2025 App State Legends Gala Set for June 20

April 22, 2025

Media Contact: Joey Jones (jo*****@ap******.edu)

ONLINE: https://appstatesports.com/news/2025/4/22/athletics-2025-app-state-legends-gala-set-for-june-20.aspx

BOONE, N.C. — App State Athletics’ annual Legends Gala will take place Friday, June 20, in the Grandview Ballroom at Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility.
 
Established in 2017, the Legends Gala is a premier celebration of App State Athletics that recognizes the remarkable achievements of Mountaineers who have made a lasting impact on the University and the High Country.
 
The 2025 Legends Gala: Forever a Mountaineer will feature Legend and keynote speaker, Shelly Henderson (golf), as well as Legends Johnny Jennings (football), Larry Nance (tennis), Jean Roberts (academic advising), Madi Story (basketball) and Richie Williams (football).

This year’s event will also showcase exciting new live and silent auctions, exclusive App State experiences, a gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks finale.

  
“The Legends Gala is a signature event that we look forward to every year,” Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said. “It’s always special to recognize exceptional Mountaineers who have given their all for App State. The event continues to raise much-needed resources to fund our student-athletes’ championship athletic and academic pursuits.”

Guests are once again encouraged to pair their cocktail attire with their favorite App State-themed sneakers, adding a fun and spirited touch to the evening’s festivities.

Tickets are on sale now and usually sell out before the event date. 
 
A table reservation, which includes six seats and a “legend” or current student-athlete to be seated at your table, is $5,000 (includes a $4,000 tax-deductible gift). 
 
Individual seats for the event are $600 per person (includes a $475 tax-deductible gift) and $1,200 per couple (includes a $950 tax-deductible gift).
 
2025 Legends
 

Shelly Henderson – Golf

Shelly (Laney) Henderson attended App State from 1983-87, playing for the women’s golf team for four seasons and graduating in 1987 with a degree in elementary education. She was named the team MVP after the 1985 season, and she used a round of 69 with six birdies on a back-nine 30 to finish second at the NC Women’s Amateur before her senior year. In addition to co-owning a real estate company, she is an author, podcaster and public speaker.

Johnny Jennings – Football

Johnny Jennings is a 1991 alumnus of App State after playing linebacker for the Mountaineers from 1986-90. He was a three-year starter and earned All-SoCon honors in each of those seasons. A 2010 inductee in the App State Athletics Hall of Fame, Jennings has been the Chief of Police of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department since 2020 and has served that department for more than 30 years.

Larry Nance – Tennis

Larry Nance was a conference champion in tennis and also played basketball for the Mountaineers before graduating from App State in 1962 (and again in 1963). He is a 1993 inductee in the App State Athletics Hall of Fame and served as the university’s director of human resources for more than 30 years.

Jean Roberts – Academic Advising

A beloved figure in App State Athletics history, Jean Roberts was executive director of the learning assistance program from 2002-16, during which time she counseled and mentored hundreds of student-athletes. She earned two degrees from App State – a master’s degree in 1982 and an education specialist degree in 1992 – and served in various roles at her alma mater beginning in 1984. During her tenure overseeing academic advising, the student-athlete cumulative GPA reached a 3.0, which has been maintained for the past 25 consecutive semesters.

Madi Story – Basketball

Madi Story competed for the Mountaineers as a guard from 2014-19. She became the 25th member of the Mountaineers’ 1,000-point club in 2018, finishing her career with 1,294 points (which ranks 11th in program history). She twice led the team in scoring and earned All-Sun Belt honors in 2017. Her mother, Mitzi, also played basketball at App State from 1988-92.

Richie Williams – Football

Richie Williams was a three-year starter at quarterback for App State’s football team, leading the Mountaineers to their first national championship as a senior in 2005. Sitting out the first half of that game with a severe ankle injury, Williams memorably helped App State erase a 16-7 deficit in a 21-16 victory against Northern Iowa. The two-time Walter Payton Award finalist received All-America recognition and was named the SoCon Player of the Year as a senior, finishing third in program history with 7,759 career passing yards and fourth with 59 career touchdown passes. 

Past Legends Gala Keynote Speakers
2017 – Mack Brown
2018 – Joe Gibbs
2019 – Bobby Cremins
2021 – Daniel Jeremiah
2022 – Chris Swecker
2023 – Dexter Coakley

2024 – Omar Carter

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App State Athletics Strategic Communications
425 Jack Branch Drive
Boone, NC, 28608
www.appstatesports.com