Humor, humility and honor highlight 2025 Owen Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony
Jack Slaughter, Roger Brown and Kerner Long reflect a range of excellence
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 4, 2025
Jack Slaughter, left, Kerner Long, center and Roger Brown are introduced, Jan. 31, as the Swannanoa, Black Mountain and C.D. Owens High Schools Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Photo by Fred McCormick
Between warm handshakes, hugs and fond memories from decades of Owen sports, swells of laughter filled the Owen Media Center, Jan. 31, when the Swannanoa, Black Mountain and C.D. Owen High Schools Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed its class of 2025.
The trio of inductees, consisting of coach Jack Slaughter, community supporter Roger Brown and athlete Kerner Long, represented a diverse array of contributions and personalities.
Owen Hall of Fame Committee Chair John Knight, a member of the nonprofit organization that oversees the institution since 2014, welcomed a crowd that included family members of inductees, coaches, faculty and supporters. Principal Dawn Rookey called the class a representation of the “best of our community.”
“It’s a great privilege and honor to celebrate them tonight,” she said. “I have worked with Jack Slaughter for over 20 years, and I love to say I don’t think this school would run without him. Roger Brown, longtime booster club president, has given immeasurable support to our athletic programs, athletes and coaches. Without his voice, there would be no Friday Night Lights. Of course, Kerner Long was a star basketball and football player who went on to play at the collegiate level and bring a lot of glory and honor to this valley. This is a group filled with Valley pride.”
Roger Brown
Roger Brown, who served as the president of the Owen Athletic Booster Club for 15 years, is inducted into the Owen Athletic Hall of Fame, Jan. 31. Photo by Fred McCormick
Brown has long been a familiar face on the campus of his alma mater. The Black Mountain native and graduate of Owen class of 1984, who was presented for enshrinement by retired head football coach Kenny Ford, earned his spot in the hall of fame for his steadfast dedication to local youth sports and high school athletics. Serving for 15 years as the president of the Owen Athletic Booster Club, Brown is also the voice heard at home football and baseball games. He announced high school basketball games and coached the sport for three seasons at Owen Middle School, after serving as little league president for 10 years.
“The booster club’s support, not just for our kids but also the coaches, has been phenomenal,” Ford said, emphasizing the countless hours Brown dedicated to Swannanoa Valley families.
“That’s a lot of time away from your family while taking care of this valley, which he continues to do,” the presenter continued. “There is no telling how much money he’s helped raise to help all of us with things we needed. As a coach, Roger was there constantly when we needed something. To this day, it just takes a call or a walk into Hunters and Treasures and he’s there to help out.”
Brown was humbled by his acceptance into the hall.
“First and foremost I want to say thank you, not for this recognition, but for the opportunity to serve Owen High School,” he said. “It’s an honor and privilege to be right here with Jack Slaughter and Kerner Long.”
Brown credited former coaches and current hall of famers like Bill Burrows, Jim LeVine, Sue Hunnicutt and others for their guidance.
“I learned things about the games, but more importantly, about life,” he said. “Sports teach us more than X’s and O’s, they teach us the fundamentals that help us become successful.”
Facilitating support for the school’s athletic program has given him a chance to pay it forward.
“Many times I’ve been asked why I continue to help here at Owen,” Brown said. “My reply has always been that someone did it for me, and I wanted to be able to do it for someone else.”
Brown’s support has been a crucial piece of the enduring success of the school’s athletic program, according to Ford.
“Winning is hard. Winning is hard,” he said. “But, without folks like Roger Brown, it’s a lot dang harder. So Roger Brown, welcome to the hall of fame.”
Kerner Long
Kerner Long, left, whose multi-sport career at Owen included numerous accolades for football and basketball, thanks his former coach and Owen Athletic Hall of Fame presenter Bill Mott, Jan. 31, during his enshrinement ceremony. Photo by Fred McCormick
Long was a local legend in the making when former Owen teacher and coach Bill Mott, inducted into the hall of fame in 2006, first became aware of his athletic prowess.
“He was in little league and we had to produce his birth certificate so he could play,” said Mott, who presented Long for enshrinement. “He was so good, everybody thought he was 16 years old.”
The young athlete quickly made a name for himself when he first put on a Warhorse football uniform in 1974, winning most valuable player on the freshman football team. Later that year, Long was the starting point guard on a basketball team coached by now-retired UNC head coach Roy Williams.
He excelled in both endeavors.
Long was named All-WNC in both sports as a senior, when he was also a finalist for WNC Player of the Year Award. As a senior quarterback, he led the Warhorses to a 9-1 record.
After graduating in 1977, Long attended Surry Community College, where he helped lead the program to a conference championship. He then transferred to Appalachian State, where he played defensive back for two seasons.
A resident of Washington, D.C., Long returned to the Swannanoa Valley for the ceremony.
“I’ve always been proud of this Valley,” he said. “Everybody here comes together, and Owen High School is the Valley. It’s always had a special place in my heart.”
Long recalled finding confidence amid a tough season.
“My freshman year, we were not good at all. I don’t even know if we won a game,” he said. “But, Coach Mott gave me confidence, and I carried that all the way through high school. He told me, ‘you can do this, and I know you can.’ Having that person in my corner and giving me that got me through my whole high school career.”
As Long came back to his hometown to be recognized as an elite Warhorse athlete, he reflected on the impact of his experiences in the community.
"This valley was all I needed,” he said.
Jack Slaughter
Jack Slaughter, retired Owen High School physical and education teacher and current coach, is inducted into the Owen Athletics Hall of Fame, Jan. 31. Photo by Fred McCormick
A brand new member of the hall of fame is perhaps one of the most recognizable figures at Owen today. Slaughter, who began coaching and teaching at his alma mater in 1996, retired in January of 2024 from his role as physical and health teacher. He will begin his 30th season on the sidelines for the Warhorses later this year.
“I think one of these days there will be a billboard, as you come up the mountain into Buncombe County, of Jack’s face,” said Anthony Lee, retired Owen athletic director, teacher and coach and member of the hall of fame’s class of 2024. “As most of you know, he retired last year, but you guys missed him so much you reenlisted him.”
Slaughter’s contributions to the school and its athletic programs, including laundry services, field and equipment maintenance and instructing, are vital, according to Lee.
“If I asked (assistant principal) Nathan Padgett and Dawn Rookey to give me a list of everything Jack does, they would still be writing it,” he said.
While his dedication to the school earns the respect of his colleagues, Slaughter’s sense of humor is perhaps his most endearing quality.
“Jack, you are a beloved figure at Owen High School,” Lee said. “I had the privilege of working side-by-side with him for over 23 years, and when I say ‘side-by-side,’ I literally mean we shared an office.”
Most days were like a “comedy show,” according to the presenter.
“In my opinion, Jack really missed his calling,” Lee said. “For you older generations, he could have been the perfect Jerry Clower. He could be Roy D. Mercer or Larry the Cable Guy. If you really wanted him to, he could be Richard Pryor.”
The comedy world’s loss, however, proved to be Owen’s gain, he added.
“Jack is a true Warhorse/Workhorse,” Lee said. “He is the kind of guy who sees what needs to be done, and like Larry the Cable Guy, he ‘gits r done.’”
Slaughter, who accepted his nomination to the hall of fame wearing a shirt that read “stolen from Owen football” and his trademark vest, was true to form.
“I got to wondering, do they realize I’m like Forrest Gump’s younger brother?” he said of learning of his induction. “Do they realize one year the only wrestling match I won was when the other team didn’t show up?”
Slaughter wrestled and played football for the Warhorses. He later coached the wrestling program for 15 years. His 20-year career as an assistant softball coach included two state championships, alongside fellow hall of famer and head coach Dean McElrath.
“And, like the best thing I’ve done in football is change over to Tide pods,” he quipped.
His induction into the hall of fame came one year to the day after his retirement.
“I appreciate everybody, and Coach Lee, I will Venmo you the money,” Slaughter joked. “I don’t know what that is, but it’s what the kids are talking about now.”
Slaughter, Long and Brown received a standing ovation from the home fans in the Owen gymnasium when they were introduced at mid-court at halftime of the Warlassies game. The group became the 47th, 48th and 49th members of the Owen Athletics Hall of Fame, as their names and faces were added to the plaque at the entrance of the gym.