Embedded Files
Paul Cooper Sr., Heather Early Rumley, Bob Ferrell, Barry Reese, Don Staley, Paul Wilder Sr.
Paul Cooper, Sr. (Principal, 1948-1967): Cooper Field was named in Mr. Cooper's honor and dedicated Sept. 15, 1961, the year after the school moved to the Walnut Street campus. In some ways, Cooper's tenure marked the transition to the modern Cary High, with Wake County firsts ranging from integration to establishment of a marching band. A Wake Forest College graduate whose many accomplishments stretched beyond the school to things like being chosen Cary Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Mr. Cooper was known for supporting student involvement of all kinds, including sports.
Named an honorary lifetime member of the Imp Club, Cooper was principal in the post-World War II years and when Cary won state titles in boys basketball and football, as well as eight conference titles in those sports alone. "He was Mr. Cary High School for so many years," a nominator wrote, praising Cooper for everything from motivation to resourcefulness and planning. "He did things for the athletic program at a time when things were difficult to do. He helped bring Cary from a so-so athletic program to one of the best in the state..." Cooper, who died in 1978, is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery not far from his original Cary High campus, now Cary Elementary. His family has presented an annual award to a graduating senior recognized for character, leadership and ability.
Bob Ferrell (Class of '63): Mr. Ferrell lettered all four years in track and football, plus two years in basketball and one in wrestling. He served as president of the school's Varsity Club and as a senior in 1962-63 he was the school's Athlete of the Yar. In football, the tackle and placekicker served as one of the team's captains as he earned all-conference and All-Eastern honors, and played in the Boys Home North-South All Star Football game. The Imps were conference champs during his tenure.
Bob held school and conference records in shot put, later earning the school mark at Elon College,which he attended on a football scholarship. He graduated from Elon in 1967 with four letters each in track and football. Now a Virginia resident, he has a long list of involvement with his church and community groups like the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Little League and YMCA, and has been a high school football official.
Barry Reese (Class of '86): Barry put together a long list of honors as a Cary wrestler and football linebacker, including all-state in wrestling (state runner-up as a senior with a 32-2 record), Wake County wrestler of the Year, Cary High Most Valuable Wrestler and Cary High Most Valuable Football Player. In football, Mr. Reese served as team captain and he remains one of the top wrestlers ever at a school that has seen many.
"He was a great representative of Cary athletes," a nominator wrote. Mr. Reese graduated from East Carolina in 1991, and has supported the Imps over the years as an assistant in the wrestling program and as an advertiser in the programs. His community involvement has ranged from the American Diabetes Association to Wake County Special Olympics.
Heather Early Rumley (Class of '93): Another multi-sport threat, Heather was an all-conference, all-region and all-state player as a forward on the basketball team that won Cary's first girls state title in 1993. In the championship victory over Morganton Freedom at Carmichael Auditorium in Chapel Hill, Early notched 16 points and nine rebounds as Cary ended the year 29-1. She was the team's MVP in 1992. In softball, the four-year starter was named team MVP for two years, conference player of the year for two years and an all-state pick; she also played for the local Cary Softball Club.
Ms. Rumley, who attended NC State, lives in Rocky Mount. She served for a time as a volunteer coach in the Cary parks and rec program. A committed, talented athlete, her "greatest qualities were her passion for the game and her compassion for her teammates," a nominator wrote, calling her a well-respected role model and an ambassador for Cary High.
Don Staley (Coach): After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he played baseball, and spending a year at another school, Coach Staley came to Cary in 1969. He remained for 16 years, coaching baseball throughout and at times serving as head football coach, junior varsity basketball coach, junior varsity football coach, assistant football coach and athletics director. He earned county coach of the year honors in both baseball and football, took baseball teams to four state tournaments and two league titles, and started one of the area's first jayvee baseball programs.
Under Coach Staley, the Imps became one of the area's first teams to have a lighted facility. His 1983 Cap-Eight co-champion football squad went to the state playoffs. A physical education teacher, Mr. Staley earned his master's and became a Cary assistant principal; since 1990 he has continued his impact on young people in that role at Martin Middle School in Raleigh.
Paul Wilder, Sr. (Volunteer): Mr. Wilder did not attend Cary High and hasn't had a child here for several years. But since 1992, he has been one of the Imps' MVVs - Most Valuable Volunteers. He has helped with field maintenance and improvements, practice facility improvements, equipment upgrades and fundraising in a range of ways.
Mr. Wilder's contributions to Cary's baseball program included installation and drainage of an irrigation system; construction of the "greenhouse" covering the batting cage and renovation of the cage; seeding, sprigging and laying Bermuda grass on the field; donating and applying fertilizer; installing an outfield fence; erecting 40-foot foul ball towers; loaning a tractor, aerator, lawn mowers and employees for field work; and buying tarps, oil dry and dozens of baseballs. His annual barbecues have continued to raise thousands of dollars for Cary athletes.
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