Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission

1099 Gum Branch Road / P.O. Box 207

Jacksonville, NC 28540

Phone (910) 347-3141

Fax (910) 347-4705

Joe and Ruth Morgan were instrumental in the development of the Jacksonville’s youth sports programs.  They helped organize the first little league baseball program in 1951.  They ran the league privately until it merged with the City of Jacksonville recreation program in the early 1960’s, handling everything from taking care of the field and equipment and operating the concession stand.  In a quarter century career on the Jacksonville City Council, Joe Morgan served as a liaison with the Recreation and Parks Department, and the City’s Joe Morgan Day in 1995 honored his role in the planning of the Jacksonville Commons recreation area. 

Debbie Freeman was a Jacksonville High School girl’s track and field star in mid-1970’s.  One of East Carolina University’s all-time women’s basketball standouts and a member of the ECU Sports Hall of Fame.  She still holds the ECU single-game rebounding record of 26 she set in 1977 against UNC-Greensboro.  As a basketball coach, she made Jacksonville a top program in the Mideastern 4-A Conference and state playoff contender in the 1980’s. 

Louie Meadows was a baseball and football standout at White Oak High School from 1976-79, a football and baseball player at North Carolina State University from 1979-82 and later spent several seasons in the Houston Astros organization.  He was a key player for a White Oak baseball program that won a state record 52 games in a row and two state 3-A championships.  He hit over .400 for his career and his 29-0 career pitching record is the second longest win streak in the state.  He was a defensive back at NC State, starting at corner back in 1981.  As a baseball player he was a three-year starter with a career average of .325.  He finished his college career with 18 home runs, 97 RBI, 28 doubles and 29 stolen bases.  He hit .300 or better three times in the minor leagues before playing part of four seasons with the Astros beginning in 1987.