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Photo by: ©WFU/Ken Bennett
In Memoriam: Deacons We Lost in 2021
12/21/2021 8:00:00 AM | General
Ed Atkinson:
- September 18, 2021: Ed Atkinson was born in Columbia, S.C. He grew up in Charlotte, N.C. where he excelled in athletics. His talents in athletics ultimately created a path for him to play football for Wake Forest. Atkinson began his career at Wake Forest as a quarterback before transitioning to a defensive back later in his career. Ed was also a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity. After college, Atkinson began a long and successful career working as a sporting good's manufacturing representative. A lifelong Demon Deacon supporter, Atkinson was frequently attending Wake Forest football games throughout the years.
- May 28, 2021: Born on January 12, 1947, Robert M. "Bob" Brenner in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bob Brenner was a standout athlete in high school. Brenner was invited to declare for the MLB draft. However, he opted to attend Wake Forest where he played on the football team as a tight end. Brenner was a beloved member of the Winston-Salem community, serving as a Deacon at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday school classes, spending time with his family, and cheering on the Demon Deacons. Brenner's son, Dane Brenner serves as an associate head coach to the Wake Forest men's soccer team. Bob Brenner was honored with a moment of silence before the men's soccer team took on VCU at Spry Stadium this past August.
- March 14, 2021: Born on February 27, 1934 Dempsy Bryant earned his BA in Education from Wake Forest University and his Masters of Education from the University of Virginia. He played second base for Wake Forest and was a member of the 1955 National Championship team. For many years he held the record for doubles recorded in a College World Series game and for the series. Jack also played professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs. After his playing days he worked at Whitmell High School and then finished his career at Tunstall High School. During his career as an educator, he was a Teacher, a Guidance Counselor, and a very successful Baseball Coach. Jack was a very dedicated and loving man, and he will be missed by all who knew him, especially his dear family.
- April 17, 2021: Born on April 20, 1945, James "Jimmy" Broadway was a successful student athlete. He played four years of ACC basketball with the Demon Deacons under coach Bones McKinney. Upon graduation from Wake Forest, Broadway began to coach Lincoln Junior High Basketball. Broadway then accepted a position at Charlotte Day where he was the coach of various varsity sports and the head of PE. From there he moved onto Charlotte Latin School to become Physical Plant Director. A few years on, he would become the Athletic Director for Charlotte Latin. During his time with CLS, Broadway accomplished numerous feats, including 69 straight wins with the boys basketball team. Broadway was inducted into the CLS Hall of Fame in 2016.
- March 14, 2021: Born on February 27, 1934, in Gretna, Va. Jack Bryant attended Wake Forest to play baseball. Bryant left behind a legacy on the diamond, and produced when it mattered most. Bryant led the team in hits to secure a spot in the College World Series in 1955. While in the College World Series, he tied a College World Series record with four doubles, and in the National Championship game against Western Michigan he went 2-for-4 to help the Deacs secure a 7-6 win. Following Wake Forest's College World Series championship, no other ACC team took home a national title until 2015. He was also named to the All-ACC team in 1956. After College, Bryant served as a teacher, guidance counselor, and baseball coach.
- January 4, 2021: Ronald "Ronnie" Burgess was born in Sumter, South Carolina before attending Wake Forest University to play football. After graduation from Wake Forest, Burgess was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. He played one year in the NFL before being offered and taking the head football coaching job at Socastee High School in South Carolina. Burgess ultimately transitioned from football coach and teacher to administrator. As an administrator, Burgess served the Horry County School District in multiple capacities for many years.
- April 3, 2021: Born September 2, 1933 in Goldsboro, NC. Tommy attended Wake Forest University on a baseball scholarship and co-captained his team to the 1955 NCAA Championship. Tommy Cole was a First Team All-ACC outfielder in 1955, hitting .328 with seven home runs and 29 RBI. His seven home runs not only led the team but were more than twice as many as any other Deacon. He finished his career with a .296 batting average. Cole would spend his post baseball career as a banker in Goldsboro, NC and will be sorely missed by his family.
- September 1, 2021: Born in Summerfield, Florida. Jim received a football scholarship to Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. He majored in Physical Education and was a Wake Forest Demon Deacon, First team halfback and quarterback. While at Wake Forest, he attended the US Army Reserve Officers training course and after college he was commissioned Second Lieutenant and served as a military policeman, rising to the rank of Captain. After college he accepted a position with the recreation department, Winston-Salem, NC.
- August 6, 2021: Pierre Easley was born on November 19, 1982 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Pierre loved football with a passion. Easley played from his elementary years up until college. Easley received a full academic scholarship to play football at Wake Forest. He graduated from Wake Forest in 2006 and earned a master's degree from Liberty University. Easley worked in law enforcement for the better part of 10 years. During his career he served in Winston-Salem and Gwinnett County, Georgia. He later became an investigator in Fulton and Dekalb County. Easley was loved throughout his community. He was well known as a gentle giant who had a quiet but lovable personality.
- August 1, 2021: Born September 4th, 1940 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Bob was a graduate of Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science degree and Master's degrees in Science and Business Administration. He served as the Director of Environmental Affairs for Forsyth County for over 40 years and was active in both the Clemmons and Winston-Salem communities.
- November 2, 2021: Born July 21, 1924 in Forsyth County, North Carolina. Jack attended Wake Forest College (University) from 1941-1943 and 1947-1949; he was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. He was an outstanding basketball guard, becoming Wake Forest's leading scorer, averaging 11.5 points per game. As the Co-Captain of the team, Jack "The Gent" was named to the 1948 All-State team. He was the "Big Four" (NC State, Carolina, Duke, and Wake Forest) leading scorer. In Jack's senior year, Wake Forest had a 19-7 record.
- October 10, 2021: Born October 15, 1938 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jim was accepted into Wake Forest University. A member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and member of the collegiate golf team under legendary golf coach Jesse Haddock and graduated with his undergraduate degree in 1961. Accepted into Bowman-Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest, he graduated in 1965 with an M.D. and was active in several honors societies. Postgraduate training included Wilford Hall USAF Hospital and School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio, TX
- October 8th 2021: Born November 13, 1957 in Newton Grove, North Carolina. James graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School in 1975 where his athletic talents earned him a full ride scholarship to Wake Forest University. He completed a degree in Business. James continued to lend his athletic talents and abilities to the NFL from 1981-1988. He began as a running back for the Cincinnati Bengals where he played in the coldest Super Bowl game in history. He also played for the Michigan Panthers, Los Angeles Raiders and went on to play for the Green Bay Packers. After his career with the NFL, James was a correction officer and a Probation and Parole Officer for the state of North Carolina. Later he attended Rhema Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he received a degree in Theology under the direction of Kenneth Hagin.
- October 26, 2021: Born November 24, 1935 in Gastonia, North Carolina. Jim graduated from Wake Forest University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and received recognition in the National Society of Scabbard and Blade. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a second Lt. in the US Army and retired as a Captain in the Army Reserves. Jim pursued a career joining his father in the partial ownership of Be-Lo Supermarkets and their warehouse.
- June 5, 2021. Born on September 11, 1956 in Iowa. Kimberly graduated from Wake Forest University and the Georgia Institute of Technology with degrees in English, Biology, and Chemical Engineering.
- May 19, 2021: Born January 11, 1936 in Stanley, NC. Joe Ladd attended Wake Forest University and later graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College. Joe excelled and set records in basketball through high school and college. He was inducted into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
- February 20, 2021: Born June 4, 1936 in Kings Mountain, NC. After high school, Ed entered the Navy and served honorably for four years. First, on the USS Hermann, and later at the US Naval War College, working with Admiral Samuel Elliott Morrison on the history of the Navy. He also provided leadership as a Boy Scouts troop leader. After an honorable discharge, he attended Wake Forest University and Tulane University where he earned his Masters of Social Work. While at Wake Forest, he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and the cross country team where he was an ACC All-Conference runner.
- October 29, 2021: Born November 14, 1943 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Ed earned himself a four-year scholarship to play football for Wake Forest College (now University), Winston-Salem, NC. He was the placekicker for extra points and field goals plus the fullback. He earned recognition for his kicking efforts by having the most extra points in the Atlantic Coast Conference and tying the national scoring number for kickers in 1964.
- January 18, 2021: Born December 1, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois, Chuck Mills was a storied college football coach. Mills coached the Demon Deacons from 1973-1977. Mills also spent time coaching Utah State, Arizona, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Mills was an activist for race relations during the 70's. He hired the first black assistant coach in the ACC in Bill Hayes. Mills has a scholarship in his name at Utah State. The Chuck Mills Scholarship was created to give scholarships to football players that are not currently on scholarship. This included walk ons and those on partial scholarships. Coach Mills created a lot of lasting friendships and was loved by many. Mills made an effort to stay in contact with former players and coaches. He emailed with them often in a group called "Brothers and Kuzins". All of his former players will, no doubt, miss him.
- June 18, 2021: Prior to Wake Forest, Tom mills was raised in Mooresville, N.C., Tom came to Wake in 1956 where he lettered in baseball. Upon graduation in 1960, he joined the Army and coached the Army baseball team. He parlayed his Army Corps of Engineers work into a successful business as he co-founded BMA (Builder's Marts of America) and Sunbelt Companies. Tom's work in the Greenville, South Carolina community helped transform that city into the community that it is today. Tom was always rooting for the Deacons baseball team from afar, and made sure to pay it forward by funding a scholarship for the baseball program.
- October 16, 2021: Born August 20, 1930 in Pamplico, South Carolina. Bill attended Wake Forest College. He was drafted into the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War from 1950 until 1954. Bill then met, and soon married, his loving wife of 65 years, Anna Lee Grant, in 1955. Bill continued his education as a veteran student at The Citadel and then went on to the University of Louisville School of Dentistry where he graduated with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) in 1960. They returned to South Carolina and settled in Charleston where he set up a successful dental practice in North Charleston, SC. Bill was a leader in his field and held many offices over the years.
- October 8, 2021: Born July 23, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. John attended Wake Forest University, where he played football as a Demon Deacon. During his college years, John also served our country in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. He was later drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, but he chose, however, to go on to work as he and Marlene, his wife, already had 2 sons. John was a faithful Catholic, who loved the Lord and prayed fervently. In 1970, he and his family joined St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin, TN, where he became an integral member.
- July 7, 2021: Born July 10, 1951 in Winston-Salem, N.C., Edward "Eddie" Payne was a standout basketball player at East Mecklenburg High School before playing at Wake Forest University. While at Wake Forest, Payne was named to the All-ACC 1st team in 1973, voted team MVP, and won the Arnold Palmer award during his Senior season. After graduating, Payne played professional basketball in France for one season before transitioning to coaching where he began a 40 year coaching career across all five levels of college basketball.
- September 1, 2021: Born January 2nd, 1954, in Jesup, Georgia. Jackie Robinson was a former football player at Wake Forest. Jackie graduated from Wake Forest in 1979. Jackie was a well known figure and teammate during his time with the Demon Deacons. Robinson was a very genuine character and was a Demon Deacon through and through. He is survived by his wife Debra Alford and family.
- May 20, 2021: Born September 10, 1945 in Lexington, NC. Ted attended Wake Forest University on a football scholarship. Following graduation from Wake, he worked as a probation officer before obtaining his law degree from Samford University School of Law.
- March 16, 2021: Born May 20, 1936 in Salemburg, North Carolina. Bill left home in 1954 to attend Wake Forest University. He joined the Sigma Pi fraternity, and in 1955 was proudly selected as a freshman to join the baseball team as a catcher. He loved the Demon Deacons and one of his greatest joys in life was to tell everyone how proud he was to be part of a team that won the 1955 College World Series.
- September 13, 2021: Born January 31, 1940 in Winston Salem, NC. Bob attended Wake Forest Law School and graduated Juris Doctor in the class of 1965. Before beginning his professional life, Bob served as a Captain in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Shafter in Honolulu, HI. Following his service to our country, Bob became a well respected attorney and enjoyed a long career in the field of Real Estate and Title. Bob was licensed through both the North Carolina and Virginia Bars.
- February 28, 2021: Don Roth, a standout baseball player for Lynbrook High School, played on the Wake Forest baseball team from 1960 to 1962. He was a part of the 1962 ACC Championship team, and was an assistant coach on the 1963 ACC Championship team. During his three years of playing for the Deacons, Roth posted a record of 7-4 in 108.1 innings and pitched four complete games. Roth finished his pitching career at Wake Forest with a 2.65 ERA, which remains in the top ten in school history. After graduating from Wake Forest, Roth earned a Master's degree, before enlisting as a lieutenant in the U.S. Military and serving in the Korean War. When he returned from Korea, Roth accepted a teaching job at Lynbrook and served as a teacher, coach, and mentor for many years.
- June 17, 2021: Born on March 1, 1935 in Bound Brook, New Jersey. Patricia is the wife of George Rovere, who was a pioneer in his field. George was the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and was the Founder and Head of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Program at Wake Forest University. Once George and Patricia moved to Winston-Salem, Patricia became very involved in the community. She served as president of the Opera guild and the Audubon Garden Club.
- Sept. 12, 2021: Born on June 30, 1945. James Snyder Jr. A former Demon Deacon basketball player under legendary basketball coach Bones Mckinney and tennis team member, went on to earn his law degree from Wake Forest before serving in both law and politics. After graduation from the Wake Forest School of Law, Snyder returned to his hometown of Lexington, N.C. to practice law with his father. Upon his father's passing, Snyder led his father's firm as well as served in his father's seat on the North Carolina legislature. From 2002-2014, Snyder began pursuing and running for different political opportunities within the state of North Carolina.
- September 16, 2021: Born on July 9th, 1947 in Durham North Carolina. Dr. Howard Stanback was an influential member of Wake Forest University. Dr. Stanback was one of the first African-American football players that the program ever had. Stanback played as a center for the Demon Deacons. During his time at Wake Forest, Stanbeck co-founded the Afro-American Society, a self help group for all black students on campus. The society advocated for black students, black faculty, and normally celebrated black culture. Stanback received a masters degree in sport administration from Case Western Reserve and a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts in economics. Stanback became the assistant dean and an associate professor to the University of Connecticut school of social work. After his time in academia, Stanback became involved in city governments, serving as Deputy Director of Employment and Training, Mayoral Liaison to Infrastructure, and Commissioner of Aviation in Chicago, Illinois. Stanback then became the City Manager in Hartford, Connecticut. Stanback enjoyed golfing and staying heavily involved in the church.
- July 11, 2021: Born on March 10, 1939 in Elkin, NC. Jerry Steele, a co-captain of Wake Forest's 1961 ACC championship basketball team under legendary coach Bones McKinney, went on to a brilliant collegiate coaching career. Over the course of his coaching career, Steele was inducted into seven different Hall of Fame's. His largest coaching impact came over the course of a decorated 31 years at High Point University from 1972 to 2003, where became the school's all-time winningest coach with a record of 458-412. Steele was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
- June 30th, 2021: Born in December 1935, in Fayetteville, NC. Maurice Graduated from Fayetteville Senior High School in 1954, Maurice then attended Wake Forest College. In 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was honored to serve, spending most of his deployment in Germany.
- February 12, 2021: Born on June 30, 1950, Gerry Terrell was one of the African American students to graduate from Wake Forest when he was given his diploma in 1972. Terrell was a member of the Wake Forest football team that took home the university's first ever ACC Championship in 1970.
- January 8, 2021: Born on January 2, 1950 in Asheboro, NC. Sam was born, the middle child of three, to the late Dr. William Walton and Nancy Brewer Kitchin of Clinton. He was an avid golfer by the age of 8 and at age 10 was a North/South Carolina Junior State Champion. Sam graduated from Wake Forest University, earning his History degree in 1974. While there, Sam made many of his life-long friends and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. While at Wake Forest, Sam played on the 1974 Golf Team which won an NCAA Championship. Sam remained an avid Wake Forest fan and relished taking his girls to see them play football and basketball, while catching up with old friends.
- January 19, 2021: Born on April 1, 1936 in Goldsboro, NC. Dr. Bowers graduated from Knightdale High School in NC, was an outstanding basketball player and went on to play at Wake Forest College where he was also a Sigma Chi. After college he served two years in the US Army at Ft. Ord, CA as a 1st Lieutenant and later was a captain in the Army Reserve for 12 years. He earned a MEd from UNC, Chapel Hill and a Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Henry (Hank) began his career in education in 1961 at Hampton High School where he taught U.S. History before moving to the new Kecoughtan High School to be the assistant principal, basketball and baseball coach. Three years later he became the first principal of Queens Lake Intermediate School in Williamsburg where he served 3 years. In 1969 he and his family moved to Harrisonburg for him to be the Dean of Men at Madison College. Three years later he became the assistant principal at Harrisonburg High School for one year, then principal for five years. In 1978 he joined the faculty of JMU as an Associate Professor in the Education Department where he directed the placement and supervision of student teachers until he retired in 1992. He initiated a student teacher exchange program with the University of Cardiff, Wales where JMU students spent time in public schools there and a group from Wales came to JMU to observe public schools here. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and served as the president of the Shenandoah Valley chapter. He was also a member and served as president of the ATE (Association of Teacher Educators) in Virginia.
- January 13. 2021: Born on September 8, 1942, Forever a Demon Deacon, Ken was a member and President of the Wake Forest University Law Alumni Council; a member of the Board of Visitors of Wake Forest University School of Law; the Alumni Chair of the Wake Forest University School of Law National Law Fund Campaign; a member of the Wake Forest Alumni Council; and the Chair of the Golden Deacs Club (formerly known as the Half-Century Club). Ken and Mary Nan, who met at Wake Forest, are members of the Samuel Wait Legacy Society, the Hawthorne Hill Society of Wake Forest Medical Center, the Deacon Club, and Loyal Deacs. As a lifelong tennis player, he was instrumental in the creation of the Jim Leighton Tennis Center and was particularly supportive of the Wake Forest women's tennis team. Ken's three children graduated from Wake Forest University, and he was for decades a season ticket holder for WFU football and basketball. It is fair to say that his blood ran Black and Gold.
- February 9, 2021: Born on May 5, 1933, Bill enjoyed growing up on the family farm in Federal Hill, and was a graduate of North Harford High School (where he served as student body president) and Wake Forest University (North Carolina). Following graduation, he served two years in the Army's Ft. Detrick, Maryland, Bio Lab, taught in Maryland, pursued post graduate studies at the University of Maryland, North Dakota State, and Oregon State University, where he met his Future wife, Joanne.
- March 5, 2021. Born December 15, 1931 in Alamance County, NC. Bob Frederick accepted a football scholarship to Wake Forest College where he starred in football as a running back and defensive back from 1951 to 1954. He was one of only three freshmen in his class who lettered all four years. He was in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. His greatest accomplishment in college however, was meeting the love of his life, and wife, Joyce Jones Frederick. He later was inducted into the Goldsboro High School Hall of Fame, and the George Whitfield Hall of Fame.
- March 5, 2021: Craig was born on June 22, 1952 in Morristown, NJ. During Craigs years at Wake Forest he formed lifelong friendships with classmates and his Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers. These were some of the most important relationships in Craig's life that only grew stronger as he aged. Craig transitioned from his hippie college days with a move to Virginia Beach, where he and Scott became roommates. Craig entered the working world during the disco era as a professional bartender at Adams and other popular hot spots in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Craig loved this time in his life but as disco waned, Craig moved on to embrace the world of telecommunications. He began his telecom career in sales and later transitioned to training. When he wasn't working, Craig enjoyed biking and hiking in Seashore State Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- March 16, 2021: Born May 20, 1936 in Salemburg, North Carolina. Billie left home in 1954 to attend Wake Forest University. He joined the Sigma Pi fraternity, and in 1955 was proudly selected as a freshman to join the baseball team as a catcher. He loved the Demon Deacons and one of his greatest joys in life was to tell everyone how proud he was to be part of a team that won the 1955 College World Series.
- September 14, 2021: Born December 2, 1937 in Cary, North Carolina. Tom attended his beloved Wake Forest University. While in college, he was a student manager for the Wake Forest basketball team under Bones McKinney. It was during his time in Winston-Salem, he met Janice Grossman from Kannapolis, NC.
- July 20, 2021: Born on February 18, 1935 in Wilson North Carolina. Juanna not only mastered her studies but also demonstrated her support for her beloved Deacons by becoming a Wake Forest Cheerleader. Using this same spirit and drive, Juanna completed her English degree in just three years and graduated Wake Forest in 1955. Afterwards, Juanna went on to become an English teacher where she could share her love of literature and grammar with her students at every level.
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