Brevard College has announced the two newest inductees into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame with the selections of John George ’80 and Jim Hickey ’83. Both George and Hickey competed in the sports of Cross Country and Track & Field during their careers at Brevard College.
The 2024 class will be officially inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, October 11 during BC’s Homecoming weekend. Upon induction, George and Hickey will become the 49th and 50th inductees into the Brevard College Athletics Hall of Fame.
“We congratulate John George and Jim Hickey, both of whom are tremendous selections for this year’s Hall of Fame Class,” said Myranda Nash, Brevard College Director of Athletics. “We thank the members of the Athletics Hall of Fame committee for their diligence in selecting this year’s class and we look forward to celebrating these legendary Tornados at this year’s Homecoming.”
John George ’80 (Cross Country/Track & Field)
George, a 1980 graduate of Brevard College, won an NJCAA Indoor Track national championship and earned All-American status in multiple events. George was a key part in Brevard finishing fourth (1978) and sixth (1979) nationally in Cross Country for teams under the guidance of Hall of Fame Coach Norm Witek.
“I am both honored and ecstatic about being selected by Brevard into our Hall of Fame,” said George. My life has been tied to Brevard for the past 47 years in some manner. My heart has always stayed in Brevard and it is always great to visit. I look forward to being there for the homecoming weekend and feel very fortunate.”
George won the national championship in the 2-mile run at the 1980 NJCAA Indoor Track National Championships, while also placing in eighth place in the Mile that same year. Later that spring of 1980, George was named an NJCAA Outdoor Track All-American with a third-place finish in the 5,000 meters.
In his first season at Brevard, George broke the then-record for the fastest time on the BC cross country course and also earned NJCAA Cross Country All-American status. Additionally, he also broke the then-school record in the Outdoor 5,000 meters with a time of 14:26.
Following graduation from BC, George continued his racing career at North Carolina State University. At NCSU, he set then-school records in the 5,000 meters (13:55) and the 3,000 meters (8:02.5).
Today, George works as a new home consultant for Lennar Homes where he is a seven-time winner of the prestigious MAME award given to the top seller of new homes in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina where he resides today.
Jim Hickey ’83 (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Hickey, a four-time All-American performer at Brevard College, was a prolific distance runner at a time when the Tornados were dominant on the national stage under Coach Witek. Hickey was a key member of BC’s national championship teams in Cross Country and the Marathon in 1982 and 1983.
“I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity to become part of the 2024 Brevard College Hall of Fame class,” said Hickey. “I can say with certainty my coaches, my professors, and my life-long friends I made during my time at Brevard provided a foundation that contributed to my college success, but most importantly, my professional and personal life too.”
Over his career at BC, Hickey earned NJCAA All-American honors in Cross Country and the Marathon as well as events in both indoor and outdoor Track & Field.
After graduating from Brevard, Hickey obtained an athletic scholarship at North Carolina State University where he was elected team co-captain as a senior. At NC State, he was a key member of a Wolfpack team that finished ninth at the NCAA Cross Country championships in the school’s first trip to the nationals in program history.
Following graduation from NC State, Hickey became a school teacher and administrator, along with coaching cross country and track. He currently serves as a Principle in the Osceola school district in Florida where he continues to mentor young people. Hickey resides in Rockledge, Florida.
The 2024 class will be inducted into the Brevard College Athletics Hall of Fame on the evening of Friday, October 11 in conjunction with the college’s Distinguished Alumni awards ceremony and as part of BC’s 2024 Homecoming. Stay tuned to bctornados.com for updates and specific information for the event.
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