Southern Conference Football

Four to be Inducted into WCU Athletics Hall of Fame

July 6, 2011

2011 WCU Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees Photo Gallery

Cullowhee, N.C. - Four former student-athletes from four different sports comprise the 2011 Western Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame class announced this week. The 22nd induction class in school history will be placed into the Athletics Hall of Fame on the weekend of November 4-6 with special on-field recognition during the Catamounts' home football game against Southern Conference foe, Wofford.

Todd Harkins (Football, 1989-92), Terry Helms (Track & Field, Cross Country, 1968-72), Chris Moore (Baseball, 1996-99) and Nardia Moore (Women's Soccer, 1999-2002) make up the 2011 induction class.

Todd Harkins (1989-92) was a three-time All-Southern Conference offensive lineman during his playing career at WCU, starting every game for four seasons at guard. The Canton, N.C., product was the squad's top-rated blocker in both 1991 and `92, garnering second team All-America honors from The Sports Network and third team plaudits from the Associated Press in the latter. Over his last two seasons, he only surrendered one quarterback sack. Harkins is just one of 29 Catamount football players to earn All-America honors all-time, and just one of 20 since moving to NCAA Division I in 1976.

In 2000, Harkins was one of five offensive lineman selected to Western Carolina's 20th Century All-Time Football team which included players from 1931 through 1999. Of that group, he becomes the second to join the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame, joining 2006 inductee Mark Ferguson (1971-73).

A member of the Statesville Rotary Club and a 2000 inductee into the Pisgah High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Harkins has continued to be a strong supporter of Western Carolina since his graduation. He continually offers corporate sponsorship of various Catamount Club Golf Tour events such as the Catamount Classic and Bob Waters tournaments.

Terry Helms (1968-72) amassed 15 individual event championships and guided WCU to three district championships as a distance runner almost single-handedly putting Catamount Cross Country on the map. A native of Kannapolis, N.C., Helms won nine of the 11 meets the team entered as a freshman, while also setting five course records and pacing the Catamounts to a 25th-place finish in the NAIA national championship meet.

Childress Named Football Coordinator of ... - Southern Conference

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced today (Feb. 28) that Jack Childress has been hired to serve as the league's Coordinator of Officials for football.  A former Southern Conference official (1996-97), Childress spent the past 14 years officiating in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  He replaces Don Lucas who spent 18 years as coordinator for the SoCon before resigning to focus on his duties as Coordinator of Officials for the Sun Belt Conference.

"I am thrilled to once again be associated with the finest FCS conference in the nation," said Childress.  "The Southern Conference has a long, rich tradition of collegiate athletics.  I look forward to working with our officiating staff as well as our coaches and athletic directors.  While I will certainly miss being an active on-field official, I am anxious to pass along what I have learned and help others become their best."

A collegiate official for 18 years, Childress officiated two Rose Bowls, two ACC Championship Games, the Orange Bowl and Outback Bowl among his numerous post-season assignments.  He has 30 years of experience officiating high school football in North and South Carolina.  Childress served as Director of the South Carolina Football Officials for eight seasons and is also a member of the ACC Football Officials Association's Board of Directors.  He was inducted into the South Carolina Football Officials Association Hall of Fame.

This past season Childress took over as Coordinator of Officials for the South Atlantic Conference.

"Jack Childress brings a wealth of college football officiating experience to this position," commented Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino. "He has been among the best officials in the ACC for many years, is well-renowned for his communications and training skills, and understands what makes an effective coordinator. We're very fortunate to have him."

As co-owner and founder of Loom Craft, Inc., Childress serves as the COO for the home furnishing fabrics manufacturer in Belton, South Carolina.

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