Before the opening kickoff, there are stories worth telling, stories of the people who have coached our children, served our churches, opened neighborhood businesses, and carried Salisbury's history from one generation to the next.
The West End Classic gives Livingstone College an opportunity to celebrate those connections. As families, alumni, and neighbors gather around Blue Bear football, we also recognize the individuals whose contributions give this community its character.
Their work takes many forms. It happens in classrooms and courtrooms, in church pews and barbershop chairs, and along the sidelines where young athletes learn lessons that stay with them long after the season ends. Through their professions, faith, advocacy, and everyday involvement, these community members offer different perspectives on the history and continuing life of Salisbury's West End.
This feature recognizes Wilson R. Cherry, Fredrick Evans, Kevin McClain, Bryon "B" Brown, Ricky Holt, Price Brown, Wayne Woodruff, Sydney Davis, and Gray Robinson. Their stories connect education, public service, athletics, entrepreneurship, and alumni pride.
For Livingstone Athletics, celebrating the West End means recognizing the neighbors whose lives and experiences are part of the community surrounding our campus. The West End Classic creates a moment to hear their stories, appreciate their contributions, and strengthen the relationships that will carry this community forward.
Wilson R. Cherry | A Voice for Opportunity and Community
A Salisbury native and Catawba College graduate, Wilson R. Cherry has devoted much of his life to helping others find opportunity and belonging. His work with Rowan Vocational Opportunities reflects a longstanding commitment to people with disabilities and their access to meaningful employment and greater independence.
Cherry also has a deep connection to Livingstone College. Beginning as a childhood ball boy, he later became the college's Director of Public Relations and Sports Information in 1978. His contributions included helping establish the Children's Book Festival and serving the institution through communications and athletics. Livingstone inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame for meritorious service in 2008. His story brings together education, advocacy, and a lasting dedication to the Blue Bear community.
Fredrick Evans | Salisbury Roots, Public Service
With roots in Salisbury's Evans family, Fredrick Evans brings a legal perspective to this community feature. The City of Winston Salem lists him as Assistant City Attorney for Public Works. His career offers an opportunity to recognize a Salisbury family connection alongside service in municipal government.
Kevin McClain | Education, Faith, and Community Connection
A graduate of Salisbury High School and Livingstone College, Kevin McClain shares connections to two institutions that have shaped generations of local families. His Sigma affiliation and active involvement in the AME Zion Church connect education, brotherhood, and faith. His place in this feature recognizes the importance of remaining involved in the community and maintaining ties to the institutions that helped shape his life.
Bryon "B" Brown | A Familiar Face in the Neighborhood
Bryon "B" Brown, owner of Randall/Brown Barber Shop at Horah and Craige streets, represents the neighborhood business owners who become familiar fixtures in community life. His involvement at Moore's Chapel adds another connection to the people and institutions of the West End. Through his business and church involvement, Brown is part of the everyday relationships that help a neighborhood feel like home.
Ricky Holt | A Lasting Commitment to Athletics
Salisbury native Ricky Holt has spent more than three decades working in athletics, with experience across football, basketball, and track. His career has included coaching and athletic administration, with recognition extending to his 2022 induction into the Salisbury Rowan Sports Hall of Fame.
With continued ties to local athletics and the AME Zion community, Holt brings a valuable perspective on the role sports play in young people's lives. His story recognizes the coaches and mentors whose influence reaches beyond competition and into the communities their athletes call home.
Price Brown | Service Through Profession and Faith
Former Salisbury police officer Price Brown represents a connection between public service and community life. His membership at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Caldwell Street adds a faith connection to his professional history. His inclusion offers an opportunity to recognize the experiences of those who have served Salisbury while remaining connected to its congregations and neighborhoods.
Wayne Woodruff | Connected Through Alumni Pride
As a member of the J.C. Price High School Alumni Association, Wayne Woodruff represents an enduring connection to the school and its community. His inclusion recognizes the alumni ties that keep former classmates, families, and shared history connected across generations.
Sydney Davis | Honoring a Shared School Legacy
Sydney Davis joins this feature as a member of the J.C. Price High School Alumni Association. That connection offers a place in the article to acknowledge the school's continuing significance to its alumni and the importance of making room for their experiences in Salisbury's community story.
Gray Robinson | Carrying the Connection Forward
A member of the J.C. Price High School Alumni Association, Gray Robinson adds another connection to the school's alumni community. Alongside Woodruff and Davis, Robinson's inclusion recognizes the people who remain connected through a shared school identity and the memories that identity holds.
Together, these individuals give the West End Classic a personal connection to the community it celebrates. As Livingstone takes the field, we also honor the people whose stories deserve a place alongside the game.
