GENE CHERRY (MEDIA)
Longtime former North Carolina Track and Field Honor Roll compiler and current Reuters reporter who covers track and field extensively. Before the internet became popular, his labor of love was putting together the Honor Roll (the top 10 in each event) for nearly 30 years and getting the Associated Press to send out the weekly list - the only state to do so - so that newspapers across North Carolina could run the list in their papers. It was the only way athletes and coaches knew who the top athletes were in each event around the state, and it was a huge draw for athletes, coaches, family and media.
Gene, who went to Rocky Mount Senior High School and N.C. State, also kept Track & Field News magazine informed about North Carolina's top athletes, faxed and emailed the Honor Roll and meet results to coaches and compiled a statewide coaches directory, all at no charge to anyone.
Internationally, Gene has covered 10 Summer Olympics, all 16 outdoor world track and field championships, many indoor versions and is the only North American on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Press and Media Operations Advisory Group.