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'Humpy' Wheeler to serve as parade grand marshal
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Published: November 18, 2008
CONCORD - Former Lowe's Motor Speedway executive H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler will be grand marshal of the Concord Christmas parade, sponsored by Windstream, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The parade begins at Lake Concord and North Church, continues to Buffalo then onto North Union, and ends at Corban and South Union.
This is the 80th Concord Christmas parade, making it one of the oldest and longest (little over a mile) in the Carolinas.
Attendance of the past parade was estimated to be approximately 30,000 people.
"It is a great privilege to serve in this capacity," Wheeler said. "I especially look forward to seeing many of my friends and acquaintances along the route. I am getting my wrist in shape for the parade wave."
Born in Belmont, N.C., Wheeler attended the University of South Carolina on a football scholarship and graduated in 1961 with a degree in journalism. In addition to football, Wheeler was an outstanding amateur boxer, compiling a 40-2 record including a dozen Golden Gloves Championships.
Before joining Lowe's Motor Speedway, Wheeler worked as a sports writer, a real estate manager and a dirt track promoter. He served in a variety of executive positions in the racing division at Firestone Rubber & Tire Co. from 1964 through 1971. He joined the speedway in 1975 and has been general manager since 1976. He was named president in 1980.
During his 33 years at the speedway, Wheeler worked closely with longtime colleague Bruton Smith to build Lowe's Motor Speedway into one of NASCAR's top facilities.
In April 2006, Wheeler was inducted into the International Motor sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame; the National Motor sports Press Association Hall of Fame; and the North Carolina Public Relations Hall of Fame.
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