The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is proud to announce the induction of Pepper Martin, Jr. into the Apple Blossom Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing a remarkable career dedicated to coaching excellence, student development, and community impact.

Pepper Martin, Jr. served as the head coach of the Sherando High School baseball program from the school’s opening in 1993 until his retirement in 2023. Over three decades, he built a program defined not only by competitive success, but by its commitment to developing young men of character. Through his emphasis on life skills, personal accountability, and integrity, Coach Martin became a mentor and role model to generations of student-athletes.

Known for his passion and enthusiasm, Coach Martin’s love for the game was evident to players, fellow coaches, and competitors alike. Even in retirement, his dedication to Sherando athletics remains strong, as he continues to support the Warriors by attending home games and traveling to away contests.

In honor of his lasting legacy, Sherando High School named its baseball facility Pepper Martin Baseball Field in 2025—an enduring tribute to the profound influence he has had on the school, its students, and the surrounding community.

Coach Martin’s accomplishments span multiple sports, highlighted by exceptional success in both baseball and wrestling.

On the baseball diamond, he led the Sherando Warriors to a Group AA State Championship in 2013, finishing that season with an outstanding 26-1 record. He concluded his career with an overall record of 407-241, including 400 wins at Sherando. Under his leadership, the Warriors captured 10 Northwestern District regular-season titles, made 12 regional appearances, secured a regional championship, and earned four state tournament berths. His teams posted 24 winning seasons, and he was honored eight times as The Winchester Star Coach of the Year.

In wrestling, Coach Martin compiled an extraordinary career record of 478-123. His teams achieved nine district or conference championships, five regional championships, and five top-five finishes at the AA state tournament. He coached four individual state champions and 55 state place-winners, along with 54 district/conference champions and 33 regional champions. In 2015, he was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He also co-founded the Massanutten Matmen Wrestling Club, which continues to serve young athletes today.

Throughout his career, Coach Martin earned numerous accolades, including multiple Sherando Coach of the Year honors and induction into the Sherando Hall of Fame. More importantly, he earned the respect and admiration of his players and peers through his unwavering character, humility, and commitment to doing things the right way.

Pepper Martin, Jr. exemplifies the very best of high school athletics—teaching not only the fundamentals of sport, but the values that shape lives. His induction into the Apple Blossom Sports Hall of Fame celebrates a legacy that will continue to impact the community for generations to come. 

A 1959 graduate of John Handley High School, Jimmy Dix has spent more than six decades giving back to the school and its athletic programs. Following graduation, he served three years in the United States Army, including two years stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. Upon returning home, he began a long and successful career with F&M Bank, where he served as a teller, loan officer, Vice President, and Branch Manager before retiring in 2003.

Jimmy began volunteering at Handley track meets in 1964 and quickly became a fixture in Judges athletics. In 1967, he joined the football chain crew, eventually becoming the lead member—a role he faithfully fulfilled until 2020. That same year, he took on the responsibility of clock operator for basketball games, a position he continues to serve in today, demonstrating a remarkable and ongoing commitment spanning nearly 60 years.

His influence extends far beyond game-day support. In 1965, Dix joined the Judges Athletic Association (JAA) Board of Directors, where he proposed the creation of a Hall of Fame to honor Handley’s athletic greats. That vision became reality in 1980 with the establishment of the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame. Continuing his efforts to preserve and celebrate local sports history, Dix later encouraged the addition of the Edwin Barksdale Wing in 2009 to honor former Douglas High School athletes.

Dix’s passion for sports and youth development is evident in his extensive coaching career, which spanned more than five decades from 1957 to 2011. He worked with young athletes across numerous leagues, including Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth, American Legion, youth softball, and fast pitch programs. In 1999, he served as pitching coach under Terry Shickle when Handley captured its first state baseball championship—an achievement that stands as a highlight among many contributions to the program.

In addition to his work at Handley, Dix has volunteered his time and expertise to support athletic programs at other local high schools and served on the Winchester Parks and Recreation Board during the 1990s.

Throughout his lifetime of service, Dix has received numerous honors recognizing his impact. In 1991, he was named the Golden Diamond Virginia Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame in 2003 as a contributor, recognized not only for his dedication but also for his generosity—consistently donating any compensation he received back to the athletic department. In 2016, he was presented with the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Distinguished Service Award, and in 2023, he received the Douglas Alumni Association Service Award.

Jimmy Dix’s selfless commitment, humility, and passion for athletics have left an indelible mark on generations of student-athletes and the entire Winchester community. His induction into the Apple Blossom Sports Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a lifetime devoted to volunteerism and service to youth and high school athletics in the Winchester community.