Beginning his career in 1938, Glenn M. McCrary went on to compile a record of 101 wins against just four defeats. He was never beaten in a Golden Gloves tournament in the Carolinas, Virginia or anywhere in the South. He did lose twice in NYC at the national finals. McCrary didn't lose a bout in four years as a member of the U.S. Navy boxing team either. He lost a match in high school and a YMCA fight, but later avenged both those losses. Described by his coach Tresco Johnson as a "brilliant" fighter, McCrary was knocked down just one time. That knockdown came at the hands of Frankie Donato in 1940 at the national finals in New York. Donato, a Philadelphian, won the decision by one point and went on to become the champion of the weight class. The late Jake Wade, a sports writer of prominence, always considered McCrary among the best boxers ever to come out of the South.  Born in Florence in 1923, McCrary has lived in New York, West Jefferson, N.C. and Florida.

Born in Gaffney, S.C. in 1945, Lee Medley began boxing at the tender age of seven. Before he was through he had participated in over 200 fights, losing just nine, with 150 knockouts. Medley won 36 Golden Gloves championships and represented the Carolinas in the National Golden Gloves in Chicago, where he was runner-up to champion Terry Pearson. All his accomplishments came before the age of 17.   Many times he boxed men as much as 14 years his senior. His coach Roy Turner regarded Medley as a hard worker who loved boxing. He played high school football, wrestled and was a member of the track team. Medley also played semi-pro football.  He is active in his church and has received two community service awards, as well as spending time coaching boxing and other sports in his community. Medley has served on the Cherokee County Sports Commission. He was a pipe fitter, welder and boilermaker at Hoechst in Spartanburg for 37 years.

Rickey Ballenger has been called the best boxer to ever come from upper South Carolina. Ballenger, who died in an industrial accident in 1978, won over 200 matches as an amateur and lost 11.  He compiled a professional record of 4-1. Ballenger was a classy boxer with a devastating punch. In the days when military fighters made short work of locals in the Carolinas Golden Gloves in Charlotte, he beat Art Redden, the defending light-heavyweight champion and one of the best. Ballenger began boxing at an early age as did many Gaffney youngsters coached by Roy Turner. He won tournaments all over the South, including the Carolinas Golden Gloves five times. While serving in the U.S. Army, he won the All Army and All Service titles. He held the S.C. heavyweight championship for several years and lost to Jimmy Ellis in the Olympic trials in 1968.   Gaffney residents view Ballenger as a legend. Upon his untimely death, he left a brother, Mike, also a fine boxer, sisters, Donna and Sarah, a daughter, Mrs. Shannon Blanton, and a granddaughter, Magen Blanton.

Born in 1946 in Sumter, S.C., Edward Hudson took up boxing at an early age. Before he was through he compiled an impressive amateur record of 108-12, winning tournaments in both Carolinas. He represented the Carolinas in Chicago after winning the Charlotte tournament in 1964. After turning professional, Hudson compiled a 19-2-1 record. He was selected as one of Ring Magazine's "Prospects of the Month"  during his pro career. A heavy puncher with good ring instincts, Hudson had a streak of 32 consecutive wins at one point in his career.  Hudson, a former Navy man, coached boxing in Sumter for several years. He retired from Georgia Pacific after 25 years and now works in property development.

Were it not for a love of coaching youngsters and WWI, Matty Matthews might have become a major league baseball player. He played in the minor leagues for several years, and some say he was big league material. Matthews was born on Feb. 14, 1889. He began boxing in the Army in 1917. After giving up baseball and his work as a stock broker telegrapher, he became the boxing, baseball and track coach at The Citadel in 1926. He remained on the job for 47 years. As a boxing coach, his team won the Southern Conference title in 1941 and 1948. During his Citadel career, he coached Golden Gloves teams as well. Several of his proteges are members of the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame, including Burke Watson, Gunther Ohlandt, Jr., Louis Lempesis, and Harry Hitopoulos. He served as Charleston Boxing Commissioner for a time was known and loved for the advice and guidance he was always willing to share with young athletes. His boxers were known throughout the South as "Mattymen." They knew little of his baseball prowess. They remember him as the best coach who ever showed a kid how to feint with his left.  He and his wife Elsa reared four children. Matty died of a heart attack in 1975 as he worked at one of his hobbies, gardening.

Reggie Martin was born in Gaffney, SC in 1942. He began boxing in 1954 with the Gaffney team. There, he built a record of 61-12-1. The hard punching youngster was noted for his persistence, and put in the hard work to develop the self-confidence necessary to become a consistent winner.   Martin won many Golden Gloves Championships in both North and South Carolina and was co-winner of the Cherokee County, SC Best Athlete Award in 1956 & 1957. In 1958 he was crowned open bantamweight champion of North and South Carolina at the Carolinas Golden Gloves in Charlotte, NC. From there he would represent the Carolinas at the National Golden Gloves Finals in New York City. There he would loose a hairline decision to Ohio Champion, Julio Ruiz. Martin's coach, Roy Turner, called him "a good boy in and out of the ring".  The likeable Martin graduated from Limestone College, where he served as president of the men students, and was selected to Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges. He was also a member of the Limestone College Hall of Fame in 1966, and was chosen to be in the 1971 Outstanding Young Men of America.  Father of two, Bryan and Susan, and Grandfather of four, Kendal, Michael, Caleb and Seth, Martin is currently a sales representative with Vaughn Belting in Spartanburg, SC. In 2005, Martin was inducted into the Carolinas Boxing Hall of Fame and in 2007, began serving on the board of directors.

Known as "perpetual Motion Morrison," Don Morrison was one of the best service boxers to step into the ring. A career Air Force man, he won tournaments in Japan, Korea and in Europe. Morrison was U.S. Air Force Far East Champion in 1954, as well as Pacific and European champion during his 20-year military career. He participated in over 200 matches with just a handful of losses. During his time as a Sumter Optimist Club team member he was undefeated. Morrison won the Charleston Golden Gloves in 1957, the Jacksonville Golden Gloves the same year and was a Florida AAU champion. He won the Eastern Bantamweight crown in NYC in 1957 as a member of the U.S. Air Force. One of the boxers he defeated was Mount Holly's Max Davis.  Morrison continues to coach boxing and is involved in property development in Sumter. Born in Providence, R.I. in 1929, Morrison and his wife June have lived in Sumter most of their lives. They are the parents of five children.