A simple plaque engraved with a smiling face now memorializes a man who all but owned T.J. Davis Recreation Center for more than 40 years.

Dedicated to the memory of Pat “Hot Dog” Carter, the plaque simply reads, “Devoted friend and longtime family member of the Roanoke Rapids Recreation Center.”

The funds for the plaque were raised through a Facebook effort by Marty Jones, one of the many people who were touched by Carter, who died in December at the age of 51.

“Everyone was pretty giving,” Jones said before a brief ceremony at the rec center this morning. “This is the community's plaque. He had that big old grin and now he's here for basketball season where people will always see this monument. I think it's a fitting honor that will be here longer than us.”

Fisher, foreground, and Teresa look at their plaques.

Carter's oldest sister, Teresa Carter, was touched by the honor. “I think he's up in heaven pointing down and saying, 'I fine.'”

The past two years have been tough for the Carter family, Teresa said, losing their mother in 2009 and then their father seven months after Pat's death.

“I wish daddy was here to see it,” Carter's sister, Wanda Fisher, said before the ceremony.

Teresa said she was impressed with the plaque. “I had no idea it was going to be like that. I thought it would be a small plaque. Pat thought the world of everybody at the rec center. He loved coming up here.”

Parks and recreation Director John Simeon said, “Pat was really part of this family.”

The plaque.

Simeon said staff always looked forward to the time between an 4:30 and 5 p.m. “Our day would be brighter because Pat would come through the door.”

Simeon presented family members with small versions of the plaque. “You can look at that picture and everyone could tell a great story about Pat,” he said.