North Carolina joins the NHPAWith the backing of Ralph and the NHPA, Randall proceded to take the necessary steps for North Carolina to join the NHPA. In the winter of 1958, twenty local Pitchers from the Winston-Salem area voted on and passed a resolution to become the 38th Charter of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association. On August 22, 1959 they held the first State meeting at what is now called the Randall Jones Horseshoe Courts in Miller Park. During this meeting the first full slate of Officers for what is now the NC-HPA were elected. Walter King was elected the Charters first President. John Corns was elected as the 1st Vice President. Randall Jones was elected as Secretary / Treasurer. From these modest roots, with 20 local Pitchers in Central North Carolina, the NC-HPA has spread out in all directions to cover the entire State from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Beaches of the Atlantic Ocean with a present membership of 185 and growing. Only 20 years later, in 1979 and again in 1983 the NHPA held its' highest ranking tournament, the World Tournament in Statesville, about 40 miles from where this historic meeting first took place. |