Senator Marshall A. Rauch was a non-combatant but one who supported boxing, youth and the aged. His work with the YMCA, the Gaston and Salvation Army Boys Club, Red Shield Boys Club, and The Carolinas AAU exemplifies his caring for youth and assisting them to become contributors to society by being good citizens. This is one of his attributes I admire most. Marshall was Tournament Director for the Gaston Golden Gloves for 17 years.  He went from Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Gastonia in 1952 to Senator of the 25th District in 1967. The road is laden with service on committees that benefited the City of Gastonia and the State of North Carolina. To name a few: Chairman of the Gaston Human Relations Committee, Governor's Good Neighbor Council, he was a Big Brother, Director of the Gastonia YMCA and later President of the YMCA,  Director of the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce, a Duke University grad (class of 1947), and a U.S. Army Veteran.

He was an amateur champion having fought 114 bouts and losing only 3. These three losses were later avenged in later bouts. In 1947 he won the Southern Conference Heavyweight Championship. In 1948 he won the same title. In 1950 he was Most Outstanding Boxer at the Southern Intercollegiate Boxing Tournament.  He captained the Citadel Football and Boxing teams and was a member of the Citadel Athletic Hall of Fame. He was Boxing Commissioner in Charleston County for 15 years.    In 1950 he was selected for the "Who's Who" in American Universities and Colleges. Now serving on the Committee for the Hibernian Society in Charleston, S.C., he is also a member of the Board of Directors and has served as President and Vice President of the Executive Association of Greater Charleston.  He has been nominated to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

At the peak of Billy D. Short's career, Ring Magazine picked him, a bantamweight out of Charlotte, as its prospect of the month. He definitely had a great future mapped out in boxing after fighting in Madison Square Garden twice. He represented Charlotte in New York City five times, reached the National Golden Gloves Tournament semifinals once and the quarterfinals once. Short turned professional in 1952 and continued to have the same success he had experience in amateur boxing. He fought Pappy Gault, then North American Featherweight Champion, a ring-wise old pro. Gault had narrowly lost by decision a fight the month before for the world championship in South Africa. The fight should have been a pushover for Gault, but Short had other ideas. Short matched Gault punch for punch and walked away with a draw.

Charlie Lee Ferguson was a true graduate of the school of hard knocks that ended up being a success. Charlie's father died when he was nine years old which left him to fend for himself. He soon found out one had to be tough living in the North Charlotte area during those times. Charlie began boxing at the age of thirteen for the YMCA, the Red Shield Boys Club and later at Old Tech High. Charlie was invited to join Tech's Boxing Team because they needed a 95 pounder. Charlie has had better than 200 fights, both amateur and professional combined. Most old timers will recall boxing was at great heights in the late 40s and early 50s. There were so many entries one had to fight six days straight which Charlie had to do on two occasions in the tournaments.  Charlie was frequently called Mr. Excitement because he never fought a dull fight and displayed plenty of "guts." Charlie took the same competitive spirit into business and made a success. Charlie attributes his success to God and boxing.  He is a member of the Mecklenburg Jaycees, the YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, a 32 Degree Mason, a Shriner and a member of Hickory Grove Church. Mr. 'Excitement' was often identified as a God fearing individual, family man and humanitarian. Charlie will always be a champion as long as he has God and family in his corner.

Kenneth "Chick" McCurry began boxing in 1952-53 with 40 wins and 4 losses and won the Novice Championship in Charlotte in 1953. He joined the Marines boxing at Paris Island, Quantico, and Camp Lejeune winning 40 fights and losing 5. He turned professional in 1956 and quit with a record of 10 wins and 3 losses. Handled by Angelo Dundee who handled Sugar Ray Leonard and many other outstanding boxers, Chick has coached boxing in Lincolnton since 1970, and his "wards" have won 4 national titles and 3 runner-ups.  "When a kid couldn't play football or basketball and turns to boxing, he learns self respect and respect for the other person. Discipline combats crime, drugs and you're looking at a good future citizen. This is what keeps me interested in boxing as it helps our youth which is our future."

George "Duck" Diehl  was a combatant who boxed at Central High School from 1933-35 and was captain of the boxing team in his senior year. "Duck" had an outstanding record as a Featherweight going a couple of years without a defeat. "Duck's"  record is difficult to recall. He reached the State finals in Chapel Hill in 1936 and boxed seven times in eight days. He was a member of the YMCA Boxing Team from 1936-39. He boxed in the first Golden Gloves and reached the state finals four times.  "Duck" has served as Director of the Golden Gloves and has refereed for 34 consecutive years. He is a World War II vet who served in the 15th Air Force. He is Chairman of the Usher Board at St. John's Baptist Church and is serving on a committee at the Central YMCA for Youth Development. He is retired from Smith Barney after 50 years of service.