Steve Culbertson's story is a testament to how a lifelong passion for sports can shape a community legacy. The Gastonia native, whose journey began on local youth fields, is set for induction into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame, honoring his decades of contribution as a player, coach, and official.
For Culbertson, it all started with a simple childhood desire in Gastonia. "When I grew up in Gastonia, sports was everywhere and I wanted to be a part of it," he recalls. That early spark ignited a remarkable athletic path.
He first made his mark as a star running back for the Gastonia Young Men's Business Club's Little Orangemen Pop Warner team. His trajectory was profoundly influenced by legendary youth coaches and fellow Hall of Famers Earl Groves and Bennie Cunningham, who steered him toward a championship destiny. Under their guidance, Culbertson starred as the halfback for the 1960 Pop Warner World Championship team, leading the nation in scoring with 151 points and winning a title at the Disneyland Bowl in Anaheim, California.
"At 13, my mindset was to turn 16, quit school, get a car and help my parents out by getting a job," Culbertson admits. "All that changed when I met Earl Groves and Bennie Cunningham." Their mentorship redirected his life toward athletic excellence.
That excellence shone at old Gastonia Ashley High, where he became a three-sport standout and earned the school's 1965 Athlete of the Year award. On the football field, he was a leading rusher for the Green Wave's 1964 Western Conference championship team and famously scored three touchdowns—including the first—in the inaugural Ashley/Ashbrook-Hunter Huss rivalry game, helping launch a classic local showdown.
His versatility extended to the basketball court, where he served as the playmaking point guard for a 16-win Ashley team in 1965. After high school, a brief stint at Gaston College and service in Vietnam preceded his return home, where he dedicated himself to nurturing the next generation through coaching and officiating.
Steve Culbertson's induction celebrates more than individual achievement; it honors a lifetime of commitment to the games he loves and the community that raised him, proving that a passion for sports can build a legacy that lasts forever.