Corrigan Faircloth Chapter

Born in Fayetteville, NC but a resident of Greensboro since early childhood, Bradley E. Faircloth was best known for ensuring athletic success, fairness and sportsmanship on the gridiron. A graduate of Greensboro (now Grimsley) High School who attended Duke University where he played freshman football as a guard and tackle, he began officiating football as a passion and avocation.  Ultimately, he officiated football for more than 25 years including 17 as a member of the ACC varsity staff.

Faircloth worked more than 200 intercollegiate games in his career and was selected to officiate in seven bowl games, including the Liberty Bowl, Bluebonnet Bowl, Sun Bowl and the Cotton Bowl.  He also officiated in the North Carolina East-West High School All-Star Game, the North and South Carolina Shrine Bowl Game and the NAIA national championship game.  After he retired as an official he traveled extensively in Europe conducting officiating clinics for the U.S. Air Force.

The avocation became a distinct career path when Faircloth was appointed Supervisor of Football Officials for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1983 by former ACC Commissioner Bob James, taking over for the legendary Norvell Neve who had retired.  At the time, Faircloth was one of the conference’s premiere officials while still holding a full-time job as a vice president/treasurer for the J.D. Wilkin Architectural firm.  Prior to that role, he worked for Bessemer Improvement Company, a real estate enterprise in Greensboro.  A year after accepting the supervisor position, Faircloth was invited to join the ACC full-time with additional responsibilities and title of Assistant Commissioner. Later, former ACC commissioner Gene Corrigan, who was serving as president of the NCAA in 1996 and 1997, appointed Faircloth as the NCAA’s chief financial officer, providing fiscal management of over $60 million in annual revenues.

Faircloth’s leadership commitment in the community was equally distinguished. In 1964, Faircloth served as general chairman of the PGA’s Greater Greensboro Open, now the Wyndham Championship, and in 1974 served as President of the Greensboro Sports Council.  Faircloth was a past president of the Greensboro Lion’s Club and a life member of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce.  Additionally, he was a first vice president for the Greensboro Jaycee’s and was active with the American Red Cross and the YMCA.  In 1971, The City of Greensboro selected him as an “Outstanding Civic Leader” recipient.  He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Salvation Army and the Service to Youth Award from the Red Shield Boy’s Club. 

Faircloth was honored several times for his 45 year involvement with officiating and was a recipient of the Collegiate Commissioners Football Officials Award of Merit.  In 1998 he received the Outstanding Football Official Award from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. That organization also honored him with the Outstanding Chapter Leadership Award for the Southern Region in 1995.  Faircloth was inducted into the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame in fall 2011.  He passed away August 25, 2012 in Greensboro.