Coach Steve Platt |
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The HU Hall of Fame
Some History on the Hall of Fame Tradition
2005 HALL INDUCTEES
Huntington inducted four more athletes into the Hall of Fame this year.
This year's inductees were: Lowell Stouder, '57-61, baseball, basketball (see Hoops News Lowell Stouder article); Jo Ellen Earhart Karst, '86-90, cross country, track; Amy Bechtel Garber, '96-00, basketball; and Gabe LaGrange, '96-00, basketball (see Hoops News Gabe LaGrange article).
This brings membership in the Huntington Hall of Fame up to thirty, but when did this begin, and how do people get selected?
IN THE BEGINNING
It was 1974 when the Huntington Hall of Fame was created; the same year Steve Platt completed his basketball career at Huntington and became the original small town basketball legend.
Platt led the nation in scoring, became the most prolific collegiate player in Indiana history, appeared in Sports Illustrated, and was drafted by the Washington Bullets.
In response, Huntington created the Hall of Fame to recognize athletic achievement and Steve Platt became its first inductee.
THE EARLY TRADITION
Platt wasn't the only Forester to play professional basketball. The next year D. Ralph "Boag" Johnson, Class of '47 who had played with the Pistons, was inducted.
One athlete was added in each of the next seven years, reaching beyond basketball.
The next seven members, in order of selection, were: Tom Rethlake, '59, basketball; Dean Merryman, '62, basketball; Ray Zimmerman, '61, soccer and baseball; Roger Skinner, '65, tennis, basketball, baseball and golf; Glen Logenbough, '42, baseball and basketball; Dewitt Baker, '40, baseball; and Bill Leiter, '66, basketball.
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Hall of Fame Members in Attendance at
the 2005 Induction Ceremonies
THE LATER TRADITION
In recent years, the number of inductees has been less predictable. Two members were added in 1985, one in 1986, two in 1993, three in 2001, two in 2002, four in 2003, three in 2004, and four in 2005.
All but three are graduates of Huntington, the exceptions being long-time coaches at the school who contributed to the college community as well as its athletic success.
THE INDUCTION PROCESS
We asked HU Athletic Director Gary Turner how people are nominated and selected for the Hall of Fame. "Nominations come from anybody and everybody," he says. Invitations for Hall nominations appear in college publications throughout the year and a list of candidates is kept on file for ongoing consideration. A Hall of Fame Committee, made up of alumni, coaches and administrators, meets periodically, to review the list of nominees and identify as many as four candidates in a given year.
Sometimes recognition must be postponed because of schedule conflicts, but the Committee is patient. They don't feel obligated to fill any number of slots each year. You can be sure that when a person is inducted, it‘s because they truly deserve the recognition.
- by Paul Harrington ('64)
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