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Don Baker, Roy Krege & Cindy Peters Inducted Into 2014 Martha Guy Hall of Legends in Avery Country

Krege
Roy Krege speaks before those in attendance at the Hall of Legends induction ceremony. Krege was honored for stewardship. Photo by Ron Johnson / Banner Elk Magazine

By Jesse Wood

Aug. 11, 2014. Three Avery County citizens were inducted into the Martha Guy Hall of Legends over the weekend: Don Baker for education, Roy Krege for stewardship and Cindy Peters for heritage.

The Hall of Legends is now in its third year of recognizing outstanding citizens of Avery County. The event was held at the Williams YMCA’s Chapman Center in Linville on Sunday and catered by Carolina Barbeque in Newland.

“The event was wonderful,” Nancy Morrison, a committee member of the Hall of Legends, said. “It was very well attended, a fun event with lots of humor and a bit of roasting and ribbing each other.”

Morrison mentioned that Avery County Schools Supt. David Burleson spoke about the significance of the Hall of Legends and that the 2014 recipients received the award for their great integrity, character and enthusiasm.

Krege is well known as the human mascot of the Woolly Worm Festival because he dresses up in a woolly worm outfit for each every festival. But Morrison said that Krege is “everywhere you need him.”

“He’s has spent many years in Avery County being a goodwill ambassador,” Morrison said. “The man is wonderful. He does all these things nobody knows about … If there is an auction for some sort of charitable cause, he’s there. He’s everywhere doing everything he can do for Avery County.”

Peters received recognition for her work with the Avery County Historical Museum and Historical Society. Peters was instrumental in securing funding and rescuing the Tweetsie Railroad depot in Linville by moving it to the museum in Newland. She was also among the creators of the Avery County Heritage Festival.

“In general, Cindy has helped in preserving the history and genealogy of Avery County,” Morrison said.

Baker spent decades at Lees-McRae College. Morrison said Baker was instrumental in creating the Fred I. Dickerson Athletics Hall of Fame – of which Baker was also inducted into in 2004. Baker graduated from LMC in 1957.

“At various times between 1960 and 1995, Baker served the college as tennis coach, director of public relations, director of alumni affairs, admissions recruiter, dean of men, school photographer, yearbook advisor, instructor of art appreciation and athletic director,” a biography of Baker reads on the LMC athletics website.

“He’s done an awful lot for the county,” Morrison said.

In 2012, John Blackburn, Addie Barrier, Tommy Burleson, Bertie Burleson, Sam Ray, Sam Cartner, Rachel Deal, Martha Guy, Sherman Pritchard and Juanita Shomaker were the inaugural class of Hall of Legends.

In 2013, Dr. Bill Tate and Jack Wiseman were inducted.

Don Baker
Don Baker, honored for education, spent decades at Lees-McRae College performing various roles. Photo by Ron Johnson / Banner Elk Magazine
Peters
Cindy Peters, recognized for preserving the heritage of Avery County, poses with her fellow colleague Tense Banks, who introduced Peters at the awards ceremony. Photo by Ron Johnson / Banner Elk Magazine