Cullen, Laughinghouse honored by NCISAA

The N.C. Independent Schools Athletics Association has named its 3A Girls Track and Field championship trophy named after former Durham Academy running coach Dennis Cullen.

The NCISAA Board of Managers announced the honor shortly after its induction of the association’s third Hall of Fame class on Feb. 19 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley.

Cullen retired last year as Durham Academy’s varsity track and cross country coach after decades of success. In 40 years with the Cavaliers’ boys’ and girls’ programs, Cullen’s runners produced 39 state team championships and 196 individual state champions.

Additional honors were given to Raleigh attorney Durwood Laughinghouse, the association’s longtime counsel who received the NCISAA Service Award .

The NCISAA’s Hall of fame inductees included Kathy Bailey, who served as the NCISAA’s business manager for more than 30 years; and three NCISAA board members: former Rocky Mount Academy athletics director Benny Alexander; former Ridgecroft School athletics director Doug Cobbs; and Ben Crabtree, the longtime Fayetteville Academy Head of School and past NCISAA President of the Board of Directors.

“NCISAA has played an essential role in maintaining integrity, sportsmanship and fair play in interscholastic athletics in North Carolina,” Homar Ramirez, NCISAA Executive Director, said in a prepared statement. “It is a great honor to recognize individuals whose contributions have significantly impacted our efforts”

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Cullen, Laughinghouse honored by NCISAA."