Wilson Denver Key
Wilson Denver Key
Year Inducted: 2015
Wilson Denver Key was born on June 22, 1940, in Hays, North Carolina. He graduated in 1958 from North Wilkes High School. With an excellent academic record, Key competed for and won admission to the Naval ROTC program at UCLA. His record there continued at the United States Navel Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he was a Class of ’63 graduate. Mr. Key also completed a master’s degree in physics at the University of North Carolina in 1977. Key served with the United States Navy from 1963 until his retirement in 1993.
Lt. Wilson D. Key was a Douglas Aircraft A4 pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 34 onboard the USS INTREPID the morning of November 17, 1967. Lt. Key was the wingman of the third section of surface-to-air missile (SAM) suppressor aircraft in a two-carrier strike two miles southeast of the city of Hanoi, North Vietnam.
Key's section leader, LCDR Teter, was also assigned an A4C. The two aircraft were launched from the carrier and proceeded to the target area. Approximately 10 miles southeast of the target area, the section encountered and evaded the first volley of SAMs. The flight continued to the target area and attacked a firing SAM site with rockets. During the attack, the section was constantly being tracked by missiles and missile guidance radar. At 1155 hours, upon egress from the target area, approximately 6 miles south of Hanoi, Key's aircraft took a direct hit by a SAM. He communicated that he was hit and ejected at about 800 feet altitude. His section leader observed a good parachute. For the next five-and-a-half years, Lt. Key was held prisoner in and around Hanoi. During his captivity, he was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Then, in 1973, he was released from captivity along with 590 other Americans.
Since his release in 1973, Captain Key has received many distinguished military awards and held many positions. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit with two gold stars and the Prisoner of War Medal. Capt. Key has served as a physics instructor at the United States Naval Academy, a Missile Projects Officer with the Naval Material Command in Washington, D.C., a Production Management Branch Officer with Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C., a Commanding Officer of the Naval Plant Representative Office at LTV Corporation in Dallas, Texas, an Aerial Targets Program Manager and then Director of Research and Technology with Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C. He later became Director of Mathematics and Science and Commodore of the Sailing Squadron at the United States Naval Academy.
Since his retirement from active duty, Capt. Key has remained close to his Navy life and has taught physics and astronomy at St. John’s River Community College in Jacksonville, Florida.
Arnold N. Lakey
Arnold N. Lakey
Year Inducted: 2015
Arnold N. Lakey was born March 12, 1937, in Mecklenburg County to Henry Gray and Lilla Savannah Rhodes Lakey. Mr. Lakey graduated with honors from West Mecklenburg High School. After graduation from high school, he received a business degree from King’s Business College.
Soon after graduation, Mr. Lakey went to work for Lowe’s Companies and remained there in various capacities for the next 41 years. Mr. Lakey was Vice President of Lowe’s Corporate Credit when he retired in 1998. Lakey has long been active in numerous civic organizations and community projects. He is a 45-year member of the North Wilkesboro Rotary Club where he has served as president, vice president and treasurer and has served as a vice district governor. Among his other community services, Mr. Lakey has been a member of the Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees, the Wilkes Regional Medical Center hospital board, director of the Health Foundation, a member of the Rainbow Center Board of Trustees, a board member of the Wilkes Heritage Museum and a member of the board of the Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes. Mr. Lakey has, throughout his career and beyond, been a strong advocate and supporter of the children of Wilkes through his partnership with Wilkes County Schools.
Officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation honored Mr. Lakey by dedicating a portion of Highway 421 as the Arnold N. Lakey Highway. The section of highway named in honor of Lakey is about a two-mile stretch between Goforth Road and Pumpkin Run Road west of Wilkesboro. Mr. Lakey is a former member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation.
Arnold N. Lakey is one of Wilkes County’s most notable philanthropists. He was named to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is among the most prestigious awards presented by the governor of North Carolina. Lakey is a member of Wilkesboro United Methodist Church where he has served in many area, including church council chairperson, finance chairman and is a member of the church choir and United Methodist Men. Lakey and his wife, Becky, have been married for more than 55 years and have five children and seven grandchildren.
Lakey is a man of true integrity, honor and passion. He is an individual who gives not only with his finances, but his time, his talent and his instruction. He has a strong desire to see Wilkes County become a better place for all citizens
John White Hubbard
John White Hubbard
Year Inducted: 2015
John White Hubbard was born in Wilkesboro, December 17, 1931, to Julius C. and Nellie White Hubbard. John graduated from Wilkesboro High School in 1950 and UNC-Chapel Hill in 1959 with a degree in Journalism. John served four years of active duty in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and earned the rank of staff sergeant. John was editor of the Smoky Mountain Times and the Andrews Journal from 1959-1963. During this time, he was also Western North Carolina correspondent for United Press International and the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Hubbard, his wife, Becky, and their three children moved back to Wilkes in 1963, and he began work as a reporter for his family’s newspaper, the Wilkes Journal Patriot. In 1972, he and his brother, Julius C. (Buddy) Hubbard, Jr. became co-publishers of the newspaper, after their father’s death. Hubbard was still working and served as co-publisher until his death in 2010, at age 78. During his career he won many North Carolina Press Association awards for photography and news writing.
John was an advocate for many non-profit organizations in the county, and sought to give citizens a “hand up.” During his life, he was also an advocate for New River Mental Health and did much to get that organization started in Wilkes in the 1970s. He was chairman for Heart Fund drives in Swain and Wilkes counties. He was on the advisory committee for the Wilkes Vocational Center, supporter of The Health Foundation, Wilkes Chapter of the North Carolina Symphony Society, Smoot Park Pool and Wilkes ADAP, a Boy Scouts of America committee chairman, and a member of the Friends of the Wilkes County Library. A member of North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church, John served the church as Sunday school superintendent and in other capacities.
One of the awards of which John was most proud was when the Wilkes Journal Patriot won “The School Bell” award in 1977, given to the media organization in North Carolina which had done the most to support education in the previous year. During this time, Wilkes County Schools was trying to put forward a school bond referendum to build a new Wilkes Central and to improve many of the poor conditions in the schools in the county. The bond referendum passed, improvements to the schools were made and the new Wilkes Central in Moravian Falls graduated its first class in 1981. John also won first place in news coverage for non-dailies in the 1966 North Carolina Press Association annual contest, with only Editor Dwight Nichols and him working in the news room, covering news and sports. John White Hubbard was a true servant of Wilkes County and its people.
Jack Branch
Jack Branch
Year Inducted: 2015
Jack Branch was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, and graduated from Morganton High School. Continuing his education after high school, Branch received a degree from Davidson College and a master’s degree from Appalachian State University in the area of Arts and Education. Branch also served as a coach for Appalachian State University for two and a half years. He has been an avid supporter of all Mountaineer athletic programs and athletes for decades.
Branch served with the United States Army for two years. He continued service to his country as a commanding officer of the North Wilkesboro Unit of the National Guard. He was honorably discharged as Lt. Colonel after 30 years. “Coach” Branch taught in Wilkes County Schools for 41 years and for many of the years coached football, track, wrestling and basketball. Branch served as assistant coach for the Lion’s Bowl North Squad in 1964 and in 1967 was assistant coach for the North Carolina Shrine Bowl. Coach Branch also taught driver’s education for 32 years. In 1994, Appalachian State University (ASU) established the Jackson A. Branch Award in honor of his longtime service and support to Mountaineer students, athletics and teams. The street which runs in front of Kidd Brewer Football Stadium was designated Jackson Branch Drive in honor of Branch’s outstanding support to ASU.
In 2013, Jack Branch received the Alumni Special Award from ASU for volunteer work in conjunction to ASU athletics and teams. Jack Branch has been an active member of the Kiwanis for over 25 years and has received the International Leadership Award. Branch was a former member of North Wilkesboro’s Elk Lodge. He has been a patron of the arts in Wilkes County since 1957 by contributing to and attending many events. Branch has been recognized by Wilkes Community College (WCC) for outstanding contributions to the WCC Endowment Corporation through volunteerism with WCC and MerleFest. Branch is known at ASU as the “apple man” because of his gifts of more than 300 cases of apples each year, delivering them to Boone for home teams and visiting teams as a way to show support for both men and women’s sports.
Joe Linney
Joe Linney
Year Inducted: 2015
Joe Linney graduated from Wilkesboro High School in 1943. His love of sports emerged in high school and during his senior year he served as captain of both the football and basketball teams. Following high school graduation, Linney joined the United States Marines and after basic training spent two years on the USS Wasp, where he served as a Marine gunner. His unit received the Presidential Citation during the Marshall Island campaign and the Captain's Letter of Commendation.
After discharge from the Marines, Linney enrolled at Appalachian State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in history and physical education. In 1970, Mr. Linney received his master’s degree in physical education from Appalachian State University. In 1950, Coach Linney moved into a coaching position at Mountain View High School. After posting six successful years there, he was selected to head up the basketball program at the newly formed North Wilkes High School. His coaching expertise lead his girls’ team to a streak of 108 consecutive wins. Coach Linney, as the boys’ coach, led his teams to a combined record of 240-46 and to a state championship in 1961. Coach Linney’s teams also finished second in the state twice and third once. His teams once compiled a 49-game winning streak and the Vikings were undefeated on the home court in Hays, North Carolina for a span of seven-and-a-half years. The gymnasium at North Wilkes High School is named in honor of Coach Joe Linney.
In 1967, Coach Linney joined the staff at Wilkes Community College. At Wilkes Community College, Linney brought into existence the basketball, tennis and golf teams. He adhered to an unstated community college code that emphasized the participation of local athletes. He believed strongly in providing athletes from the community with a chance to compete on a collegiate level.
Coach Linney made no attempt to recruit outside the area because it would ruin the purpose of community college athletics. He retired from Wilkes Community College in 1988. Coach Linney’s genuine nature and commitment to Wilkes County youth resulted in each player realizing strengths and talents that were unknown to them previously. He had a way with people to motivate the highest effort and his reinforcing words promoted the self-efficacy in his athletes. His relationship building skills and his art for communication exemplified coaching at its best as he inspired his players to elevate to a premier level of performance.
Coach Linney was a member of Wilkesboro Baptist Church where he served as an usher. His father was a former pastor of Wilkesboro Baptist. Coach Linney married Adelaide “Toni” Wright in 1945. She was his most avid supporter in life, as well as, athletics until her death in May of 1993.