GREATER PEORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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GREATER PEORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME Dedicated to those individuals making significant contributions to Greater Peoria area sports history 37TH ANNUAL INDUCTION BANQUET SATURDAY, APRIL

Association (NJCAA) Tournament Championship in ICC s history.

(MD), Ricks College (ID), DeKalb Community College (GA), and Gulf Coast Community College (FL).

e Lady Cougars shutout Ricks in the last 2 games (double elimination) by scores of 6-0 and 5-0.

Cassidy was also selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. All-American selections included Peverly, Ashley Blust, and Nicole Kurth.

MEET THE INDUCTEES THE TEAMS 1991-92 Peoria Richwoods High School Boys Basketball Team Coached by Wayne Hammerton (GPSHOF class of 1996), the 1991-92 Richwoods Knights capped a 30-3

1 GREATER PEORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME Dedicated to those individuals making significant contributions to Greater Peoria area sports history 37TH ANNUAL INDUCTION BANQUET SATURDAY, APRIL 7, Illinois Central College (ICC) Softball Team Coached by Lorene Ramsey (GPSHOF class of 1982), the 1998 Lady Cougars captured the 2nd National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Tournament Championship in ICC s history. In addition to a convincing win (8-0 in 5 innings) over perennial power, Central Arizona (winner of 7 of the previous 10 national titles), ICC defeated 4 other teams, Charles County (MD), Ricks College (ID), DeKalb Community College (GA), and Gulf Coast Community College (FL). Outscoring their tournament opponents, 31-5, ICC won 7 games including 3 games on the final day. e Lady Cougars shutout Ricks in the last 2 games (double elimination) by scores of 6-0 and 5-0. ICC players on the All-Tournament team at the national tournament were: Cathy Peverly (ss), Kelly Grigsby (3rd), and Melissa Cassidy (pitcher). Cassidy was also selected as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. All-American selections included Peverly, Ashley Blust, and Nicole Kurth. Faced with exceptionally strong competition during much of the season, the Lady Cougars finished 1998 with a 46-9 record. MEET THE INDUCTEES THE TEAMS Peoria Richwoods High School Boys Basketball Team Coached by Wayne Hammerton (GPSHOF class of 1996), the Richwoods Knights capped a 30-3 season with a runner-up finish to undefeated Maywood (Proviso East) at the University of Illinois (Champaign). On their journey to the championship game, Richwoods defeated Danville at Peoria s Carver Arena in the Super Sectional; Lincolnshire (Stevenson) in the quarterfinals; and Rockford Boylan in a semifinal thriller, before falling to defending champion Proviso East in the championship game. Troy Taylor (Peoria Journal Star s Class AA Player of the Year) received 1 st Team All-Tournament honors and teammate, Sean Kimble was named to the 2 nd Team. Kimble (48 points) was 2 nd in tournament scoring for the 3 games in Champaign. Taylor was also selected to the Chicago Tribune All-State 3 rd Team.

1978 Peoria Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute Girls Golf Team THE TEAMS Good beginnings!

e Lady Irish finished only behind 2 nd place Palatine (Fremd) and 1 st place Quincy (defending champion).

Ehrhart finished the 2 rounds of the finals with a score of 176 (89-87) with Ferlmann a stroke behind her at 177 (84-93).

2 1978 Peoria Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute Girls Golf Team THE TEAMS Good beginnings! Coached by Mickey Schallau and in its first season as a team sport, the 1978 AOL/SI Girls Golf Team finished 3 rd in the IHSA State Finals at Highland Park in Bloomington. e Lady Irish finished only behind 2 nd place Palatine (Fremd) and 1 st place Quincy (defending champion). Showing amazing consistency, the team finished no lower than 3 rd in any tournament all season. e team s top performers were senior erese Ehrhart, and sophomore Mary Jo Ferlmann. Ehrhart finished the 2 rounds of the finals with a score of 176 (89-87) with Ferlmann a stroke behind her at 177 (84-93). After graduation, Ehrhart continued playing competitively at the University of Iowa Golf and was named the MVP for the Lady Hawkeyes in Ferlmann became a very successful golf coach at Bloomington Central Catholic H.S. Coach Schallau actually played double-duty for the State Finals, spending Day 1 with the Girls in Bloomington and Day 2 with the Spalding team (which she also coached) in Springfield, where the boys earned a 2 nd place finish Peoria Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute Girls Golf Team In just its 2nd season as a varsity sport, the AOL/SI Lady Irish coached by Mickey Schallau, finished second in the IHSA state finals completing an impressive season on the links. In the final round, the team persevered through extremely windy conditions on the course at Illinois State University (Normal) to maintain the runner-up position. Patty Ehrhart shot 172 over the 2 days of the finals, good for 10th place in the individual competition. During the regular season, they were unbeaten in dual matches and won three of the four tournaments in which the team competed. e girls dominated the Galesburg Sectional by finishing ahead of Macomb by 9 strokes and by 12 strokes over host, Galesburg. Ehrhart also led the way in the Sectional by shooting a solid 82. In addition to Ehrhart s low scoring, the team boasted exceptional depth. Coach Schallau noted that, None of our girls would have qualified (for state) if they weren t on a team. Don Millard THE INDIVIDUALS Just the second wrestler to be inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, Don s outstanding wrestling career began at Pekin High School under the guidance of head coach, Jim Custer and assistant coach, Jack Stoudt. Don led Custer s last team to the Illinois state finals where Pekin placed second. Millard won silver medals at the state finals as both a junior and a senior. Following high school, he accepted a scholarship to Southern Illinois University (Carbondale). While at Southern Illinois, the Salukis transitioned from the College to the University Division status. He finished the season with an 18-4 record. He won the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Championship three times. In 1964 he achieved a rare feat by winning the NCAA College Division Championship, allowing him to advance to the University Division Championships where he achieved the same result, a national title at 167 lbs. During his three years of varsity competition at SIU (frosh were not eligible), he posted a record. He was once a College Division All-American and twice a University All-American. After completing his career at SIU, he tried out for the 1964 Olympics, and finished 5 th in those trials. Don was inducted into the SIU Sports Hall of Fame in He has also been inducted into both the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and into the Illinois Wrestling and Coaches Hall of Fame (Class of 1985). 2

Tom Gilles THE INDIVIDUALS John Gross Tom s outstanding baseball career was highlighted by Major League baseball appearances as a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays.

He was named All-State in both basketball and baseball as a senior. Tom was a star on the 1980 Bergan Basketball Team that placed second in the IHSA Class A State Tournament.

After Bergan, Gilles continued his baseball career at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, playing for the Sycamores from 1981-85.

In those seasons he played as a regular on ISU teams that won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships.

Tom signed his first professional contract with the New York Yankees as a 47th round pick in the 1984 draft. He played first and third base his first two seasons in the Yankees organization.

3 Tom Gilles THE INDIVIDUALS John Gross Tom s outstanding baseball career was highlighted by Major League baseball appearances as a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the winning pitcher in his first outing with the Jays, his only decision in the Big Leagues. Gilles was an outstanding athlete at Bergan High School. He was named All-State in both basketball and baseball as a senior. Tom was a star on the 1980 Bergan Basketball Team that placed second in the IHSA Class A State Tournament. One of the team s assistant coaches, Jim Carlson, remembers Tom this way, Tom was a special athlete, a leader, maybe the best to ever compete in any sport at Bergan High School in its 25 year history! After Bergan, Gilles continued his baseball career at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, playing for the Sycamores from After playing both as a position player and pitcher in his first two years, he was strictly a position player as an upperclassman. In those seasons he played as a regular on ISU teams that won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championships. He narrowly missed being named to the USA Baseball Team s 30-man roster that would compete in the 1984 Olympic Games. Tom signed his first professional contract with the New York Yankees as a 47th round pick in the 1984 draft. He played first and third base his first two seasons in the Yankees organization. He was converted to pitching in 1987 and hurled as a relief pitcher the next five seasons at Appleton, Kenosha, Orlando, and Knoxville, in the Yankees, Royals, Twins, and Blue Jays organizations. John Gross s achievements in coaching high school girls basketball are among the nation s elite. At the time of his election into the Hall, he had coached nearly 1,000 games, and his teams had won more than 75% of those contests. Close to 70% of those victories came during John s 26 seasons at Limestone Community High School. From the Lady Rockets compiled a record of John s team (32-1) lost only to Chicago Marshall in the championship game of the IHSA Class AA (large schools). Beginning with campaign, John coached for 5 seasons at Richwoods (Peoria) where his teams compiled a record. e Lady Knights won State Championships in 2005 (Class AA vs. Bartlett) with a perfect 38-0 record, and in 2009 (Class 3A vs. Freeport) with a record of John came out of retirement in In his second season at Princeville, the Lady Princes won their first Regional Championship since At the time of his election into the GPSHOF, he was guiding Princeville through another winning season. Not surprisingly, John has received several honors both at the State and National levels. Bill King THE LEGEND Before building a solid professional foundation in the Greater Peoria area that lead to his legendary career in sports broadcasting in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Bill King actually gained his initial broadcasting experience with Armed Forces radio. He simulated live play-by-play accounts of games from information received over the wire. After WWII he began his professional broadcasting in Pekin, Illinois. Bill broadcasted high school games in Pekin and Peoria. He called his first minor league baseball game in 1948 in Peoria, at the age of 19, and went on to call Bradley University basketball and University of Nebraska football and basketball. Moving to the Bay Area in the late 1950s, King was hired by KSFO-AM as a fill-in broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants baseball games after the franchise moved from New York. A major turning point in his career occurred in 1962 when he 3 landed the job as the play-by-play voice of the NBA s San Francisco Warriors after the franchise moved from Philadelphia. ( e team became the Golden State Warriors in 1971.) His stint with the Warriors lasted through the season. In 1966, King added the duties of Oakland Raiders play-by-play to his schedule, becoming one of the signature voices of the National Football League when the Raiders and the American Football League merged with the NFL in He called Raiders games through the 1992 season. King was named the lead radio announcer for the Oakland A s in 1981 where, over the next 25 years, he became a beloved and legendary broadcaster. Among a very small and select group of announcers, Bill received championship rings from Bay Area teams representing all three major sports. His career sadly ended with his death in October of 2005.

Neve Harms Award Neve HARMS MeRITORIOuS SeRvICe AwARD Mick Donahue As a man devoted to sports, Mick Donahue contributed an essential (and sometimes underappreciated) service to organized sports in

He volunteered as a coach from 1957-72 for the St. Boniface Mustangs. Additionally he coached numerous Little League and Pony League teams.

Beginning in 1972, he supervised adult softball and basketball leagues for the Peoria Park District.

In his over 30 years with the Peoria Park District, Mick trained, assigned, and supervised officials for adult softball games for leagues at Peoria Stadium and Sterling school.

4 Neve Harms Award Neve HARMS MeRITORIOuS SeRvICe AwARD Mick Donahue As a man devoted to sports, Mick Donahue contributed an essential (and sometimes underappreciated) service to organized sports in Peoria for decades. Mick spent much of his life coaching, organizing and officiating youth sports in the area, especially baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball. He volunteered as a coach from for the St. Boniface Mustangs. Additionally he coached numerous Little League and Pony League teams. Over the next several decades, he volunteered thousands of hours organizing and administering officials for various league play in the community. Beginning in 1972, he supervised adult softball and basketball leagues for the Peoria Park District. He also scheduled officials/umpires for the area s catholic grade schools as well as many basketball, baseball, and softball games for the Peoria Public Schools. In his over 30 years with the Peoria Park District, Mick trained, assigned, and supervised officials for adult softball games for leagues at Peoria Stadium and Sterling school. He organized a large group of volunteer basketball officials for the Prairie State Games. The Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame s mission is to promote the many and varied sports programs in the Greater Peoria area (Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties). Our aim is to honor those men, women and teams that have contributed to the area s rich sports history. With the cooperation of the Peoria Civic Center Commission, and generous community support we have served the area since GPSHOF Recent Deaths of Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Norm Hill (February 4, 2017) 1951 Pekin Football Team, inducted 2001 Casey Schmitt (May 1, 2017) 1944 Spalding Football Team, inducted 1993 Chuck Orsborne (May 7, 2017) Individual Inductee, inducted 1981 Ron Bontemps (May 13, 2017) - Individual Inductee, inducted 1982 Rich Lee (August 8, 2017) 1951 Pekin Football Team, inducted 2001; and 1951 Baseball Team, inducted 1987 George Boucher (August 12, 2017) 1954 Peoria Central Football Team, inducted 2000 Harry whitaker (November 5, 2017) Individual Inductee, inducted 2003 Rich Clopper (January 17, 2018) Individual Inductee, inducted 1993 Russ Platt (January 23, 2018) Neve Harms Meritorious Service Award 2007 Helping you protect what matters most Financial Representative 866 Main Street Morton, IL (309)

Tri-County Athletes & Coaches Announced Tri-County Female Coach of the Year Denee Menzione (east Peoria softball) Denee took an

Her 31-5 Raiders outscored postseason opponents 43-2 on the way to a Class 3A secondplace finish.

record and a third straight Class 3A state title.

Tri-County Female Athlete of the Year Brandi Bisping (Morton girls basketball) Brandi was a first team All-State player who led

3 points and 9 rebounds a game while typically guarding the opponent s top player.

1 in the country at 195 pounds, Jacob went 45-0 and earned his third consecutive state individual championship.

He was a finalist for national wrestler of the year honors and earned USA Wrestling junior national titles in both Greco- Roman

5 Tri-County Athletes & Coaches Announced Tri-County Female Coach of the Year Denee Menzione (east Peoria softball) Denee took an East Peoria softball team to the state finals for the first time in school history. Her 31-5 Raiders outscored postseason opponents 43-2 on the way to a Class 3A secondplace finish. Tri-County Male Coach of the Year Bob Becker (Morton girls basketball) Bob took Morton High School girls basketball to a 34-2 record and a third straight Class 3A state title. e Lady Potters became just the fifth team in IHSA history to win three consecutive girls basketball titles. Tri-County Female Athlete of the Year Brandi Bisping (Morton girls basketball) Brandi was a first team All-State player who led Morton to its third straight Class 3A state title. She averaged 15.3 points and 9 rebounds a game while typically guarding the opponent s top player. Tri-County Male Athlete of the Year Jacob warner (washington wrestling) Ranked No. 1 in the country at 195 pounds, Jacob went 45-0 and earned his third consecutive state individual championship. He then led Washington High School to the team state duals title a week later. He was a finalist for national wrestler of the year honors and earned USA Wrestling junior national titles in both Greco- Roman and freestyle wrestling in the summer after he graduated. Check Out Our Website: W. OLYMPIA DRIVE PEORIA, IL TEL FAX Please support the advertisers who have helped make this newsletter possible. Kepple Healthcare Consulting, Inc. Medi Weightloss Clinic - Peoria Medi Weightloss Clinic - Naperville Peoria Ice Cream Company, Inc. Kepple Acres Farms, LLC. Michael D. Kepple President ext. 102 Fax Cell mkepple@keppleco.com 2426 W Cornerstone Ct. Peoria, IL

GPSHOF Tri-County Youth Sports Grant Entry Deadline March 1st Recognizing the accomplishments of area athletes and sports contributors for more than 30 years, the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame

Aided by benefactor contributions to the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame and revenues generated from the annual banquet, the GPSHOF may select a total of three Tri-County Youth Sports Grants from

Youth programs interested in receiving a grant should submit a request detailing the attributes of the program to the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame by the deadline of March 1st of each year.

Box 9338 Peoria, IL 61612 Basic information in the request letters should include: Youth program s mission How the funding can assist the mission Primary point of contact All applications will be

Donors may support this mission by participating in the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame sponsorship program at any of four levels.

6 GPSHOF Tri-County Youth Sports Grant Entry Deadline March 1st Recognizing the accomplishments of area athletes and sports contributors for more than 30 years, the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame will give back to Tri-County youth sports programs through a new grant program that was launched in Aided by benefactor contributions to the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame and revenues generated from the annual banquet, the GPSHOF may select a total of three Tri-County Youth Sports Grants from Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford Counties. Youth programs interested in receiving a grant should submit a request detailing the attributes of the program to the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame by the deadline of March 1st of each year. Letters should be addressed to: Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame Attn: Youth Sports Grant P. O. Box 9338 Peoria, IL Basic information in the request letters should include: Youth program s mission How the funding can assist the mission Primary point of contact All applications will be reviewed by the GPSHOF board and the three winning programs will be announced during the annual Hall of Fame banquet. Donors may support this mission by participating in the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame sponsorship program at any of four levels. In addition to supporting area youth sports, sponsors will receive varying levels of benefits, determined by their giving level: Hall of Fame ($5,000) 4 Lifetime tickets to the annual GPSHOF Banquet Recognition on a plaque in the GPSHOF display at the Peoria Civic Center Recognition in the annual GPSHOF Banquet program Recognition in the GPSHOF newsletter All-American ($1,000) 2 tickets to the GPSHOF Banquet in the year of the gift Recognition on a plaque in the GPSHOF display at the Peoria Civic Center Recognition in the annual GPSHOF Banquet program Recognition in the GPSHOF newsletter All-State ($500) 1 ticket to the GPSHOF Banquet in the year of the gift Recognition in the annual GPSHOF Banquet program Recognition in the GPSHOF newsletter All-Conference ($100) Recognition in the GPSHOF Banquet program Recognition in the GPSHOF newsletter KEITH YERIAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Established 1967 Tackle / Flag Football / Cheerleaders Phone: J.F.L.O.C.I. Fax: E. Marietta Ave. jfloci@sbcglobal.net Peoria Heights, IL For all of your printing needs. JEFF BROCKAMP 1105 E. War Memorial Drive Peoria Heights, IL Supports the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame and this year s inductees. 6

Old Timers Baseball Association OF PEORIA,

Community The Old Timers donate hundreds of

Burns, Secretary-Treasurer 1603 Woodbine Ct.

692.4030 FAX 309.692.4159 sstockman@gswcpa.

Inductees JOHN E. DONLAN, D.D.S. NICOLE M.

7 Old Timers Baseball Association OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS Since 1934 A Friend of the Community The Old Timers donate hundreds of volunteer hours yearly to numerous charitable projects. MAILING ADDRESS & FURTHER INFORMATION Mike Burns, Secretary-Treasurer 1603 Woodbine Ct., Washington, IL A non-profit tax exempt IRS 501(c)(3) organization. Quality Installation & Service since 1987 (309) Visit us at CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS & CONSULTANTS 8726 N. Industrial Road, Peoria, IL PHONE FAX sstockman@gswcpa.com Congratulations to the Class of 2017 Inductees JOHN E. DONLAN, D.D.S. NICOLE M. SUDHOLT, D.M.D. 843 W. Glen Ave. Tel Peoria, IL Fax donlansudholtdental@gmail.com donlansudholtdental.com 7

8 GREATER PEORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME PO Box 9338 Peoria IL GREATER PEORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rick Kestner, President Mike Burns, Past President Jim Carlson, 1st Vice President Gary Leonard, 2nd Vice President Susie Stockman, Treasurer Dave Mateer, Secretary PRESORT STD. U.S. POSTAGE PA I D PEORIA, ILLINOIS PERMIT NO. 789 OTHER BOARD MEMBERS Clay Cantrell Joe Dalfonso Lou Dobrydnia Dave Eminian John Helmick Jen Jones Tommy Kahn Rick LeHew Jonelle McCloud Roger Monroe Mike Olson Kurt Pegler Phil Salzer Tim Simpson Sue Sinclair Scotty Sullivan Randall Toepke Junior Watkins Kirk Wessler Tony Wysinger ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS Ron Ferguson, Paul King, Ed Murphy, Gene Petty, Lorene Ramsey, W.C. Corky Robertson, Bob Sulaski The 37th Annual Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Saturday, April 7, 2018 Peoria Civic Center (Visit our website at: Tickets are on sale now for the 37th Annual Induction Banquet to be held Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom. Cocktail hour---- 5PM Dinner --- 6PM Introduction of the Class of 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees follows dinner. Advance tickets are $35.00 per person before April 1st ($40.00 April 1st - 6th) No walk up tickets are available, tickets must be paid and purchased by April 6th. To purchase tickets call Susie at or susie1026@comcast.net

GREATER PEORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME Dedicated to those individuals making significant contributions to Greater Peoria area sports history

GREATER PEORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME Dedicated to those individuals making significant contributions to Greater Peoria area sports history 35TH ANNUAL INDUCTION BANQUET SATURDAY, APRIL 9 1973 Princeville