The Sweet Smell of Popcorn

Honoring Charlie Hunter and Ralph Bunche High School

The Sweet Smell of Popcorn…

By T. Wampler, JPI Sports

Charlie Hunter (center) has received many awards in his playing days including being a 2023 inductee into the ‘The Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.’ Hunter received a thunderous round of applause when he lifted his 2023 Hall of Fame collage in the air. On the left during the presentation is Curtis Hurley and on the right is William Twyman. Photo by T. Wampler, JPI Sports

On February 6, Glasgow High School hosted a doubleheader between Glasgow and Caverna at the Glasgow High School Gymnasium as part of the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame “Glory Road / Heritage” Project in 2024-2025.

Glasgow High School Gymnasium and Glasgow Ralph Bunche High School Gymnasium are two of the 14 listed gym locations among the 2025 Glory Road Gymnasiums. “Glory Road” sites have been selected throughout Kentucky to pay homage to gymnasiums that have cultural and historical significance. Both schools and sites were recognized in a special ceremony after the girls’ game and before the start of the boys’ game.

On hand for the awards ceremony was Glasgow native, well-known community member, and basketball star, Charlie Hunter.

During the presentations, Hunter and Ralph Bunche High School were honored for their “contribution to the storied history of Kentucky high school basketball.”

Charlie Hunter stood proudly at midcourt holding a special collection of photographs and mementos from his storied basketball career that he was given for his selection into the Hall of Fame in 2023. Hunter has one of the plaques for himself, and the Hall of Fame gave him a duplicate, which he is donating to Ralph Bunche High School.

Hunter spent a lot of the interview remembering the glory days of basketball at RBHS, and his teammates and coaches. Hunter said the players of today owe a debt to all those players and coaches from the past that helped basketball become such a big part of their communities.

Hunter has a deep love for Ralph Bunche High School and what the school meant to his basketball career, but also his development as a young man. He said the teachers and coaches had an impact on his life. His fond personal memories revolve around the “team.”

“I cannot say enough about my coaches and teammates,” Hunter said. “I couldn’t have accomplished what I was able to during my high school and college career without them. Yes, I won some personal awards, but even those I couldn’t have gotten without my teammates.”

“I remember playing with an old basket with the bottom cut out,” Hunter said with a chuckle. “We’d shoot whatever ball we could find and be happy playing. That was my introduction to basketball.”

Hunter said he started developing a love for the game in the 5th grade. He said basketball was the main sport kids played and he wanted to learn all he could about the game as he grew older. Hunter said his high school provided a great environment for the games.

Hunter said the gym may have had seats only on one side, but when you walked in there on game night, “It felt like you were playing in a huge coliseum,” Hunter said. “When all the fans got in there (Ralph Bunche Gym), it was like they enlarged it. It would be packed almost every night because the community came out to support us.”

Hunter said when he shot from the corner, he wasn’t too far from the wall or the fans. “It rocked,” added Hunter. “There was no better place to play for us than right there on our home court.”

Hunter paid tribute to his junior varsity coach, Leonard Cavil. “Coach Cavil taught me all the fundamentals of the game,” he said. “It served me well. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for that.”

Hunter said his next two coaches, Johnny Herring and Frank Terell, also had a huge impact on his game and his life. Coach Terell took them to the state tournament in his first season.

“When you are competitive like we were, it carries over into your adult life and professional life,” he said. “You continue to be competitive wherever life takes you, and that helps you build future success.”

“I don’t care if we were shooting marbles, I wanted to beat you,” Hunter added with a laugh.

One of the areas that Hunter was most proud of on a personal level, was his “consistency” as a player. He said he went out every night wanting to do his best and leave the court knowing he’d “given all I had.”

That effort led to consistency on both ends of the court. He also attributes his success to the way they practiced. “We were constantly working on fundamentals,” he said. “The game was not just about running and shooting. Fundamentals on offense and defense are the main two things that helped us win ball games.”

As a young boy, he was taught the three “B’s” with a “C” added: books, bed, basketball and church.”

“We were taught our studies and grades came first so we could play basketball,” he said. “We were told about the importance of getting rest, and church was an important part of our lives.”

Hunter said a lot of the people you fellowshipped with at church would be the same people that would be at the games supporting you. “I cannot emphasize enough how important the church and the community were in my life,” he added.

Hunter said the “Glory Road Project” helps to educate the younger generations about schools in the past (some of which are no longer in existence) from a historical standpoint.

“We want to bring forth what those gyms meant to the community and to the people back in the day,” he said. “It brought everybody together, a social event that everybody enjoyed.”

Hunter laughed when asked about how many points he could have scored if there was a 3-point shot when he played. “That’s where I shot from,” he said. “That’s a lot of points I didn’t get, but I’m blessed to have played during the era I was born in. I wouldn’t trade places with the modern day players.”

When asked what the biggest memory that floods his mind when he walks into Ralph Bunch today, his response was an unexpected one.

“To be honest with you, the smell of the popcorn,” replied Hunter. “When I think back on a big night, a big game, I can smell that sweet smell of popcorn popping. That’s a smell that I’ll never forget.”

Hunter said the entire gym was just permeated with the smell of popcorn.

“That was the best popcorn that you can get and I’m sure other people can remember that good popcorn and wonderful smell,” he added.

Hunter said he was taught to give back to the community and he has always lived with that mantra in his mind.

“That is what I’ve tried to do since I moved back here from Boston in 1992,” concluded Hunter. “The Glasgow community was very good to me. I try to give back to Glasgow, Bunche, and be involved with reunions and the Ralph Bunche Hall of Fame, and contribute to the places that mean so much to me.”

Charlie Hunter (on right) has received many awards in his playing days and in his life including being a 2023 inductee into the ‘The Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.’ On the left is Curtis Hurley, holding Hunter’s Hall of Fame Plaque. Photo by T. Wampler, JPI Sports