Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission Announces Providence Bank Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Jacksonville, North Carolina – The Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission and Providence Bank are excited to announce the class for the 2026 Providence Bank Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 2026 is Rookie Davis and Edward “Curt” Dowdy (bios are included). Also receiving the Heroes Spirit Award will

be Michael Carter (former Jacksonville Recreation and Parks Director and unofficial Hall of Fame archivist). The Classes of 2025 and 2026 will be inducted on May 21, 2026 at Sturgeon City Environmental Center. For more information on the Hall of Fame such as nomination forms, previous classes, and to purchase tickets to the 2026 event, visit: https://www.playjosc.com/hall-of-fame. As a reminder, the class of 2025 will be Douglas Banks, Doug Erny, and Greg Grantham.

To honor those who have advanced sport in Onslow County, the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission created the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. From athletes to coaches to contributors, the members of the Hall of Fame have been the heart of “everything athletic” in our community over the years. Organizers and supporters believed the rich sports history of our area should be memorialized and that an annual observance of those who have enhanced our lives with their performances and commitment should be undertaken. The task of creating and operating the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Hall of Fame was specifically written into the bylaws and mission of the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission. Part of the mission of the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission is to inspire the development of sports within our community.

The honoring of those who have achieved significance in sport, is part of the mission to leave a positive impression on the athletes who may be honored in the future.

The Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the history of sports for our area. It is to serve as a source of education and inspiration to all generations. The mission is achieved through nominations taken from the general public and the sporting community. Part of the criteria for selection requires that the honoree have played or

trained in our area, including Jacksonville, Camp Lejeune or any part of Onslow County.

The Hall of Fame is housed in the Commerce

Center at 1099 Gum Branch Road,

Jacksonville, NC 28540.

Rookie Davis

Rookie Davis was born April 29, 1993 in Greenville, NC. As a 12-year-old, he was selected to play for Rawlings in Cooperstown, NY. A well-rounded athlete, Rookie decided to focus on baseball at the age of 13. Rookie attended Dixon High School where he was a standout. He was All State four times, the 2010 NC Player of the Year and an Under Armour All American (getting to play at Wrigley Field), four time All Conference, three-time Conference Player of the Year, four time All Area, two-time Area Player of the Year and two-time High School Perfect Game All-American. Rookie committee to East Carolina University after his freshman year (the youngest ever to do so at that time). In high school he had a .544 career batting average (3rd in NC), hit 37 home runs, had 150 RBI’s (1st in NC), 168 hits (1st in NC), was 25-4 with 422 strike outs as a pitcher (tied 10th in NC), threw five no hitters (3rd in NC) and had a high school career 1.67 ERA. He was the #2 rated two-way amateur player in

the country for high school and college. He hit safely in 25 straight games (6th in NC). Had a .590 batting average in a season (tied 25th in NC). Some of his single-season highs include 13 wins (15th in NC), 186 strikeouts (12th in NC), 20 strikeouts vs Topsail in seven innings, 59 hits (6th in NC), and 52 RBI’s (12th in NC). He was also a three-time NC State Games participant. Also in 2010, Rookie played for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the East Coast Pro Showcase. Every Major League team visited the Davis home prior to the MLB draft. Half were interested in him as pitcher and half as a hitter. Rookie was drafted in the 14th round as a pitcher by the New York Yankees. To honor his high school career, Dixon retired his #24 jersey. Dixon also honored Davis by naming the field, the Rookie Davis Field.

Rookie climbed the Yankees minor league system, making All-Star teams in Staten Island and Tampa and was ranked as the Yankees #6 prospect. Rookie was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2015. Rookie made another All-Star team in Pensacola. On April 6, 2017, Rookie made his Major League debut for the Reds. A serious hip surgery cut his season short and threatened his career. After being told he would probably never pitch again, Rookie battled and earned a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2019 season. Rookie retired from baseball during the Covid pandemic and opened the Davis Academy in Jacksonville,

NC. Rookie has helped countless players excel in baseball.

Edward Curtis Dowdy, Sr.

Curt Dowdy was born December 23, 1954 in Pine Hurst, NC. Curt began his coaching career at Jacksonville High School in 1980 as the assistant track and field coach. He became the head coach in 1985. That year he also began coaching the junior varsity boys basketball team. He coached that team through 1991. He began coaching the varsity girls basketball team in 1992 and coached them through 2002. During his time with the track and field team, the girls’ teams have won 25 Conference Championships (1985-1998, 2000-2003, 2005-2008, 2013, 2015, 2025). They have also won 11 Regional Championships (1990-1991, 1993, 1996-1998, 2000-2002, 2005, 2008) and three State Championships (1991, 1993, 2008). The team were runners-up three times (1990, 1999, 2007) and runner-up in the Indoor State Championship in 2008.The boys’ track and field team have won six Conference Championships (1997, 2002, 2006, 2019, 2023-2024, won two Regional Championships (2016-2017) and two State Championships (2005, 2016). Coach Dowdy has coached 82 individual state champions in both indoor and outdoor (43 women and 39 men). His track teams were also invited to participate in various invitationals. In 1983, he started the Jacksonville Express Track Club which ran until 2004. During that time, the club transported well over one hundred athletes across the United States to participate in various track and field events. Several athletes that participated in the program went on to participate in the United States Olympic trials to include Jackie Humphrey who made the 1988 Olympic team. He also started the Jacksonville High School Invitational Track Meet in 2003. Coach Dowdy received Coach of the Year Award 1985-1998, 2000-2003, 2005-2008, 2103, 2105, 2025

for his girls’ team and 1997, 2002, 2006, 2019, and 2023-2024 for the boys’. He received a Proclamation from Mayor of Jacksonville in 1991 for coaching the first-ever girls state champion from Onslow County in any sport. In 2005, he was honored at the opening ceremony of the New Bern Track and Field facility for his many years of dedicated service and impact on the sport in Eastern North Carolina. In 2009 he was inducted into his high school’s (Union Pines High School) Hall of Fame for his contribution to the track and field and football teams. He was a two-time all-conference selection in track and field, the state runner-up in the long jump in 1971 and in 1973 was the conference track MVP.

In 2024, the Onslow County Track and Field Championships were renamed the Liles Dowdy Onslow County Track and Field Championship. In 2025 he was inducted into the Jacksonville High School Hall of Fame for his contributions and achievements.

For more information contact:

M. Scott Smith, Executive Director

Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission

910-347-3141 #248

scott@josc-nc.com