The names of N.C. State legends like David Thompson, Philip Rivers, Kay Yow, Jim Valvano, Bill Cowher and countless others all share a common thread – David Horning.

The Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for State has been a part of the athletics program since 1983 and grew close with every member of the University family during his time with the school. Horning announced last week that he will retire in July to spend more time with his family.

Nearly two years ago, on July 11, 2009, Horning suffered an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) rupture at his home. While he wanted to become an Athletics Director for years, Horning’s view of life changed following his health scare.

“I’ve got a nine-year-old at home that I haven’t been able to spend much time with,” Horning said. “I had to send my wife on a cub scout camping trip this year. When I work a football season, basketball season and baseball season, that doesn’t really leave much time for my family.

“I don’t really like to talk about my health issue, but it definitely put things into perspective for me.”

Horning has served as a member of the athletics program since 1983, but he has been a Wolfpacker since 1976. As an outside linebacker, Horning participated in two bowl wins, the Peach Bowl in 1977 and the Tangerine Bowl in 1978, along with an ACC Championship under head coach Bo Rein.

When asking Horning about his favorite memory during his playing days, he never skipped a beat when he recounted what the 1979 ACC Championship meant to him, the most recent in school history.

“Winning the ’79 ACC Championship was my favorite moment during my playing days,” Horning said. “I still talk with all of those guys. Beating Carolina was huge, but the ACC Championship was something that I will never forget and my teammates still talk with me about today.”

During his time with the football team, Horning was also part of a senior tradition that ended because of him. Jim Ritcher, winner of the Outland Trophy in 1979 as the best offensive lineman in the country, chose Horning, his roommate, to do his “senior hit” just before the ACC Championship.

“The seniors during the last practice in my day could do their ‘senior hit’ on any underclassman,” Horning said. “And of course Jim [Ritcher] chose me. They got a 40-yard run to hit you as hard as they possibly could. We were both starters and he plowed into me and knocked me 10 feet back.

“After he hit me we were both laying on the ground and we both were almost lost for the championship game. After that, there was never a ‘senior hit’ ever again.”

During Horning’s tenure with the Pack, he has participated in several projects that changed the program as a whole. The Murphy Football Center, Vaughn Towers, Doak Baseball Complex, JW Isenhour Tennis Complex and the Weisiger Brown and Dail Basketball Practice Facility are just a few of the projects Horning has touched.

While Horning says he will miss being a part of such important projects for the University, he said he will miss the students and student-athletes’ responses to the new renovations.

“I’ll miss being around the kids the most,” Horning said. “Being at this job keeps me young. I live to make a difference in a young person’s life. I feel excitement for the kids when they see all of the improvements, whether it be the Murphy Center or Carter-Finley Stadium. That’s why I’ve stayed in this business for so long.”

While several coaches have come and gone throughout Horning’s tenure, like Jim Valvano, Kay Yow and Dick Sheridan, his favorite coach was a swimming coach who has been retired for nearly 20 years.

“My favorite overall coach who has been here was Don Easterling,” Horning said. “He had more Olympians and more ACC champions than anyone else. Coach Valvano and coach Sheridan were always good to me, and I took a little bit from every coach’s style and tried to implement that.”

Throughout Horning’s time with State, another mainstay at the University was women’s basketball head coach Kay Yow. After battling with breast cancer since 1987, Yow, the sister of Athletics Director Debbie Yow, passed away January 24, 2009.

In the month before her passing, Yow sat outside of Horning’s office just to speak with him.

“She came by here at the beginning of December and just wanted to talk,” Horning said. “She sat in a chair right outside of my office and we must have talked for three hours or so. I just remember that time being very special for me. It was a special time in my life to know that she just wanted to talk to me at that time. I will never forget those things.”

“I feel like the programs are in good hands here,” Horning said. “And I feel like they are only going to get better. Maryland is at the top of the Capital One Cup standings, and that is due in large part to Debbie Yow.”

Yow also had high praise for Horning regarding his nearly 30 years with the program.

“David is a special person and Wolfpacker,” Yow said. “I have throughly enjoyed working with him and believe he will continue to be a terrific asset to us, even in retirement. No one loves the Red and White more than David. No one.”

Chris Kingston, the current senior associate athletics director, will assume Horning’s position after his departure.

“David Horning is a man of great character and integrity,” Kingston said. “It has been an honor to be his wingman this past year. I learned so much from him in such a short amount of time. He is a true ‘State Man’ and although retiring, I am so pleased that he will remain in the area.”

 ”It’s been a great ride to be part of the Wolfpack,” Horning said. “I’ve been responsible for a lot of parents’ son or daughter, and I feel like I’ve treated them all well. It’s been special.”