Retired Jerseys - Football(978 total words in this text) (2082 Reads) 
Football Retired Jerseys
at Asheville and Lee H. Edwards High Schools
Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice  
Position: Halfback
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
High School: Lee H. Edwards (Asheville) Class of 1943
Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame: 1961
Place of Birth: Asheville, NC
Date of Birth: 5/18/1924
Date of Death: 10/17/2003
Jersey Number: 22
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 165 | Biography from College Football Hall of Fame: Charlie Justice stood on the sidelines as North Carolina began its scrimmage game with Guilford that afternoon in 1946. "He's not even first string," noted a bystander, sizing up the 5- foot-10, 165-pound Charlie. "If he's the hottest
football property in America, why isn't he a starter?" Indeed, "Choo Choo" Justice did not look to be the greatest football player in his era - at least not standing on the sidelines. But Tar Heel coach Carl Snavely was about to prove a point. "Go in at tailback," Snavely told Charlie. on the first play, Justice took the ball, darted,
twisted, faked and literally flew 65 yards to a touchdown.
There was a stunned silence, except for Snavely, who uncharacteristically jumped for joy on the sideline. Justice had lived up to his credits as a two-time All-Carolina schoolboy star and a World War II football hero for Naval training teams. Following active duty, Justice refused several pro offers in order to attend
North Carolina. The Era of Justice had begun. During his four seasons, the Tar Heels went 32-9-2, as Justice scored 234 points (72 as a freshman) and threw for 25 touchdowns. He was all-Southern Conference four times and All-America twice.
Charlie set 11 UNC school records. Justice played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins. |
Dan "Tiger" Hill  
Position: Center
College: Duke University
High School: Lee H. Edwards (Asheville)
Inducted into College Hall of Fame: 1962
Place of Birth: Asheville, NC -
3/8/1917
Place of Death: Durham, NC -8/24/1989
Jersey Numbers: 88(Asheville), 35 (Duke)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 210 | Biography from College Football Hall of Fame: Dan Hill toiled in the gridiron trenches for the famed Iron Dukes of 1938. He was a center in the one platoon era when centers were also linebackers. He was All-America and co- captain of the 1938 Duke University team. The Iron Dukes won five games with the score 6-0 or 7-0. They were undefeated, untied and unscored upon in the regular season, losing finally in the Rose Bowl when Southern California scored with just 41 seconds left to play. His coach, Wallace Wade, called Hill "The heart of the team." In one game the regular quarterback was injured, and Hill called the plays. Duke had a 25-4-1 record in his three years. He graduated with honors, spent four years as a naval officer in World War II, and served Duke as assistant director of athletics, 1946-53. He left Duke and entered private business. |
Ray Roberts  
Position: Offensive Tackle
College: University of Virginia
High School: Asheville High
Place of Birth: Asheville, NC
Jersey Number: 56 (Asheville), 73 (Seattle Seahawks) | Biography: In 1991, Roberts was a first-team All American at the University of Virginia. In 1992, Roberts was a NFL First round draft pick for the Seattle Seahawks. He also played for the Detroit Lions. Ray has also been a great supporter of Asheville High
School athletics, donating athletic equipment, footwear, and other items to school sports teams. |
Leonard Little  
College: University of Tennessee
High School: Asheville High (2003)
Place of Birth: Asheville, NC Born: October 19, 1974 Height: 6'3"
Weight: 261 lbs
Jersey Number: 30 (Asheville), 91 (St. Louis Rams) | Asheville High School retired football jersey #30 in honor of Leonard Little at halftime of the North Buncombe game on November 4, 2005. Cougar Sports Network Executive Producer Tim Amos and AHS Coach Gene Hammonds made the presentation.
A 1993 graduate, Little played for Asheville High from 1989-92. He was All Conference for three years, All State his senior year, and represented North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl. Asheville's records were 11-2 and 8-3 during his last two seasons.
Little continued his career at the University of Tennessee where he was All Southeastern Conference in 1996 and 1997, and was named to the 1997 AP All America team. He played in the Orange Bowl for the Vols in 1998.
Little was drafted in the third round (65th overall) by the St. Louis Rams in the 1998 NFL draft. To date, Little has played in two Super Bowls and one Pro Bowl and is considered one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.
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