John I. Burton Hall of Fame inductees

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The inaugural class of the J.I. Burton Hall of Fame was inducted at the Hall of Fame Ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Hotel Norton in downtown Norton. The inductees or their family members were honored and given a plaque to recognize their induction. Similar plaques were given to J.I. Burton High School and will be put on display at the school. The honorees pictured include, left to right, Jim Dotson — coach of the 1972 “Impossible Dream” state championship football team; Susan Fore — daughter of inductee Arvil “Sam” Lawson, who had 77 victories during his football coaching career at Burton, 1940-58 and who had 65 consecutive victories in basketball, including state championship teams in 1947 and ‘48 and a state runnerup in 1949; Steven Douglas, great-grandson of inductee of John I. Burton, who served as principal of Norton schools from 1918 to 1954. Jamie Brown, daughter of coach Bill “Chief” Fitchko football and basketball coach along with Sam Lawson in the 1950’s era, head coach of the 1958 District 8 championship football team and a football and basketball referee in southwest Virginia and eastern Kentucky; Richard “Stan” Wilson, who holds the school record for most points scored in a boys basketball game with 43. Wilson was affiliated with J.I. Burton as a student-athlete, teacher, assistant principal, principal, athletic director and coach for 45 years. His basketball teams won 541 games, a Virginia High School League record for Group A schools and he has more wins than any coach west of Roanoke in VHSL history. KEVIN MAYS PHOTO.Click Hereto order photo reprints


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