2008 Banquet of Champions program by Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum

BAnqueT of CHAmPionS

Sports Websites To Keep You informed

Tacoma Athletic Commission www.tacomaathletic.com

Shanaman Sports Museum of Tacoma Pierce County www.tacomasportsmuseum.com

State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame www.washingtonsportshalloffame.com

Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball-Softball Oldtimers Association www.oldtimerbaseball.com

Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission www.tacomasports.org

Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club www.tacomarainiers.com

Tacoma FC www.tacomafc.com

West Central District www.wcd3.org

WIAA www.wiaa.com

Photo Credits

The News Tribune

The Seattle Times

Eastern Washington State University Department of Athletics

Pacific Lutheran University Department of Athletics

Stanford University Department of Athletics

University of Puget Sound Department of Athletics

University of Washington Department of Athletics

Washington State University Department of Athletics

Banquet of Champions Program

5:30pm No-host social

Welcome and Introductions - Bill Ogden

6:30pm Dinner

Invocation – Darcy Fast, Former Tacoma Cubs pitcher, now Senior Pastor of Centralia Community Church

America the Beautiful – Kaleb Shelton, Lincoln HS & CJ Shula, Rogers HS

Entertainment – Mike Factory, Former Lincoln HS, UW and UPS football and track athlete

7:10pm Banquet of Champions Video – Bill Ogden

7:30pm Program

Announcer - Bill Ogden

Master of Ceremonies – Gary Justice

TAC Welcome – Willie Stewart (TAC president)

7:45pm Presentation of Awards

Clay Huntington Sports Communication Scholarship - Clay Huntington

Dick Hannula Award – Amateur Athlete of the Year - Dick Hannula

MVP Award – Presented by Pat Garlock, owner –MVP Physical Therapy

First Family of Sports Award - Doug McArthur

Presented by Erin Shagren, granddaughter of Scott and Sis Names and daughter of Tom and Meg Names

8:00pm Featured Speaker – Jim Walden (Former Head Football Coach, Washington State University)

8:15pm Entertainment – Kaleb Shelton & CJ Shula

8:20pm Recognition of Tacoma-P.C. Athletes of the Month for 2007-2008

Tacoma-P.C. High School Athlete of the Year (Female) –

Presented by Terry Mehegan, Vice President & Loan Production Manager-Columbia Bank

Tacoma-P.C. High School Athlete of the Year (Male)

Presented by Sandy Snider, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager-Columbia Bank

8:30pm Induction Ceremonies - Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame—Marc Blau

Announcers—Gary Justice and Bill Ogden

Presenters Ken Still-Former PGA Golf Tour member Willie Stewart, TAC President Colleen Barta, TAC Director

Finale – Gary Justice/Bill Ogden

Video of Champions Available for Purchase

Copies of the “Video of Champions” that you will enjoy this evening are available for purchase on VHS or DVD for $20 which includes shipping.

To order, send your request, along with payment to the: Tacoma Athletic Commission,Video of Champions, PO Box 11304,Tacoma, WA 98411.

Please allow three weeksfor delivery.

For questions,call 253-848-1360or email at marc@tacomaathletic.com

TAC Proud of its 65 Years in Pierce County

Currently celebrating its 65th year as a civic organization in Tacoma and Pierce County, the TAC originally was formed as the Tacoma War Athletic Commission. Its purpose was to raise funds for athletic opportunities at nearby Fort Lewis and McChord AFB during World War II.

Clay Huntington, fresh out of Lincoln high school, was one of the founders and today he is the last living member of the original organizational committee. The TAC has generated nearly $5-million dollars to assist amateur athletic programs and athletes in Pierce County. Not bad for a group whose first venture was a basketball game between Fort Lewis and the Harlem Globetrotters, played in the Tacoma Armory. Admission was 85 cents.

Dedicated to sports and civic betterment, the TAC has been a leader in preserving the history of sports locally. With the unveiling of the book, “Playgrounds to the Pros” in 2005, the Banquet of Champions is a continuation of the TAC’s commitment to honor individuals and recognize their athletic achievements.

The TAC supports the Shanaman Sports Museum in the Tacoma Dome, recognizes High School Athletes of the Month, gives college scholarships to Athletes of the Year, donates to worthy schools, teams, boys and girls clubs, and produces special events in the community to raise funds for those programs and causes.

The TAC also has embarked on the establishment of a TAC Sportsfund, similar to the successful Arts Fund developed locally, and has inventoried every corner of the county about the unmet needs for sports and physical fitness in each community. A campaign already is underway to create a one-million dollar fund to assist with 17 countywide projects for that very purpose. At this writing the TAC has received pledges for nearly one-quarter of that amount from local foundations and businesses. If you would like to help and care about youth and sports, contact Doug McArthur at the TAC office at 759-1124. It will take all of us to be successful, and our youth are counting on us to help.

Yes, the TAC is there when it comes to youth athletic programs in our community. If you are interested in a TAC membership or in helping with any of our various activities, applications and information are available here tonight at a special TAC table near the entrance. Or check on-line at www.tacomaathletic.com.

GueST SPeAKeR

Jim

Walden

Football coach, lecturer, author, radio and television personality, and humorist - those are just a few of the career opportunities Jim Walden has embraced over the past 40-plus years. Who would have ever guessed a dare-devil quarterback out of Mississippi would eventually become one of the most recognized sports icons in Washington State University history, but that is exactly the road Walden has traveled.

The most recent generation of Northwest football fans knows Walden as Bob Robertson’s sidekick each Saturday afternoon during the football season. While Bob calls the action, Walden offers insight, encourages the team and isn’t bashful admitting he’s a “homer” rooting for his beloved Cougars from the broadcast booth. He also can be brutally honest when things are not going well, but then what else would Cougar fans expect - he coached the same way, telling it like it was, good or bad, beautiful or ugly.

Who else but Walden would have prompted Washington Husky football coach Don James to once offer, “I’m a 1,000-word underdog to Walden.”

It is doubtful Jim Walden was ever called bashful, certainly not during his two-year playing career for Bob Devaney’s Wyoming Cowboys, where he earned the nickname “Mississippi Gambler,” or during the nearly 45 years since he hung up his uniform and started coaching.

Following a four-year professional playing career in the Canadian Football League, Walden first emerged on the Cougar scene in 1977 as an assistant for newly hired head coach Warren Powers. A year later and after a stunning upset of Nebraska at Lincoln in the 1977 opener, WSU President Glenn Terrell and athletic director Sam Jankovich decided Walden would become the Cougar’s fourth coach in four years. One of their requirements was a commitment from Walden he wouldn’t bolt at the first opportunity.

But it is doubtful that even they would have expected Walden to still be associated with the Crimson and the Gray when a new century was ushered in.

During his nine-year run as WSU’s head football coach, Walden won 44 games to rank second in career victories. No one would have given him even a remote chance to coach WSU in a bowl game. The Cougars had not been bowling since the 1930 Rose Bowl, and in the 1970s most of the talk was about whether the Cougars even belonged in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Arizona State didn’t offer that opinion, not after Walden’s Cougars spanked the Sun Devils, 51-26, in Spokane in 1978, a rude welcome to the Pac-10 for ASU.

In his first four years Walden provided stability, but equally important he guided WSU to the Holiday Bowl at the conclusion of the 1981 season. It had been 51 years since the Cougars had played in a bowl game and the amazing thing is that WSU came within one win of having a shot at the Rose Bowl. Cougar fans turned San Diego into their playground the week of the game against BYU and Walden was the head cheerleader. The following year, Walden recorded the first of his three victories over the University of Washington, denying the Huskies a berth in the Rose Bowl.

Walden, who defeated every team in the Pac-10 at least once during his Cougar career, eventually did turn his eyes east, resigning after the 1986 season to take over the struggling program at Iowa State. Eight years later Walden stepped out of the coaching fraternity and began developing new opportunities.

In 2001, Walden stepped into the Cougar broadcast booth alongside Robertson and in the ensuing years has been informing and entertaining Cougar football listeners.

Walden’s latest venture has been that of an author as he and Tacoma journalist Dave Boling recently co-authored a book about his experiences at WSU, “Tales from the Washington State Cougars Sideline.”

mASTeRS of CeRemonieS

Gary Justice

A native of Tacoma who was raised in Spanaway, Gary Justice returns for his third straight year as Banquet of Champions emcee.

Gary participated in what was the big three of prep sports – football, basketball and baseball – while a student at Bethel High School. After graduating in 1960, he played baseball at Centralia Community College before graduating in 1962 (he was named the school’s Alumnus of the Year in 1988). He moved on to Washington State University and graduated with honors in 1965.

In the 1970s, Gary’s love of sports had its outworking when he served as a sports broadcaster at KIRO in Seattle. During the first three seasons of the Seattle Seahawks’ existence (1976-78), Gary did the play-by-play of the team’s televised preseason games. During that same time, he served as television color commentator for the Seattle Supersonics. In addition, he served as the color commentator on radio broadcasts of University of Washington football games.

Gary also earned a reputation as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most-trusted public figures after serving for many years as lead anchor of KIRO-TV News in Seattle.

Gary is now a principal of Feek Justice Financial, which among other things is recognized for its long history and expertise in implementing taxefficient charitable strategies. Gary and the firm’s founder, James R. Feek, have assisted in the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars of private wealth into charitable trusts to eventually endow charitable, educational and other non-profit institutions.

Gary, who served three years in the United States Army, most of it as a commissioned officer with the Army Security Agency, is an active, committed member of his community. His public service is at all levels - hands-on volunteer, organizer, board member, educator, fund-raiser and cheerleader. He has served on several boards of non-profit organizations, he has volunteered in excess of 300 hours of community service each year for the past decade, and he is a regular guest lecturer in schools of all levels.

inVoCATion

Darcy fast

Darcy Fast was born in Dallas, Oregon and grew up in Lacey, Washington. He graduated from North Thurston High School in 1965 and was drafted by the New York Yankees as a first baseman in the 7th round of the Major League Draft. In 1966 he enrolled at Warner Pacific College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1969.

Fast was drafted by the Chicago Cubs as a pitcher in the 6th round of the Major League Draft in 1967. He pitched for the Tacoma Cubs from 1967-70 and was a member of the 1969 PCL pennant-winning team. Darcy compiled a 7-2 won-lost record during the 1969 season. He subsequently played for the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres of the National League.

After a brief teaching and business career, Fast accepted a calling into the Christian ministry and has served as Senior Pastor of Centralia Community Church since 1979.

In 2008, Fast co-authored a book with Jonathan Kravetz titled The Missing Cub – a memoir of his baseball career and life’s calling. Fast and his wife, JoAnn, have two sons and four grandchildren. In his free time, he is an avid baseball fan and a lifetime member of the Major League Baseball Alumni Association.

enTeRTAinmenT michael factory Jr.

As a youngster growing up in Tacoma, Mike was active in a variety of sports, excelling in football, and track and field. His accomplishments included receiving MVP honors in football as a running back at the Eastside Boys Club, Gault Junior High, and Lincoln High School.

As a three-year starter at Lincoln, he set a city record for the longest touchdown from scrimmage of 9 yards against Bellarmine Prep. In track and field he defeated the National Jr. Olympic 100 meter champion in the 60-yard dash. He held the state’s fastest time in the 100 yard dash of 9.6 as a high schooler, and was on Lincoln’s state championship track team in 1974, under coach Dan Watson.

As a collegiate athlete, Mike received a full tuition paid scholarship in football to the University of Washington, and the University of Puget Sound, graduating from UPS in 1979.

A student of band and orchestra at all levels of schooling, Mike plays three instruments—piano, alto sax, and bassoon. But, his deepest passion lies in the piano, in which he started playing at the age of four.

Mike Pays Special Tribute to Coach Dan Watson

Mike says, “that in track and field, with so many running and field events, it is nearly impossible for a coach to spend quality time with each and every athlete—but Coach Watson always did. He had a unique passion for all of us. Dan Watson was, without a doubt, the best mentor I ever had and is highly respected by all.”

“Thank you, Coach Dan Watson, for all your time and endless devotion. It will always be greatly appreciated!”

“Playgrounds

To The Pros: An illustrated History of Sports in Tacoma-Pierce County”

From games played in schoolyards to professional championship teams, sports have occupied an important place in the cultural development of the Tacoma area. Playgrounds to the Pros provides an extensive overview of the sports played in the region during the last 150 years. It is not limited to such crowd favorites as baseball, football, and basketball; it also includes archery and auto racing, bowling and boxing, horseshoes and hydroplanes, marbles and mountaineering, soccer and swimming, and much more.

This history of more than 40 sports acknowledges the many men and women athletes who have contributed to their sports over the years, including Lois Secreto, who epitomized ice skating in the 1940s; pro golfer Ken Still, who competed in six Masters, 13 U.S. Opens, and seven PGA Championships; Ryan Moore, who won the 2004 U.S. Amateur Championship; Doug Stevenson, goalie of the riotous Tacoma Rockets in the late forties and fifties; and Gertrude Wilhelmsen, 1936 Olympic athlete and star shortstop of the Tacoma Tigerettes. It is also a tribute to the colleges, schools, organizations, owners, managers, coaches, referees, umpires, and fans who have helped make sports such a significant part of Tacoma and Pierce County’s community, a place where love of a game, any game, is honored and enjoyed.

HOW TO ORDER PLAYGROUNDS TO THE PROS

Books may be purchased directly through the Tacoma Athletic Commission for $25.00 plus an additional $6 if, shipping is required.

Send payment to: TAC, PO Box 11304, Tacoma, WA 98444

For credit card payments or additional information contact us at marc@tacomaathletic.com or call 253-848-1360.

enTeRTAinmenT Kaleb Shelton

Kaleb Shelton is 18 years old and a senior at the Tacoma School of the Arts. He has studied piano and taken private lessons since age six. He performs in competitions, concerts, and recitals year-round. Recently, he placed first in the prestigious Northwest Chopin Competition 16-18-year-old division in Seattle, and has won the Tacoma area Play-offs Competition for two consecutive years. He will continue his music studies and basketball career at the University of Puget Sound.

Kaleb has played on the Tacoma Knights, an AAU basketball team, since third grade, and was teammates with CJ Shula from 5th through 7th grade. Both are standout athletes, musicians, and students.

Kaleb was a four-year letter winner at Lincoln High School and during his senior season played for his brother, head coach Aubrey Shelton. After averaging 8.7 points per game as a freshman, when he won the team’s most inspirational award, Kaleb never averaged less than 10 points per game over the next three seasons. He averaged 10.6 points as a sophomore and earned the Coach’s Award, and his best season came as a junior when he averaged 15.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game to earn the team’s MVP award and All-Narrows League first team honors. As a senior he averaged 11.7 points and 7 rebounds per game, earning the team’s Leadership Award and first team all-league honors. He was a key force in the Abes’ 25-5 record, district championship and fourth-place finish at the 4A state tournament. He also participated in cross country and track & field during his freshman and sophomore year at Lincoln.

CJ Shula

CJ Shula, who averaged 17 points per game as a senior at Puyallup’s Rogers High School, twice earned All-South Puget Sound League first team selection. CJ was the Rams’ team captain and team MVP during the 2007-08 season, leading the squad in almost all statistical categories. In addition to the all-league recognition, CJ was named a Cloud 9 All-Area All-Star selection and a two-time South Puget Sound League Fab Five pick. CJ, who played at Rogers High from 2005-08, has signed a letter of intent to play next year at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID.

CJ and Kaleb Shelton began playing basketball together for the Tacoma Knights in fourth grade. Before becoming teammates, they were opponents. After CJ’s Puyallup Rec team played against Kaleb’s Knights in a tournament, Coach Al Shelton (Kaleb’s dad) promptly recruited CJ to join his team and travel to Florida for the fourth grade boys’ AAU National Basketball tournament. The two were teammates through the eighth grade. While they are once again opponents, they remain friends. In addition to his prep and AAU playing career, CJ coached grade school and junior high boys at Hoopfest in both 2006 and 2007, as well as an AAU spring league team in 2007.

2008 Tacoma-Pierce County High School Athletes of The Year

Sponsored by Columbia Bank

The honor of being the Tacoma-Pierce County High School Athlete Of The Year, Male and Female, goes to individual prep athletes who are selected as High School Athletes Of The Month or win State Championships during the current school year. The awards follow the TAC tradition of recognizing excellence in both academics and athletics. With Columbia Bank’s sponsorship, Athletes Of The Year are eligible for $2,500 college scholarships. The TAC salutes all of its Athletes Of The Month and our State Champions. They all were worthy of the highest of honors in this category.

TAC female Athlete of the Year

Kylee Bishop, Washington High School

Many sports fans around the state are not aware that the sport of Wrestling involves female athletes but our Athlete Of The Year has gone to the mat with all comers for the past four years and she has taken the sport to new heights in the process. Kylee Bishop is a two-time state champion in the two years that high school girls in Washington have had their own tournament. In that span she has registered an undefeated 71-0 record with 65 pins in those 71 matches. She also wrestled on the varsity boys team during the league this season with five wins in six starts. She has been captain of her girls Wrestling team for two years and also served as captain of both her Soccer and Fast Pitch teams at Washington. She was a first-team All-League catcher and batted .500 during the fast pitch season and was named an All-League first-team defender in Soccer. In wrestling her coach Jason Wiklund has said “she is one of the hardest working athletes I have ever coached or seen. She consistently exhibits leadership and willingness to help her teammate improve. In my opinion, Kylee deserves this award since she is the most dominant female athlete in Washington State high school sports today.” Kylee has performed well in the classroom while playing those three sports and has a 3.3 grade point average. In September she will enroll at Rutgers University with an athletic scholarship. Congratulations to Kylee Bishop. The TAC and Columbia Bank second the motion: she truly ranks up there as Washington’s most dominant high school female athlete.

TAC male Athlete of the Year miles unterreiner, Gig Harbor High School

You might say that Miles Unterreiner simply outdistanced himself from the field to become the 2008 Columbia Bank and TAC Male High School Athlete Of The Year.

The competition was excellent but Miles had a “triple crown” and a 4.0 grade point average to outrace all contenders. It all started in the Fall when Miles set four course records and won the Narrows League, West Central District and Washington State 4A Cross-Country Titles. He was undefeated in state of Washington meets, losing only at the Bob Firman Invitational in Boise, Idaho. His time of 15:39 for a 5 kilometer course was 22 seconds better than any other state performer in any classification. No other athlete bettered 16:00. He was named the “Gatorade Player of the Year” in Cross-country as the top athlete in his sport in Washington. In the Spring he came away with two individual championships at the 4A State Track & Field Championships in Pasco. He won the 1600 in a time of 4:13.72 and the 3200 in a time 9:13.51. In the latter he opened-up a lead of 50 meters and was never challenged. In the 1600 he outlasted the defending state champion for a distance sweep. During the season he lowered the school record twice in the rich distance running history of Gig Harbor with a time of 9:02.68.

Past Recipients of The TacomaPierce County High School Athlete of The Year

00 Katrina Drennen, Sumner

Angela Jensen, Fife

Andrew Putnam, Life Christian

00 Danika Lawson, Puyallup

Kyle Stanley, Bellarmine

00 Brie Felnagle, Bellarmine

003

Brad Muri, Steilacoom

Megan Rains, Rogers

Sean McNaughton, Curtis

Ashley Blake, Lakes

Ben Shelton, Lincoln

00 Amy Frederick, Life Christian

000

Out of school he won the Oregon-Washington Nike Borderclash, matching the two state’s top runners. He also finished 5th in the West in the Foot Locker Nationals, rating him one of the top 38 Cross Country Athletes in the nation (akin to being a High School McDonald’s All-America in basketball). What’s ahead for Miles as a National Merit Scholar? An athletic scholarship to one of the nation’s most prestigious schools. That would be Stanford. It’s in the Cards and he’s been “Miles” ahead along the way.

Shelton Sampson, Clover Park

Kim Butler, Bellarmine Prep

K.C. Walsh, Lincoln

Cory Belser, Bethel

Shannon Forslund, Mt. Tahoma

Mellanie Tipps, Sumner

Drew Miller, Lakes.

Onnie Willis, Wilson Collin Henderson, Puyallup

Alexis Yeater, Steilacoom

Travis Brock, Bethel

Dori Christensen, Puyallup

Scott Burcar, Bethel

Evan Martinac, Wilson

Mary Boerner, Bellarmine Prep

Bryan Streleski, Bethel

Alcydia Ladd, Foss

Tyce Nasinec, Rogers

Sarna Renfro, Bellarmine Prep

Chad Wright, Fife

Sarna Renfro, Bellarmine Prep

Jake Guadnola, Bellarmine Prep

The Female Nominees:

Athlete of the Year nominees

Kylee Bishop Washington Wrestling

Joanna Boschee Puyallup Water Polo

Scarlett Cann Stadium Swimming

Sasha Carter Annie Wright Tennis

Nakayla Chan Fife Swimming

Nicole Cochran Bellarmine Track & Field

Chene Cooper Lakes Basketball

Alex Davidson Steilacoom Track and Field

Jessica Erickson Eatonville Soccer

Amber Finley Tacoma Baptist Track and Field

Andrea Geubelle Curtis Track & Field

Jaki Hawkins Lakes Fast Pitch

Richelle Heacock Eatonville Basketball

Brianna Howe Emerald Ridge Gymnastics

Erica Huse Tacoma Baptist Track and Field

Anna Kalbrener Gig Harbor Track and Field

Jordyn Kurtz Stadium Fast Pitch

Bree LeRoy Gig Harbor Track and Field

Hillary Norris Sumner Track & Field

Sadena Park Bethel Golf

Amanda Richards Stadium Bowling

Kristin Rue Life Christian Golf

Christy Sipes Bellarmine Tennis

Kayla Stuekle Emerald Ridge Track & Field

Ariam TecleMariam Bellarmine Basketball

Kelly Watts Bellarmine Soccer

The Male Nominees:

Efrain Aguilar Graham-Kapowsin Wrestling

Erich Armstrong Franklin Pierce Football/Baseball

Seth Bridges Lakes Cross Country

Logan Bushnell Emerald Ridge Football

Alex Hacker Curtis Swimming

Oliver Henry Bethel Football

Gerald Hill Charles Wright Basketball

Jesse Jorgensen Puyallup Track and Field

Jake Kaija Wilson Swimming

Maurice McNeal Tacoma Baptist Track and field

Corey Moore Curtis Baseball

Ryan Rogers Lincoln Basketball

Ben Ruff Puyallup Baseball

Cole Scarbrough Mt. Tahoma Swimming

Calvin Schmidtke Lakes Football

Stephen Scott-Ellis Curtis Track and Field

C.J. Shula Rogers Basketball

Scott Sullivan Puyallup Tennis

Kaleb Shelton Lincoln Basketball

Brad Sweet Graham-Kapowsin Wrestling

Miles Unterreiner Gig Harbor Cross Country

OFFICIALS

SPORTS

Sports Officials Wanted To Youth And Adult Recreation League And Interscholastic Athletic Games. Training Provided. Earn Money And Provide A Much Needed Service To The Youth Of The Tacoma-pierce County Community.

IF INTERESTED CONTACT:

The TAC supports sports and the youth of Pierce County, And the TAC needs You

If supporting youth and sports in Tacoma-Pierce County is appealing to you, joining the Tacoma Athletic Commission should be a “no-brainer.” No other sports-oriented organization in Pierce County ever has done more for our kids and their sports, and the TAC is currently celebrating 65 years of doing just that.

Nearly $5 million has been donated to schools, recreation departments, boys and girls clubs, deserving teams and individual athletes during that time thanks to TAC dues and special events staged by Commission members.

Among the fund-raisers which the TAC supports or sponsors are this Banquet of Champions, the Shanaman Sports Museum of Tacoma-Pierce County, the annual Golden Gloves amateur boxing show (this year was our 60th consecutive), and the Ken Still Celebrity Golf Classic. The latter is scheduled for the Home Course July 14 and local sports heroes galore are committed to play. You can join them by contacting Tim Waer at 284-3260.

Tonight’s induction of new members into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame is another TAC tribute to sports in our community

If the TAC is destined to continue its efforts of support, it needs the help of civic-minded, sports-minded citizens like you. A TAC individual membership or a TAC Corporate/Business Membership is the ideal way to assist this worthwhile cause.

You may locate a membership application at www.tacomaathletic.com or call Doug McArthur at 253-759-1124 or via email at dougmc@nventure.com

Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award

The Dick Hannula Award is given to the top male and female amateur athletes in Tacoma-Pierce County for the past year. Hannula, an internationally-known coach and a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, also led his Wilson boys swim teams to 24 straight state titles, and coached numerous world-class swimmers such as Kaye Hall-Greff, Janet Buchan Elway, Barbara Mitchell, Chuck Richards, Dick, David and Dan Hannula, Miriam Smith, Sarah Rudolph and others, many of whom are here this evening.

female Amateur Athlete of the Year Christal morrison

Outside hitter Christal Morrison left the University of Washington as arguably the school’s most decorated volleyball player ever. The only Husky to ever be named a four-time All-America selection, Morrison set UW career records for kills (1,859), attacks (4,726) and points (2,188).

As a senior, she paced the Huskies in kills (4.12 kpg) and points (4.96 ppg) and hit .273 while averaging 2.61 digs per game. She finished ranked fifth in the Pac-10 in points and eighth in kills on her way to her fourth-straight first team All-Pac-10 honor.

Morrison was a four-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) AllAmerica pick, as well as a four-time AVCA first team All-Pacific Region honoree. She earned AVCA first team All-America honors as a junior and senior, third team honors as a sophomore and second team honors as a freshman.

She was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2006 and earned the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year award in 2004. In 2005, Morrison was named the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player after helping the Huskies to their first-ever national championship. Following the national title, Morrison was named the Sports Star of the Year by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Morrison, who was also a three-time Asics All-America selection, ranks in the Top 10 of nine UW career statistical categories, including second in kills per game (4.29) and points per game (5.05). She also finished her career tied for eighth in the Pac-10 for most career kills and sixth in most career attacks.

Christal earned 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year honors during her senior season at Puyallup High School. She was a three-time first team All-South Puget Sound League honoree and helped Puyallup to a state runner-up and third place finish in back-to-back years. She also played on the U.S. Junior National Team that won a silver medal in the 2002 NORCECA Junior Continental Championships.

Morrison recently fulfilled a long-standing dream by playing in the Liga de Voleibol Superior Femenino (Women’s Superior Volleyball League) in Puerto Rico for the Bayamón Cowgirls for the past few months. Each of the 10 teams in the LVSF are allowed to carry two foreign players on their roster, and Morrison, who is the UW’s only four-time AVCA All-American, ranked third in kills and points, and fourth in kills per game and points per game. She was also chosen for the LVSF All-Star Match, which pits Las Nativas (the best Puerto Rican players) against Las Importadas (the best foreign players).

As for the future, Christal has high hopes of continuing on in the sport on the biggest stage there is -- the Olympics. “It’s looking like it’s more in the cards for 2012 rather than 2008, but it’s obviously a dream of mine to go and represent my country and play in the Olympic Games,” Morrison said.

Born in Puyallup, Christal is the daughter of Mike and Dianne Morrison. She has two older brothers, Greg and Jerid.

male Amateur Athlete of the Year

Brandon Gibson

Brandon Gibson, a football and basketball standout from 2002-05 at Rogers High School, had an outstanding junior season as a wide receiver for the Washington State University Cougars. Brandon started in 11 games for the Cougars and established a new WSU football record with 1,180 receiving yards during the season. In doing so, he led the Pac-10 Conference and was ranked third nationally with 107.3 receiving yards per game. In addition, Brandon’s 67 receptions and his nine touchdowns rank him in a third-place tie on the WSU single-season lists in those categories. His 11 catches against Arizona put him second on the school list for receptions in a game.

Brandon finished the season with six games of at least 100 receiving years, including a careerbest 153 yards against Stanford. In the Cougars’ season finale against Washington in the Apple Cup, Gibson compiled 137 receiving yards and caught the tying and game-winning touchdowns in the final quarter.

The speedy wide receiver received first team All-Pac 10 honors and was named to Rivals.com and Phil Steele’s All-Pac 10 first teams. In addition, he was selected to Phil Steele’s AllAmerica Third team.

Brandon will go into his senior season next year ranked eighth on the Cougar career list in both receptions (125) and receiving yards (2,083), and 10th in the all-time list in career touchdowns (15).

Brandon’s parents are Steve Gibson and Marlene Williams. His uncle, Vaughn Williams, played for the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts.

Past Recipients

2007—Megan (Quann) Jendrick, Kellen Harkness

2006—Christal Morrison, University of Washington/Puyallup

2006—Joe Rubin, Portland State University/Foss

2005 —Ryan Moore, University of Nevada at Las Vegas/Cascade Christian 2004—Reggie Williams, University of Washington 2003—Ryan Moore, University of Nevada at Las Vegas/Cascade Christian 2002—Dana Boyle, Pacific Lutheran University

2001—Chad Johnson, Pacific Lutheran University/Rogers

2000—Meaghan Quann, Emerald Ridge 1999—Kirk White, Boise State/Curtis 1998—Karl Lerum, Pacific Lutheran University

1997—Shannon Forslund, Mt. Tahoma 1996—Dusty Brett, Bellarmine Prep 1995—Brock Huard, Puyallup 1994—Marc Weekly, Pacific Lutheran University/Rogers

1993—Kate Starbird, Lakes 1992—Sonja Olejar, Bellarmine Prep/ Stanford University

1991—Damon Huard, Puyallup 1990—Andy Maris, White River 1989—Sonya Brandt, Pacific Lutheran University

1988—Mike Oliphant, University of Puget Sound

1987 —Jim Martinson, Puyallup

The Clay Huntington Sports Communication Scholarship Award

Clay Huntington may have been the youngest sportswriter and sportscaster in Tacoma’s history. He started while in Lincoln High School, working for the Tacoma Times and KMO radio, and he continued while attending the College of Puget Sound. He was one of the founders of the Tacoma Athletic Commission, the first voice of the Tacoma Tigers when professional baseball returned to Tacoma in 1946 and also broadcast Tacoma Rockets Hockey games from 1946-53.

A former Pierce County Commissioner and founder of the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame, Clay owns radio station KLAY, one of the last stations still covering Tacoma high school and college sports in addition to Tacoma’s professional teams.

The Clay Huntington Scholarship Award is a TAC effort, dedicated in Clay’s name, to assist worthy local high school students in their pursuit of broadcasting or journalism at the college of their choice.

Brittany Ward

Brittany was born in Puyallup, where she has lived her entire life. She attended Shaw Road Elementary and Kalles Junior High School, where she had the opportunity to have many great teachers that have encouraged and mentored her throughout her education.

Brittany is a senior at Puyallup High School, where she has been actively involved in the school’s journalism program for three years. She has been sports editor of the school newspaper, “Viking Vanguard,” for two years. Brittany received an honorable mention citation for sports writing, and a fifth place, Best of Show, for the fifth edition of the Vanguard, at the 2007 National NSPA/JEA journalism conference in Denver, Colorado.

She grew up ice skating at Sprinker Recreation Center, beginning at the age of 3, and has been skating competitively for 10 years. This year – just for fun – she was determined to be part of a team sport, so she became a member of her high school’s girl’s tennis team.

The past three years, Brittany has been battling a debilitating muscle neuron disease, which has weakened her right hand and limits what, and how much, she can do. Brittany has not let this stop her as she has learned many ways to compensate.

In addition to ice skating, tennis and the school newspaper, Brittany plays in Puyallup High’s symphonic winds band and orchestra and the marching band. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the student council and the Diversity Club.

Brittany will be attending Washington State University in the fall 2008. She plans on pursuing a degree in Communications, though at this time she has not decided between print or broadcast journalism. She also would like to continue her education in photography and incorporate photography with her journalism to tell people’s stories. Her journalism teacher’s motto is “Everyone has a story to tell,” and Brittany wants to be there to tell those stories.

Past Recipients

2007—Mike Beers, Pierce College

2006---Nick Kajca, Emerald Ridge HS

2005---Spencer Drolette, Peninsula HS

2004—Brendon Kepner, Spanaway Lake HS

2003—Russell Houghtaling, Peninsula HS

2002—Chad Potter, Gig Harbor HS

2001—Spencer Snope, Peninsula HS

2000—Kara Rae Skagg, Peninsula HS

The Shanaman Sports museum of Tacoma-Pierce County

Through out the years, Tacoma-Pierce County has been fortunate to receive recognition and publicity thanks to its national and international caliber athletes, coaches and teams. There has never been one place in which their accomplishments at the high school, college, amateur and professional level could be recognized for the distinction they have brought or will bring to our community. Under the auspices of the Tacoma Athletic Commission, and thanks to a generous contribution by Fred Shanaman, Jr. the museum became a reality with the opening in October of 1994.

The primary focus is to recreate the history of sports through visual displays and complemented with a narrated video highlighting famous moments in our local history. The museum focuses not only on athletes, coaches, and teams, but also on administrators, sponsors, officials, sportswrit-ers and broadcasters, all of whom have contributed to our rich sports heritage. The staff is currently working to create a web accessible database, which will serve as a comprehensive educational resource to the community.

Contributions Sought for museum

The Shanaman Sports Museum appreciates those who are able to provide financial contributions to the organization to continually update and rotate displays, expand the interpretive section of the museum, and enhance the accessibility of the collections through use of the website and other interac-tive means. Financial support also will allow establishment of regular operat-ing hours so that the public can more easily enjoy the displays.

Artifacts are always being sought which will foster continued preservation of our sports history. Whether it be an old family scrapbook, a uniform, glove, programs, photos, posters, or even an old baseball from the turn of the century, each artifact tells a story and contributes to the folklore that we strive to preserve for generations to come. We must understand the past in. order to appreciate the present and unique memorabilia will allow us to accomplish this objective.

The Shanaman Sports Museum of Tacoma-Pierce County is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit status. To make a financial or artifact contribution, discuss estate planning to benefit the museum or for further information, contact Marc Blau, President, Shanaman Sports Museum at 9908 – 63rd Ave. Ct E., Puyallup, WA 98373 or (253) 848-1360 or via email at blaumarc@qwest.net

Banquet Volunteers

Our appreciation goes to these sports fans that have volunteered to serve on the banquet and museum committees

Colleen Barta

Larry Bartz

Mike Beers

Nikki Belvins

Cheryl Blau

Leroy Booker

Liz Colleran

Nick Dawson

Angie Eichholtz

Jack Fabulich

Adria Farber

Jon Graef

Megan Guenther

Matt Haner

Lisa Harrison

Carolynn Howard

Dave Konsa

CJ Johnson

Jo Ann Maxwell

Arlene McArthur

Doug McArthur

Bruce Morris

Eugene Morris

Kenneth Morris

Kristian Patterson

Diane Pittman

Angie Eichholtz

Jack Price

Jean Ramey

Jerry Ramsey

Elaine Ramsey

Marlowe Roeser

Heidi Rowntree

John Smith

Jackie Skaught

Tim Waer

Darrell Watkins

Pat Weber

Karen Westeen

Colby Wilson

John Wohn

Jackie Wohn

Teri Wood

Marilyn Woolery

Terry Ziegler

Dick Zierman

Thanks To The following Banquet Sponsors for Their Support!!

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Emerald Queen Casino

GOLD SPONSORS

Columbia Bank

MVP Physical Therapy

The News Tribune

SILVER SPONSORS

Cascade Print Media

Kellie Ham Type & Graphics

MultiCare Health System/Sports Medicine

BRONZE SPONSORS

Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound

C.J. Johnson’s Bail Bonds

Mike Dunbar-CFP

Dwyer Pemberton & Coulson, PC

Franciscan Health System

Merit Company

Anthony J. Milan, D.D.S.

Pierce Commercial Bank

RICOH

TAPCO Credit Union

Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Commission

Watson’s Greenhouse & Nursery

Willie Stewart

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS

most Valuable Player Award presented by

mVP PHYSiCAL THeRAPY

This award is given to the male and female determined to be the Most Valuable Player in Tacoma-Pierce County to their team during the 2007-08 school year. It is an award that emphasizes teamwork in a true team sport and epitomizes an individual who understands and recognizes the value of integrating his/her game with that of their teammates.

The award is presented by MVP Physical Therapy, known for offering some of the best sports therapy programs in the community utilizing a team approach. This includes both therapists and certified athletic trainers that focus on your athletic injuries while designing sport-specific and overall athletic rehab and training programs to meet your goals.

Sara Halasz

Basketball, Lakes High School

Growing up in a military family, Sara Halasz has lived in Alabama, Kansas, Texas, Washington, D.C., Korea, Hawaii, Australia, and now in Washington state. So it probably won’t be a major stretch for her when she takes her considerable basketball talent to New Mexico, where she will play basketball for the University of New Mexico.

Sara, born May 1, 1990, in Gadsden, Alabama, started playing basketball at age 8. She has played AAU basketball since she was 12, and at age 14 she was selected for the 16-andunder Australian national team. Her father’s transfer to Fort Lewis brought Sara to Pierce County, and Lakes High School was the beneficiary of her outstanding talent. She earned four letters playing for the Lancers, and she capped her tremendous prep career with numerous honors as a senior. She received Associated Press First Team All-State, 3A All-State Tournament, First Team All-Area (Seattle and Tacoma) and McDonald All-America nomination after averaging 20.5 points, 9 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game. Sara was the two-time Western Cascade League Most Valuable Player, earned second team all-area honors as a junior, and was the 3A state tournament MVP in 2007.

When not playing for her school, Sara flashed her skills for Seattle’s Baden Elite travel team. In the past five years, 36 players representing Baden Elite have received NCAA Division I and Division II scholarships. Her AAU coach says of Sara, “Her hard work ethic and positive attitude set her apart from her peers.”

Sara’s talents didn’t end on the basketball court as she earned letters in track & field and in fastpitch at Lakes High School.

Sara’s parents are Scott and Denise Halasz. Her father retired after 31 years in the military and her mother is a registered nurse practitioner. Her older brother, Scott, also plays college basketball and has been her inspiration.

Besides basketball Sara loves fishing, snowboarding, water sports, and martial arts.

PAST

Amanda Roselli Soccer, fife High School

Amanda Roselli earned numerous awards following her junior soccer season at Fife High School in 2007. She was named Nisqually League Player of the Year, Fife High School Athlete of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year, first team all-league, and Seattle Times first team all-area.

Amanda scored 31 goals to lead the Nisqually League in goals scored, in addition to providing the spark to Fife High’s drive to the Washington 2A state championship.

As a sophomore during the 2006 season, Amanda earned first team All-Nisqually League and second team all-area honors. When not playing for Fife High School, Amanda is a top player for Norpoint 90 of the Washington State Premier League Division 2. Last season, she helped Norpoint 90 to an 11-3 record and a first-place finish in Division 3. She has been playing select team soccer for seven years.

Amanda, who was born on Sept. 17, 1990, maintains a 3.70 grade point average, earning her a scholastic award and inclusion in the honors society at Fife High School.

Willie C. Stewart President

Congratulations to the T.A.C. for it’s outstanding support of amateur athletes in Pierce County for 65 years.

Avery Bradley, Basketball, Bellarmine Prep

Along with teammate Abdul Gaddy, Avery Bradley was the Co-MVP of the Narrows League and helped Bellarmine Prep to a third-place finish at the 2008 4A state basketball tournament. He averaged 24.9 points, 7.2 rebounds. 2.4 assists and 3.3 steals per game during his junior season.

A 6-foot, 2-inch guard, Avery has a trunk full of awards as a member of the Bellarmine Prep Lions. He earned MVP Defense honors as a sophomore and junior, Mr. Rebound as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and “The Thief” as a sophomore and junior. He also led the Lions in field goal percentage during his freshman and junior seasons.

Avery, who has been on the Bellarmine boys varsity team since his freshman year, earned first team allstate honors following his sophomore and junior seasons. He was Narrows League MVP and first team all-area as a sophomore. He has scored 1,548 points in his three seasons at Bellarmine Prep.

“Avery is a very talented young basketball player,” said his coach at Bellarmine, Bernie Salazar. “He possesses excellent quickness and natural strength. To go along with his ability, Avery is also a very hard worker in his development as an athlete and as an elite basketball player. Perhaps Avery’s strongest attribute is that he is a very fierce competitor. His will to compete and win are second to none. Avery is also a very good defensive player who can control the game at the defensive end. When you combine all these talents you get an electrifying player. Fans love to watch him play.”

Abdul Gaddy, Basketball, Bellarmine Prep

Abdul Gaddy had a tremendous junior campaign for Bellarmine Prep, averaging 23.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game in helping the Lions to a 25-4 record and a third-place finish at the state tournament. He was Co-MVP of the Narrows League with junior teammate Avery Bradley, and was named MVP of the all-area team by Tacoma Weekly. Topping off his great year, the 6-foot, 3-inch point guard earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors for the state of Washington.

As a sophomore, Abdul earned first team All-Narrows League and second team allarea honors. During his three seasons at Bellarmine, Abdul has scored 1,381 points. His coach, Bernie Salazar, describes Abdul as “a very dedicated and hard working athlete. He is always in the gym working on his skill development and playing against the best competition in the area and in the nation. Abdul understands the value of hard work and success. He is a natural point guard with a very high IQ for the game of basketball. The best part of Abdul Gaddy is that he is a fine young man who is working very hard to better himself and be a positive influence in our society.”

Abdul, who verbally committed to play his collegiate basketball for the University of Arizona, is ranked 14th overall among prep basketball players by recruiting Web site Rivals.com.

TAC fiRST fAmiLY of SPoRTS AWARD

The First Family of Sports Award recognizes the contributions of parents, foster parents or guardians who instill and help maintain athletes’ successes.

From the “Hi Mom” TV wave at a sports event to more formal acknowledgement of family interest in and encouragement of sports from generation to generation, athletic achievement, whether in team or individual sports, is fostered by and also can foster family life.

Dick & Sylvia Hannula Family—Dick, Sylvia, Dan, Dick, Dave, and Debby.

fiRST fAmiLY of SPoRTS AWARD ReCiPienTS

2007 Names Family—Scott, Sis, Tom, Clint and Paula

2006 Williams Family—Joe, Cleo, Joe, Jerry, Dave, Susan, and John, Jordan and Jennifer

Hannula familyfirst in Swimming, And All of Sports

The TAC took a look at swimming this year in its quest to find the First Family Of Sports in Tacoma and Pierce County. It turned out to be a “no-brainer”.

Dick and Sylvia Hannula and a “relay team” of children -- Dan, Dave, Debbie and Dick – crossed the finish line before any other candidates could even get out of the blocks.

It was a tidal wave decision.

The Hannula family lives near the Titlow Pool and not too far from Wilson high school but you could rarely find any of them at home during the years when the kids were growing-up. They were all making quite a splash at their “homes away from home”.

In the winter months that was Wilson, in a pool which now sports the name of Dick Hannula Pool. The Tacoma School District decided that in tribute to a coach of 32 years whose teams won an amazing 323 consecutive swim meets, including 24 consecutive boys’ Washington State High School Championships.

In summer time it was Titlow where Dick founded the Tacoma Swim Club and served as its 42-year head coach from 1955 to 1997. During that stretch he coached four USA Olympic team members, five World University Games swimmers (including three gold medal winners), Pan American Games and World Championship swimmers, plus several

USA National Champions and American Record holders.

Kaye Hall, the 1968 winner of two Gold Medals and a Bronze at the Olympic Games, was one of Hannula’s most successful swimmers. She was a World Record Holder in the 100 meter backstroke.

It would take far more room than this printed program can allow to document Dick Hannula’s many achievements and awards. In 1987 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He also belongs to the American Swim Coaches, the National Interscholastic, the State of Washington, the Pacific Northwest, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Halls of Fame.

In 1980 he was named the National High School Swim Coach of the Year and he has coached USA National Swim Teams in international competition five times. He also was Manager of those USA teams in Pan American, Olympic and Goodwill Games.

He was Commissioner of Swimming for Seattle’s Goodwill Games in 1990, President of the American Swim Coaches’ Association four times, and Vice-President of the World Swimming Coaches’ Association.

He has written or co-edited three books on Swimming, another 100 technical swimming articles for swim publications, and has given speeches or conducted clinics in 30 states and at five foreign swimming institutes. Mention the word Hannula around the world of swimming and you’ll be making waves. Big-time! (Even in the Palouse where Dick swam for the Cougars from 1947-50 and recently became a member of the WSU Sports Hall of Fame).

Sylvia wasn’t a swimmer but, once she met Dick as a student at WSU, swimming became a big part of her life. At North Kitsap high she was a catcher on the school’s softball team and she later played shortstop in the local Housewive’s League. Now a retired teacher, she may hold a record for attending swim meets in a lifetime. Most of it was spent cheering for her family, and there was plenty to cheer about.

Debbie was the youngest and the only daughter. She swam at Wilson high and for the Tacoma Swim Club where she qualified for five national swim meets. She took 3rd place in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events at the state high school championships before heading for college at WSU where she swam at the Intramural level. Later she swam in Masters competition and coached in the Tacoma Swim Club youth program for three years.

Now living in San Francisco (she graduated from law school at the University of San Diego after getting her B.A. from WSU), Debbie was a Judge Pro Tem for 10 years in Puget Sound country where she served on 18 professional associa-

Hannula Brothers and Sister—

Front L to R: Dick (M), Debby. Back L to R: Dan, Dave

Photos in order below the four children are: Dave, Dick, Debby, and Dan Hannula

tions. She was President of the Pierce County’s Women Lawyers in 2002-3 and Vice-President of the Washington Women Lawyers Foundation from 1997 to 2005. Her judicial rating by both the King County Bar Association and the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association speaks for itself. It reads: “Exceptionally Well Qualified.”

The brothers three were champions at every level. Dan was the oldest and he set the pace as a High School All-American at Wilson and a College All-American at the University of Washington. He swam at a championship level in five events at Wilson and in the 200 and 500 freestyle and the 800 relay at the UW. Dan was the Canadian National Champion in the 100 meters in 1970 and he was ranked 7th and 9th in the world in the 200 and 400 meters free events in 1971.

Dan took his swimming excellence to water polo at both Wilson and Washington. He was given the outstanding player award at the state tournament when Wilson won the 1969 title for a second straight year and he starred for the Huskies in both ’70 and ’71. Now a trial lawyer in Tacoma with the law firm of Rush, Hannula, Harkins and Kyler, Dan has fond memories of his time with the Tacoma Swim Club (1957-75) and many championships along the way. One of his prouder accomplishments, however, may have been an out-of-water title he won in 1978 – that of Pierce County Decathlete.

Dave followed in his brother’s footsteps at Wilson but chose the University of Southern California for his higher education. Now a dentist locally, his swimming career was filled with success. He was a state high school champion in the 100 back and 200 IM in both 1971 and 72, was the National AAU Champion in the 400 IM in 1975, and became a College All-America at USC from 1973-76. He was ranked as high as 3rd in the world in the 400 IM. His wins as a Trojan shall go undocumented here because of space limitations. All-America status tells it all.

Richard M. Hannula was the third of the clan to attend Wilson and the second to choose USC. He is now the principal at Covenant High School in Tacoma. Dick not only won the state championships in the 200 and 500 freestyle events, he set national high school records in both. In college he was a 4-year NCAA All-America and a member of the USC relay team which won the national title in the 800 relay and set an American record in the process. In 1977 he won the 400 free to claim a gold medal at the World University Games and was ranked 9th in the world in that event.

Just imagine a family with three sons ranked in the top ten in the world during their swimming careers. You don’t need to know much about the sport to totally appreciate why the Hannulas are being honored here tonight as Tacoma and Pierce County’s First Family of Sports. It couldn’t be more obvious.

The Hannula roots can be traced back to Finland. Grandpa came to America as a fisherman. It’s ironic that there is a Finnish connection because they always seemed to be first at the finish line no matter what pool they graced. We tried to trace the language but failed to find out how Hannula would be spelled in English. We’re sure it would be s-wi-m-m-e-r. With a capital S!

first family of Sports Award Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria:

1. Parents or guardians must have supported the efforts of their children in school and community activities.

2. Child/children must have made significant contributions at the local, state, regional or national sports scene.

3. Child/children should be able to demonstrate achievements or contributions designed to help improve the quality of life in the community they lived in.

4. All family members should be in good standing as members of the community.

5. Only members of immediate family are eligible for consideration. Extended family members through marriage, birth etc will not be considered as part of an immediate family (i.e. Mother, Father, and their children)

DO YOU KNOW A FAMILY DESERVING OF THIS AWARD?

Send in your nomination with a detailed explanation of why you think the family deserves to receive this honor. Include background information on both the parents and their children and be specific as to their community and school involvement. Please elaborate on how the parents supported their children in their school, sports and extracurricular endeavors and any additional information that will support this nomination.

Submit nominations to: Tacoma Athletic Commission: PO Box 11304, Tacoma, WA 98411 or Email to: marc@tacomaathletic.com

Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame

Hall of Fame inductees are recognized for their outstanding sports accomplishments and contributions that have brought significant local and regional acclaim to themselves and to the Tacoma-Pierce County area.

Additional criteria includes:

1. Athletes must be retired from active competition.

Exception: Individuals in such categories as a coach, administrator, official, broadcaster or sportswriter still active at the age of 70 may be nominated for the HOF.

2. Coaches, administrators, broadcasters, sportswriters, officials and support personnel (photographer, trainer, scorekeeper, groundskeeper etc) must demonstrate significant accomplishments/contributions in their field for an extended length of time.

3. Individuals to be considered must be born and raised in Tacoma-Pierce County or must have maintained significant long-term residence in the community. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the TPCHOF committee.

4. Other categories not listed will be considered on an individual basis by the committee. Nominations for future considerations, which should include a detailed description of the individual’s athletic career, are encouraged from the general public.

To submit a nomination, you may submit your information to marc@tacomaathletic.com or write to the Tacoma Athletic Commission, Attn: TPCHOF Committee, P.O. Box 11304, Tacoma, WA 98411 or submit the nomination online by using the following directions:

1. Go to www.tacomasportsmuseum.com

2. Click on Sports Hall of Fames in the menu bar at the top of the page.

3. Click on Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame

4. Click on “On-Line Nomination Form” in red.

5. Complete information and click submit at bottom or form.

A committee of local sportswriters, Tacoma Athletic Commission members, and current HOF inductees will cast ballots to determine the new inductees who will be selected from an impressive list of candidates. Honorees will be recognized at an annual spring function.

2008 INDUCTEES FOR

TACOMA-PIERCE

COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME

AUTO RACING

Ron Eaton

Jim Crews

BASEBALL

Bill Hobert

Dave Minnitti (Player/ Umpire)

Frank Morrone (Player/ Umpire)

Cliff Schiesz

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Jim Clifton (Player/Coach)

Steve Anstett (Player/Coach)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Kelly Larson

BOWLING

Denny Krick

Frisco Burnett

FIGURE SKATING

Scott Davis

FOOTBALL

Brock Huard

Duane Lowell

Bill McGovern

David Svendsen

GOLF

Doug Campbell

Brian Mogg

Joan Teats (Administrator)

GYMNASTICS

Catherine Williams Kadera

HANDBALL

Lea McMillan

HOCKEY

Louie Weir (Player/Administrator)

OFFICIALS

Aaron Pointer (Football/Baseball)

Ed Stricherz (Football/Basketball)

SNOW SKIING

Marshall Perrow

SOAP BOX DERBY

John West

SOFTBALL—FASTPITCH

Gene Thayer

Dick Yohn

SQUASH

Mark Alger

SWIMMING

Susan Lenth Moffet

Rod Stewart

Mark Smith

Robb Powers

Dana Powers Hubbard

TRACK & FIELD

Curt Corvin

Michelle Finnvik Biden

Warren Logan (Coach)

Jim Martinson

Aaron Williams

Burt Wells (Coach)

VOLLEYBALL

Suzanne Vick Paulsen

WATER POLO

Jerry Hartley (Coach)

WRESTLING

Kirk White

SAILING

Govnor Teats

SPORTS BROADCASTER

Art Popham

ADMINISTRATOR

Jim Kittilsby

1970 Wilson HS Boys Swimming State Championship Team

Dick Hannula (Head Coach), Jim Boettcher (Diving Coach and Assistant Swim Coach), Dave Asahara, Dave Burkey, Tom Dickson, Jeff Edwards, Jim Gagliardi, Dan Hannula, Dave Hannula, Brent Heisler, Gary Holmquist, Mark Hoffman, Randy Hume, Chuck Johnston, Kevin Kambak, Kurt Knipher, Scot Knowles, Dennis Larsen, Steve Lindeman, Bob Music, Bart Rohrs, Herb Schairbaum, Greg Searles, Brandon Smith, Kelly Smith, Dale Sowell, Bob Tonellato, Rick Unrue, Dave Williams, Hans Wold, and Dave Wright.

TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME BY SPORT

ARCHERY

Harry Parker 1971 Archery/Football

Sonny Johns 2005

AUTO RACING

Tom Carstens 2006

Leo Dobry 2006

Pete Lovely 2006

Pat Austin 2007

Dick & Wanda Boness 2007

BASEBALL

Bob Johnson 1957

Roy Johnson 1960

Paul Strand 1961

Jack Fournier 1962

George Wise 1963 Baseball/Golf

Cy Neighbors 1964

Marv Rickert 1964

Frank Tobin 1964

Dill Howell 1966

Ben B. Cheney (sponsor) 1968

Jesse Baker 1969

Lou Balsano 1969

Tony Banaszak Sr. 1969

Jimmy Claxton 1969

Dick Greco 1969

Walt Hagedorn 1969

Frank Hermsen 1969

Joe Hermsen 1969

Rick Johnson 1969 Baseball/Basketball

Lee Kierstad 1969

Bill Libke 1969

Cliff Marker 1969

Joey Peterson 1969

Frank Ruffo 1969

Jack Sonntag (coach) 1969

Lou Spadafore 1969

Ole Swinland 1969 Baseball/Basketball

Hal Votaw 1969

Jess Brooks 1971 Baseball/Football

Gordon Brunswick 1971 Baseball/Basketball/ Football

Eddie Carlson 1971

Jimmy Ennis 1971 Baseball/Football

Ocky Haugland 1971

Neil Mazza 1971

Bobby McGuire 1971 Baseball/Basketball/ Football

Vern Morris 1971 Baseball/Basketball/ Football

Jimmy Mosolf 1971

Andy Nelson 1971

Henry “Fat” Williams 1971

Art Berg 1972

Floyd “Lefty” Isekite 1972

Morry Abbott 2005

Ron Cey 2005 Baseball/Football/ Basketball

Cy Greenlaw 2005

Garry Hersey 2005 Baseball/Football

Gordy Hersey 2005

Jack Johnson 2005 Baseball/ FB & BB Official

Bob Maguinez 2005

Lornie Merkle 2005 Baseball/FB/BB Official

Cap Peterson 2005

Marv Scott (coach) 2005

Wes Stock 2005

Ron Storaasli 2005 Baseball/Basketball/ Football

Joe Stortini 2005 Baseball/Football/ Slowpitch Softball

Steve Whitaker 2005

1956 Stanley Shoemen team 2005

Team includes Stan Naccarato, Morley Brotman, Doug McArthur, Tom Montgomery, Jack Johnson, Dale Bloom, Mike Dillon, Manly Mitchell, Max Braman, Dick Montgomery, Dick Schlosstein, Russ Wilkerson, Gordy Hersey, Jim Gallwas, Bob Maguinez, Earl Hyder, Ron Storaasli, Gordy Grubert. Pat Dillon, Ray Spalding, Monte Geiger, George Grant, and Jim Harney.

Rick Austin 2006

Earl Birnel 2006

Dale Bloom 2006

Dick Colombini 2006

Mike Dillon 2006

George Grant 2006

Earl Hyder 2006

Arley Kangas 2006

Earl Kuper 2006

Al Libke Jr. 2006

Bob Lightfoot (coach) 2006

Bill Mullen (coach) 2006

Harry Nygard 2006

Doug Sisk 2006

Mike Blowers 2007

Ed Hardenbrook 2007

John Pregenzer 2007

Pete Sabutis 2007

BASKETBALL

Marv Harshman 1958 Basketball/Football

Frank Wilson 1958

John Kennedy (coach/ref) 1962

Bill Vinson (coach) 1969 Basketball/Football

Vince Hanson 1971

Max Mika 1971 Basketball/Football

Harry Werbisky 1971 Basketball/Baseball/ Football

Don Moseid (player/coach) 2005

Clint Names 2005 Basketball/Golf

Bruce Alexander (player/ref) 2005

Ron Billings (player/coach) 2005 Basketball/Football

Chuck Curtis 2005

Rod Gibbs 2005

Evalyn (Goldberg) Schultz 2005 Basketball/Volleyball/ Fastpitch Softball

Dan Inveen 2005 Basketball/Athletic Administrator/ FB & BB Official

Roger Iverson 2005

Gene Lundgaard (player/coach) 2005

Steve Matzen 2005

Harry McLaughlin 2005

Dean Nicholson (coach) 2005

Bob Sprague 2005

Vince Strojan 2005

Jim Van Beek 2005

Tom Whalen 2005

Charlie Williams 2005

Don Zech (coach) 2005

Univ of Puget Sound Men 2005 1976 NCAA DII National Champions

Team includes Don Zech, Mike Acres, Jim Schuldt, Doug McArthur, Brant Gibler, Rick Walker, Curt Peterson, Tim Evans, Rocky Botts, Mark Wells, A.T. Brown, Mike Hanson, Phil Hiam, Jimmy Stewart, Mike Strand, Matt McCully, Mike Kuntz, Steve Freimuth, and Bill Greenheck.

Wayne Dalesky (coach) 2006

Bob Fincham 2006 (Athlete/Coach)

Jim McKean 2006

Clarence Ramsey 2006

Ron Crowe 2007

Jerry Clyde (coach) 2007

Jerry DeLaurenti (coach) 2007

Rich Hammermaster (coach) 2007 Football (athlete)

Chelle (Flamoe) Miller 2007

Donya Monroe 2007

Clover Park HS Girls 2007

1982 State High School Champions

Team includes Rhonda Chachere, Michelle (Clark) Jones, Becky (Davis) Buchanan, Mary Ann Johnson, Alison Lotspeich, Netra McGrew, Donya Monroe, Fifi Robidoux, Ruth (Rufener) Allen, Kathleen Schumock, Darlene Seeman, Kathy (Taylor) Shelby, Karen (Turner) Lee, Jim Angelel (head coach), and Joel Parker (assistant coach)

BOWLING

Ted Tadich 1962

Earl Anthony 2005

Nadine Fulton 2005

Earl Johnson 2005

Jeff Mattingly 2005

Bertha McCormick 2005

Jeanne Naccarato 2005

Margie (Junge) Oleole 2005

Dave Tuell Jr. 2005

Stella “Babe” Penowich

BOXING

Chuck Horjes 1969

Carl Sparks (coach) 1969

Mike Tucci Sr. (coach) 1969

Dug Dyckman 1971

Harold “Ox” Hansen 1971

Al Hopkins (coach) 1971

Wes Hudson 1971

Everett Jensen 1971

Vern Pedersen 1972 Football/Swimming

Roy Sandberg (coach) 1972

Frank Spear 1972

John Anderson (coach) 2005

Gerry Austin (coach) 2005

Sam Baker 2005

Ralph Bauman 2005

Frank “Buster” Brouillet 2005 Football/Basketball

Dick Brown 2005 Football/Basketball

Ole Brunstad 2005

Luther Carr 2005 Football/Baseball

Andy Carrigan 2005

Don D’Andrea 2005

Ed Fallon (coach) 2005

Fred Forsberg 2005

Doug Funk (coach) 2005

John Garnero 2005 Football/Track/ Basketball

Tommy Gilmer 2005 Football/Track

Vince Goldsmith 2005 Football/Track

Billy Joe Hobert 2005 Football/Baseball

Ray Horton 2005

Mike Huard (coach) 2005

Glenn Huffman 2005 Football/Basketball/ Baseball

Norm Iverson 2005

Jim Jones 2005 Football/Track

Eldon Kyllo 2005

Bob Levinson (coach) 2005 Football/Track

Norm Mayer (coach) 2005

Tommy Mazza 2005

Ron Medved 2005

Bob Mitchell 2005

Don Moore 2005

George Nordi (coach) 2005

Carl Opolsky 2005

Joe Peyton 2005 Football/Basketball/ Track

Earl Platt 2005 Football/Basketball/ Baseball

Ahmad Rashad 2005 Football/Basketball/ Track

Jerry Redmond (coach) 2005

Mark Ross (athlete/coach) 2005

Bob Ryan (coach) 2005

Fred Swendsen 2005

Gene Walters 2005

Clyde Werner 2005

Frosty Westering (coach) 2005

Dave Williams 2005 Football/Track

Warren Wood 2005

John Zamberlin 2005

1944 Lincoln backfield 2005

Backfield includes Al Malanca, Dean Mellor, Len Kalapus, and Bob McGuire.

Gail Bruce 2006

Phil Carter 2006

Rod Giske 2006

Robert Iverson Sr. 2006

Tim McDonough 2006

Tom Merritt 2006

Jack Newhart 2006

Jerry Thacker 2006

Billy Sewell 2006

Paul Skansi 2006

Jim Vest 2006

ArtViafore 2006

Jerry Williams 2006

1980 PLU Football Team 2006

Mike Agostini, Tom Amos, Eric Anderson, John Bley, Paul Berghuis, Ken Bush, Eric Carlson, Jeff Chandler, Scott Davis, Todd Davis, Dean DeMulling, Eric Dooley, Mike Durrett, Travis Eckert, Guy Ellison, Jim Erickson, Donn Falconer, Greg Farley, John Feldmann, Jay Freisheim, Chris Fritsch, Don Gale, Don Garoutte, Jay Halle, Dan Harkins, Rob Haskin, Dale Holland, Phil Jerde, Joel Johnson, Scott Kessler, Steve Kirk, Dave Knight, Mark Lester, Tim Lusk, Dennis McDonough, Scott McKay, Chris Miller, Eric Monson, Neal Otto, Martin Parkhurst, Mike Peterson, Dave Reep, Brian Rockey, Curt Rodin, Glen Rohr, Greg Rohr, Jeff Rohr, Rocky Ruddy, Jeff Shumake, Kevin Skogen, Rob Speer, Barry Spomer, Dave Turner, Chris Utt, Rich Vjranes, Tim Wahl, Tom Wahl, Kirk Walker, Jeff Walton, Garth Warren, Mark Warren, Mike Warsinske, Chris Weber, Scott Westering, Mike Westmiller, Craig Wright, Frosty Westering (head coach), Paul Hoseth (coach), Mark Clinton (coach), Larry Green (coach), Steve Kienberger (coach), Reid Katzung (coach), and Gary Nicholson( trainer).

Mike Baldassin 2007

Pat Hoonan (coach) 2007

Mike Levenseller 2007

Roy McKasson 2007

Ed Niehl (coach) 2007

GOLF

Charles Congdon 1960

Charles D. Hunter 1960

Shirley (McDonald) Fopp 1962 Golf/Skiing

Jack Walters 1963

Shirley Baty 2005

Ockie Eliason 2005

John Harbottle 2005

Pat Lesser-Harbottle 2005

Joan (Allard) Mahon 2005

Marjorie (Jeffries) Shanaman 2005

Ken Still 2005

Ruth (Canale) Ward 2005

Amy Lou (Murray) Young 2005

Al Feldman 2006

Bob Johnson 2007

GYMNASTICS

Roni (Barrios)Mejia 2005

Yumi Mordre 2005

Onnie (Willis) Rogers 2005

Tiffani (White) Rowland 2007

HANDBALL

Gordy Pfeifer 2005 Handball/Slowpitch Softball

HOCKEY

Neil Andrews 2005

Joey Johns 2005 Hockey/Fastpitch Softball

Dick Milford 2005 Hockey

HORSE RACING

Harry Deegan 1969

HUNTING

Marcus Nalley 1963

HYDROPLANE RACING

George Henley 2005

Armand Yapachino 2005

MOTORCYCLE RACING

Don McLeod 2005 Motorcycle Racing/ Auto Racing/Roller Skating

Bob Malley 2007

MOUNTAINEERING

Lute Jerstad 2005 Mountaineering/ Basketball

Lou Whittaker 2006

Dee Molenaar

OFFICIAL

Marty

RACQUETBALL

ROLLER SKATING

Lanny (Adams) Werner

SOAP

John Best (coach/admin)

Jr. 2006

Dan Hannula 2006

Dan Seelye 2006

Mike Stauffer 2007

Sarah (Rudolph) Cole 2007

Dan Wolfrom (coach) 2007

TENNIS

Wally Scott 1959

Mike Benson (coach) 2005

Don Flye 2005

Pat Galbraith 2005

Dave Trageser 2005

Sonja Olejar 2006

TRACK & FIELD

Herman Brix 1961 Shot Put

Gertrude Wilhelmsen 1971 Javelin, Discus

Doris (Severtson) Brown Heritage2005 Running

Casey Carrigan 2005 Pole Vault

Jim Daulley (coach) 2005

Sterling Harshman 2005 Track/Football

Dana LeDuc 2005 Shot Put

Mark Smith 2005 Discus

Chuck Soper 2005 Javelin/Discus

Dan Watson (coach) 2005

Mac Wilkins 2005 Shot Put, Discus

Robert A. “RAB” Young 2005 Race Walking

Mitch Angelel (coach) 2006

Hal Berndt 2006

Bob Ehrenheim (coach) 2006

Jack Fabulich 2006

Ericka Harris 2006

Sam Ring 2006

Darrell Robinson 2006

Rob Webster 2006

Donna Dennis 2007

Keith Tinner 2007

VOLLEYBALL

Lauri (Wetzel) Hayward 2005 Volleyball/Basketball

Sarah (Silvernail) Elliott 2005

Cindy (Pitzinger) Willey 2005

Lisa Beauchene 2006

Lorrie Post Hodge 2006

Karen Goff-Downs 2007

Carla (Reyes) Redhair 2007

WRESTLING

Frank Stojack 1959 Wrestling/Football

Jerry Conine 2005 Wrestling/Football

Bob Hunt 2005 Wrestling/Football/ Track

Jim Meyerhoff 2005

David Olmstead 2005

Jeff Gotcher 2005

Larry Gotcher 2005

Ron Ellis 2006

Bill Stout (athlete/coach) 2006

Vic Eshpeter 2007

Elsworth Finlayson 2007

SPORTS WRITERS/BROADCASTERS

Elliott Metcalf 1966

Dan Walton 1968

John McCallum 1971

Ed Honeywell 1972

Rod Belcher 2005

Jerry Geehan 2005

Don Hill 2005

ADMINISTRATORS

State of Washington Sports Hall of fame

In recognition of the many fine individual contributions to athletics, the Tacoma Athletic Commission established the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1960. Commissioned by then-governor Albert D. Rosellini and originated by Clay Huntington, longtime Northwest sportscaster and radio station owner, the State Hall of Fame inductions are held annually. These Hall of Fame members are recognized for their outstanding sports accomplishments and contributions that have brought national acclaim to themselves and to the state of Washington. A committee of sportswriters and sportscasters from throughout the state cast ballots to determine the new inductees who are selected from an impressive list of candidates. Guest speakers over the years read like a who’s who of celebrities and have included the likes of Arnold Palmer, Tom Harmon, Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch, Joe E. Brown, Joe Namath, Pat Boone, Lenny Wilkens, John Hadl, Hugh O’Brien, Leo Durocher, Andy Devine, Frank Leahy, Buddy Rogers, and Willie Mays.

Nominations for future considerations may be submitted in writing to: State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame c/o Tacoma Athletic Commission P.O. Box 11304, Tacoma, WA 98411

For more information contact Clay Huntington, Executive Director at KLAY1180@blarg.net or at 253-581-0324 or Marc Blau, Assistant Executive Director, at 253-848-1360 or marc@tacomaathletic.com.

STATe of WASHinGTon

SPoRTS HALL of fAme

1960-2007

BASEBALL

Earl Averill 1964

Mike Blowers 2005

Ed Brandt 1989

George Burns 1974

Ron Cey 1994

Harlond Clift 1977

Ira Flagstead 2003

Jack Fournier 1979

Vean Gregg 1963

Jeff Heath 1974

Fred Hutchinson 1962

Woody Jensen 1989

Bob Johnson 1964

Earl Johnson 1983

Roy Johnson 1978

Hubert “Hub” Kittle 2003

Amos Rusie 1986

Ryne Sandberg 2003

Ron Santo 1983

Gerry Staley 1977

Wes Stock 1994

Mel Stottlemyre 1989

Earl Torgeson 1969

Edo Vanni 2005

George “Rube” Walberg 1978

Ray Washburn 1979

Joyner “JoJo” White 1980

Sammy White 1980

BASKETBALL

Elgin Baylor 1962

Gale Bishop 1968

Fred Brown 1997

Frank Burgess 2004

Gene Conley 1979

Bobby Galer 1979

Vince Hanson 2007

Marv Harshman 1994

Steve Hawes 2004

Bob Houbregs 1969

Hal Lee 1974

Paul Lindeman 1994

Bill Morris 1983

Jack Nichols 1965

Eddie O’Brien 1967

Johnny O’Brien 1967

Doug Smart 1994

Jack Sikma 1998

BOAT RACING

Bill Muncey 1986

Stan Sayres 1996

Billy Schumacher 1979

BOWLING

Earl Anthony 1994

BOXING

Al Hostak 1965

Freddie Steele 1961

Pat McMurtry 2006

FOOTBALL

Chuck Allen 1983

Morris “Red” Badgro 1967

Sam Baker 1977

Jimmie Cain 1997

Hugh Campbell* 1994

Tony Canadeo 1974

Chuck Carroll 1965

Gail Cogdill 1989

Turk Edwards 1968

Ray Flaherty 1963

Ray Frankowski 1994

Ed Goddard 1983

Mel Hein 1961

Don Heinrich 1974

Steve Largent 1999

Keith Lincoln 1980

Vic Markov 1977

Ray Mansfield 1997

Hugh McElhenny 1963

Butch Meeker 1964

Terry Metcalf 2004

Laurie Niemi 2007

Don Paul 1978

Ahmad Rashad 1996

Rick Redman 1994

George Reed 1983

Bob Schloredt 1996

Paul Schwegler 1986

Ernie Steele 1977

Harland Svare 1969

LaVern Torgeson* 1994

Arnie Weinmeister 1970

Frosty Westering 2007

Jerry Williams* 1994

George Wilson 1960 *denotes outstanding coaching qualifications as well.

GOLF

Joanne Gunderson Carner 1994

Chuck Congdon 1978

Rod Funseth 1999

Harry Givan 1970

Pat Lesser-Harbottle 1999

Anne Quast Sander 1997

Ken Still 1994

Marvin “Bud” Ward 1963

Jack Westland 1983

HANDBALL

Gordy Pfeifer 1994

HOCKEY

Frank Foyston 1986

HORSE RACING

Basil James 1967

SHOOTING

Arnold Reigger 1964

SKIING

Gretchen Kunigk-Fraser 1960

Phil Mahre 1996

Steve Mahre 1996

Olav Ulland 1966

SWIMMING

Kaye Hall Greff 1983

Dick Hannula 1994

Helene Madison 1960

Jack Medica 1962

TENNIS

Tom Gorman 1997

Janet Hopps-Adkisson 1998

“Trish” Bostrom 2006

TRACK & FIELD

Herman Brix 1961

Gerry Lindgren 1979

Mac Wilkins 1999

Brian Sternberg 1980

Doris Severtsen Brown 2005

RoSTeR

SPORTSWRITERS & BROADCASTERS

Rod Belcher 1999

Bob Blackburn 2001

Royal Brougham 1968

Clay Huntington 1999

Les Keiter 2001

Leo Lassen 1974

John McCallum 1994

Georg Meyers 2001

Harry Missildine 2001

Dave Niehaus 2004

Vince O’Keefe 1977

Bob Robertson 2007

Milt Woodard 1989

COACHES & ADMINISTRATORS

Enoch Bagshaw, Football Coach 1983

Buck Bailey, Baseball Coach 1966

Fred “Doc” Bohler, Athletic Director, Football and Track Coach 1986

Vincent “Nig” Borleske, Football, Basketball, and Baseball Coach 1960

Rusty Callow, Crew Coach 1964

John Chaplin, Track & Field Coach 2005

Ben B. Cheney, Philanthrophy-Baseball 2004

John Cherberg, Football Coach 2006

Hiram Conibear, Crew Coach 1960

Harry Deegan, Administrator-Horse Breeding 1970

Gil Dobie, Football Coach 1961

Clarence “Hec” Edmundson, Basketball and Track Coach 1966

Jack Friel, Basketball Coach 1978

Joe Gottstein, Administrator—Horse Racing 1977

John Heinrick, Football, Basketball, and Baseball Coach 1969

Babe Hollingbery, Football Coach 1962

Don James, Football Coach 1998

Stan Naccarato, Promoter-General Manager 2004

Bill Nollan, Football, Baseball, Basketball and Track Coach 1978

Jim Owens, Football Coach 1989

Jimmy Phelan, Football Coach 1970

Torchy Torrance, Administrator—Baseball 1989

Al Ulbrickson, Crew Coach 1963

inductees into The Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of fame Class of 2008

mark Alger

Although squash courts are not in abundance in Pierce County, Mark Alger took advantage of the courts at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club and rose to national prominence in the sport.

Mark started playing squash at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club in 1972 while in the seventh grade. He quickly became proficient, and within two years was a semifinalist at the Canadian junior nationals in Edmonton. By the time he was 14 years old, he was the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club men’s division squash champion.

His advancement in the sport continued at a rapid pace as he reached the finals of the 1975 U.S. National Junior Squash Championship in Rochester, N.Y.

While not on the squash court, Mark participated on the soccer, ski and tennis teams at Charles Wright Academy. He teamed up with Tim Larson to finish second in the state in doubles, and the Charles Wright team won the state championship in 1978. By the time he graduated, Mark held the school record for most tennis matches played for CWA.

By 1979, Mark was a member of the four-man United States national squash team that participated in the World Championships in Australia. By earning a spot on the team, Mark became the first west coast player ever to make the U.S. national team. The U.S. finished ninth out of 18 teams and became the first-ever team from this country to win a match or even a game at the World Championships.

Mark’s success in the sport continued as he won the 1980 Pacific Coast Men’s Squash Championship and the U.S. Men’s Squash Championship, becoming the first player from the west coast to win the event. From 1980-83, Mark played on the World Professional Squash (WPSA) circuit. In 1991 and again in 1992 he was the men’s over 30 national champion, and the following year he was the runner-up. In 2001, he was a quarterfinalist at the World Masters Squash Championship in Melbourne, Australia.

Mark and his family live in Palmer, Alaska, where Mark is a pilot for Alaska Airlines. From 1996-2003 he was vice president of the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska College Summer League.

By the way, if you’re ever in Alaska and want a game of squash, make sure to contact Mark. In 2003, he built Alaska’s only regulation squash court at his home in Palmer. He continues his passion for squash by introducing the community to the game.

Steve Anstett

Steve Anstett was a dominant player in both baseball and basketball, earning all-city honors in both sports and all-state recognition in baseball as a first baseman during his senior year of high school. That year, he represented Bellarmine Prep in the all-state game. A center on the basketball court, Steve averaged 20 points per game 1959-60, his senior year, before moving on to a record-setting career at the University of Portland.

In a time when collegiate players were only allowed to play on the varsity squad after their freshman seasons, Steve stepped into the Portland lineup and earned team Most Valuable Player honors in all three of his seasons on the team. During his collegiate career, Steve averaged a double-double with 15.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, and his 1,213 total points and 893 career rebounds set school records at the time. He also earned two varsity letters in baseball at the University of Portland, hitting .320 as a sophomore.

After playing at Portland from1960-64, Steve ranked first in career rebounding average, second in total rebounds, fourth in free throws attempted and fifth in free throws made. During the 1962-63 season he set a school record with 12.4 rebounds per game, and that same year he ranked third in total rebounds in a season with 323.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Steve in the seventh round of the NBA draft – he was the team’s third overall pick that year behind UCLA’s Walt Hazzard and Kentucky’s Cotton Nash.

Steve started his coaching career at Central Catholic High School in Portland where he was head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach. He returned to Bellarmine Prep, his alma mater, in 1967, where he coached basketball for 27 years. He compiled a 321-261 overall record, leading his teams to nine state tournament berths and taking second place in 1980. He earned Tacoma City League Coach of the Year honors in 1980 and Narrows League Coach of the Year recognition in 1993.

Steve, who was born September 27, 1942 in Tacoma, has been inducted into the Bellarmine Prep and University of Portland Halls of Fame.

francis “frisco” Burnett

Frisco Burnett was “one of the best (bowlers) Tacoma has ever known,” according to hall of famer Jim Stevenson. Frisco’s laundry list of accomplishments is testimony to that: Eight-time Greater Tacoma Bowling Association all-star; a five-time Tacoma match-play champion; winner of the first Western Washington Match-Play Championship in 1955; participant in several national all-star tournaments; two-time City AllEvents champion; and for several years a participant in the high-powered Chicago Classic League.

Frisco, at 5-11, 155 pounds, used an approach of five short, quick steps, and that routine helped him compile a 204 lifetime average, bowl six 300 games and 27 series over 700.

Frisco got his start in the game by watching his wife, Bernice, as she bowled at the K Street Recreation alleys. He began bowling in 1942, and by 1943 he was a regular in the Class B Major Leagues in Tacoma. Frisco bowled in the Tacoma Major League, and then joined the Navy in 1944. While stationed at a naval training station in California he bowled a 298 and also won the base championship. He also got his nickname from bowling, joining a team with three men with Italian heritage. Francis became “Francisco” to his teammates, and soon that name was shortened to “Frisco.”

In 1945, Frisco tied for top honors in the qualifying competition for the Tacoma Times Bowling Classic at the North End alleys. Though knocking down 12 less pins, he defeated defending champion Ted Tadich in seven of their 12 games, giving him the title.

Upon his discharge from the Navy in 1945 he moved to Gary, Indiana, to help operate a bowling alley with Chuck Hamilton for 26 months but returned to Tacoma in May of 1948. While in Indiana he won the 1947 Gary Match Play Championship.

Frisco rolled six series totals over 700 during the first three months of 1950, an unprecedented performance in Tacoma bowling circles. In 1950 he won the Olympia Classic as well as the Walla Walla Classic, the Boise Doubles, and the Bowlerdrome Doubles.

In 1951, Frisco bowled in two leagues and captured the Narrows Bowl Open Classic. Over the last three seasons he won 12 major tournaments in the Northwest. He also participated in the 11th annual All-Star Match Game championships in December of 1951 in Chicago where he joined 160 of the nation’s top bowlers in what was billed as the “World Series of Bowling.” Frisco finished 10th overall, worth $275 in prize money. Up to this point, he was the only Northwest bowler to ever have reached the finals of the National All Star competition. By 1959 he had qualified for eight trips to the National All-Star tournament.

Frisco, a four-time selection to the All-West Coast team, was inducted into the American Bowling Congress’ Hall of Fame in 1969.

Born on March 24, 1918, in Enchant, Alberta, Frisco died in 1962 in an auto accident in Portland where he and Bernice were living. Bernice lived in Portland until moving back to Tacoma in 2005.

Doug Campbell

A Puyallup native, Doug Campbell has had a successful career in golf, including playing on the Professional Golfers Association and now as the head professional at Auburn Golf Course.

Doug graduated from Puyallup High School in 1967 and first attended Pacific Lutheran University, but an offer of a golf scholarship from the University of Washington brought about his transfer to Montlake.

Doug was the No. 1 player for the Huskies in 1971 and 1972, and as a senior played in the 1972 NCAA Golf Championships in Florida. Among the notables to play in that tournament were future PGA standouts Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Lanny Wadkins, Roger Maltbie, Tom Watson, Andy Bean, and Andy North.

After graduating from UW, Doug turned pro in 1973, and he eventually worked his way onto the PGA Tour from 1979-1982. Prior to making it on the circuit, he honed his game as a club professional or assistant pro at Sloba Springs CC in Hermes, Calif., at Sand Point CC in Seattle, at Allenmore GC in Tacoma and finally at Auburn GC.

Doug’s best finish was a tie for 6th in the 1980 Disney Team Championships with Mike Gove, and he played in the following majors: the 1980 PGA Championships, the 1984 British Open, and the 1986 U.S. Open.

As one of the top nine U.S. club professionals, Doug played on the 1980 U.S. International Cup team against the top nine club pros from British and Irish golf clubs. He also qualified for eight Hudson Cup teams and played in six matches, compiling an enviable 14-1-2 match play record.

From 1976 through the present, Doug has won numerous tournaments. While the list is too long to list, among the highlights were the 1980 and 1986 Oregon Open, the 1981 and 1987 NW PGA, the 1986 U.S. Open Local Qualifying and U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying tournaments, and the 2000 Northwest Senior PGA Championship.

After leaving the PGA, Doug served as assistant pro at Thunderbird GC in Phoenix, worked as an instructor at John Jacobs Golf School in Scottsdale, Ariz., and since 1986 has been the head pro at Auburn GC.

Jim Clifton

Jim Clifton could be considered a triple threat when it comes to local athletics. He’s being honored with induction into the hall of fame for basketball, but in addition to his accomplishments as a player and coach in that sport, Clifton also was a successful football and baseball player at Puyallup High and played four years of baseball at Central Washington University. He also has been an athletic administrator at Puyallup and most recently, Life Christian Academy.

It is in basketball, however, where Clifton perhaps is most renowned. As a guard at Puyallup High and CWU, Clifton lettered seven times. He was selected a first-team all-state basketball and state-tournament honoree in 1959. He scored 1,160 points as a player at CWU, including 23 in his only NAIA tournament game in 1965.

After graduation, Clifton began his coaching career. It lasted for the next 39 consecutive years. Clifton also was an invitee to the first-ever Sonics tryout in 1967. He is the winningest coach in his alma mater’s history, with 271 victories at Puyallup, including eight state tournament appearances. After leaving Puyallup, Clifton moved on to coach for two seasons as an assistant at the University of Puget Sound.

He is retiring from his post as athletic director at Life Christian Academy following this year.

Curt Corvin

Curt Corvin remains one of the biggest names in running ever to come from the Tacoma-Pierce County area. As a Lakes Lancer, Corvin was a high school All-American as both a junior and senior. He won state cross country championships in 1981 and 1982, and the Class 3A 3,200 meters championship the spring of his senior year in 1983.

Corvin moved on to the University of Washington, where he became a collegiate All-American. He held the UW record in the 10,000 meters from 1986-99. A life-long distance champion, Corvin finally won his hometown 10K, the Sound-to-Narrows, in 1989 on his ninth attempt. Once he won it, Corvin owned it. He won the Sound-to-Narrows four consecutive years from 1989-92.

Back in 1981, when Corvin won the 10K Zoo Run at Point Defiance at age 16 in a time of 30:24.5, the time was faster than the national existing 16-year-old age group record, though Corvin never knew whether his time was submitted for record consideration. Among Corvin’s other running accomplishments included wins in the Sound-to-Narrows fun run as a ninth-grader, a win in the 15-19 age group at the Diet Pepsi Nationals in New York in 1984, being named the April, 1982 Tacoma Athletic Commission athlete of the month and in 1986 being named the KIRO NewsRadio athlete of the week.

These days, Corvin is giving back to the place where he gained notoriety. As a coach at Lakes High, Corvin is coaching the next generation of local distance runners.

Jim Crews

Jim Crews got involved with the Washington Midget Racing Association (WMRA) as a sponsor back in 1958, and was involved in midget racing up until 2000.

Jim was born on Jan. 20, 1927 in Tacoma and graduated from Stadium High School in 1945. While at Stadium he played varsity football in 1943 and 1944, was the starting center in 1944 and played both ways. Under the tutelage of legendary coach John Heinrick, he earned All-Cross-State League honorable mention that year. Jim went on to graduate from the College of Puget Sound in 1951 and from there went into the business world where he became owner of Crews Auto Parts, Inc.

A lifelong Tacoma resident, Jim has enjoyed tremendous success in midget racing. His cars have won WMRA championships and represented Tacoma on race tracks throughout the western United States. Jim’s list of drivers is a who’s who of midget racing in the northwest including Ken Petersen (a seven-time WMRA champion), Rory Price, Eric Gibson and Dennis Kitts (three-time WMRA champion). His biggest thrill came back in Springfield, Ill., when he had a car in a race at the fairgrounds against AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti. Sam Session drove the car that Crews sponsored and that Bill Seidelman built.

Jim is also a virtual walking history book for midget racing in the Northwest. He was twice president of the WMRA, and as the WMRA secretary for 2008 admits that he “can’t give it up.” Retired now from both Crews Auto Parts and WMRA car ownership, Jim continues to follow the sport and has been awarded a “Gold Card” lifetime membership from the Washington Midget Racing Association.

Scott Davis

Scott Davis grew up in Great Falls, Montana, where his skating career began. He trained at Sprinker Recreation Center in Tacoma in the summers from 1984-1987 under Kathy Casey, another Great Falls native who had re-located to the area. Casey began teaching the sport in 1962 and continued until 1990. She mentored many of the great skaters to come out of the area, not the least of which was Davis. He moved over full-time in 1987, where he trained under Casey while living with the Art Broback family and graduated from Curtis High School.

When Casey moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., to become skating director at the Broadmoor World Arena, Davis followed her, and it was there that he gained national prominence.

He was a two-time U.S. Senior Men’s National Champion, winning back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994. He was also a three-time World Team member, as well as an U.S. Olympic Team member. Scott competed in a total of 12 national championships during his amateur career.

Scott toured with Champions on Ice from 1993-1996, performed professionally in the Grease on Ice: North American Tour as “Danny,” and starred as “Ren” in Footloose on Ice in Myrtle Beach and Boston. He was married in July of 2001 and lives in Calgary. He is now a Technical Caller, a key position with the new international scoring system in the sport.

Ron eaton

At a time when most people are entering retirement, Ron Eaton still is sitting behind the wheel of a race car. At 64 years of age, Eaton continues to drive in the Northwest Series of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division. A threetime series champion, Eaton is second in career wins with 36, second in career poles earned with 28 and second in career money winnings with more than $300,000 to his credit.

Eaton started his illustrious racing career at Spanaway Speedway in 1965 moving from motorcycle competition. He immediately became a contender finishing third in his first feature event and rapidly became a multiple champion including season titles in V8 and 6 Cylinder classes in the same year. Leaving local competition, he moved on to become one of the top drivers in west coast stock car competition driving his Lakes Auto Body sponsored machine.

While Ron has compiled a very impressive record in local racing including three wins in Yakima Speedway’s famous Fall Classic, it was NASCAR’s Northwest Tour that made him a northwest driving legend. Competing with several drivers who moved into NASCAR Cup competition, Ron scored 3 series championships and 42 wins in the touring NASCAR machines. Ron Eaton may be Tacoma/Pierce County’s most prolific stock car winner.

Eaton also is the oldest driver ever to win on the Raybestos Brake Northwest Series. In 1999, Eaton broke his own record by winning at Portland Speedway at the age of 55 years, 10 months. Eaton even had his own day in Tacoma during early 1987, so proclaimed by Tacoma Mayor Doug Southerland to honor the then 42-year-old native son. Eaton had come off a 1986 Northwest Tour season in which he’d won six times and finished in the top four 14 other times.

Still behind the wheel in 2008, Eaton was among those drivers set to enter the first of 10 races in the ASA Aero Exhaust Northwest Tour presented by ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment in Ellensburg this past Spring.

michelle finnvik Biden

One of the finest middle distance runners in Pierce County high school history, Michelle Finnvik Biden was a three-time state 800-meter champion while competing for Wilson High School. Michelle won state titles in 1982 through 1984, each time setting a new state meet record. She won her first state championship as a 10th grader with a time of 2:14.08. As a junior, Michelle sliced more than 2.5 seconds off of her 800meter record, clocking 2:11.55 to win the title. She capped off her senior year, and her outstanding prep career, by winning the state 800 title in a time of 2:10.61. During her incredible prep career, Michelle did not lose a race in dual meet competition. In fact, she lost only one 800-meter race from 7th grade through 12th grade.

In addition to running the 800, Michelle was an part of Wilson’s relay teams, running on the 400-, 800- and 1600-meter relays. As a sophomore, she ran on Wilson High’s state-record-setting 1600-meter relay team. Each of her final two years, she ran on the 1600-meter relay team that finished second at state. She also competed in the 400-meter dash and qualified for state on two occasions, recording a best time of 57.1. As a cross country athlete, Michelle helped lead her team to third-place finishes in the 1981 and 1982 Washington State Cross Country Championships.

In addition to her running prowess, Michelle also competed in varsity soccer her three years at Wilson. Michelle was born on Aug. 8, 1966, in Tacoma, and she graduated from Wilson High School in 1984. She went on to earn her two-year degree from Green River Community College in 1987. She competed in both cross country and track for two years at Green River, twice winning the NWAACC title in the 800 meters and recording a best time of 2:09. Inducted in to the Wilson High School Hall of Fame in 2001, she currently is employed as a wellness coach by Style for Life.

Jerry Hartley

Jerry Hartley spent 14 seasons at Puyallup High School establishing a reputation as one of the best water polo coaches in the country. From 1973-82, the final ten years of his coaching career, Hartley coached the Vikings to ten straight state titles.

Winning ten straight state titles often overshadows his first four years as coach, when he headed a brand new program and led it to second place finishes at state each year. His teams lost only five high school games in his final ten years as coach, and even earned a winning record against collegiate opponents.

Hartley attended Lincoln High School from 1955-57, playing football and basketball in his prep days. Lincoln’s swim coach, Dick Hannula, inspired Hartley to participate in water sports, and after playing football and basketball for one year at the University of Puget Sound, Hartley chose to concentrate exclusively on swimming.

After coaching swimming at Lincoln for three years, Hartley moved to Puyallup and took the role of establishing a competitive water polo team. He later won an 11th state title as Rogers’ water polo coach.

Bill Hobert

Bill Hobert, born on Feb. 24, 1946, starred at every level of baseball he played, but a promising career in the sport was cut short when he was killed in action during the Vietnam War on Aug. 2, 1966. A Bronze Star medal winner, he was only 20 when he died. Many who watched him play, or played with him, or coached him are quick to say that he was headed for the majors.

Bill was an unbeatable pitcher in junior high and high school, and he continued to dominate in summer league play in both national Babe Ruth and Connie Mack programs. At Orting High, the left-handed Hobert hurled the Cardinals to three-straight Cross-Sound league championships, once pitched five consecutive shutouts with two perfect games in a row. Included in his season successes was a one-run win over one of the state’s best 4A teams, Lincoln of Tacoma. In 1963 and 1964, Bill and Gary Schoenbachler were a dominating lefty-righty pitching duo.

He was a two-year letter winner in basketball, serving as team captain on the 1964-65 Orting High team that finished fourth at state. and a four-year letter winner in both football and baseball for the Cardinals. He was the starting quarterback for Orting High as a senior.

At 13 he was named to the All-Star Babe Ruth team in a league of 13-, 14- and 15-year-old players. In Connie Mack (18-and-under) play he whiffed 18 in a 6-0 win over defending champion Puyallup. In a return game, Hobert tripled home the tying and winning runs in a 3-2 victory. His Connie Mack team was unbeaten in 10 games in Pierce County League play (he allowed only one run during the season) and he pitched them to the state tournament’s championship game. Among the top pitchers in the league was Lakewood’s Rick Austin, who was drafted and played in the American League for the Cleveland Indians. Bill also was the youngest pitcher for Puyallup’s Sportsmen in the state’s National Baseball Congress semi-pro tournament in Bellingham where his team played for the championship.

He was awarded a baseball scholarship to Yakima Junior College, then acknowledged as the top JC program in the Northwest, but was drafted into the Army instead of the major league draft. Sadly, he never returned from Vietnam to resume his promising baseball career.

Bill always had that knack for leadership just because of who he was - a great athlete, but also a great person, apparently secure enough in himself that he could be kind and generous to others,” recalls former high school teammate Mike Carrigan. “That’s what I remember most about him.”

Brock Huard

Brock Huard, who went on to star at the University of Washington before going on to a professional football career, learned football from his father, Mike, his head coach at Puyallup High School. Brock, older brother Damon and younger brother Luke all were star quarterbacks for the Vikings. Damon still plays in the National Football League while Luke is now a college football assistant coach.

Brock earned numerous accolades as a football standout, culminating with his selection as the Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year in 1995. In addition, he earned Parade, Super Prep, Blue Chip Illustrated, ESPN, College Sports and Schutt All-America honors while throwing for 3,857 career yards with 45 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. He also lettered in basketball, averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds as a senior for the Vikings.

While at the University of Washington, Brock erased Damon’s name on several season and career passing records. Brock held 20 school records when he left Washington, including most career passing yards (6,391), touchdown passes (53), 300-yard games (4), 200-yard games (14), attempts without an interception (151) and total yards per game (190.4). He also set Husky single-game records against USC with his 33 completions and 62 pass attempts. Huard was a finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award while setting a school record with 23 touchdown tosses. An outstanding student, Brock maintained a 3.6 grade point average, including a perfect 4.0 in his major, psychology, while at Washington.

Seattle drafted Brock in the third round of the 1999 National Football League draft and he spent the first three years of his professional career with the Seahawks. In 2000, his second full season, he started four games, completing 49-of-87 passes for 540 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. On Nov. 26, 2000, Brock started for the Seahawks against Denver and Damon started for Miami against Indianapolis, marking the first time in NFL history that two brothers started at quarterback on the same day. Seattle traded him to Indianapolis, where Huard served as backup to Peyton Manning. He rejoined the Seahawks in 2004 and ended his career that season. Brock was also the Seahawks “Man of the Year” for his efforts on the field and in the community in 2001.

Brock can be seen on television (ESPN, NFL Network, FSN, NWCN) and heard on the radio (Seahawks Radio) doing commentary during the football season. He also works full time as a project manager for Nitze Stagen, a commercial development company based in Seattle. By the way, Damon still plays in the NFL, while Luke coaches at the University of Washington. Brock and his wife, Molly, have two daughters, Haley and Macey.

Jim Kittilsby

A native of Minot, ND, Jim Kittilsby nevertheless is inextricably linked to Tacoma and Pierce County. A 1959 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, Kittilsby played three seasons of baseball for the Knights. As a senior, he worked for the then Tacoma Giants before entering professional baseball as an administrator. Kittilsby was the first person to join the staff of the Seattle Pilots, and he went to Milwaukee with the team when it bolted Seattle after one season. Kittilsby continued with the Brewers until 1970, holding positions, among others, as Speakers Bureau Director, Scouting Administrator and Assistant to the General Manager.

In 1971, Kittilsby returned to Tacoma and PLU, becoming the baseball coach in 1971, a position he held until 1979. In addition, he was an Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Information Director at the school for 16 years. During his stint in the athletic department, Kittilsby was instrumental in getting the PLU mascot changed from the Knights to the Lutes. He got PLU football and basketball back on local radio, was named the 1978 Puget Sound Athletic Administrator of the Year by The News Tribune, was PLU’s Distinguished Alumnus in Sports award-winner for 1980, won the 2007 Dill Howell Award and was named to the PLU athletic hall of fame in 2001.

Denny Krick

Denny Krick was born Feb. 13, 1941, in Tacoma and graduated from Bellarmine Prep in 1959. He participated in basketball, track & field and tennis prior to focusing his attention on bowling.

Denny twice won the Washington State Bowling Tournament scratch all events championship, was the Tacoma Bowling Association’s scratch all events champion, and won a Northwest Bowlers Association championship. Denny also won the Tacoma Masters Championship on three occasions and carried the highest average one year in the Tacoma All-Star Travel League.

He finished third in doubles in an American Bowling Congress national tournament and was a member of teams that placed seventh and 11th at ABC team events. He carried a 200-plus average in 10 ABC tournaments.

Denny was a six-time Greater Tacoma Bowling Association All Star and in 1982 he was inducted into the Greater Tacoma Bowling Association Hall of Fame.

His entry into the Professional Bowlers Association in 1970 gave Denny a chance to measure his talents against the world’s greatest professionals. His performance as a professional earned him recognition as “Rookie of the Year 1970” on the PBA tour. That year he competed in 17 tournaments and “cashed” in 11 of them, earning $6,348. While that isn’t a lot by today’s standards it was a tidy sum back in 1970.

Kelly Larson

Kelly Larson is arguably the finest all-around player in Pacific Lutheran women’s basketball history. At 5-feet, 10-inches, Larson could score, rebound and handle the ball with precision. Larson’s name is repeated throughout the Pacific Lutheran women’s basketball record book.

Kelly finished her career with 1,545 points, at the time ranking No. 1 in that category. More than a dozen years after completing her eligibility, Larson continues to rank No. 1 in career assists with 440 and first in career free throw percentage with a .791 (321of-406). She also ranks fourth with 190 career steals and ninth with 502 career rebounds. Three times in her career she had 11 assists in a game, ranking her first in that category. Larson earned first team all-conference honors twice and was second team pick two more times. She never averaged less than 13.5 points per game and had a single-season best of 16.7 points per contest as a junior. She earned first team all-conference honors twice and second team all-conference recognition the other two years. Inducted into the PLU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, she is to this day the only PLU female basketball player to be so honored.

Kelly, born on May 10, 1967 in Tacoma, came to PLU out of Puyallup’s Rogers High School, from where she graduated in 1985. She participated in volleyball, basketball and softball for three years at Rogers, earning a total of nine letters. Twice she earned All-SPSL first team honors, and once she was an All-Pierce County first team choice, while playing basketball for the Rams. She helped her high school team to fourth- and fifth-place finishes at the state tournament.

Susan Lenth moffet

Susan Lenth Moffet, born November 25, 1966 in Montana, earned AllAmerican recognition at both the prep and collegiate levels, leaving a legacy as one of the best swimmers to ever come out of Pierce County. A 1985 graduate and Valedictorian at Bellarmine Prep High School, Moffet competed for Henry Foss because Bellarmine did not have a swim team. She also was a Tacoma Swim Club member for 10 years as well.

Moffet won back-to-back state titles in the 100 yard breaststroke (1983, ’84), and swam on a team that won consecutive titles and set a state record in the 200 medley relay. Lenth was also a member of the state champion 200 medley relay for Foss in 1983 and 1984 with the ’84 team setting a state record that lasted for 18 years. In fact, that team recorded the fastest high school 200 medley relay time in the country. Her performance garnered All-American recognition both years and the opportunity to swim at the Division I collegiate level at Stanford University where she was team captain her senior year.

Upon her graduation from Stanford in 1989, Moffet was one of the top collegiate swimmers in the country. While in Palo Alto, she placed fourth in the 100 yard breast stroke and eighth in the 200 yard breaststroke at the NCAA Division I Championships. Susan earned All-American and academic All-American honors, was selected to the Stanford Athletic Honor Roll, and competed in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Trials.

Susan is the mother of two children, lives is Los Angeles and works for The Boston Consulting Group.

Warren Logan

Warren Logan was an outstanding athlete, first at Lincoln High School where he starred in football and track, and later at the College of Puget Sound where he was a standout in both as well. Born December 5, 1932 in Tacoma, Warren played end in football and competed in the high jump, high hurdles and the long jump as a Lincoln Abe. His senior year he participated in the state high school track meet and finished fifth in the long jump.

Logan was good enough to earn a scholarship to CPS where he served as co-captain of the Logger squad with teammate Joe Stortini for the 1954 season and earned All-Evergreen Conference honors. Logan nearly chose another career early in his life. After four years at the College of Puget Sound his first job was in insurance sales. He quickly found out that the work was not for him and so he went back to earn his teaching credentials and landed a job in the Clover Park School District.

He started with football and track at the middle school level but when he got to Lakes in 1975 he was named the school’s track and field and cross country coach and proceeded to lead Lakes to its first track and field state title a year later. From 1975-1993 his teams placed in the top four at the state competition 10 times. During that run he tutored 12 individual and six relay state champions including a seven-year span in which he had six runners win the 400-meters. By the time Warren retired as the Lakes high track and field coach in 1992 and the cross country coach in 1997, he had spent 22 seasons with the Lancers, won state crowns in 1976 and 1988 and was a runner-up three times.

Many of Warren’s athletes went on to compete at the collegiate level, including several on the powerful Washington State University teams of the early 1980s. Among the many standout performs under Logan’s guidance were Curt Corvin and Cory Knight. Warren was inducted into the Washington State Track & Field Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002.

Duane Lowell

Duane Lowell was a hard-hitting defensive end and outside linebacker who took his game to Division I football and the University of Washington in the late 1950s.

Lowell was a three-sport athlete at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, playing football, baseball and basketball in the early 1950s. He served as a co-captain on the Lincoln football squad during the 1954 season, earning the Inspirational and the Richard Graff Memorial awards.

After earning all-city, all-conference and all-state honors and co-captaining the West squad in the 1955 all-star game, Lowell moved up to the University of Washington, where he played 60 minutes per game during the two-way era of college football. He played under coaches John Cherberg, Darrell Royal, and Jim Owens and then served as a graduate assistant coach on the 1960 Husky Rose Bowl squad. He served as a co-captain his senior season in 1958, earning the Scholarship award that same year.

Duane went into the field of education where he coached first at Shoreline Community College and then at Bothell high in the 60s. He received his Phd in the area of Educational Administration in 1972 and re-located to the University of Oregon for two years of research before serving as Superintendent of the Orting School District from 1975-77 and the Anacortes School District from 1977-1991 before retiring.

Jim martinson

Most sports fans have heard the names Bill Rodgers and Alberto Salazar and equated them with Boston Marathon wins. Most recently, Kenya’s Robert Cheruiyot has been the dominant name at the world’s most famous marathon.

Pierce County can boast its own Boston Marathon winner, though many haven’t heard the name Jim Martinson, who won the 1981 Boston Marathon as a wheelchair athlete.

Born on Oct. 27, 1946 in Puyallup and a 1966 graduate of Sumner High School, Jim started wheelchair racing in the mid 1970s. Most of his training focused on his desire to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which he finally did in 1980. That year, he placed second at Boston, only whetting his appetite for more. In 1981, he again made the trip to Boston, and this time he won the race.

Jim raced in marathons all across the U.S., but his passion for racing doesn’t quit with the 26-mile event. He has competed in the Paralympics, winning gold medals in the 100, 400, 1500 and the 400-meter relay. He also took a silver medal in the 800.

In 1980 in Los Angeles, Jim became one of eight athletes to be among the first group of wheelchair competitors to participate in the Olympic Games.

Within a decade, Jim added alpine skiing to his sports resume. In 1990, he made the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, and in 1992 went to the Paralympics in Albertville, France, where he won the gold in the downhill event.

In December 2003, Jim was inducted into the National Disabled Ski Hall of Fame. In 2007, after spending 21 years pushing his racing wheelchair in open and masters races, he was inducted into the National Wheelchair Hall of Fame.

Jim lives in Puyallup and is in sales with Kersey Mobility.

Bill mcGovern

Bill McGovern, who passed away on Jan. 16, 1972, just 15 days short of his 46th birthday, holds a distinction relating to the Rose Bowl that almost surely will never be matched.

Because of World War II, many high school students were graduating early, or heading off to the war. In addition, a significant number of college students, in some cases football players, were either enlisting or were called into service. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1943, Bill played for legendary Stadium High School coach John Heinrick against Lincoln High School in Tacoma’s traditional crosstown game. Bill was a standout, twice selected to the Cross-State Conference All-Star Game, and in 1943 earning first team Cross-State honors as a tackle.

On Dec. 2, 1943, two weeks after that Thanksgiving Day battle between the Tacoma rivals, Bill enrolled at the University of Washington in a service training program. That made him eligible for the Rose Bowl, and on Jan. 1, 1944, 17 years old and the Huskies’ only substitute tackle, the 6-1, 196-pounder played in his first college football game – the Rose Bowl contest in which the Huskies lost to Southern California, 29-0. By playing in that game, Bill became the youngest player ever in the Rose Bowl and the first player to participate in both high school and college football during the same season.

Bill’s distinction as a football player certainly didn’t end there. He was an outstanding center for the Huskies and was captain of the 1945 team that played a two-game home-and-home series against Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington State, plus single games against Idaho, Southern Cal and California. The Huskies finished with a 6-3 record. That season, Bill earned numerous regional and national honors. He was a unanimous United Press International All-Coast honoree, All-America third team pick of Saturday Evening Post, and an All-America second team selection by Collyer’s. He played in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 2, 1946 in a game that ended in a 7-7 tie. Bill eventually graduated from the University of Washington in 1949.

He drew the interest of several professional teams, among them the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers, but did not pursue a pro career.

Bill then spent four years at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC before moving back to Tacoma to continue his orthodontia career. He served on the Clover Park School Board, was President of the Tacoma Country & Golf Club, was an avid snow skier and was a four-handicap golfer. Bill and the former Betty Wilbur had four children.

Lea mcmillan

Lea McMillan had tremendous success at the state, regional and national levels in the sport of handball. He won the 1st Pacific Northwest Regional open doubles championship with Jerry Skogstad and the 1st national collegiate doubles championship with Severo Sanchez while at the University of Washington. Lea also was a three-time Washington State open doubles champion with Bill Reel Jr., and garnered two Washington State open singles championships.

Lea won more than 200 open singles and doubles championships around the state and the Northwest region, among the memorable wins were the following: Seafair Open singles handball championship, beating a west coast-ranked player in the semifinals and Oregon state champion Ken McQueen in the finals; White Center Handball doubles championship with Bill Reel Jr. when they defeated Jim Miller and national champion Gordy Pfeifer.

Lea, who ranks winning the Pacific Northwest regional sportsmanship award at the top of his accomplishments, says that another rewarding part of his career was “teaching and helping players and watching them improve and becoming champions themselves. That group included Jerry Conine (many Southwest Championships and Southern California Hall of fame inductee), Glenn Carden (winner of many Regional and National Championships, Kitsap Hall of Fame inductee) and Gordy Pfeifer (National Championships and International Championships and Hall of fame inductee).

Lea was born on Aug. 17, 1938, in Tulalip, Washington, and graduated from Tacoma’s Lincoln High School in 1956. Lea was a reserve on Lincoln’s 1954 state championship team. Lea, a left side player in doubles when not playing singles, played six years for the Tacoma YMCA, three years for the University of Washington and 45 years for the Tacoma Elks Lodge. Lea also coached handball at UW, Bremerton and Tacoma YMCA, and Tacoma Elks Lodge #174.

Dave minnitti

Success on the athletic field is not a prerequisite to being a good umpire, but you could put a check mark in both categories next to the name of Dave Minnitti. Born September 22, 1918 in Carbonado, WA, Dave was a three-sport athlete at Bellarmine, from where he graduated in 1938. At Bellarmine he played first base on the baseball team, was a guard on the basketball team and was a halfback on the football team. Minnitti showed good talent as an outfielder and first baseman in the Tacoma City League and the Valley League. He played for Cammarano Bros. in the City League in 1939-40, hitting .426 for the team that season, outstanding at any level. This performance earned him a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds.

From 1946-60 he played for several City and Valley League teams including Kay Street, Phil’s of Edgewood, and finally for Madigan Hospital. Dave also earned a brief shot at pro ball, playing briefly for the home town Tacoma Tigers of the Western International League in 1939, the year they won the Shaughnessy Playoffs. When he turned to umpiring, which he did for approximately 15 years, he became one of the best “men in blue” in the area. He handled games at all levels – high school, recreation, college, and the semi-pro leagues.

Brian mogg

As accomplished as he is as a golfer, Brian Mogg has made an even bigger name around the PGA Tour as a teacher. The Tacoma native opened the Brian Mogg Performance Center at Keene’s Pointe, Florida, in 2002. He has worked as a coach with the likes of current PGA Tour professionals Bart Bryant and Jeff Gove, as well as Mi Hyun Kim, who recently finished sixth in the LPGA major Nabisco Classic.

A Lakes High School class of ’79 product, Mogg earned second and third place finishes in the state tournaments in 1978 and 1979. He won the Tacoma City Junior and Bud Brown Olympia Memorial tournaments in 1979, successfully defending his Olympia win from 1978, and was second that second year in the Tacoma City Amateur and fifth in the Washington State Amateur. Mogg earned similar finishes in both Amateurs again in 1982.

Mogg played collegiately at Ohio State University, earning All-America honors and graduating in 1983. He moved to Orlando in 1985 and over the next seven years played professionally on the PGA (1986-90) and Nationwide Tours. His best finish on the big tour was in 1988 – a second at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic. He also recorded six Top 25 finishes in that time period on the Nationwide Tour.

He joined the Leadbetter Academy in 1993, and became Director of Instruction from 1997-2001 before opening the Performance Center. Mogg frequently guests on The Golf Channel’s “Academy Live,” “Your Game Night,” and other network shows. He has written instructional articles for Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips Magazine and PGA Tour Partners magazine as well as been featured in Sports Illustrated. He also hosts corporate outings and clinics for many companies throughout North America.

frank morrone

A 1941 Lincoln high graduate where he was a three-sport star in basketball, football and baseball, Morrone umpired baseball and softball for 28 years locally and always ranked high with coaches and players for his consistency and solid judgment. He was assigned to many state championship games. A stellar career in baseball helped prepare him.

Morrone played centerfield for Lincoln for three years (1938-40) and was one of the key performers on the 1941 state championship Abe team. Later he become one of the top players on the Edgewood/K Street teams which dominated play in the Valley and City Leagues in the late 40s and early 50s. He also played for Madigan, Superior Dairy and for Hal Schimling’s K Street team in 1949. In the Navy he patrolled center for a championship Bunker Hill, Indiana service team and one of his thrills was playing a game in Notre Dame Stadium. Frank also played three years for Tacoma’s crack American Legion team, post#138, and was a fast pitch pitcher and manager for the 38th Street Tavern team that won the county title. He retired after 30 years as a City of Tacoma employee and still has his own plumbing business.

marshall Perrow

Born on Jan. 27, 1916 in Tacoma, Marshall Perrow played a significant role in the development of skiing in the Pacific Northwest. He is still involved in the sport in his 90s, and in fact hit the slope with multiple generations of the family last year at the age of 91.

Marshall, a 1934 graduate of Stadium High School, got hit by the skiing bug in his youth. His father was co-owner of Kimball’s Sporting Goods, and Marshall picked up skiing by using the equipment available in the shop. Though he didn’t much care for the skis, he developed a love for the sport that has stayed with him ever since. He raced for the Tacoma Ski Club at Paradise starting in 1933 and continuing for many years.

In the early years, Marshall skied at Paradise Valley, even when conditions made it virtually impossible to get up to the slopes. The Park Service wasn’t always able to keep the road to Paradise open, but that didn’t stop Marshall and his friends. They would drive up on Friday nights to Narada Falls, park their car, and then take 1 1/2 hours to hike in to lodging accommodations. In the dead of winter they would hike up at night wearing miner’s helmets, and once they found the cabin they would then have to tunnel down to the front door because of all of the snow. In those days Marshall would go skiing with old friends including Howard Clifford and Merrit Cookingham. This same group that skied in the winter also sailed in the summer, and most were members of the Tacoma Yacht Club. Marshall was as accomplished at sailing as he was on skis and was one of the top racers in the waters of the Puget Sound, San Juan Islands and Gulf Islands.

Otto Lang started the first ski school up at Paradise called the Rainier National Park Ski Schools. When the movie, “Thin Ice”, starring Sonja Heinie and Tyrone Power, was filmed at Paradise, Otto proved to be such a quick learner that he headed for Hollywood with the production company, and Marshall took over the ski school around 1938. Because of his friendship with Lang, Marshall and brother Wade landed a part-time job working for the production company during the filming of “Thin Ice.” In the late 1930s, he helped design and build the first ski tow on the West Coast at Paradise.

Marshall operated the ski school until about 1941 when he left to serve in the military. He began his own architectural firm, Marshall Perrow Architect, AIA, in 1956, and later became a charter member of the Ancient Skier’s organization.

His love of skiing has continued on through his daughter Michelle Burkheimer, who taught several years for Star Skiers, and son-in law Clark Burkheimer, who taught for years with Jack Nagel & the Arwines at Star Skiers at Crystal Mountain. Grandsons Ian and Alec Burkheimer have a long history of teaching skiing at Crystal Mountain, as well as in Japan and New Zealand.

Aaron Pointer

Aaron Pointer had an excellent baseball career before retiring and moving on to officiating, where he made his biggest mark. He was first introduced to the South Puget Sound region in 1968 as a member of the Tacoma Cubs class AAA baseball team, helping the Cubs win the Pacific Coast League championship in 1969.

One of Pointer’s biggest claims to fame on the baseball diamond is that he was the last professional baseball player to hit .400 over an entire season, a feat he accomplished in 1961 when he hit .402 for Salisbury in the Western Carolina League. During his career he spent time playing for both the Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs. After spending three years playing baseball in Japan, Pointer retired in 1972 and began an outstanding career in officiating. He also began working for the Pierce County Parks & Recreation Department as a Recreation Supervisor for 28 years, coordinating the adult athletic programs in the county.

Pointer officiated baseball, basketball and football, including three USSSA National Championships, numerous State and Regional Championships and induction into the Tacoma/Pierce County Oldtimers Baseball/Softball Hall of Fame in 1995 and the USSSA Washington State Hall of Fame in 2001. He officiated three girls WIAA State finals and received two WIAA Meritorious Service Awards.

Football brought the most officiating success for Pointer. Beyond officiating two WIAA Class 3A State Finals, he became the first African American to head up a crew in the Pac-10 in 1986. He has officiated numerous Bowl Games, finishing his collegiate officiating career with the 1987 Rose Bowl. Pointer enjoyed a successful 17year career in the NFL as a head linesman, retiring to Tacoma in 2003.

P.S. If the name Pointer rings a bell, well that’s because his sisters are the Pointer Sisters—but don’t ask him to warble musical notes anytime soon!

Art Popham

Art Popham went from honored batboy for the old Kansas City Athletics to public relations director for Charlie O. Finley’s Oakland Athletics and eventually to radio announcer for the Pacific Coast League’s Tacoma Twins.

Art Popham was born on Jan. 16, 1950, in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City in 1968. Though not a skilled baseball player, Art was passionate about the sport. One friend recalls that “Art’s family installed a batting cage in the backyard and we spent countless hours practicing our batting skills.” Art also loved to play APBA, a card game and an early precursor to fantasy baseball in which the participants would use statistics and players’ histories to create their own games.

While serving as batboy for the Kansas City Athletics, Art earned the 1968 “Hustle Award” for always performing his duties at high speed and with gusto. He became the team’s public relations director at age 20 and, when Athletics owner Charles O. Finley moved the team to Oakland, Art followed the team to the Bay Area. He proudly wore his Athletics’ 1972 World Series championship ring.

In 1976, Art left the Athletics to become the voice of the Pacific Coast League’s Tacoma Twins on KMO Radio, serving in that position from 1976-84. During that time, he broadcast games for the Twins, Yankees, Tugs and Tigers. In addition to calling PCL games, Art also worked University of Puget Sound and high school games. He and Doug McArthur also created the “Live from the Leaf” sports program, which aired from the Cloverleaf Tavern every Friday night from 1977-81.

In August 1984, Art received a special award for “9 years of dedicated service to Baseball and Sports in Our Community.” He was recipient of the 1989 Distinguished Citizen Award in Tacoma, presented by the Municipal League of Tacoma and Pierce County, and recognizing “outstanding dedication and leadership in the betterment of our community.”

The Popham Award came into existence to honor Art, who was known for his commitment to covering Tacoma with zeal. The award recognizes an individual that has done the most to build community spirit.

Art later joined the staff of The News Tribune as a business columnist in 1991, and he passed away from a stroke at age 52 on July 31, 2002. He is survived by wife Kathy, sons Marshal and Derk and step-daughter Tiffany Reaves.

Dana Powers-Hubbard

Dana Powers made her mark in college swimming at the University of Nebraska in the mid-1980s. In 1984, Powers set Nebraska school records in four individual categories while taking part in teams that set four relay records, and she earned All-America honors 18 times over her four-year collegiate career. Powers set school records in the 50 freestyle (23.69), 100 freestyle (51.54), 100 breaststroke (1:06.56), and 100 butterfly (55.96). She also swam the fourth leg on teams that set school records in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the 200 medley relay, while swimming the third leg on the school record-setting 400 medley relay.

Powers tied a Nebraska school record with seven Big Eight Conference championships from 1984-87. She earned three championships in the 100 butterfly, two in the 100 breaststroke and two in the 50 freestyle. She was an All-American in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly as well as a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ 200 and 400 freestyle relays and 200 medley relays. She won back-to back Big Eight titles in the 50 free and 100 fly and was instrumental in leading the Huskers to their first conference championship in over 10 years. Behind her leadership, the Huskers won the championship three years in a row. Dana was the Huskers’ cocaptain her junior and senior yearc and was a three-time member of the All-Big 8 Conference as well as a three-time academic all-conference honoree.

Dana qualified for the Olympic Trials in both 1984 and 1988 in the 100 butterfly and the 50 freestyle. In 1985, she placed fifth in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 fly while setting personal best times at the USS short course national meet. At the 1987, she placed fifth in the 100 fly at the USS long course championships, just missing a spot on the U.S. team that traveled to Moscow for the Goodwill Games.

Dana swam for Sumner High for one year and then for Wilson High for two more years. As a sophomore she finished third in state in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly, and as a senior she won the events and was a prep All-American while swimming for Wilson. She was inducted into the Wilson High School Hall of Fame in 1983. Dana also swam for the Tacoma Swim Club for eight years.

Dana, born on June 7, 1965, in Puyallup, now lives in Lake Tapps and is the Assistant Chief of Police for the City of Bonney Lake.

“The sport of swimming taught me to be dedicated, motivated and driven, not only in sports but in life,” Dana said. “I owe everything to my coaches, Dick Hannula, Dan Wolfram, Ray Huppert and Mike Hayhurst.”

Robb Powers

Robb was born on March 6, 1963, in Seattle. He swam at Sumner High School from 1978-81 and graduated from the school in 1981 before moving on to the University of Puget Sound. While in junior high and high school, Robb swam for the Sumner Blue Marlins from 1976-81.

Robb Powers won NCAA Division II national championships in the 100and 200-yard breaststroke events in 1984 while competing for the University of Puget Sound. He was an All-American all four years he competed at UPS. Robb set numerous school records, including the 100-meter breaststroke in 1982, 200yard breaststroke in 1985, and the breaststroke leg of the 400-yard medley relay in 1985. He was a 13-time NCAA All-American and qualified for the Olympic trials in 1984. His 200 breaststroke record, 2:01.69, stands to this day at UPS. He was inducted into the University Puget Sound Hall of Fame in 2000.

Robb was a national finalist in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events when swimming for the Tacoma Swim Club, and he finished seventh in the nation at the United States Senior National Championship in 1984.

He is currently employed as an airline captain by Alaska Airlines.

Cliff Schiesz

Cliff Schiesz spent many a year during the 1940s and 50s playing baseball in the Tacoma-Pierce County area. Whether it was for K Street in the City League, Madigan, Edgewood, Olde Pilsner, and Portland Avenue in the Valley League, in the Western International League with the Wenatchee Chiefs and Tacoma Tigers in 1947, or for the barnstorming House of David, Schiesz found his way onto the diamond.

Born January 3, 1924, Schiesz eventually attended Bellarmine Prepatory School, where he starred in baseball as well as basketball. A 1943 graduate of Bellarmine Prep (which inducted him into its hall of fame in 2001), Schiesz immediately began playing around the area. Among the teams for which he played semi-professionally, the Grays Harbor Merchants was one of the first. Schiesz made $20 a game with the Merchants – lucrative for the times, especially since the team often played doubleheaders.

In 1947, Schiesz spent spring training with the Tacoma Tigers of the W.I.L. Though he eventually was cut from the roster, Schiesz soon found his way onto the squad for the Wenatchee club in the same league, where he made $200 a month. When he quit that team, Schiesz returned to Tacoma. It didn’t take long for Hal Schimling to approach Schiesz with an offer from the Benton Harbor, Michigan, based House of David barnstorming club. The Israelite House of David originally barnstormed around the United States from 1930 to 1940. The team again hit the road from 1946 to 1955, and during that second stint made their way to the Northwest and West Coast.

When the team arrived in the area, it needed a couple of players. With an offer of $400 a month to play, Schiesz jumped at the chance. During his stint, Schiesz played with a House of David squad that played numerous games against the baseball version of the Harlem Globetrotters, as well as barnstorming games throughout California. When Cliff played for the House of David, only two players to his knowledge were actually “members of the order.”

mark Smith

At one time in his swimming career, the late Mark Smith was the No. 1-ranked U.S. high school swimmer in the 100 freestyle, clocking an impressive 45.35. That came in 1975, the second of two years that Smith was an All-American while swimming on back-to-back state championship Wilson High School teams.

Mark was the Washington state prep record holder in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle in 1975. A year earlier, he swam on the foursome that established a new state championship meet record of 3:11.41 in the 400-yard free relay. That same year, 1974, he was the state champion in the 100 yard backstroke and also won and set the state record in the 100 yard free.

Mark swam with the three Hannula brothers on the Tacoma Swim Club’s 800 meter free relay that broke the American Club Record for this event at the AAU National Championship Meet. Mark had the fastest split time of that relay but their record was broken in the final heat of the event. TSC placed 3rd overall in the event. “Mark was at his best on relays,” said Dick Hannula, the Tacoma Swim Club head coach. “Whenever teammates were also involved in relays, he was better than his best. He swam on my great TSC relays that placed high in national championship meets.”

Swimming at the national long course championships in 1974, he placed eighth in the 200-meter freestyle. After graduating from Wilson High in 1975, Mark earned a swimming scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he swam from 1975-1979. The Trojans won national championships in 1976 and 1977.

Mark was born on March 28, 1957, in Mt. Holly, N.J., and died at age 37 after a 4 1/2 –year battle with brain cancer.

Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart was one of the initial pool of great high school swimmers to come out of head coach Dick Hannula’s Wilson High School program.

Rod was born on Oct. 26, 1955, in Tacoma, and throughout his youth and college years he swam for the Tacoma Swim Club, for whom he was a national finalist in the 200 butterfly. While swimming for Wilson High in 1972 and 1973, Rod had the nation’s fastest high school times in his specialty, the 100 butterfly. In 1972, he swam a 51.92, and a year later he lowered that to 50.06, the latter breaking his own state record. He won state high school swim championships three straight years in the 100 butterfly, and he also won state titles in the 50 freestyle in 1972, clocking 22.10, and again in 1973, lowering his time to 21.72.

Rod competed in both swimming and water polo at Wilson High from 1971-73. Upon his graduation, Rod went on to swim for four consecutive national champion University of Southern California teams from 1974-77, earning All-America honors for the Trojans.

He graduated from USC in 1977 and currently lives in Southern California, where he works as a business group manager for Teradyne.

ed Stricherz

Ed Stricherz was a very successful football coach in the late 1940s, but his legacy will always be in officiating, where he served as an official in both the high school and collegiate ranks of football and basketball.

Stricherz grew up in South Dakota, graduating from Waverly High School in 1931. After moving to Washington, he coached Clarkston High School to two Bi-State Football League Championships in the mid 1940s and White River/ Enumclaw High School to the 1950 Puget Sound League Football Championship.

A passion for sports quickly turned Stricherz toward officiating, as he put on the black and white stripes and worked basketball games involving legendary players and coaches. He considered some of his officiating highlights to be working many Seattle University basketball games during the O’Brien twins (Johnny and Eddie) and Elgin Baylor years. He also officiated games for numerous legendary coaches, including John Wooden, Hec Edmundson, Art McLarney, Jack Friel, Marv Harshman, John Castellani and PLU’s Gene Lundgaard.

Settling down in University Place, Stricherz passed on his officiating legacy to sons Jay and Mark. Jay serves as a Pac-10 football referee and Mark is a WIAA high school and past NAIA and community college basketball official.

Dave Svendsen

One of the best pass receivers in Sumner High School history, Dave Svendsen was an all-league and all-state selection for the Spartans in 1964, and he helped the Spartans to three straight Seamount League titles. He caught 37 passes that season, eight for touchdowns, and turned a pass from Tom Slettvet into an 86-yard touchdown, the longest scoring pass play in Sumner High football history. At the time, all three marks were school records. His prep career was filled with team and league honors, culminated by his No. 90 jersey being retired at the school, making him only the second athlete to have his number retired.

Dave was born on July 20, 1946, and graduated from Sumner High School in 1965. He was a threesport athlete at Sumner High, also playing basketball and competing in track & field for his father Bob, who was the head track & field and cross country coach. Dave cleared 6-5 in the high jump, ran the 100-yard dash and ran the anchor leg on the 880-yard relay team.

After a year at Grays Harbor Community College where he played for Jack Elway (whose son John would play at Stanford and later lead Denver to two Super Bowl titles), Dave transferred to Eastern Washington where he became a first team All-America and rewrote the school’s record books. In 1967, Eastern played for the national NAIA championship thanks to the passing combination of Bill Diedrick and Dave Svendsen. They triggered an offense that accounted for school and Evergreen Conference passing records. Svendsen set new school records with 57 catches for 979 yards and 12 touchdowns. In his three-year career at Eastern, Dave set school records for receptions (147), yards (2,238) and touchdowns (26). He still holds the school record with those 26 career touchdowns after scoring 162 points as an Eagle. Several of those records have been broken, but it took four-year players to take down records that he set in just three seasons in Cheney.

Following his senior season, he played in the East-West Shrine Game before being drafted in the 11th round by the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams. Dave survived all but the last cut before the start of the regular season, so he joined the Sacramento Capitals of the Continental Football League. In the mid-1990s, after a battle with cancer, he passed away but, he was inducted into the Eastern Washington Athletic Hall of Fame in the class of 2001.

Govnor Teats

Without a doubt, one of the most prolific sailboat racers in the Tacoma Yacht Club (TYC) was Dr. Govnor Teats (Gov) whose competitive sailing career covered nearly fifty years. Born March 4, 1911 in Tacoma, Teats was a physician and surgeon in private practice in the north end. His first boat was a twelve-foot Penguin class sailing dingy that he first launched near Day Island on the day the Narrows Bridge collapsed. According to his son, Roger Deitz, “If Dad had looked over his shoulder while sailing, he would have seen the bridge fall.” Long time sailors will recognize the names of Teal, Reverie, and Stormy Weather the boats he raced in the forties, fifties and sixties. While he learned to sail in the Penguin, he developed his initial racing and cruising skills in the Teal, a small sailboat with a cabin. In 1945 he bought his first racing sailboat, the 38 foot Reverie, and in 1947 at the Pacific International Yacht Association’s summer race series, he won the men’s division while his wife, Barbara, won the women’s division.

Sailboat racing during the forties consisted of ten to fifteen races mostly held in Commencement Bay. Although there was no Yacht Club “Sailboat of the Year,” Gov and Reverie consistently competed for the best record in the Club. In 1951 he earned the first of fourteen official Boat of the Year trophies he would be awarded over the next 24 years. In 1952 he won the trophy again with Reverie and in 1955 he won the first of seven Boat of the Year trophies he would earn over the next 11 years in his new 42 foot sloop, Stormy Weather. In 1967 he bought a modern fiber glass, Cal 40 class, racing-cruising sailboat, the White Squall, and won five more Boat of the Year awards for his division between 1968 and 1975.

The “Grandaddy” of sailboat competitions in the Pacific Northwest is the Swiftsure that covers a 136-mile course from Victoria out the Straits of Juan de Fuca to the Swiftsure Bank in the Pacific and back to Victoria. This race is noted for bringing together the greatest yachts in the Pacific Northwest. Gov won the PHRF overall title in 1973 in White Squall and won his class in both the Stormy Weather and the White Squall. In all he sailed in 25 consecutive Swiftsure races.

Ever the adventurer, Gov raced in the Cape Town to Rio yacht race in the 1971 aboard the Greybeard, a famous sailboat out of Vancouver, B.C. This race takes sailors 3,300 adventurous miles across the Atlantic Ocean, heading North-West from Cape Town, South Africa, to Isla da Trinidade and then South-West to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to Dave Nielsen, one of three watch captains on the Greybeard, “We were shooting for first-to-finish honors but had to settle for second boat across the line.”

A legend on the water and ever the competitor, he continued to race in Tacoma, usually finishing in the top of the fleet until he retired from racing in 1989 at the age of 78. His commitment to sailing led to a broad involvement with the sailing communities as he served Tacoma Yacht Club as Sailboat Chairman, member of the Board of Directors, and Yacht Club Commodore. He also passed his competitive spirit to his sons, George, Bruce, and Roger Deitz who also crewed for him and continue to race.

Joan Teats

Joan Teats was born on Aug. 5, 1924, in Baker City, Oregon, where she was raised and from where she graduated high school in 1942. In each of the next two years, Joan won the women’s club championship at the local course in Baker.

Joan attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, graduating in 1946, and it was during that time that Joan started playing in amateur golf tournaments. In 1948 she took first in the women’s club championship in Lewiston, Idaho, and her first major title came in 1949 when she won the Idaho State Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.

It isn’t for her skill as a player, however, that Joan is being inducted into this Hall of Fame.

Joan came to Tacoma initially in the early 1950s with her husband, Richard Curtiss, and young daughters Chris and Kathy, and she began working in the Bethel School District as a music teacher. Her re-entry into the golfing part of her life came later (1968) after the loss of her husband to heart disease, and her ensuing marriage to Merrill Teats. Joan joined Fircrest GC and began the now strong Fircrest Junior program. Joan has since been inducted into the Fircrest GC Hall of Fame

During the late 1970s, Joan began dreaming and talking with local professionals about starting an organization where youth ages 8-17 could learn and compete in the game of golf. She founded the Washington Junior Golf Association in 1977, and served as executive director until 1992. More than 30 years later WJGA (based in University Place) is still thriving with several hundred junior golfers learning and competing in the game and several hundred volunteers strengthening the organization. The junior state championship in July features 150 of these golfers that have competed over the summer months.

In addition to co-founding WJGA, Joan was founder of the Girls Junior America’s Cup Team Matches and the British Columbia/Washington Junior Ladies Team Matches, both in 1988.

Joan was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

Gene “Chico” Thayer

Gene Thayer, born on May 18, 1933, in Anacortes, and he picked up the nickname “Chico” when he was still a child. His father listened to “The Cisco Kid” on the radio, and soon began using Cisco’s nickname of “Chico” on his own son. That name stuck through his school years and beyond.

Chico began playing fastpitch at age 15, and while in left field became so fascinated with pitching that he and a friend would pitch to each other using a building as their backstop. A 1953 Lincoln High graduate, the 18year-old Chico learned valuable lessons about covering bunts and fielding his position from an experienced pitcher, and those lessons served him well throughout his fastpitch career. With lots of work came steady improvement, and within a couple of years he was pitching for Mount Vernon Moose, the best team in that league.

In 1951, Chico moved to Tacoma and played for the Tacoma Moose team, which qualified for the state tournament in Walla Walla. He played for many teams including Tacoma Athletics, Mueller-Harkins Buick, Wood Realty, Spring Air Mattress, VFW, Puget Sound Bank, Manke & Sons, and B&I Sports. He participated in 29 regional tournaments and between those events and invitational tournaments he garnered nine MVP trophies. His longest single game pitching was 19 innings and his longest single day of pitching was five consecutive games. He pitched 37 innings and won all five games with a total of 54 strikeouts.

At the 1973 regional tournament he pitched five games, winning three of them. That season, Chico compiled an enviable 41-14 record, which included four no-hitters and one perfect game. His most memorable day came at the ASA regional tournament in Spokane where, pitching for Manke & Sons, he threw 17 shutout innings against mighty Pay n’ Pak from Seattle. The tournament MVP, he helped Manke & Sons win the tournament and earn a trip to nationals.

While playing for Puget Sound Bank he received the Ralph Guynes Inspirational Award, only the fifth time it was presented in 26 years. The catcher for that team, and during his time with Manke & Sons, was Lloyd Glasoe, who like Chico was an Anacortes native.

Suzanne Vick Paulsen

Suzanne Vick started earning honors from the time she began playing volleyball. By the time she was a senior at Wilson, Vick was an All-Narrows League selection and the 1986 Rams team captain. She also was a all-league pick in soccer, was a softball captain and lettered in basketball.

It was volleyball that sent Vick to Eastern Washington University, how ever. During her career as an Eagle, EWU had three 20-win seasons. She was the team’s most valuable player as a junior in 1988, hitting .172 an with 902 assists, 32 aces and 230 digs in 99 games. She set the sch career assists with 2,679, a record that stood for 10 years (currently third). Her career average of 8.96 assists per game ranks fifth.

A shoulder injury threatened to derail Vick’s senior season at EWU, but after rehab she returned and helped lead Eastern to its first-ever Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament titles, and advance to the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament. Eastern finished the season 25-7 and 14-2 in the Big Sky Conference. That season Vick also earned a player of the week award, was a member of the Big Sky All-Academic team, a first team conference selection, made the Big Sky all-tournament team and was a second-team AllNorthwest Region selection.

Louie Weir

As a native of Frank, Alberta in Canada, Louie Weir’s love of hockey came naturally since he had grown up with the sport as a youngster. He moved from Canada to Tacoma with his brothers in 1924 and soon started talking about a new hockey league with teams for Tacoma. So, it wasn’t surprising when, in 1938, Louie Weir organized Tacoma’s first ice hockey league that played games at the new Lakewood Ice Arena, formerly the Oaks Dance Hall. Louie was league president, and he enlisted the support of sports enthusiast Stan Anderson to serve as Secretary/Treasurer and Dr. John Havlina to be the league physician.

The very first hockey team from Tacoma was Cammarano Brothers, which initially played in an independent league in Seattle. Not surprisingly, Louie and his brothers Ed and Frank played on that first team. The Tacoma League that followed survived for two seasons with four teams battling it out on a regular basis—Alt Heidelberg, Medosweet Dairies, Griffin Fuel, and Cammarano Brothers’ Pioneer Beer. The league was developed later into city teams between Tacoma, Olympia, and Bremerton. Both Louie and Ed played on the Port Orchard and Bremerton teams.

Louie, founder of Weir Electric & Hardware Company at 6th Avenue & Pine Street and later at 85th & Portland Avenue, had always hoped to have six sons so he could have his own hockey team. He and wife, Inez, came close with four boys and four girls. Although the boys didn’t follow in their father’s footsteps in hockey skates, Weir’s Appliance, still family owned at Highway 512 and Portland Avenue, continues to carry on the Weir name in the community.

Louie’s legacy is a long-continued tradition of youth and adult hockey programs in Pierce County, all because of his enthusiasm for a sport he learned and loved as a youngster.

Burt Wells

Burt Wells, born on Sept. 1, 1928 in Lakeview, Wash., participated in basketball and track & field while a student at Clover Park High School. After graduating from the Lakewood school in 1946, he moved on to Pacific Lutheran College, where he played basketball from 1948-52 for the venerable Marv Harshman. Burt was a member of the first Gladiators team to go to a national tournament, that in 1951. Wells developed a life-long friendship with the Hall of Fame coach, who was quoted as saying that “Burt Wells was one of the best defensive ball players that I ever coached.”

Burt’s connection to Pacific Lutheran didn’t end there, in fact, as his granddaughter, Andrea was a multiple-time all-conference and all-region infielder for several national tournament Lute softball teams. Burt is proud of Andrea, who won a NCAA post-graduate scholarship and was a recipient of the school’s George Fisher Scholar-Athlete Award. Andrea followed in her grandfather’s footsteps as he was the first-ever George Fisher Award winner while at PLC.

Burt learned a few things about coaching from Harshman, though his greatest coaching success came in cross country and track & field. He started his coaching career right out of PLC, heading north to Nooksack Valley High School where he coached basketball and track & field from 1952-59.

He came back to Pierce County, in particular Curtis High School, where he coached track & field from 1960-77 and cross country from 1964-81. In cross country, Burt’s teams won 15 league titles, qualified for state 14 times, and finished in the top 10 on 13 of those occasions. His boys team won state titles in 1965, 1971, 1973 and 1974. Burt’s track teams won Seamount League titles from 1965-75.

Burt has run the Sound-to-Narrows race 31 times, is a member of the Gig Harbor Golf and Country Club, and counts two hole-in-ones to his credit.

John West

John West, a 14 year-old British-born lad who became an American citizen just one day after winning his Tacoma crown on July 17, raced to a second-place finish in the 1960 All-American Soap Box event in Akron, Ohio. The race went to a photo finish before John was judged to have come in second.

In addition to earning a $4000 scholarship, John tied for the fastest heat of the day in Akron and was judged builder of the “best constructed” car of the 168-car national derby field. That represented the most “hardware” ever won in a single world derby championship up to that point. Later, John’s brother won the award at Akron for the best designed racer.

By virtue of his showing, John made Soap Box Derby history for Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest as it was the first time any city in the Northwest had placed in the top 10. In 20 years of competing at the national event in Akron, never before had a Tacoma entry been able to advance beyond two heats.

John employed a unique driving style with his head bobbing up and down, sometimes staying “submerged” for several seconds before looking up to make sure he was still on course for the finish line. On hand to cheer John were his parents, Roy and Joan West, along with 1958 Tacoma champion, David Marzano, who raced in Akron that same year.

“It was a great opportunity to work side by side with my dad and learn how to make a dream come true,” said John, who was born on Nov. 30, 1945. “I learned many building skills, perserverance, planning, and finishing. My dad was a master finish carpenter. I apply many of these skills today doing micro endodontic procedures. I am grateful to Mr. Jim Marzano for coaching my dad and me in racer design and racing technique. Jim has been a guide and inspiration for several young soap box families in the 1960s. There was a time then that the Northwest was the envy of the soap box derby world.”

Once he wrapped up his Soap Box Derby career, John turned to a more conventional list of sports, participating in football, track and field, baseball and wrestling at Curtis high. His coaches included Jim Sulenes in football, Burt Wells in track, Earl Birnel in baseball and Ray Payne in wrestling.

John graduated from Curtis High School in 1964 and from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1971.

Kirk White

Kirk came out of Curtis High School in 1995 to become one of the all-time greats in Boise State University wrestling annals, and also to be among the nation’s top competitors in his weight class.

Born on Aug. 10, 1976 in Viborg, S.D., Kirk was a three-sport standout at Curtis High School, winning nine varsity letters. Kirk played football and was was a two-time All-SPSL centerfielder in baseball, hitting .464 as a junior and .435 as a senior while striking out only once. As a wrestler, he was the 1995 Washington 3A state wrestling champion, the 1994-95 subregional champion, and compiled a career record of 79-13 while at Curtis High. He was inducted into the Curtis High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Kirk burst onto the national wrestling scene in 1999 when, as a sophomore competing at 165 pounds, he became the first Bronco to win an NCAA national wrestling championship. He continued his collegiate success by earning NCAA All-America awards in 2000 and 2001 to become the only three-time NCAA wrestling All-American in Boise State history. White posted a four-year dual match record of 130-26, including a 38-1 record during his championship season. He was inducted into the Boise State Hall of Fame in 2007.

Since completing his collegiate career in 2001, White has coached at many different levels, including serving as Boise State’s assistant coach, as an assistant coach at Pacific Lutheran University in 2002-03 and Highline Community College in 2003-04, and as the head coach at Fife High School during the 2004-05 season.

Along with his coaching duties, White continued to compete in freestyle, winning several medals at international tournaments in his weight class of 74 kilos (163 pounds). Following a knee injury which sidelined him for several months, White came back strong in late 2006, placing second and first at three tournaments. White’s injury kept him out of the 2006 USA team rankings, but prior to that he was ranked third in 2003, fourth in 2004 and second in 2005.

At the 2003 World Cup held in Boise, White competed for World Team Select, helping his team to the World Cup Silver Medal. In both 2003 and 2004, White represented the United States in the Pan-American Championships, where he won the silver medal on both occasions.

He earned prestigious USA National All-American Medals in each of his five attempts (1999, 2002-05), including a second-place finish in 2005. In 2003 and 2005, White was a Team USA national team member as a result of finishing in the top three at the U.S. World Team Trials. In the 2004 Olympic Team Trials he finished fourth.

Aaron Williams

Aaron was a two-sport stud athlete in track and field and football at Wilson High School, graduating in 1978 and going on to participate in both sports at the University of Washington from 1978-1982.

Williams became a big-time wide receiver on the Huskies’ football team, eventually becoming an 11th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 1983 and played briefly in the fledgling United States Football League. Much attention has been given to Williams’ place on the football field, helping the Huskies to two Rose Bowls, a Sun Bowl and Aloha Bowl appearance. While the media focus was on his football career, though, track and field gave him the opportunity to be one of the best to ever don the purple and gold.

At Washington, Williams regularly long jumped better than 24 feet, with triple jumps averaging close to 50 feet. His personal best triple jump was 50 feet, six inches, after attaining 50 feet, 3/4 of an inch while at Wilson which set a State of Washington record and becoming the first athlete to jump over 50 feet. He also excelled in the 110-meter hurdles event, with times consistently under 15 seconds.

During his time at Wilson, Williams won three State Titles in the long jump, triple jump and 110-meter hurdles. He was also a National Junior Olympic Triple Jump Champion and was a 1st Team All Narrows League Wide Receiver in 1977.

Catherine Williams Kadera

Born in Tacoma on April 19, 1974, Catherine began taking gymnastics classes at the Puget Sound School of Gymnastics in 1980 and, under the guidance of coach Brad Loan, parlayed three successful years during her prep days at Puyallup High School to an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Washington. While competing for the PSSG, Catherine was the 1986 U.S. Jr National Champion in the 12 and under division. Consistency and versatility were her strong suites which led to becoming the first three-time high school state all-around champion in state history while at Puyallup high from 1989-1992. Her performance during her senior year earned her KOMO TV’s prep athlete of the month accolades in February of 1992. Catherine was given All-American honors in 1992 for the vault, bars and balance beam and was, subsequently, named Puyallup’s Female Athlete of the Year.

In her first meet as a sophomore at Washington, Williams beat out a six-time all-American and a former Olympic hopeful with a 9.85 score in the uneven bars. One week later, she won the all-around title for the Husky Classic with another win in the uneven bars, a second-place finish in the balance beam and a final score of 38.15. Catherine participated in two U.S. Jr. National training camps at the Olympic Training Center and was a Husky Cheerleader from 1995-97.

Dick Yohn

In 37 years of athletics, in particular fastpitch softball, Dick Yohn established himself among Tacoma’s best-ever pitchers. He was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Hall of Fame and Seattle Metro Hall of Fame, both in 1985. Dick was the leading pitcher and MVP in numerous tournaments and competed 21 years in the Northwest Regionals, five with Tacoma teams like Irwin Jones and Spring Air, and 16 with Seattle teams like Federal Old Line, Pay n’ Pak and Peterbilt.

A graduate of Stadium High in 1956, Dick began pitching while in high school in the Church League and quickly advanced to the City League ranks. He played five years at Tacoma’s highest level with Spring Air, Wood Realty and Irwin-Jones. His first All-Star recognition came in 1955, the year before he graduated from Stadium High, while pitching for Wood Realty in the Tacoma Invitational. The other two pitchers named were Jack Hutchinson, a longtime left-handed star from Portland, and the legendary Bob Fesler of Seattle.

Dick concluded his career in Shelton in 1986 before moving to Hawaii where he currently resides. “I wouldn’t trade my early years in Tacoma for anything,” he writes from the islands.

1970 Wilson High School Boys Swimming State Championship Team

Wilson boys’ swim teams had a record run of victories from 1959 to 1983 that resulted in 24 consecutive state championships and 323 undefeated consecutive swim meets. During this span there were many great teams and exceptional swimmers. What made the 1970 team the most dominating of all of those Wilson swim teams?

No other swim team has ever dominated the state championship as this team. They won 10 of the 11 events at that meet, including the first four places in the 200 yard free. This has never been duplicated and they broke eight state records at the championship. Their team score exceeded the total score of the next three scoring teams. At least eleven of these Wilson swimmers would go on to swim at the collegiate level, more than any other Washington high school or Wilson ever produced. This team was listed as one of the top two high school teams along with Hinsdale High in Illinois in the U.S. that year.

The 1970 Wilson swim team had so dominated the dual meet season that it looked for more challenging opponents. The team entered a combined college, club, and high school team meet at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Wilson defeated both the powerful Santa Clara (California) Swim Club, and the University of Oregon. Wilson won with 97 points, Santa Clara was second with 91 points, and the University of Oregon was third at 90 points. Wilson also won the UPS annual Santa Claus meet by more than twice the score of second place University of Puget Sound.. The District championship prior to the state meet was won by more than twice the score of the second place team.

This same group of Wilson

Wilson-Reserve Swimming

Front Row L to R: D. Jamison, B. Fry, D. Smith, S. Martin, L. Wright, K. Coffel, N.Flores, Second Row L to R: G. Searles, T. Captain, R. Hume, B. Bird, D. Asahara, D. Wright, R. Christensen Third Row L to R: J. Middleton, D. Hoff, D. Sowell, K. Smith, S. Lindeman, M. Hoffman, Coach Boettcher

1970 Wilson HS State Champs L to R Front row: Scott Knowles, Kelly Smith, Jeff Edwards, Kurt Knipher, Keven Kambak, Brandon Smith, Dave Burkley and Dave Asahara. Middle row: Jim Gagliardi, Dave Hannula, Rick Unrue, Gary Holmquist, Hans Wold, Tom Dickson, Chuck Johnston and Brett Heisler. Back row: Coach Jim Boettcher, Dan Hannula, Dennis Larsen, Dave Williams, Bob Music, Bart Rohrs, Bob Tonellato and coach Dick Hannula

swimmers dominated the fall water polo season. Winning every game they played including wins over every university team willing to play them. This included victories over Washington State University, Pacific Lutheran University, and the University of Puget Sound.

The team was led by captains Kurt Knipher, Dennis Larsen, and Dave Burkey. Dan Hannula was the team inspirational award winner. Each of these swimmers won individual state titles along with Jeff Edwards, Dave Williams, and Bob Music. Many of these champions were not favored to win and some swam great come from behind races such as Bob Music winning the 100 yard free.

Scott Knowles, Jim Gagliardi, Rick Unrue, Bart Rohrs, Bob Tonellato, Tom Dickson, Herb Schairbaum, Hans Wold, Kevin Kambak, and Dave Hannula contributed to the state meet scoring.

Wilson swim teams were only as strong as the swimmers on the lower end of our depth chart. Every year our success depended on these swimmers working at their best to improve their position and push the faster swimmers to new heights. Most of these swimmers were underclassmen that would go on to swim varsity consistently in subsequent years. It should also be noted that these swimmers would have made the varsity on any of the other teams in 1970. Their contribution to the success of the team was very important and they responded with exceptional effort.

Dave Asahara, Mark Hoffman, Chuck Johnston, Brett Heisler, Gary Holmquist, Randy Hume, Steve Lindeman, Greg Searles, Brandon Smith, Kelly Smith, Dale Sowell, and Dave Wright were tremendous in pushing the state meet scorers to their successes. Team members went on to become successful medical doctors, lawyers, dentists, business men, and teacher/coaches.

Team effort also includes the coaching staff. Jim Boettcher was the diving coach and assistant swim coach for seven years.. He was an art teacher at Wilson and had an exceptional eye for detail. His consistent emphasis on good technical basics produced great divers and 1970 was outstanding. His divers finished 1st, 2nd, and 6th at the state championship meet. Dick Hannula was coach at Wilson for 25 years, and 7 years at Lincoln High School where they won two state championship meets. Dick also founded the Tacoma Swim Club in 1955 and was the head coach for 42 years. Wilson swimmers were almost all TSC members. Jim Boettcher and Dick Hannula go all the way back to Aberdeen’s Weatherwax High School where they were teammates on the 1946 swim team.

Season record:

Wilson 71 – Lakes 24

Wilson 86 – Puyallup 9

Wilson 86 – Mt. Tahoma 9

Wilson 82 – Lincoln 13

Wilson 79 – Clover Park 16

Wilson 72 – Highline 23

Wilson 72 – Port Angeles 23

Wilson 84 – Stadium 11

Wilson 63 – Olympia 32

(Top 3 teams only listed)

Ram Relays: 1. Wilson 70, 2. Olympia 39, 3. Clover Park 38

Santa Claus Meet: 1. Wilson 143, 2. University of Puget Sound 68, 3. Cascade Swim Club 44.

University of Oregon AAU Championship Meet: 1. Wilson 97, 2. Santa Clara Swim Club 91, 3. University of Oregon 90.

State Championship: 1. Wilson 361, 2. Olympia 146, 3. Highline 103, 4. Renton 87 (Top four teams only listed)

L to R: Hans Wold, Jeff Edwards, Dave Hannula,

1970 Wilson HS State Champs-Additional Team Members Front row l. to r. include: Herb Schairbaum, Brett Heisler, Kevin Kambak, and Greg Searles. Back row l. to r. include: Dale Sowell, Steve Lindeman, and Mark Hoffman.

L. to R.: Dave Asahara, Rick Unrue, Kelly Smith, Bob Tonellato—4 x 100 freestyle relay team that took first place at the 1970 Ram Relays swim meet.

200 Medley Relay Team—

Dave Williams

David J. Asahara—A distance freestyle swimmer who also played water polo, David Asahara was picked out of a physical education class by coach Dick Hannula to join the swimming team. He started on the “D” squad swimming workouts across the short section of the pool. Three years later he was swimming in the state championship and was voted the team’s most improve swimmer. A 1971 graduate from Wilson High, David attended Washington State on an athletic scholarship and qualifying for the Pac-8 championship in 1972-73. “I experienced hard workouts, team spirit, dedication, winning and losing,” Asahara said. “What this did for my self confidence is immeasurable and I thank coach Hannula for starting all of this.”

David lives in Tacoma and is president of Oriental Garden Center, Inc.

Jim Boettcher—Jim graduated in 1947 from Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen where he participated in football, basketball and swimming. He played football for one year at Grays Harbor Community College and then went on to earn a degree from Western Washington in 1952. He was a swim team member for one year while getting his degree at the Bellingham school.

As a teacher and in the Tacoma School District, Jim coached football at Jason Lee Junior High and Hunt Junior High. While at Wilson High School, he was an assistant coach for the powerhouse swimming program. Jim still lives in Tacoma.

Dave Burkey—Dave Burkey was a senior member of the Wilson High School team when he won the one-meter diving event at the 1970 Washington state high school championship meet. He earned All-American recognition that year. A graduate of Washington State University, Dave works in the information security field and lives in Redmond, Wash.

Tom Dickson—Tom Dickson, a senior, finished second in the diving competition at the 1970 state championship meet, improving on his second-place performance at the 1969 state meet. A graduate from Brigham Young University and later from California Western School of Law, Tom is an attorney and lives in Federal Way.

Jeff edwards—A senior on the 1970 state title team, Jeff Edwards was a 1970 high school All-American in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay. In the 1970 state meet, Jeff won the 100yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley and also swam the first leg of the championship 200-yard medley relay team. Jeff also swam for the Tacoma Swim Club from 1965-74. He went on to play water polo and swim for the University of Washington from 1970-74, earning four varsity letters in swimming and two in water polo.

Acknowledging that the Wilson High School boys team may have been the best prep team in the nation that year, “and without a doubt the deepest team in Wilson history…the best thing about being part of that team was that I have been lucky enough to remain great friends with several of my former teammates for about 40 years. We still compete on the golf course whenever possible.”

Jeff is now retired and lives in University Place.

Jim Gagliardi—A senior on the 1970 title team, Jim Gagliardi was a freestyle swimmer on the 1970 championship team. He qualified for the 1969 and 1970 state championship meets. After graduating from Wilson High, Jim went on to earn a degree from Washington State University, and his athletic pursuits turned to road racing and triathlons.

“I’m pleased to have made life-long friendships from my time swimming for Wilson High and am grateful for the examples of hard work and commitment shown by coach Dick Hannula. They were of great help to me in my college endeavors and beyond.”

Jim is now a dentist and lives in University Place.

Dan Hannula—Dan Hannula was a high school All-American in 1969 in the 200 freestyle, and during the 1970 season earned prep All-America recognition in the 200 free, 800 free and 400 free relay. Dan placed in the AAU Senior National Championship after the state championship in his senior year. One year later he placed 5th in the 200 and 400 meter free at the AAU Senior Long Course Championship meet and ranked 7th in the world in the 200 m free, and 9th in the 400 m free.

Dan went on to swim and play water polo at the University of Washington, from where he graduated in 1974. He is now a trial lawyer and lives in Tacoma.

Dave Hannula—Dave competed for his father, Dick, at Wilson High School and with the Tacoma Swim Club (1960-77). He was a prep All-American from 1970-72, those same years helping the Rams win state championships. Besides swimming on state championship relay teams, he won 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke state titles in 1971-72.

Dave earned All-America honors four straight years at the University of Southern California, helping the Trojans win NCAA championships from 1974-76. He won the 400 individual medley at the 1976 Pac-8 meet. Swimming at the national AAU meet in 1975, he took gold in the 400-meter individual medley champion, then took fourth at the World Championships in Columbia. He ranked third in the world in the event in 1975.

Brett Heisler—Brett Heisler earned letters in swimming, football, wrestling and gymnastics while at Wilson High School. He swam for the Rams in 1970 and 1971 and graduated from WHS in 1971.

He attended several colleges, among them Tacoma CC, University of Puget Sound and Baylor. Brett worked for the Tacoma Fire Department as a firefighter and paramedic before retiring, and for about a decade has spent much of his time coaching such sports as high school fastpitch, wrestling and swimming. He has led several of his teams to league championships.

Brett, who lives in Yucca Valley, Calif., turned his athletic ventures in playing slowpitch and fastpitch softball and he was a 0 handicap golfer.

Gary Holmquist—Gary Holmquist swam for Wilson High for three year, graduating in 1970, and also swam for the Tacoma Swim Club from 1960-70. He later graduated from Washington State University in 1974 and has maintained an active lifestyle by swimming, biking and skiing with his wife. He has also competed in half marathons, marathons and triathlons. He has completed six full Ironman races in three countries in the last 10 years. He and his wife, Jan, live in Port Angeles, where he is production manager for Nippon Paper Industries USA.

“I gained a great deal from my participation in this program that has benefitted me during all of my adult life. Mr. Hannula taught us the value of hard work, goal setting, sportsmanship, and ethical behavior and values. He taught us how to treat other people and the importance of humility. The love of sport and exercise that I developed from swimming has carried forward into all of my adult life. These were some of the most important life lessons that a young person could learn. I consider Mr. Hannula as one of the most influential people in my life.”

Chuck Johnston—Chuck Johnston, a 1970 Wilson High graduate, was a two-sport athlete. He competed in the breaststroke in swimming and as a defensive back in football.

He graduated from the University of Washington in 1974 and is now an attorney living in Lakewood.

Kurt Knipher—Kurt Knipher was the Wilson High School boys swimming team captain in 1970. He was an American record hold in the 400-meter freestyle relay and was an AllAmerican in six events. He set the state record in the 100 freestyle while swimming for the 1970 state championship team. He went on to swim at the University of Washington where he was an All-American in 1971-72. He swam on the American record 800-meter freestyle relay team in 1972 and participated in the ’72 Olympic Trials. He was named a UW ScholarAthlete award winner in 1974 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UW that same year.

Kurt earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine in 1978. He had just finished a fellowship in Neurology at the University of California Irvine when, during a routine blood test, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Sadly, Kurt died from this disease in 1984. The Kurt Knipher Student Athlete Memorial Award was instituted by the Tacoma Swim Club in 1985. That same year, the Knipher-Debernardi Memorial Trust Award was instituted by the University of California Irvine Neurology Department. Kurt is survived by his wife, Marcia, daughters Hannah Young and Lucy Kjolso. grandson Kurt, and sisters Karen and Linda.

Scott Knowles—Scott placed sixth in the 100 backstroke at the 1970 state championship meet after placing eighth in the 400 freestyle the previous year. He swam for Wilson High from 1967-70, and he also played water polo at the school in 1968-69.

After graduating in 1970, Scott went on to the University of Puget Sound where he competed for the Loggers in swimming and water polo from 1970-74. As a swimmer, he placed at the NCAA Division II national meet and three times earned All-America honors. For good measure, he played soccer at UPS from 1974-75.

Scott coaches swimming at Shelton High School in 1976-77 and at Marysville-Pilchuck High School from 1978 to the present. He earned WIAA 4A State Swim Coach of the Year honors in 2005. A resident of Marysville, Scott is now retired from the Marysville School District.

Dennis Larson—No bio provided

Bob music—A two-year member of the Wilson High School swim team and a 1970 graduate, Bob went on to the University of Washington. He was an All-America swimmer for a Huskies team that placed fourth in the NCAA championships. He graduated from UW in 1974.

Bob currently lives in Laguna Niguel, Calif., where he works in sales for Appleton Paper Co.

Bart Rohrs—Bart Rohrs swam the distance freestyle for the Wilson High program for three years. Bart was a letter winner on the 1970 and 1971 state championship teams. He graduated in 1971, serving as the team co-captain as a senior Bart graduated from the University of Washington in 1975 and currently lives in Fircrest. He works as a database administrator for the City of Puyallup.

Greg Searles—Greg Searles was a sophomore on the 1970 state championship Wilson High boys swimming team. As a senior in 1972, he served as team co-captain on the WHS team that won its “lucky” 13th consecutive state championship. Greg, who competed in the distance freestyle, received the 1972 Robert Eby Most Improved Swimmer Award, which was selected by the coach.

Greg graduated from the University of Washington in 1977 and now lives in Tacoma. He is a sales professional for Northwest Door, Inc.

Shairbaum, Herb—No bio provided

Brandy Smith—Brandy Smith graduated from Wilson in 1970 and subsequently from Washington State University in 1979. He lives in Tacoma and is President of Smith Fire Systems.

Kelly Smith—Kelly Smith was a freestyle swimmer for three years at Wilson High School. He earned varsity letters in 1970 and 1971. A member of the Class of 1971, he also was a goalie on the water polo team.

Kelly attended the U.S. Naval Academy, University of Pittsburgh and University of Puget Sound, graduating in 1976. While at the U.S. Naval Academy, Kelly was a member of the swim team. A Tacoma resident, Kelly served as Director of Rail Operations at Port of Tacoma until his retirement.

He stays active by golfing, biking, skiing and by participating in karate.

Bob Tonellato—Bob Tonellato specialized in the freestyle for the Wilson Rams from 1969-71 and then at the University of Puget Sound from 1971-73. A 1971 Wilson High graduate, Bob earned AllAmerica honors in the 200 medley relay that same year. Bob’s son is swimming for Foss High Schol and qualified for the state championship in both his junior and senior years.

Bob lives in Tacoma and is a mechanic for Tacoma Dodge.

Rick unrue—Rick Unrue competed in the freestyle and butterfly and was on the 1970 and 1971 Wilson High state championship teams. After graduating from Wilson in 1971, he went on to the University of Puget Sound where he earned All-America honors from 1971-76.

Unrue was a swimming and diving coach at UPS from 1978-83, and is now a restaurant and hotel owner in Port Townsend.

Dave Williams— Dave Williams was state record holder and champion in the 100 yard breaststroke in both his junior and senior years at Wilson High School. He was high school all american in both years. Dave also placed a close second in the 200 yard individual medley at the state meet in both of those years. Both losses were by 1/10 of a second each year.

Dave swam for 10 years, 1963 to 1974, on Tacoma Swim Club. He qualified and swam in the AAU National Championship for five years. He lettered for four years in swimming at the University of Washington. One of Dave’s finest memories was beating Mark Spitz in the 200 meter breaststroke at the Santa Clara Swim Meet just two months before Spitz’s seven gold medal accomplishment at the Munich Olympics. The breaststroke wasn’t Mark Spitz’s normal event but how many swimmers can say they defeated Mark Spitz

Dave is married to a teammate on Tacoma Swim Club, the former Debe Gratias who also attended Wilson. They have four children and reside in Gig Harbor..

Hans Wold—No bio submitted