'Gentle Giant' Al Montgomery earns spot in Gaston Sports HOF

When he was an All-CIAA quarterback at North Carolina Central who later gained a tryout as an end with the old AFL Boston Patriots, Robert "Al" Montgomery was a 6-foot-4, 235-pounder who was considered a giant . That large, physical stature also gave Montgomery a presence when his playing career was over and he became a coach and physical education teacher at Charlotte's old Second Ward High School. "He absolutely had a presence in any room he entered," said current Mecklenburg County commissioner Arthur Griffin, a 1966 Second Ward graduate.

"Not only was he a coach, but he was a physical education teacher. His physical stature created respect. But he also was as kind as a big teddy bear.

He had a big voracious belly laugh that you could hear all over the football field or the gymnasium. "And, as a teacher, he taught about grit and persistence and determination and was a classic teacher of those traits. He was always trying to get the very best out of you, whether it was on the football field or in physical education activities.

" STILL ON THE MOVE: In her 90s, Gaston Sports HOF inductee Hester Martin Haynes remains active HE'S DONE A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING: Steve Culbertson's lifelong athletics journey leads to Gaston Sports HOF ALL HE DOES IS WIN: Nearing state wins record, Danny Anderson earns Gaston Sports HOF nod Montgomery was a star player before he became "Big Al" the legendary coach. And on May 4th, Montgomery will be inducted into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame alongside Danny Anderson, Steve Culbertson and Hester Martin Haynes. University of Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes will be the keynote speaker.