PEMBROKE — The nomination period for the Robeson County Hall of Fame has been extended until Jan. 9.

The nominations committee will convene Jan. 12 to make its selections, and announce the nominees during the week between the NFL Conference Championships and the Super Bowl.

Those who would like to make a nomination can download a form from the Web site http://www.angelelitesports.com, or may call Abdul Ghaffar at (910) 671-7827 to have a form mailed to them.

Ghaffar said the extension was given to allow people who were unaware of the deadline or were caught up in the holiday season a chance to have their voice heard.

The Hall of Fame's first year class included three baseball players, four basketball players, two football players, one track and field athlete, one sports writer and one baseball and basketball coach.

Joe Brisson played minor league baseball and coached recreation league sports in St. Pauls for over 40 years. Gene Locklear played five major league seasons, including time with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. Dwight Lowry played baseball at North Carolina in college, and won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers.

Tom Cope graduated from Duke in 1933 and was known as 'Mr. Baseball' while covering the game in Red Springs. Rod Griffin played college basketball at Wake Forest and had his jersey retired as a Demon Deacon. Regina Miller won a state championship as a player at Parkton in 1980 and won a national championship the next year at Louisburg.

Eva Patterson-Heath played and coached basketball at Red Springs, and won her 500th game in the 2008-09 season. She now coaches at Fayetteville State. Ned Sampson played basketball, football and baseball, and coached basketball at Pembroke High. Lee McRae ran track at West Robeson and the University of Pittsburgh, winning a gold medal at the 1987 Pan American Games.

Nicky McKeithan played three sports at Lumberton High and played football at Duke. Donnell Thompson also played football at Lumberton and was an all-ACC defensive lineman at North Carolina. Bob Van Hoy coached basketball and baseball at Red Springs.