The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1343401
MARCH/APRIL 2021 ■ 5 ■ WOLFPACK CLUB NEWS When Ged King was in high school, his younger brother Matt attended Jim Valvano's basketball camp at NC State. The Kings were living in Greensboro, N.C., but originally are from New York City, where pro sports reign supreme. Valvano's camp would soon change that for the family. King's father, George, was a painter by hobby, and he drew an illustration of a pair of red Nike shoes and a basketball. His goal was to have Valvano sign the painting as a memento for his son to remember his camp experience. In typical Valvano fashion, the coach did far more than that. "Coach Valvano took the painting from my dad, walked around Reynolds Coliseum, showed all the other parents about this guy from Queens and how talented he was and made a giant deal about it before he gave it back," King noted. "My dad came back and said, 'You're going to school at NC State.' "I'm not kidding. That's when we became State fans." Both King's brother and sister went to NC State, with Ged majoring in industrial engi- neering. King and his wife Kate's daughter Eva is a junior there now, while their son Wil will be a freshman in the fall, joining Eva in the Wilson College of Textiles. It's a true family affair when it comes to NC State and being members of the Wolfpack Club helps the Kings build lasting memories. "When Philip Rivers was quarterback, my daughter was a little girl, and she loved going to games and wearing cheerleader outfits," King said. "That was the beginning of being a fan for her and a cool thing that we shared. She now knows more NC State sports stuff than most anybody I know. She will constantly text me during a game with some random thing. "Philip was such a gamer that there was always a chance to win. I got to see us go to triple overtime at Ohio State — that was an incredible memory. That whole time was just really fun." King, who is now the CEO of Sales Factory in Greensboro, a marketing company that works with brands to sell their products in home improvement retail stores, credits his college friend Scott Troutman with helping him become a Wolfpack Club member. Troutman convinced King to join when he received his first paycheck, and King's been a faithful member since. He's part of a group that nicknamed themselves "The Six Pack" and tailgates before every football game. King, an ardent endurance biker who also teaches a marketing class at Wake Forest, knows there is a deeper meaning to his Wolfpack Club contributions. "There's a real value to being involved. You can not only help all these athletes compete but also get an education," King explained. "That's a pretty big deal. My mother was a teacher, and that's why I teach. We were taught that teaching was a responsibility." WPC DONOR SPOTLIGHT Ged King COMPLIANCE CORNER CAN I HAVE A STUDENT- ATHLETE OR THE TEAM OVER TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER? Answer: Yes, donors/supporters can provide student-athletes with what is called an "occasional meal." There are VERY specific NCAA requirements about this, so contact the compliance staff and the coaching staff if you want to do this. WHEN I WATCH A GAME AND SEE A TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER WHO I THINK WOULD BE GREAT FOR NC STATE, WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS INFOR- MATION? Answer: Contact the coaching staff of that sport and pass along the infor- mation. You cannot be a recruiter for NC State, which means you cannot be communicating with recruits, but if you occasionally see a player who seems like a great fit for us, then by all means, pass along the information. If you are ever in doubt, contact the compliance staff BEFORE doing what you want to do! Thanks for everything you do to keep NC State safe! "ASK BEFORE YOU ACT" by contacting NC State Athletic Compliance directly. Toll Free: 1-855-5 COMPLY (1-855- 526-6759) Text: 919-675-4424 E-mail: ask_compliance@ncsu.edu Online: gopack.com/compliance All properties donated to the Wolfpack Club and the proceeds of a sale will be used for scholarships and/or Athletic Department Capital projects. Call Buzzy Correll: 919-865-1508 WOLFPACK CLUB W O L F PAC K W O L F PAC K C L U B L U B PR O PE R T Y R O PE R T Y King's kids grew up going to NC State athletics events — his daughter Eva is now a junior in the Wilson College of Textiles, where son Wil will join her in the fall. PHOTOS COURTESY GED KING