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Steve Craig, during his teaching and coaching days. -
Retired teacher, administrator and coach Steve Craig, fifth from left, celebrates with family Feb. 13 after being inducted as the newest member of the Pendleton County High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
By Sam McClanahan
FALMOUTH — One of the most instrumental figures in the history of Pendleton County athletics received his long-awaited recognition on the evening of Feb. 13.
Prior to the start of the Wildcats varsity basketball game against Campbell County, Steve Craig, former Pendleton County educator, principal, athletic director and contributor, was accompanied by his family to mid-court, where he was named the newest member of the PCHS Athletics Hall of Fame.
Craig dedicated more than 40 years of his life making a difference in the community and his impact has been felt by multiple generations of students who attended school in Pendleton County dating back to the early 1970s, according to friends, family and the hall.
Among his many accomplishments were spearheading a local intramural basketball program at Pendleton County Middle School, starting a youth soccer league and high school soccer programs during the mid-1980s, and youth baseball programs that included T-ball on up to junior high school.
His recognition came as a surprise, he admits, and it took a little bit of scheming on the part of his family to get everything in order for his big night
took a little bit of scheming on the part of his family to get everything in order for his big night.
“A while back some members of my family began asking me questions about my career and the things I had started or helped play a part in bringing to Pendleton County,” Craig said.
“They kept telling me they wanted all the information to pass onto the grandkids one day, but what they were actually doing was putting all the information together for when I got inducted,” he said.
“They pulled a fast one on me.”
Craig’s induction ceremony would see many former colleagues of his as well as former students and a host of family and friends come out to show their support in congratulating him for what they said was a long overdue celebration for the longtime coach and educator.
SCHOOL DAYS
Craig graduated in 1965 from Falmouth High School, where he was a standout athlete in basketball, baseball and football.
During his senior year, he would be named to the Northern Kentucky Independent All-Conference Team for basketball.
In the early ’70s while teaching, he was also the seventh- and eighth-grade basketball coach at Butler Elementary. . .
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CRAIG, Page 2A