Since its inception, the Winston-Salem Sportsmen Club has been committed to recognizing and rewarding excellence in athletics. For many years, the organization sponsored the very prestigious “Banquet of Champions.”

In the fall of 1981 Joe Williams proposed the idea of an even more prestigious and more ambitious project for the group, a High School Sports Hall of Fame. Because of his experience, Williams was asked to provide the leadership.

Williams and a committee appointed to aid in the planning of the High School Sports Hall of Fame, projected May 25, 1983 as the first date, and the club members set out soliciting funds required to implement the program. The entire community responded eagerly and generously. Marty Penn was elected President to lead the newly realized venture.

The establishment of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County High School Sports Hall of Fame opened a new chapter in the Winston-Salem Sportsmen Club's history book by honoring those persons who have achieved the level of excellence in sports as participants, administrators, journalists and special supporters. It also added a new dimension to the sports programs of all local high schools. Currently there has been 312 former athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters inducted into the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Sports Hall of Fame.

The physical Museum is located inside the Downtown School at the corner of 6th Street and Cherry Street in Winston-Salem, NC.