Four athletes — Gwen Austin, John Bunting, Larry Honeycutt and Charlie “Barrel” Niven — will be inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame during an annual banquet at University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Burney Center on May 1. The 2016 inductees were announced Feb. 10.
Gwen Austin had a decorated basketball career at Wallace-Rose Hill High School and UNCW that culminated in having her jersey retired. She was the first female UNCW athlete to achieve that honor.
At Wallace-Rose Hill High School, the 6-foot 2-inch center was named to the all conference and all East teams every year. During her senior season she also gathered First Team All State and Player of the Year. From 1977 to ‘81 she participated in two District II championships, two East Central Conference championships and two East Central Conference tournament championships.
She also garnered numerous accolades during her collegiate career at UNCW, including the distinction of all-time women’s basketball leading scorer. She set career records in 16 different categories, including points at 2,056 and rebounds at 1,290.
John Bunting’s successful career in football lasted more than four decades as both a player and a coach. He played for the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where his coach, Bill Dooley, called him an outstanding linebacker with “a tremendous ability to inspire his teammates.”
In 1972, Bunting was drafted in the 10th round by the Philadelphia Eagles and in 1981 he and his team played in Super Bowl XV. He was also named the Eagles’ defensive MVP in 1979.
In 1984 he switched to the coaching side of the game. He was assistant coach at Brown University and Glassboro State College. When he became head coach at GSC his team won two conference championships and advanced to the NCAA tournament semifinals in 1992.
After a few years on coaching staffs for professional teams he accepted the top job at University of North Carolina from 2000 to ‘06. He was the Tarheels’ only head coach to beat top five teams — FSU in 2001 and Miami in 2004.
Larry Honeycutt’s career in athletics also spanned multiple decades and sports. He was quarterback for the Raleigh Broughton team that won the 1961 state championship. He went on to play for UNCW where he was outfielder on the National Jr. College Baseball Championship team in 1963.
After obtaining his master’s degree from UNC Chapel Hill, he returned to UNCW as a faculty member and coach of baseball, soccer and tennis. He was voted NAIA coach of the year in 1975.
He then transitioned from coaching to officiating. During his 47-year officiating career he called nine state championships — two basketball, three football and four soccer.
Charlie “Barrel” Niven, whose induction comes posthumously, is remembered for his dynamic athleticism and speed that helped him excel at football, basketball and baseball in the 1950s.
He played for New Hanover High School where his success on the field earned him a football scholarship to Duke University. After his freshman season, the Canadian Football League offered him a contract. He returned to Wilmington, got married, and accepted a scholarship to play for Wilmington College, where he led the nation in scoring with a 38.6 points-per-game average.
This year’s event emcee will be Forest Orion Mixon III. For more information visit www.gwshof.com
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