New inductees in the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– History was made on Sunday, as five new individuals put their name into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame

The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame welcomed five new inductees Sunday evening, including Bill Curry, Fred Lynch and Tamera Young.

The Hall of Fame began in 2006, when coaching legend Leon Brogden became the organization’s first inductee. Since then, 79 individuals have earned a place in the hall for their contributions to sports in the Wilmington area.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Ron Musselman was among this year’s inductees. Musselman said some of his favorite memories came just before stepping onto the mound.

“Walking across the grass, coming out of the bullpen in Detroit Tiger Stadium, and they announce your name on the loudspeaker,” Musselman said. “There’s more than one level on the field — there’s three levels on the field. It’s a pretty awesome feeling.”

For others, like Laney High School athletic director Fred Lynch, the honor was about making an impact from the sidelines through coaching and mentoring athletes.

“I’m really proud of the year we were able to get to the state championship,” Lynch said. “We had some really good teams, but that was really special.”

Sunday’s ceremony also carried emotional significance for Bob Wilson, who accepted the honor on behalf of his late father, Ed Wilson, more than a decade after his passing.

Wilson said his father not only taught young athletes how to play baseball but also passed down life lessons that still guide him today.

“If you mess up, accept responsibility and move on, because we all mess up,” Wilson said. “Move on to the next play. You’ll get it right the next time. He gave me a lot of advice, and to this day I still try to follow it.”

Wilson said the one thing he wished most was that his father could have been there to experience the moment.

“I was very proud to be his son — was then and am now.”

If you know anybody who is from Wilmington, and deserves a spot in the hall of fame, head to the organization’s website.