Paul Carpenter: (1981 – 1985) Paul ran cross country and track all four years that he was at Roberson High School. In cross country, Paul finished no lower than 12th overall in the state championship meet with all classifications running together. In his junior year, Paul led his cross country team to its first state championship, which was all classifications running together. In his senior year, Paul was the individual state champion in cross country, again with all classifications running together. In track, he set the school record in the 1600 meter run with a time of 4:16. This time remains a school record for the 1600 meter run. He again won the state championship in the 3200 meter run with a time of 9:11, which also remains as the state championship meet record today. During the season, Paul set the school record in the 3200 meter run with a time of 9:09, which remains the school record in that event today. Paul attended Brevard College, where he was a 4-time All American. He led his cross country team to its 5 th National Championship in 1985. He earned a full scholarship to NC State University. Paul’s athletic career was cut short by a chronic illness, and he transferred to Appalachian State University where he graduated with a degree in Parks and Recreation Administration. Paul lives in Arden.
Cameron Maybin: (2001 – 2005) Cameron played baseball for all four years that he was at Roberson High School. He also played varsity basketball for three years. In Cameron’s freshman year, his baseball team won the 3-A State Championship and Cameron was named the Most Valuable Player of the State Championship series. He was a 3-time All-Conference selection. He was Player of the Year in the conference his junior and senior years. He also was selected as the Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina for both his junior and senior years. He was the Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year in North Carolina his senior year. Also in his senior year, Cameron was a 1st team Louisville Slugger High School All American and 1 st team High School All American by Baseball America writers. He received the Mountain Amateur Club award as the Most Outstanding 3A/4A Male Athlete after his senior year. As a high school baseball player, Cameron accumulated some astounding statistics. In his junior year, he batted .500 and scored 53 runs with 13 home runs, 31 RBI’s and 20 stolen bases. In his senior year, he batted .662, scored 66 runs, had 15 home runs, 37 RBI’s and 32 for 32 stolen bases. His 41 career home runs, 133 RBI’s and 70 for 71 stolen bases are school records. Following graduation in 2005, Cameron was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as the 2nd high school player drafted that year and the 10th overall draft pick in that year’s draft. He earned Player of the Year honors in 2006 in the Midwest League with the Tigers. In 2007, Cameron made his major league debut and recorded his first major league hit and home run off Roger Clemons and the New York Yankees. In 2008, Cameron joined the Florida Marlins organization and had 4 hits in his first major league game with the Marlins. He was on the opening day roster of the Marlins in 2009. Cameron was traded to the San Diego Padres for the 2011 season and was team MVP. He played through injuries while in San Diego and was traded to the Atlanta Braves for the 2015 season where he had an outstanding year. Following the 2015 season, Cameron was traded to the Detroit Tigers where he looks forward to continuing his career as their opening day center-fielder. Cameron continues to call Arden, NC his home.
Linda Owenby: (1989 – 2012) Linda has been the official score-keeper for both JV and Varsity boys and girls basketball for 23 years. Prior to her work at Roberson, she was the official score-keeper for Valley Springs Middle School teams. When varsity and JV games were played at opposite sites, Linda was at the scorer’s table for varsity games. When all four games began being played at the same site, she was there for all four games, many days arriving before 4:00 games and not leaving the gym until well after 10:00 pm. Her dedication to her duties was only surpassed by the expertise of her work. At home games, every coach and official could rely on the accuracy of her record- keeping. At away games, she often became the unofficial, “official” score-keeper because of her experience, knowledge of her craft and her accuracy. Several times, she was asked to be the official score-keeper at conference and sectional tournaments. As accurate and dependable as she was, it is the dedication to her duties that really stands out. She traveled at her own expense to the away games. Our coaches truly cannot recall a game that she missed! Linda became a fixture at the scorer’s table. She became a “mom” to the players, coaches and even the opposing team’s personnel. She could always be counted on the have her bag of candy available at the scorer’s table for all to enjoy. Her loyalty and dedication to Roberson High School, the coaches, players, staff, officials and the games themselves are what separate Linda from others in this role. Linda is a “family-first” mother and grandmother. She helped coach her son and daughter’s teams at Valley Springs Middle School and the youth leagues. When her grandchildren began playing basketball at Rugby Middle School, she became the scorekeeper for their teams there. She began to keep score for games at West Henderson to continue to be near her grandchildren. She truly exemplifies the genuine characteristics of a dedicated and loyal volunteer. Linda lives in Mills River and is an active member of her church. Her life continues to revolve around her children and grandchildren!
Fred Park: (1992 – 2010) Coach Park served as the Athletic Director at Roberson High School for 17 years. He also coached JV football and varsity softball. As softball coach, Coach Park led the transition from slow-pitch to fast-pitch. His first fast-pitch team made the state playoffs for the first time in many years and started a string of consecutive playoff appearances that continues to the present. During his tenure as Athletic Director, Roberson won over two hundred conference, sectional and regional championships. Roberson teams won 26 individual and team state championships during this time. Roberson also won the Boyd Allen, then re-named the Wachovia Trophy, for the best overall athletic program in the Mountain Athletic Conference for 17 consecutive years. Roberson also won the Wachovia Cup for the best overall athletic program in the state for the AAA classification four of the years that Coach Park served as the Athletic Director. During his tenure at Roberson, Coach Park served as the Executive Secretary of the Mountain Athletic Conference. He was recognized as the Athletic Director of the Year by several organizations, including the NCHSAA Region 9, WNC Officials Association and the NC Soccer Coaches Association. Coach Park rarely missed any home athletic event and attended many of the away events as well. Following retirement from Roberson, Coach Park continues to serve the athletic department as chair of the Ring of Gold committee, PA announcer for home baseball games and volunteer at other events that TCR hosts. Coach Park is active in his church, serving as Council member and congregation President. He currently works for Young Transportation but will be retiring from full-time work there in the Spring of 2016. He and his wife, Renee, live in Arden.
David Smith: (1967 – 1971) David played basketball all four years that he was at Roberson High School. He was the team MVP his junior and senior years, leading Roberson in scoring both years. He was selected to play in the Blue-White All Star game following his senior year and selected as team captain. David received a scholarship to play basketball at the University of South Carolina, Lancastor where he averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds per game in his sophomore year. David finished his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina University where he earned a degree in Education. He returned to the Arden area where he taught and coached at East Henderson High School for three years. He left education to open his own business, ImageSmith, a printing and marketing company, which he and his wife, Mary have continued to operate for the past 32 years. All of David’s four children, Monica, Patricia, Thomas and Michael attended Roberson High School and played varsity basketball for Roberson. David has always been, and continues to be, a very active member of the Arden community over the past 30 years, coaching youth basketball, serving on many non-profit boards as well as various councils at his church.