The Office of Alumni Relations hosted the event in coordination with a group of staff and volunteers, with over 120 guests in attendance. That included the inaugural class of honorees, their families and friends, former coaches, and community supporters.

Five alumni athletes, a team, and a legendary coach were honored as the first class of Lumberjack Legends.

This year’s Lumberjack Legends are:

∫ James Dutcher, Athletic Director & Coach, 1958-1966

Courtesy Photo Courtney Folden, daughter of Diana Flakes (center), poses with family members, teammates, and friends of Flakes.

∫ John Stosick, Swimming, NJCAA champion (200-meter backstroke), NJCAA runner-up (100- meter backstroke), 1968

∫ Alonzo Weatherly, Men’s Basketball, NJCAA honorable mention All-American, 1979

∫ Diana Flakes, Women’s Basketball, NJCAA 2nd team All-American, 1981

∫ Jimmie Holliday, Men’s Basketball, NJCAA honorable mention All-American, 1987

∫ Josh Walker, Men’s Basketball, NJCAA 3rd team All-American, 2003

Courtesy Photo Coach James Dutcher, left, poses with members of the 1966 men’s basketball team as they receive their awards.

∫ 1966 Men’s Basketball Team, Region 12 Champions

The 2024 class includes five ACC athletes who achieved All-American status, including a national champion in swimming, plus ACC’s most successful basketball team, which played in the 1966 national junior college championship tournament. That team was Coach Jim Dutcher’s last at ACC before he departed for head coaching duties at Eastern Michigan University. He went on to be an assistant coach at the University of Michigan before taking the helm at the University of Minnesota as their men’s head basketball coach.

The event included slideshows featuring historic photos of the athletes, biographies of each of the honorees, and speeches from the athletes and their coaches. Legendary Coach Jim Dutcher and the 1966 men’s basketball team both received standing ovations as they went up to accept their awards. Former ACC athletic director and current ACC Foundation Board member Max Lindsay served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, sharing his own stories of each of the inductees as well as humorous anecdotes of many of the coaches in attendance.

Courtesy Photo Michael DeWyre and Sam Chalton, members of the 1966 men’s basketball team, pose with their basketball photos at a reception held Friday evening in Van Lare Hall for the honorees and their guests.