In 2009, the family of the late Dickie Noel wanted to recognize outstanding athletes from the Summers County Youth Football League, Summers Middle School football team and Summers County High School football team. The Dickie Noel Heart, Hustle and Character Award was established and the football coaches were asked to select individuals that represented the qualities of the award. The individuals must be a reputable athlete showing leadership, team spirit and good sportsmanship on and off the field, have good moral values, and be an outstanding student. These individuals display a strong work ethic, put others before themselves, maintain good grades, and have no school discipline issues.
For the 2019 Summers County High School football season, Coach Chris Vickers selected senior players Trent Meador and Dylan Hardy as the recipients.
For the 2019 Summers Middle School football season, Coach Justin Pugh selected Brandon Isaac and Bryce Taylor as the recipients.
The award is given in memory of Dickie Noel, a 1982 graduate of Hinton High School. Dickie played football in Summers County Midget League, Hinton Junior High and Hinton High School. He was captain of his high school team. Dickie displayed “Heart, Hustle and Character” every practice and every game. He was selected to the Summers County Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and was inducted posthumously. He is the only player from Hinton High School or Summers County High School to have his football jersey number retired – #41. He went on to play football at Concord College with the same “Heart, Hustle and Character” displayed in high school. He was later sidelined due to a shoulder injury, but he was always there to encourage his teammates.
Dickie also excelled on the baseball field, beginning with the Hinton Little League, where he was selected to the All Stars team and later played in the Senior League Baseball program. He umpired and mentored Hinton Little League baseball in his high school and college years.
He was a 1986 graduate of Concord College with a degree in travel industry management. He was assistant manager of Sam Snead’s Tavern at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA, at the time of his death in September 1988.
Congratulations to Trent and Dylan, Brandon and Bryce! Keep showing your “Heart, Hustle and Character!”
