Barrett, Bridges, Halstead Inducted Into SCC Athletics Hall of Fame

The spotlight was on the Spartans era of sports (1966-81) at last month's induction of the fifth class of the Sandhills Community College Athletics Hall of Fame.

 

Golfers Danny Barrett and Bobby Bridges, and administrator Jim Halstead, who supported Spartan athletics over part of 24 years of service to the college as Dean of Students and Senior Vice President, were honored at a dinner held at the Dempsey Student Center. 

 

Spartans teammates Barrett and Bridges were introduced by their coach Don Garner, a member of the first Hall of Fame class in 2013.

 

Barrett grew up around golf. His father worked at Pinehurst Country Club and he went on to win three Pinehurst Junior Championships, the 1971 Donald Ross Class A Championship and the 1972 Southeastern Conference Championship at Pinecrest High School. After helping the Spartans post a record of 14-0 in 1974, he went on to play at UNC-Charlotte in 1975 and UNC-Pembroke in 1976 where he received a business degree.

 

In 1977, Barrett was the runner-up in the Moore County Amateur before winning the title in 1978. He also won the 1977 Bobby Locke and 1994 CGA Father/Son Tournament. He served as a PGA Professional at six different local area clubs and is a life member of the PGA. Now retired he works par-time at the Pine Crest Inn and Foxfire Golf Course.

Barrett was accompanied by his wife Joan Collins, a son Josh Barrett, his daughter Niki and her husband Kyle Barnes, and a step-daughter Brittany Collins.

 

"I was very surprised when I got the call, but very honored," he said. "I thank Sandhills for giving me a great start to my life. I've always loved Sandhills Community College."

 

Bridges attended the induction dinner with his wife Kathy and his son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Carri Bridges. In all the Bridges have three children and 11 grandchildren.

 

His connection to Sandhills began with family trips from Huntsville, AL to the Pinehurst area. After winning a camp tournament at Country Club of Whispering Pines in his youth he was recruited to play on the Spartans golf team. The year before college he worked as a counselor with the Peggy Kirk Bell Golf School at the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club.

 

Upon his arrival at Sandhills in the fall of 1973, he shot an SCC record 65 on Pinehurst No. 1 in a match against Mount Olive. He and Barrett competed in the NJCAA national tournament in Lehigh Acres, Florida. During the undefeated 1974 season, Bridges compiled an average score of 74.

 

In the Spirit of America Tournament that year, he finished second individually after a three-hole playoff.  He and Barrett teamed up to finish second as a pair behind Kentucky in a field of major university teams that included Auburn and Alabama.

 

"We helped put Sandhills on the map," he said.

 

Bridges continued his college career at Southern Benedictine College in Cullman, AL. He won the NAIA SE Regional and went on to win tournaments as a member of the Western Illinois Golf Association.

 

After college he worked in banking for 41 years in Estoria, IL. Now retired, his passion is the work he does for Holy Pursuit, an outfitter that sets up trips for wounded warriors and terminally ill children.

 

"I'm so excited about that," he said. "That's my life right now besides my family. It really puts everything in perspective."

 

Bridges had been recruited by the University of Alabama, but was asked to sit out his first season so he chose SCC.

 

"This was the greatest move of my life because I could come back here and play golf with Danny Barrett and John Kober. I was an only child, but had two brothers in Danny and John, and a second father in Don. I come down about every three years, but I'm going to do it more now while I can still halfway hit the ball."

 

Kober was a third member of the team. Earlier in the day they played together at Foxfire. Barrett recalled shooting a 76 while Kober came in at 78 and Bridges posted an 83.

 

"We've all gone up in our scores a little bit," he said.

 

Halstead was accompanied by his wife Mary. He was introduced by President John Dempsey who described him as an excellent ping pong player, an outstanding high school basketball player in West Virginia and the best friend he has had in higher education. He supported athletics throughout his 24-year career at Sandhills, including a stint as baseball coach.

 

"When I came to Sandhills it was a baby and we were all babies," Halstead said. "Now look at what it is today."

 

Since his retirement in 1998 Halstead has continued to be active in athletics. In 2013 he was made chairman of the inaugural Sandhills Athletics Hall of Fame committee and charged with creating the criteria for selection, planning the inductions/dinners and displays.

 

Also in 1998 his contributions to the college were recognized with the presentation of an Honorary Doctorate and he was chosen to give the commencement address. The Jim Halstead Encouragement Award was also established to recognize a non-teaching staff member who has provided encouragement to others.

 

Halstead also served at four other colleges during his career.

 

"But I'm most proud of my years at Sandhills," he said. "I am proud of what this college has always been and what it has become. Today was a chance to not only say what Sandhills has meant to me, but what it has meant to this community. It has been such a great blessing to Moore County and this part of North Carolina."

 

Following the dinner the three inductees attended the basketball game against Mount Zion Prep. Athletic Director Aaron Denton introduced them to the crowd during the halftime intermission.