About the PAA Hall of Fame

A proud History.

In 1970, Greenville County’s five historic Black high schools—Sterling, Bryson, Beck, Lincoln, and Washington—were closed as high schools during the integration of the public school system. While this change marked progress in education, it also brought an end to an important chapter for the communities, athletes, and alumni who had built proud traditions within those schools.

In 1972, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame was created to recognize outstanding athletes across the state. Over time, community members began asking why more athletes and coaches from the Upstate were not being recognized—individuals such as Bill Thompson, Ernie Brock, and Coach Joe Mathis, whose contributions had greatly shaped the region’s athletic legacy.

That question led to a vision: to establish a Hall of Fame dedicated to honoring the athletes, coaches, and supporters who helped shape the Upstate’s athletic programs and communities.

In 1991, during a meeting at the Phyllis Wheatley Center, the organization was officially named the Piedmont Athletic Association Hall of Fame, and the first class of inductees was honored in 1992 under the leadership of Executive Director Clyde Mayes.

Today, the Piedmont Athletic Association Hall of Fame has honored more than 160 athletes, coaches, and supporters, preserving the legacy of Upstate athletics while celebrating those who helped shape it.