spoke on the importance of receiving a quality education, and Maron spoke about finding education through experiences. Stephenson commented on how the history of each honoree is connected and important to one another.

“Excellence must always be rewarded and remembered,” said Student Council representative Abinave Katuru. “The Cleveland High School inductees utilized their resources in their high school years and have gone on to forge meaningful and successful lives.”

Cleveland High plans to make Hall of Fame inductions an annual event.​

This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 10:23 AM with the headline "Cleveland High inducts first Hall of Fame class."