Newest Members To Be Inducted Oct. 10
The Parry McCluer High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct six new members on Saturday, Oct. 10.
The inductees of the 13th class are Delmas Bartley (Class of 1968), Ronnie Coffey (1969), Dan Ward III (1972), Marty Carter (1978), Greg Thurman (1982) and Stephanie Rhodes Tyree (1994). Also being recognized will be the 1986 state championship PM football team and the 1970s Blues marching bands.
The activities for the PM Hall of Fame weekend will start on Friday, Oct. 9, when there will be a reception before the PM football team’s 7 p.m. game against Narrows at Bobby Williams field. On Saturday, Oct. 10, the high school gym doors will open at 4 p.m. for a meet and greet, with the banquet scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and the inductions to follow. Tickets may be purchased at Parry McCluer High School at a cost of $30 for adults and $20 for children and students. Reservations for will call tickets may be made by calling the high school at (540) 261-2127 and tickets can be picked up at the door on Oct. 10.
The inductees are a diverse and accomplished group.
Bartley played football for the Blues from 196567, earning all-district honors in 1966 and 1967, and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1967. He played basketball from 1965-67 and participated in track and field from 1965-1968. Bartley played baseball for the Blues from 196568, compiling a pitching record of 22-2 in the Valley District.
Coffey, who is being inducted as a contributor, is an award-winning photographer for The News-Gazette who has taken photos of PM sports for more than 40 years. He played baseball from 1966-69 and basketball from 1967-69, serving as the team’s co-captain in the 1968-69 season. In his adult life, Coffey served as the director of the Buena Vista Parks and Recreation Department, creating programs and activities that were instrumental in the development of Buena Vista athletes, supporting the PMHS Scholarship Fund. Coffey spent some time coaching, serving as an assistant junior varsity basketball and assistant girls tennis coach for the Blues. He was named Buena Vista Citizen of the Year in 1992, and he’s a member of the United States Specialty Sports Association Hall of Fame.
Carter played football for the Blues from 197577. As a quarterback, he earned all-district, allarea, all-region and Group A all-state honors in 1976 and 1977. He threw 20 touchdown passes on the Blues’ 1977 undefeated team, when the Blues won their first state championship in program history. Carter played in the East/West All-Star Game in 1977. Prior to last year, Carter had the record for the Blues’ longest touchdown pass in school history, throwing a 90-yard TD pass to Mickey Dunn in 1977. Nathan Glass, a 2026 PM graduate, broke that record last September when he connected with classmate Zavion Dunn for a 95-yard TD pass.
Thurman played football for the Blues from 1979-81, earning all-district, all-region, All-Timesland and Group A all-state honors in 1981. He played in the East/West All-Star Game in 1982. Thurman wrestled in 1979, 1980 and 1982, when he won the state title at 185-pounds. He also participated in track and field from 1980-82. Thurman went on to play football for Ferrum College from 1983-87, and he wrestled there from 1984-85. In 1988, he won Ferrum’s prestigious Big Green Award in football, which goes to a senior who shows courage, hustle and desire.
Tyree played basketball and softball for the Blues. She played basketball from 1990-94, serving as the co-captain her junior and senior years. She earned all-district and All-Timesland honors all four years and earned all-region honors from the 1991-94 seasons. She scored 1,076 points during her PM career. For the softball team, Tyree served as a co-captain her junior and senior years. She earned all-district and All-Timesland honors all four years, earned all-region honors from 199294, and was named all-state as a senior. She was named Pioneer District player of the year as a senior. She had a batting average of .657 as a senior and a career average of .475, and played in the East/ West All-Star Game as a senior. Tyree went on to play softball for Shenandoah University from 199598. She was named Team MVP in 1996 and earned All-Dixie Conference honors in 1998. She also played basketball at Shenandoah, from 1994-97, earning All-Dixie Conference and all-tournament honors in the 1995-96 season. She later coached softball and basketball at PM.
Ward played football for the Blues from 196871, earning all-district in 1970 and 1971 and All-Timesland honors in 1971. He was a member of the Blues’ undefeated regular-season team. Ward also played basketball from 1969-72, and was named defensive player of the year as a senior. He participated in track and field from 1969-72, earning all-district, all-region and all-state honors in 1971 and 1972, competing in pole vault. Ward went on to play football for James Madison University from 1972-74 and participated in track and field there in 1974. He became a legendary track and field meet director in state high school and college meets. He coached three state track and field championship teams, with 21 of his athletes and relay teams winning state titles. Ward received the Virginia High School League Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
