Six Inducted Into PM Hall Of Fame

‘70s Marching Blues, ’86 State Football Champs Honored

On an evening full of stories and emotions, the Parry Mc-Cluer High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted its 13th class on Saturday evening in front of about 240 attendees in the PM gym.

The six inductees were Delmas Bartley (Class of 1968), Ronnie Coffey (1969), Dan Ward III (1972), Marty Carter (1978), Greg Thurman (1982) and Stephanie Rhodes Tyree (1994). The PM Athletic Hall of Fame Committee also recognized the 1986 state championship PM football team and the 1970s Marching Blues bands After friends visited with the inductees and their families, the banquet began with introductory remarks by PM Hall of Fame committee member Nelson Fox (Class of 1971) and Dr. Heather Ault, superintendent of Buena Vista city schools.

Following the dinner, William Kerr came to the podium to introduce the inductees. Kerr first said a few words about the Blues’ marching bands of the 1970s, noting that they performed at home and road games and were highly regarded in Virginia. He then highlighted the state championship football team of 1986, which outscored its four playoff opponents 116-9. In the state championship game, the Blues defeated Manassas Park 24-0 at Camden Field in Buena Vista. Members of the bands and the team stood to be recognized.

The first inductee was Bartley, who played football for the Blues from 1965-67, earning all-district honors in 1966 and 1967. He 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 1965-68, and his pitching record was 22-2 in the Valley District.

Bartley told the audience that when he played for the Blues, “I tried to give 100 percent. I think I did. We won, but I couldn’t have won without my teammates. Track, you’re on your own, so I did pretty well in that.”

The next inductee was Ward, who played football for the Blues from 1968-71, 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 he 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, and he coached three state track and field championship teams, with 21 of his individuals and relay teams winning state titles. Ward received the Virginia High School League Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

Ward told the audience that when he was young and receiving awards, he thought it was about and because of him. “Eventually, I realized that’s not the case as all,” he said. “Those things are about the people that pushed you, encouraged you and enabled you to do these things.”

The third inductee was Carter, who played football for the Blues from 1975-77. As a quarterback, he earned all-district, all-area, 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 Branch in 1977. Nathan Glass, a 2026 PM graduate, broke that record last September when he connected with classmate Zavion Dunn for a 95yard TD pass.

Carter told the audience about the traditions of football game days, dressing up and then going through town on the school bus. “You start seeing traffic lined up on both sides,” he recalled. “We pulled up, the band would be playing, the cheerleaders were getting riled up. There was nothing like a game of football at Camden Field.”

The next inductee was Coffey, 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 (USSSA) Hall of Fame.

Coffey said he’d seen thousands of PM games over the years, and one of the most memorable was watching the PM boys basketball team in the 1977 Group A state semifinals, when the Blues lost in five overtimes to J.J. Kelly at the University of Virginia. Though the Blues lost, Coffey said, “On that special day, I’d seen something in that team that is a living example of what the Fighting Blues are all about. They refuse to lose, they never give up, they don’t quit, and they give 100 percent.”

The fifth inductee was the late Greg Thurman, who died in 2022. Thurman played football for the Blues from 1979-81, earning all-district, all-region, All-Timesland and Group A allstate 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.

Accepting the award on Thurman’s behalf was his sister, Sandra Thurman. Sandra spoke about her brother’s accomplishments and thanked all those who impacted his career. Celebrating Greg’s life, Sandra said it was one of “determination and leadership.” She also talked about Greg helping children through his job at the Natural Bridge Learning Center, dedicating his time to helping troubled youths. “He offered steady care to young people with complex needs,” said Sandra.

The final inductee was Tyree, who 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 199194 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 1992-94, and was named all-state as a senior. She also 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 she played in the East/ West All-Star Game as a senior. Tyree went on to play softball for Shenandoah University from 1995-98, earning All-Dixie Conference honors in 1998. She also played basketball at Shenandoah, from 1994-87, earning All-Dixie Conference and all-tournament honors in the 1995-96 season. She later coached softball and basketball at PM.

“Growing up in this bluecollar town, I learned at a very young age that hard work was expected,” said Tyree, who noted that her father worked 12 hours a day all seven days of the week, except during basketball and softball season so that he and Tyree’s mom could attend her games. “My athletic career would not have been anything without my parents’ love, support and encouragement.”

Tyree said she “tried to live my life like a Blue, remaining grounded in my faith, my work ethic and my family.”