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Thursday, February 13, 2020
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Volume 86 Ć¢€Ė Issue 7
Ć¢€Ė Belmont Ć¢€Ė Cramerton Ć¢€Ė Lowell Ć¢€Ė McAdenville Ć¢€Ė Mount Holly Ć¢€Ė Stanley
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Joe Messer to be inducted into Belmont Sports Hall of Fame By Stan Cromlish
The 2020 Miss South Point High Pageant contestants line up.
Miss South Point Pageant coming up South Point High School will hold its annual Miss South Point Scholarship Pageant on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 7:00pm in
the Gerald Cortner Auditorium at the school. Tickets are available in the school office for $10 and will be on sale at the door on the
night of the pageant. Mr. David Grimes, a teacher at South Point, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies along with Miss
Mikayla Secrest, the reigning Miss South Point. See PAGEANT, Page 4
John Hope loved Mt. Holly Third in a series of stories remembering influential and pioneering African-American citizens from our area. By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
The late John Hope made a big impact on Mt. Holly before he passed away on June 28, 2016 at the age of 63. Hope was a long time City of Mt. Holly employee. In 2005 he received the 15 year award from the City. In 2006 the City of Mount Holly presented him with the Community Award and in 2014 he was the recipient of the City of Mount HollyĆ¢€™s Lifetime Achievement Award and Key to the City. He was born in Mecklenburg County, son of the late Robert and Zelma Anderson Hope. He was a member of the Kappa
Fraternity, and an inductee in the Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame. As 2011 Mount Holly Man of the Year and a former Grand Marshall of the Mount Holly Christmas Parade, Mr. Hope was an active and vital member of the Mount Holly Community. He served as treasurer of the Gaston County Democratic Party and Board of Directors member of the Mount Holly Community Relief Organization (CRO) Board of Directors. He was a former recipient of Gaston CountyĆ¢€™s Organization of Community Concerns Award in recognition and appreciation for his many years of service to the community. Hope was active in the Community Relief Organization as well as the Mount Holly Historical Society. Hope was also one of the founders of the Black History See HOPE, Page 2
John Hope
This weekĆ¢€™s Belmont Sports Hall of Fame induction spotlight shines on Joe Messer who will join Pam Smith, Shelley Frye Keen, and Don Davis as part of the 2019 Inductee class. The banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at 7:00 pm in the Family Life Center of Park Street United Methodist Church. Every kid growing up in Belmont in the 1960s, 1970s, and the 1980s knew and loved Joe Messer because of his dedication to supporting the community and community athletics. If you were lucky enough, you could have had Joe as your Little League coach. In 1973, his Little League team went to the state championship but did not win it. For many years, he was the president of Belmont Little League and presided over teams fielded by the Belmont Rotary Club, Belmont Kiwanis Club, Belmont Optimist Club, and the Belmont Jaycees. Those service organizations over the years have recognized Joe for his volunteerism, excellent coaching, and for building character in young athletes. In 2012, a Belmont Little League field was named in his honor. Joe was the voice of Belmont High School, South Point High School, and the American Legion baseball on WCGC for thirty plus years. From the 50s to the 80s, Joe handled the public address color commentary for football and baseball games at
Joe Messer Davis Park and South Point High School. Roscoe Helton and Joe were responsible for moving the PA equipment between Davis Park and Lineberger Stadium weekly between games. Junior high kids and the midget football teams were also recipients of his great commentary during their Wednesday and Saturday games. His voice was broadcast on WLOS during basketball season in Asheville. From its inception in 1988 until 2001, Joe Messer was the master of ceremonies for the Belmont Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, and he was also sought after as a banquet speaker for Belmont organizations, American Legion and South Point High School sports banquets. What can you say about Joe Messer that has not been said? Joe willingly poked fun at himself with the 1980s Donkey Basketball games that were played in the Belmont Junior High School gym to raise money for the See MESSER, Page 2
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