Ford, Couch-Sikes Recognized As Trailblazers

Phil Ford (center) receiving the award from Martina Ballen and Carol Foltby Brandon Bieltz, Office of Communications and Public Affairs

CHAPEL HILL—When Phil Ford was setting scoring and assist records for the Carolina men’s basketball team in the late 1970s, he never imagined he as creating a path for student-athletes to come.

But Saturday, nearly 40 years since he last played for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ford was honored for just that.

Ford joined former track and field star Sharon Couch-Sikes at center court of the Dean E. Smith Center on Feb. 20 to receive the third annual Tar Heel Trailblazers award, which recognizes individuals who paved the way for success in all…