Fort Mill school district 2019 Hall of Fame members. Here’s 5 people to know
Five new members have been added to the Fort Mill school district’s Hall of Fame.
Established in 2016, the Hall of Fame honors Fort mill graduates and community members who have made significant contributions to the district, state or nation, a release states.
The 2019 class includes Charlotte Adkins, Bob Jones, Sue Jones, Robert Crockett “Daddy” Potts and Rudy Sanders. The new Hall of Fame members were honored during a ceremony Tuesday.
Adkins graduated from Fort Mill High School in 1961 and taught in Fort Mill schools for 20 years, a release from the district states. She also taught in North Carolina.
Adkins retired after 46 years of teaching, 36 of which were in Fort Mill schools.
“I am humbled because I stand on the shoulders of so many great teachers and principals that came before me,” Adkins said. “The students that I teach have touched so many places in the world. That’s just so rewarding to be a part of that.”
Adkins still visits Fort Mill schools with the Fort Mill History Museum’s trunk show. She shares the area’s history with third and eighth grade students.
“We’re very proud of our history. We have so many newcomers and we want this to be their history too,” she said.
Bob Jones marked his career in Fort Mill as a teacher, coach and athletic director. He also served as principal of Fort Mill High School. Jones served for multiple terms on the Fort Mill school board.
Jones created the girls track program as a coach. The Fort Mill High School stadium is named in his honor, according to the district.
Sue Jones, who was married to Bob, earned an undergraduate degree from Appalachian State and a master’s from Winthrop University, according to the Fort Mill school district. Before joining Fort Mill, Jones taught in Charlotte.
Jones, who taught in Fort Mill for 20 years, started the elementary physical education program at A.O. Jones and an elementary swimming program, according to the district. Jones also volunteered at the Fort Mill Care Center.
Bob and Sue are no longer living. Their daughter Annette Chinchilla accepted their honor.
Chinchilla said everything her parents did related back to family.
“For both of them, family is important, but also looking out for those folks who may not have what they need,” she said.
Chinchilla said she was glad her parents were honored together.
“I truly thank you for having them both in there together because everybody knows Sue does not go anywhere without Bob,” Chinchilla said.
“Daddy” Potts is the first Fort Mill football player to go pro, The Herald previously reported.
Potts is thought to have attended Central School built in 1910, later to be known as Carothers School, The Herald previously reported. He graduated in 1915 and attended Clemson, where he helped lead the Tigers to a 20-12-2 record. With Potts on the team, Clemson also won multiple state championships and went undefeated against South Carolina.
After Clemson, Potts was invited to play for the Frankford Yellow Jackets,. a precursor to the Philadelphia Eagles, The Herald previously reported.
Potts’ grandson Brian Bates shared stories of his idol with those at Tuesday’s ceremony. He said “Daddy” not only did great things on and off the football field, but left a legacy of doing the right thing.
“He was a loving and faithful husband, father and grandfather. He was a natural born leader,” Bates said. “His mere presence somehow brought a feeling of calm and total control over any situation.”
Bates, 53, has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps. He also graduated from Clemson, played football and is a civil engineer.
Bates said that although many Fort Mill residents didn’t know his grandfather, his place in the district’s Hall of Fame is well deserved.
“We’re here today to honor a man that most of you never heard of, however we are here today to honor a man worth honoring,” Bates said. “We’re here to remember a man worth remembering.”
Sanders graduated from George Fish School, one of the first schools in Fort Mill for African-American children. After graduation, Sanders joined the Armed Forces and served in Vietnam, according to the school district.
Sanders attended Manhattan Technical Institute and City College of New York, the release states. He lived in New York for more than 20 years before moving back to South Carolina in 2003.
Sanders joined fellow George Fish alumni in 2006 and 2007 in creating a monument to George Fish School. He worked with a Nation Ford High School student to add a historic marker at the site, according to the school district.
Sanders also helped open the Fort Mill History Museum and assisted the Paradise community in applying for community development block grants, the release states.
Sanders said he continues in the footsteps of those who came before him. They include his grandfather, John Samuel Sanders Sr., who was a community leader and spokesman for the Paradise community. Sanders Street in Fort Mill is named for him.
“I humbly accept the honor with gratitude and tribute to those pioneers of yesteryears,” Sanders said. “It is in tribute to those who had so little but gave back so much that I am a product of their contributions.”
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 9:13 AM.
