Blacksburg High School announced its 2017-2018 Hall of Fame Class on Monday. Inductees will be formally recognized at the BHS Homecoming Game on Friday, October 6, 2017. Inductees are:
Ben Pinkerton (BHS Class 1996) Posthumously
Ben Pinkerton was a four-year letterman in Boys Soccer and part of two State Championship teams in1993 and 1995. First team All-District and second team All-Region as a sophomore. He was first team All-District and All-Region, and was Honorable Mention All-State as a junior. He was also first team All-District, All-Region, and All-State as a senior.
As a senior, Pinkerton was an outstanding Captain of a young team, was voted team Most Valuable Player. Pinkerton was chosen by the Virginia High School Coaches Association as one of two goalkeepers representing the West Region in the Virginia All-Star Game.
Pinkerton played two years of varsity football with appearances in the State semifinal in 1994 and Region semifinal in 1995 and earned first team All-District and All-Region, and Honorable Mention All-State as a placekicker during his senior season.
Pinkerton earned a soccer scholarship to Brevard Junior College in North Carolina and was the starting goalkeeper both seasons. As a sophomore, he led his team to the eight team Junior College National tournament and was chosen to the 1997 All-South Junior College team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He completed his collegiate career with two seasons as a goalkeeper at Virginia Tech.
Upon graduation from Virginia Tech, Pinkerton worked as an Admissions Advisor in the Virginia Tech Undergraduate Admissions Office. He was Blacksburg High School’s Boys Assistant Soccer Coach in 2001 and 2002 on the state runner-up and state champion with records of 21-1-1 and 23-0, respectively. The 2002 team was ranked number 18 nationally by the NSCAA that spring.
Pinkerton began his college coaching career as Graduate Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at UNC-Charlotte. He then spent several seasons as Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at North Carolina State University.
Dr. Jon Maher (BHS Class of 1992)
Jon Maher was a three-year letterman in Basketball from 1989-92, with nearly 1000 points and 750 rebounds. He led team to multiple District and Regional Championships and a State quarterfinal appearance.
Maher was senior year All-State Selection participating in the Virginia State Basketball All-Star Game. Maher went on to play basketball at Johns Hopkins University – contributing to 2 NCAA tourney appearances.
He was selected to represent the USA in basketball in the 1993 World Scholar Athlete Games. He transferred to Roanoke College, leading team to 2 additional NCAA tournaments including a Sweet 16 appearance and a Conference championship. He was 1997 NCAA GTE Academic All-America Selection in Basketball. He is a decorated war veteran earning several Commendation medals serving in Operation Enduring Freedom as a Navy Orthopedic Surgeon. He is a Sports Medicine Team Physician and Surgeon for the Boston Celtics and Harvard University.
Maher is currently a physician with Lewis Gale and lives in Blacksburg.
John A. Brotherton (BHS Class of 1964)
Brotherton was a four-year letterman in both Football & Baseball. Brotherton led the Blacksburg Indian’s Football Team to the 1963 New River District Football
Championship.
In 1963 he set a New River District Single Season Scoring Record – scoring 107 total points in 10 games/17 touchdowns & 5 PAT’s.
As a junior, Brotherton set a New River District Record with an 85 yard punt return. He was selected First Team All New River District and Second Team All State Running Back in 1963.
Brotherton coached sandlot football and baseball in Blacksburg for many years where he had a way of finding the best in his athletes even if they didn’t realize it was there. Many of these young athletes would go onto to win the 1989 High School Football State Championship.
Brotherton taught his young athletes that if they were disciplined and always
provided their best effort, everything else would take care of itself. Brotherton worked in law enforcement for 31 years at the Virginia Tech Police Department where he retired as a Major in 2003.
John and his wife, Linda, live in Blacksburg where they raised their two sons, Scott and Brian
James Settles (BHS Class of 1953) posthumously
James Settles was a four Sport Letterman earning 10 Letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was offered full-ride athletic scholarships from Virginia Tech in both football and basketball.
Settles accepted the Basketball scholarship from Virginia Tech and was a starting Guard for the Hokies. He graduated from VA Tech with a degree in electrical engineering and enjoyed a long career with the Rogers Corporation in technical sales.
Settles married his high school sweetheart, Betsy Henderson, former real estate agent in Roanoke. He was a very talented but humble and likable person who influenced many positively along way. He remained loyal to the Hokies all of his adult life and attended most sporting events