Don Hines: 40 Years on the A.L. Brown Sidelines | EP 68

Don Hines – lifelong Kannapolis native, Cannon Mills veteran, softball no-hitter pitcher, comedian, and the man who spent over 40 years on the A.L. Brown football sidelines as the “Box Man.”

In Episode 68 of K-Town Connection, Chris Hughes and David Steele (with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin) sit down with one of Kannapolis’s true local legends inside historic Dayvault’s Garage. Don shares growing up in Centerview, near-death experiences that shaped his faith, life on the mill floor, the glory days of Cannon Mills travel softball, his short-but-hilarious run in Charlotte comedy clubs, four decades marking first downs for the Wonders, early high-school sports websites, and his induction into the North Carolina American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame.

This is pure K-Town history — mill people, Friday night lights, and a man who’s done a little bit of everything right here in Kannapolis.

📍 Filmed at: Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Garage – Kannapolis, NC
🎙️ Hosted by: Chris Hughes, David Steele & Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin

Chapters:
00:00 Cold Open / Carolina Pickleball Club
02:31 Episode Intro & Hosts
03:13 Meet Don Hines – Lifelong Kannapolis Native
04:15 Growing Up in Centerview
06:50 Surviving the 33-Foot Fall
08:20 The Car Accident & “Nine Lives”
10:22 A.L. Brown Days & the Concord Rivalry
13:42 First Band to March While Playing
15:15 Cannon Mills Job & the Vietnam Draft
18:23 Cannon Mills Softball Dynasty
23:23 Pitching a No-Hitter
24:56 Don Hines the Comedian
31:41 Spoonerisms & the “Render Sella” Story
35:54 Joining the A.L. Brown Chain Crew (1982)
36:26 Becoming the “Box Man”
44:15 Early Digital Sports Media & nchsffootball.com
45:31 NC American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame
48:18 Greatest Memory: 1990 Wonder Comeback vs Concord
53:43 Closing & Thanks
53:51 Hilbish Ford

If you grew up in the mills, cheered the Wonders, or just love real Kannapolis stories, hit like and subscribe. We’re telling the stories that built this town — one conversation at a time.

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Hardee’s Biscuits Got Him Inside the Mills: Chad Mitchell’s Untold Story | Ep 75

In Episode 75 of the K-Town Connection, lifelong Kannapolis photographer and artist Chad Mitchell opens his archive of more than 25,000 photographs that document the demolition of Cannon Mills — the place that built this town. As the massive mill complex disappeared, Chad decided someone had to record what was being lost. What began as a personal mission became one of the most important visual records of Kannapolis history ever created. He takes us inside the abandoned buildings, shares how he gained access (Hardee’s biscuits helped), and reveals the stories behind some of his most powerful images — including the fall of the iconic water tower, a once-in-a-lifetime balloon ride over the complex, and the unforgettable photograph of his late father standing in the partially demolished mill, looking out at the rubble of the place where he had worked for decades. Chad also looks back at an incredible creative career that includes photographing Appalachian State football during its national championship years, serving as team photographer for Kannapolis professional baseball, working with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and creating artwork connected to Dale Earnhardt. His guiding philosophy has always been simple: Tell as much of the story as possible in one shutter click. Today, as a new generation grows up in a Kannapolis that looks nothing like the mill town their parents and grandparents knew, these photographs have become even more valuable. They don’t just preserve buildings — they preserve the people, the work, the memories, and the identity of a community that was forever changed. This episode is exactly what the K-Town Connection is about: preserving Kannapolis history by telling the stories of the people who lived it. 📸 Browse and purchase Chad’s photography and artwork: ChadMitchell.com 📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina 🎙️ Hosted by the #RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault, along with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin and David Steele Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Local Updates 5:32 – Welcome to Episode 75 5:52 – Introducing Chad Mitchell 7:02 – Growing Up in Kannapolis 12:00 – How Chad Began Documenting the Mills 14:00 – Getting Access with Hardee’s Biscuits 17:18 – Inside the Abandoned Mill Buildings 19:24 – Over 25,000 Photographs 25:10 – The Darkest Place in the Mill 27:20 – “Lifeline” – The Railroad Light Painting 37:15 – Where to See & Buy the Photos 38:21 – Kiln-Dried Maple Floors & the Sign 39:49 – Baseball Photography Years 43:45 – The Dale Earnhardt Artwork 46:06 – The “Quality Work Means Job Security” Sign 53:45 – The Balloon Ride Over Cannon Mills 56:15 – The Photograph of Chad’s Father 59:48 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

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