ECU Mourns The Passing Of Hall Of Fame Athlete Al Vaughan
June 27, 2025 | General
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Al Vaughan, an East Carolina Athletics Hall of Famer, two-time All-North State Conference selection and a member of ECC's only undefeated conference championship team, passed away on Wednesday, June 25, he was 91.
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Vaughan came to ECC by way of Ahoskie, N.C. in 1952 where was a three-sport athlete, with many outstanding accomplishments during his tenure. He was named All-Albemarle Conference in football, basketball, and baseball, named to News & Observer Class-A All East Football Team his senior year, and played on the 1951 championship team for State Class-A Football. He also played on the winning team of the Albemarle Conference Basketball Championship, being the leading scorer and named defensive player. Albert enrolled at East Carolina College in the fall of 1952 and played on the freshman basketball team.
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Drafted into the US Army in September of 1953 and played on Ft. Jackson, SC Post basketball team, on baseball All Fareast Baseball championship team as 2nd baseman, being the only player on the team that had not played professional baseball as a starter. He received early release from the US Army in May 1955 to enroll in college.
Enrolled at Chowan College Fall of 1955, recruited by Herb Appenzeller who was athletic director and head football coach. Albert felt it was one of the best decisions of his life to accept a full football, basketball, and baseball grant to attend Chowan College. While at Chowan, he was selected as the school's Outstanding Athlete and most valuable player award as a freshman, held a record for scoring 23 touchdowns in two seasons, and was inducted in the first Hall of Fame class at Chowan College in 1985.
Albert was offered a full baseball scholarship in the spring of 1957 from East Carolina University where he received a bachelor's degree majoring in Physical Education and minoring in Psychology and Social Studies. Named All-North State Conference, All State and NAIA All District, held stolen base record from 1959 to middle 1976, co-captain, and was inducted into Hall of Fame for East Carolina for baseball in 2004.
His coaching career started in the fall of 1959 at Franklin Virginia High School, then at Fike High School in Wilson, NC, then in 1963, back at his hometown Ahoskie High School, and was the assistant football coach, and head basketball and baseball coach, becoming the head football coach and Athletic Director in 1965. With some accomplishments such as, Eastern NC State Runner Up Class AA, 1966 Eastern NC State Champions Class AA, and 1970 NC State Champions Class AA in football, 3 Albemarle Conferences and Tournament Championships in basketball. Coached American Legion Post 102 Baseball to the Eastern NC Championship in 1963 with Jim "Catfish" Hunter as a player, all before retiring from coaching in 1971. He was listed as personality of the south in 1970 and outstanding young men of America in 1971.
Once retiring from coaching Albert opened the Pizza Inn in Ahoskie with his dear friend, Ed Copeland, Sr. He was president and an owner of Seascape Golf Links Outer Banks in Kitty Hawk. In 1973, he was employed as a Distillery Spirits Broker Representative in North Carolina and Virginia Military, receiving National Awards, and retired in 2010 after 37 years in business.
Albert was a devoted member of St Thomas Episcopal Church in Ahoskie and All Saints Episcopal Church at the Outer Banks. He was a past president of Beechwood Country Club, chairman of Greens Committee for many years, and the Beechwood Country Club Golf Champion twice.
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Vaughan came to ECC by way of Ahoskie, N.C. in 1952 where was a three-sport athlete, with many outstanding accomplishments during his tenure. He was named All-Albemarle Conference in football, basketball, and baseball, named to News & Observer Class-A All East Football Team his senior year, and played on the 1951 championship team for State Class-A Football. He also played on the winning team of the Albemarle Conference Basketball Championship, being the leading scorer and named defensive player. Albert enrolled at East Carolina College in the fall of 1952 and played on the freshman basketball team.
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Drafted into the US Army in September of 1953 and played on Ft. Jackson, SC Post basketball team, on baseball All Fareast Baseball championship team as 2nd baseman, being the only player on the team that had not played professional baseball as a starter. He received early release from the US Army in May 1955 to enroll in college.
Enrolled at Chowan College Fall of 1955, recruited by Herb Appenzeller who was athletic director and head football coach. Albert felt it was one of the best decisions of his life to accept a full football, basketball, and baseball grant to attend Chowan College. While at Chowan, he was selected as the school's Outstanding Athlete and most valuable player award as a freshman, held a record for scoring 23 touchdowns in two seasons, and was inducted in the first Hall of Fame class at Chowan College in 1985.
Albert was offered a full baseball scholarship in the spring of 1957 from East Carolina University where he received a bachelor's degree majoring in Physical Education and minoring in Psychology and Social Studies. Named All-North State Conference, All State and NAIA All District, held stolen base record from 1959 to middle 1976, co-captain, and was inducted into Hall of Fame for East Carolina for baseball in 2004.
His coaching career started in the fall of 1959 at Franklin Virginia High School, then at Fike High School in Wilson, NC, then in 1963, back at his hometown Ahoskie High School, and was the assistant football coach, and head basketball and baseball coach, becoming the head football coach and Athletic Director in 1965. With some accomplishments such as, Eastern NC State Runner Up Class AA, 1966 Eastern NC State Champions Class AA, and 1970 NC State Champions Class AA in football, 3 Albemarle Conferences and Tournament Championships in basketball. Coached American Legion Post 102 Baseball to the Eastern NC Championship in 1963 with Jim "Catfish" Hunter as a player, all before retiring from coaching in 1971. He was listed as personality of the south in 1970 and outstanding young men of America in 1971.
Once retiring from coaching Albert opened the Pizza Inn in Ahoskie with his dear friend, Ed Copeland, Sr. He was president and an owner of Seascape Golf Links Outer Banks in Kitty Hawk. In 1973, he was employed as a Distillery Spirits Broker Representative in North Carolina and Virginia Military, receiving National Awards, and retired in 2010 after 37 years in business.
Albert was a devoted member of St Thomas Episcopal Church in Ahoskie and All Saints Episcopal Church at the Outer Banks. He was a past president of Beechwood Country Club, chairman of Greens Committee for many years, and the Beechwood Country Club Golf Champion twice.
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