2020 Inductees
Inductees to the 2020 Hall of Fame range from the agricultural sector to community groups.
Ward H. Nichols
- Year Inducted: 2020
- Participating in nearly 200 group shows and 170 solo exhibitions in 92 individual galleries and museums in 23 states, Nichols has become a renowned painter ...
John & Etta Idol
- Year Inducted: 2020
- John and Etta dedicated a combined 72 years to educating students in Wilkes County. They were known as a couple for education, as they worked together on all projects.
James Wilber Cook
- Year Inducted: 2020
- James joined his father, Flake Cook, at Carolina Auto Supply which was a business started in 1946 by Flake and his partner Bob Kite.
Dwight David Beck
- Year Inducted: 2020
- Beck worked as a teacher and coach at West Wilkes High School for over 35 years. He currently serves as the longest tenured coach ever at West Wilkes High School.
Andrew Franklin Kilby
- Year Inducted: 2020
- Kilby became a partner of Yadkin Valley Motor Company in 1930. He served in the car business with numerous partners over the years.
The Kruger Brothers
- Year Inducted: 2020
- In 1997, the Kruger Brothers made their debut in America playing for audiences at MerleFest, the Wilkesboro festival named in honor of Doc Watson’s son, Merle.
Dennis M. Huggins
- Year Inducted: 2020
- During Huggins’ time at Wilkes County Schools, he was involved with the Technology in Education Challenge, Project ADMIT, and other fundraising efforts for various school and district initiatives.
Tammy Eller Whitworth
- Year Inducted: 2020
- Tammy started her lifelong career in the home improvement industry in 1994 at a building supply warehouse in Atlanta, GA.
2022 Inductees
Inductees to the 2022 Hall of Fame range from the agricultural sector to community groups.
Download the 2022 Brochure
Belinda “Jean” Stone Davis
- Year Inducted: 2022
- Belinda “Jean” Stone Davis was born in Wilkes County in 1951. Jean graduated from North Wilkes High School in 1969.
James Richard Hix
- Year Inducted: 2022
- James Richard Hix was born October 7, 1878 in Moravian Falls, North Carolina. He attended high school at the old Moravian Falls Academy.
Flossie Ellen Clark Johnson
- Year Inducted: 2022
- JWhen one hears the name Flossie Johnson, the First Lady of NASCAR usually comes to mind...
Thomas “Tom” McNeil
- Year Inducted: 2022
- Tom was born in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on February 5, 1941, to Joseph Clyde McNeil and Ruby Dianna Huffman McNeil.
David McNeill
- Year Inducted: 2022
- David’s roots in Wilkes County goes back many generations with his family being in the car business since 1939.
Sylvia Robinson
- Year Inducted: 2022
- Sylvia Robinson was born July 29,1950, in Wilkes County, North Carolina, to Paul and Gertrude Robinson.
Betty & Bob Strickland
- Year Inducted: 2022
- Elizabeth Miller Strickland (Betty) was born in Biloxi, Mississippi in October 1932.
Dr. Frances R. Tharpe
- Year Inducted: 2022
- Dr. Frances Roope Tharpe was born December 8, 1937 in the rural eastern section of Wilkes County to Willie Freelin Roope and Levaude Bryant Roope.
2023 Inductees
Inductees to the 2023 Wilkes County Hall of Fame
Download the 2023 Brochure
Johnson Jay Anderson
- Year Inducted: 2023
- Highly regarded Wilkes County historian, Jay Anderson, was born May 31, 1915 to Annie McNeil Anderson in North Wilkesboro.
Dr. Alexander Erwin
- Year Inducted: 2023
- Dr. Alexander Erwin is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. He has resided in Wilkes County for 59 years.
David Johnson
- Year Inducted: 2023
- Talented multi-instrumentalist David Ray Johnson was born in Wilkes County on February 11, 1954 to Billie Ray and Elizabeth Caudill Johnson.
Pete Mullis Mann
- Year Inducted: 2023
- Pete Mullis Mann’s life was filled with a deep love for family, church, education and Wilkes County.
Rebecca “Beckie” Lynn Mathis
- Year Inducted: 2023
- Beckie Mathis was born in Wilkes County, parents Archie and Patsy Marie Mathis, one sister Deborah (Debbie) Summers.
2024 Inductees
Inductees to the 2024 Wilkes County Hall of Fame
Download the 2024 Brochure
Bill Bare
- Year Inducted: 2024
- Much could be said of Bill’s accomplishments and impact on Wilkes as a local businessman, but his real achievement is his character.
Glen Rex Barker
- Year Inducted: 2024
- In 1962 Rex began his career in education at North Wilkes High School as the school’s first Teacher of Agriculture.
Brenda A. Dobbins
- Year Inducted: 2024
- Brenda was born in Surry County on April 20, 1949 and grew up in Roaring River, NC., she always loved school and had a strong desire to teach.
Edd & Gertrude Gardner
- Year Inducted: 2024
- Using their extraordinary intelligence, capabilities and resources, they spent 50 years in dedication to the betterment of Wilkes county.
Keith Miller
- Year Inducted: 2024
- Keith has positively influenced inspired hundreds of young men, women and adults throughout his life of loyalty & service to Wilkes County.
Stan, Steven & Mark Whittington
- Year Inducted: 2024
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The 3 brothers coached football for 40 years, teaching philosophy stressed fundamentals, academics, sportsmanship, dedication, and hard work.
2025 Inductees
Inductees to the 2025 Wilkes County Hall of Fame
Arthur Gerald Lankford
- Year Inducted: 2025
- Gerald ran for a seat on the Wilkes County Board of Education in 1984 and served as Vice Chairman for 4 years.
Doctor Franklin Shepherd
- Year Inducted: 2025
- After returning to Wilkes County from the coal mines, Franklin bought his farm and became an employer.
Dwight E. Pardue, Sr.
- Year Inducted: 2025
- In September of 1956 Dwight went to work for Lowe's Hardware as it was known then, as director of warehousing.
Dwight Vance Nichols
- Year Inducted: 2025
- Dwight served as editor of the Wilkes Journal-Patriot for nearly 50 years, spanning from 1932 - 1981 at which point he became Editor Emeritus
George & Ida Maude Collins
- Year Inducted: 2025
- George and Ida Maude quickly considered Wilkes County home and immersed themselves in serving their community.
