All the Way Choo Choo

Throughout the country during the late 1940s, legendary football player Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice established a benchmark for superstar status.

His impact on Carolina football was so great that the 1946-49 seasons became known as the “Justice Era,” which remains one of the most exciting times in Carolina football’s history.

Before coming to Carolina, the Asheville native served in the Navy for four years during World War II. Playing on the football team at Bainbridge Naval Center, Justice acquired the nickname “Choo Choo” because he ran along just like a train.

The first athlete named to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, Justice has inspired generations of athletes, especially Tar Heel football players. He was also the inspiration for the song, “All the Way Choo Choo,” Orville Campbell’s tribute to Justice’s talents on the football field.

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