The roster of Mebane’s athletic luminaries is about to grow a little bit longer as the city’s leaders prepare to induct five new members to the municipality’s sports hall of fame.
These five individuals, who were presented to Mebane’s city council on Monday, are slated to be added to the hall of fame during a special gala in June of 2026. In the meantime, two other people with sports-adjacent distinctions will be enrolled in a “sports hall of honor” that Mebane has also established.
Among the proposed additions to the hall of fame are John Kirby, who ruled the grid iron as a member of Eastern High School’s football team, and later burnished his reputation as a football coach for his former high school.
Kirby’s c.v. includes his designation as player of the year in 1980 as well as North Carolina’s coach of the year in 2009. The longtime coach spent the 2024 season in retirement before returning to Eastern in June.
Another Eastern football sensation to make the cut is Doug Smith, who served as the co-captain of his high school team before embarking on a 45-year career as a football official.
His professional highlights include a stint officiating in the Sugar Bowl.
Also set to be recognized for his high school achievements is Wayne Petty, who distinguished himself in football, wrestling, and golf before putting in another four years on Appalachian State’s golf team. He later racked up “numerous” amateur golf championships, according to the hall of fame’s selection committee.
Meanwhile, Jeff Modlin has earned his posthumous spot in the hall of fame for his contributions to the city’s recreation sports leagues.
His credits include 35 years as a coach for both recreation and school teams, state and national championships in slow pitch softball, and a recreation football championship as both a player and coach. Modlin died earlier this year.
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The fifth addition to the hall of fame is Mebane’s retired parks and rec director Dean Ray, whose 31-year career with the city included a city and county director’s service award in 2019. According to the hall of fame’s selection committee, Ray “developed numerous programs, events, camps, and facilities” during his tenure, which witnessed the completion of the Mebane Arts and Community Center as well as Mebane Community Park.
In addition to these five future hall of famers, hall of fame’s selection committee has selected two local worthies for membership in the sports hall of honor.
These honorees include B.J. Chockley, a women’s basketball player at UNC who later served as a recreational sports coach and put in 45 years as a volunteer athletic trainer at Eastern.
In the meantime, Terrence Caldwell, the city’s retired police chief, is being lauded for the 18 years he spent ensuring the “safety of a variety of Mebane sporting events” as well as his role as an official and coach in recreation basketball.
All seven of these individuals will be formally inducted at a gala on Saturday, June 20, 2026. According to city officials, Mebane’s city council has already set aside $15,000 to cover the cost of the ceremony.
