Paying Tribute… Cyclone Nation honors Dugger, Hyder, and Carver with retirement banquet
Published 6:00 am Tuesday, June 18, 2019
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
It was only fitting that Cyclone Nation took time out to honor a trio of coaches that helped paved the way for Cyclone basketball both on the boys’ and girls’ side of the hoop.
With a host of family, friends, former players, legendary coaches, and local and state government officials on hand, former Cyclone head coach Len Dugger and assistant coaches Richard Hyder and Eddie Carver were honored on Saturday inside the Elizabethton Commons Area.
The trio were honored with a banquet and presented the Diamond Tower Community Service Award. They all received encased personalized basketballs and a cake while their wives were honored with a beautiful bouquet of flowers in gratitude for their support through the years.
The Rev. Bobby Stout presented the award to Hyder, while Dale Clayton—a former teammate and coach of Carver presented his.
On hand to present Dugger’s award was his former college coach at Gardner-Webb, Eddie Holbrook.
Also, proclamations were presented from City Councilman Kim Birchfield on behalf of the City of Elizabethton, Mayor Rusty Barnett on behalf of Carter County, and State Representative John Holsclaw Jr. on behalf of the state to recognize the men.
A list of legendary coaches stopped by to give their best wishes including former Science Hill and current King College head coach George Pitts, former Milligan head coach Phil Worrell, Bobby Chambers, and former Hampton coach Jerry White who gave Dugger his first coaching job.
The three coaches teamed up for an overall record of 545-243 leading both the Cyclone boys’ and girls’ program at Elizabethton High School. See more photos on page 10.
