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Trio had impact on local sports community



In all probability, life’s paths never crossed for Connor Vick, Randy Strickland and Bill Hooks.
But death for each came within days, if not hours, of one another last month.
And all had their day on the community sports scene. Each left his impact.
They wandered in my direction and frequently drew my attention during the early years of my association of well over 30 years with The Wilson Daily Times sports department.
Remember the big-time atmosphere of Fike football in the early 1970s? Vick was behind that in prominent fashion.
Strickland left an imposing athletic legacy at Wilson Christian Academy and was a respected, admired performer on the slo-pitch softball diamond.
Hooks was the essence of a competitor — whether on the golf course or dealing the pasteboards. Failing vision didn’t halt his passion for either.
Lifetimes for Hooks and Vick exceeded 80 years. Strickland, who suffered the first of four heart attacks at age 27, was in his early 50s.

 



CONNOR VICK
Vick was committed as president of the Fike Athletic Boosters Club, but his status as the authority on Cyclone, later Titan fo
otball, knew no limits.
His sentences were short and his tone assertive. Vick, a CPA by profession, could either provide the needed information or locate viable sources.
Vick was prone to name-drop, but he was the driving force in the days when the boosters met every week in banquet-style and reviewed football occurrences from the previous week.
He rarely smiled and often scowled. He scrutinized and quizzed. No doubt, head coach Bob Paroli remembers the tough questions Vick asked him during those Monday-night functions.
But he got things done and originated events of immense magnitude.
Vick never accepted the credit but was primarily responsible for attracting Lou Holtz, then N.C. State University’s head football coach, as the featured speaker for Fike’s football banquet.
He also involved himself in other community sports, tennis in particular.
Vick never provided me the opportunity to forgive him for persuading me to spend my July 4th at the Independence Day tennis tournament in a capacity I can’t recollect.
There I was in white shirt, white shorts (yes, shorts) and no hat — with not a cloud in the sky and the temperature soaring above 100. I went home an ill, well-done Ham.
How did I ever let him talk me into that obligation? But Vick was that persuasive and influential.
Out of the clear blue, he would pop into the office morning after morning. Now, all of a sudden, he’s gone.

 

RANDY STRICKLAND
Strickland excelled in football, baseball and basketball at Wilson Christian, reportedly establishing standards that still exist.
Word is that Strickland, the late Tyras Perry, Logan Liles and Ronnie Earl Davis formed quite a formidable Chargers’ quartet.
Davis, now a minister, preached his teammate’s funeral.
But arguably more vivid are Strickland’s exploits on the softball diamond.
A shortstop who later moved to third base, Strickland could hit with power but developed a rep
utation for being a premier clutch hitter.
“He was the best around here,” said former teammate Ronnie Wells. “If you wanted somebody to hit the ball with two outs and the winning run at second or third base, you wanted him up there. He would go right back up the middle.
“Randy was a natural athlete. He was strong, could run and could hit with power. He was as good as there was in Wilson.”
The softball career for this quiet-spoken, firm-jawed competitor peaked after his first heart attack. Strickland leaves the scene far too early after losing a lengthy battle with cancer.

 

BILL HOOKS
Compete against Hooks in handicap-allowed golf events such as Member-Member and Member-Guest tournaments, and you were in trouble. He thrived in those situations.
His game didn’t intimidate until he reached the green and wielded his putter.
Whether the game was bridge, gin, hearts, spades or poker, Hooks found immense enjoyment in all of them. In his later years, Hooks lived for rainy days and card games at Willow Springs Country Club.
He was often my partner as well as my opponent on the golf course. Ditto for card games.
Hooks played each card game with a particular style that identified him and also left him a marked individual with irked opponents. He never ceased to command their respect.
Despite failing vision, Hooks continued to drive his car to the course and play golf a few times each week until a couple years ago. The cards with the big numbers and suit symbols kept him in the game a few more years.
Sincerest condolescences to families, friends and loved ones of three individuals who left quite an impression on this writer and prompt, pleasant memories of the fast-passing, early days at The WDT.

 

hammer@wilsontimes.com

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