CLEMMONS, N.C. — Woody Clore met his wife, Barbara, at an Appalachian State football game 43 years ago.
As Yosef Club members and season-ticket holders, they're guaranteed at least six Boone-based dates a year.
The Clores are well-respected contributors to A Mountaineer Impact, A Drive for Excellence. In an effort to help App State student-athletes, they are several years into a plan to fully endow an athletic scholarship at the University.
Appalachian holds a special place in the hearts of both Barbara, who graduated in the spring of 1975, and Woody, who enrolled in the fall of 1975 and graduated in 1978.
The Mountaineers' home-opening football game against East Carolina on Sept. 13, 1975, doubled as a blind date that had been set up by a couple comprising Woody's college roommate, Jeff Cook, and Barbara's college roommate, Carol. With Woody and Barbara chatting and getting to know one another in the student section, App State won 41-25.
A year later, Woody and Barbara were married at the same time as Jeff and Carol during a dual ceremony in Cary.
"Sitting in the student section, that's the first time I had ever seen her," Woody recalled with a laugh. "I guess that's part of why we enjoy it up at App State so much. She's a football fan, too."
Barbara, a Raleigh native, said her love of the mountains played a role in her decision to attend App State. She ended up majoring in education and becoming a teacher.
Woody, who is from Clemmons, spent three years in the Army before he enrolled at Appalachian. He returned from Germany, literally spent one night at his Clemmons home and started classes in Boone the following day. He is currently the president and owner of C&H Insulation Services, Inc., in Clemmons.
Roughly 20 years ago, around the same time that they returned to North Carolina and Woody started C&H Insulation Services, the Clores reengaged on a deeper level with their alma mater. The constant phone calls from the late Gerald Adams, the beloved director of the Yosef Club, helped convince them to become more involved.
"Gerald and Julia, they made us really feel welcome when we joined the Yosef Club," Woody said. "Getting to know some student-athletes, you have to be really disciplined to do what they do, and the caliber of student-athlete that App recruits makes you want to make a difference if you can.
"What got us excited to endow a scholarship is you know you're doing something that's going to hopefully carry on for a long time. I'd challenge any small business owner that graduated from Appalachian State to look at a plan to contribute to an endowment fund. It's a great way to have an impact that will go on forever."
The Clores aspire to have a lasting impact on their alma mater, similar to the way it has been a meaningful part of their lives for more than four decades.
It's a union that began inconspicuously enough with a blind date and some early season football.
"One of the best things about App is all the friends I made that I still keep up with, even after all these years," Barbara said. "If it hadn't been for App, I wouldn't have these lifelong friendships.
"Just being back on campus brings back so many great memories."
A Mountaineer Impact, A Drive For Excellence is a vision of Appalachian State Athletics to provide resources for identified funding needs of more than $60 million. Comprehensive in nature, the initiative is designed to impact every Mountaineer student-athlete and sports program. A Mountaineer Impact, A Drive for Excellence will construct and enhance athletic facilities, provide critical scholarship support and affect the overall athletic experience for student-athletes and fans while strengthening the campus and community. To make a gift in support of A Mountaineer Impact today, contact
Suzette Mauney, Assistant Athletic Director for Development at
828-262-3108 or visit
www.appstatesports.com.
