A Brief History of the Raleigh Sports Club

It all began on January 22, 1964 when twelve people interested in promoting and supporting athletics within the city of Raleigh met and organized our club. The charter members were: Al Ballard, Lou Bello, Duma Bledsoe, Jimmie Chambers, J.E. Cotton, Willie Duke, Charles Gesino, Art Ingram, Earl T. Jones, Jim Lewis, Al Proctor, and Al Wadford.

Officers and board members were elected at the next meeting, the current name was selected the following month, and a schedule of twice monthly buffet luncheons was soon established. The move to Ballantine’s in Cameron Village came in 1965 and provided the club’s home base for more than 30 years. Famous early speakers included former heavyweight boxing champ, Ezzard Charles, legendary Wake Forest coach Peahead Walker, Red Grange, Otto Graham, and Stan Musial. In its second year, the club had grown to more than 100 members, meetings moved to weekly on Wednesdays, the custom of honoring outstanding local high school student-athletes was begun, and an annual end of season banquet was established which was called “Ladies Night” to encourage members to bring their spouses.