TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Basketball - Denise Baxter and Sara Halasz-Price Football - Tom Gallagher, Steve Harshman, Torey Hunter and Desmond Trufant Golf - Todd Erwin
Media - Tom Glasgow (Broadcaster) and Art Thiel (Sportswriter) Mountaineering - Jason Edwards Multi-Sport - Sheri Bauer-Cruz
Officiating - Mark Stricherz Volleyball - Jody DeGroot and Courtney Schwan Wrestling - Bryan Bartelson and Jordyn Bartelson
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
CONNELLY LAW OFFICES EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING AWARD
Baseball - Jeff Berg • Basketball - Andre Springer • Football - Terry Simmonds & Mike Keblbek
Lacrosse - Jeff Bambrick • Soccer - Michael Garosi • Softball - Dennis Mullens
Volleyball - Johnny Jones • Wrestling - Pete Janda
FIRST FAMILY OF SPORTS AWARD
The Ladenburg Family (Slowpitch Softball) - Kathy, Frank, John, Marlene, Nadine, George, Mike, Barbara, Barry, Dan, David, Mary Jane, Alan, Gail, Dale and Lissa Flannigan.
Alan Anderson - Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team Founder/Coach
DOUG MCARTHUR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Teri Wood - Tacoma SD Athletic Admin./ Coach/Official
Tom Burmester - Athletic Director/Coach/District and State Tournament Director
DICK HANNULA MALE AND FEMALE AMATEUR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Emersyn Walker - Golf - Charles Wright Academy/University of North Dakota
Denzel Boston - Football - Emerald Ridge HS/University of Washington
TOM CROSS RECREATION/ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION AWARD (NEW)
Pierce County Parks & Recreation Department (circa 1970-2010)
DARRELL COCHRAN LIFETIME OF SERVICE AWARD
John Wohn - TPC Sports Museum Board of Directors, Volleyball Referee/Secretary
Basketball
Football
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Volleyball
Wrestling
-Knute Rockne
Daryl Eygabroad
Welcome to the 2026 Tribute to Champions!
On behalf of the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum and the Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission, we want to extend a heartfelt welcome to this evening’s celebration. The Tribute to Champions is more than an awards ceremony—it reflects the deep commitment, passion, and dedication that define Tacoma-Pierce County’s athletic community.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum’s mission is to preserve our sports heritage through the collection of artifacts, photos, and equipment as well as the stories about athletes, coaches, administrators, officials and many more that have contributed to our incredible history. The TAC has been dedicated to supporting local sports for over 80 years, recognizing excellence, and honoring those who uplift and inspire others through athletics.
Tonight, we continue that tradition by celebrating individuals who embody what it means to serve, lead, and strengthen our community.
Each Hall of Fame inductee and Distinguished Achievement Award recipient honored tonight represents the very best of sportsmanship and civic engagement. Their contributions remind us that sports are more than competition—they are about teamwork, perseverance, and the bonds that unite us.
A special thank you to our sponsors and volunteers who make this event possible. Your generosity and dedication allow us to continue our mission of supporting studentathletes, preserving our region’s sports history, and fostering a strong, connected community.
Please join us in celebrating tonight’s honorees and the incredible legacy of athletics in Tacoma-Pierce County. Enjoy the evening!
Sincerely,
Marc Blau
Daryl Eygabroad President & Co-Founder Vice-President Tacoma-Pierce
County Sports Museum Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission
Tribute to Champions Committee Members
Our appreciation goes to these sports fans who volunteered to serve on the committee to make this a memorable evening for all.
CHAIRMAN
Marc Blau
TICKETING & AUCTION
Colleen Barta
VENUE LOGISTICS, REGISTRATION, NAME TAGS & SETUP
Cheryl Blau, Lisa Blevins Harrison, Robyn Buck-Holdener, Jim Holdener, Doug Cail, Kyle Crews, Dave Demick, Ray Diviney, Joan Fabiani, Lauralee Hagen, Sheri Helmold, John Helmold, Karen Hurdelbrink, Karen Ivy, Melanie Jones, Jamie Lange, Ed Menotti, Chelle Miller, Kent Roberts, Aaron Roetcisoender, Heidi Rowntree, Kate Rue, Aubrey Shelton, Cara Sjogren, Tim Templin, Tim Thomsen, Sandi Ulrich and Bob Young
SOUVENIR PROGRAM
Athlete Bios Nick Dawson, Craig Hill, Shawn McDougal, Todd Milles, Shawn O’Neal, and Tyler Scott.
Layout and Design Jeff Davis Sun Showers Design
Parkland Quickprint
Rachel Roberts
VIDEO SCRIPTS
Gary Brooks
VIDEO PRESENTATIONS
Joanne Lisosky, Steve Thomas Jay Stricherz and Branson Gustafson
SILENT & ORAL AUCTION
Colleen Barta, Doug Cail, Ray Diviney, Dave Lawson, Chelle Miller, Willie Stewart Sr., Tim Templin and Lou Ulrich
DECORATIONS
Rocky Zlock, Brittany Thovsen, Karen Hurdlebrink and Angie & Jim Eichholtz (honorary committee members in absentia)
TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS MUSEUM STAFF
Megan French and Ainsley Austin
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mike Sage-Sage Photography
Stace Tyler-Intensity Sports Photography
TACOMA-PIERCE ATHLETIC COMMISSION
Karyn Siegrist, Makana Murashige, Daryl Eygabroad, Mark Mininger and Jay Stricherz
AUTOGRAPH GUESTS-PLAYGROUNDS TO THE PROS BOOKS Coordinators: Kate Rue and Chelle Miller
Pat Galbraith, Hillary Butler, Jeanne Naccarato, Ron Medved, Doug Sisk, Bob Young, Julie (Butler) Hiles and Kim Butler.
PLAYGROUND TO THE PROS LOGISTICS
Doug Cail, Kyle Crews and Aubrey Shelton
Visit the museum online at www.tacomasportsmuseum.org
Marc Blau
Chris Egan - Master of Ceremonies King 5 Sportscaster
Chris Egan has been a sports anchor/reporter at KING-TV in Seattle for over 25 years. He's won 12 Emmy Awards and three Edward Murrow Awards.
Chris is a proud graduate of Puyallup High School, where he played basketball and tennis. From 1991 to 1995, he attended Pacific Lutheran University, where he played tennis and also started up a halfhour sports show called, “The Lutes Sports Profile.” In 1995, Chris was named the Man of the Year in Sports at PLU.
Chris married his high school sweetheart Melanie, who’s a successful realtor in Pierce County. Chris and Melanie have three kids: Madison, Austin, and Luke. Madison played tennis at Washington State and Portland State. Austin is currently pitching for Bellarmine University, an NCAA Division I university in Louisville. Luke is a 9th grader who competes in basketball, tennis, and track for Rogers High.
When Chris is not watching his kids, working, or on a date night with Melanie, you can find him playing his favorite sport — pickleball.
The National Anthem - The Stodden Sisters
The Stodden Sisters, Joely, Alycia, Calia, Marli, and Lilia, are honored to be performing here tonight. Born and raised in Bremerton, all five sisters are graduates of Bremerton High School and Olympic College and have been singing together since a very young age.
Their performances have included the Kitsap County Fair and Rodeo, the National Anthem for Tacoma Rainiers and other baseball games across the country, Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit, the Armed Forces Navy Gala, Mat Classic Wrestling Championship, and numerous local community events. In addition to their love for music, all five sisters grew up dancing, and playing softball and basketball.
Joely, 26- A Central Washington University graduate, she teaches Math at Risdon Middle School in Renton.
Alycia, 25- A Central Washington University graduate, she teaches Math and Leadership at Bremerton High School and is the Drill/Dance Team coach.
Calia, 23- A Central Washington University graduate with a degree in Music Education and Early Childhood Education, she is a sub in the Bremerton and Central Kitsap School Districts.
Marli, 21- Attends University of Central Oklahoma, majoring in Vocal Performance and Music Education. At Olympic College she played softball.
Lilia, 19- Will graduate from Olympic College in June and plans to transfer to Central Washington University to pursue a degree in Education.
Previously, the girls sang for the Kitsap Athletic Roundtable Hall of Fame in recognition of their father, Brock Stodden, who was inducted in 2018 for achievements in boxing. Brock won the Tacoma Golden Gloves in 1991 and went on to box professionally for over 15 years. During his career, he had the privilege of sparring with the legendary Roberto Duran. Throughout his career, Brock was guided by World Champion Greg Haugen, who served as his advisor/trainer, and also worked many of his corners.
Chris Egan
The Stodden Sisters
Left to Right: Lilia, º, Calia, Alycia and Joely
Welcome
5:00pm–6:30pm
Dessert Social
Silent Auction — Sports Memorabilia benefitting Sports Museum
Playgrounds to the Pros book distribution
Free HOF Autographs: Pat Galbraith, Hillary Butler, Jeanne Naccarato, Ron Medved, Doug Sisk, Bob Young, Kim Butler and Julie (Butler) Hiles
Alan Anderson Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team Founder/Coach
Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award
James Neil, Presenter: Director of Athletics & Activities, Tacoma Public Schools
Teri Wood Tacoma School District Athletic Administrator/Coach/Official
Tom Burmester Athletic/Director/Coach/District & State Tournament Director
Tom Cross Recreation/Athletic Administration Award (New)
Chris Cross, Presenter: Daughter of Tom Cross
Travis Buell Director, Pierce County Parks & Recreation Department
Darrell Cochran Lifetime of Service Recognition Award
Kate Rue, Presenter: Assistant Athletic Director & Girls Tennis Coach, Charles Wright Academy
John Wohn TPC Sports Museum Board of Director & Volleyball Referee & Board Secretary
Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of The Year Award
Dan Hannula, Presenter: 2006 TPC Sports Hall of Fame member-swimming
Denzel Boston Football—Emerald Ridge HS and University of Washington
Emersyn Walker Golf-Charles Wright Academy/ Univ. of North Dakota
7:55pm Video In Memoriam
8:10pm Video Special Presentation of Hall of Fame Inductees
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame
Jay Stricherz, Presenter: Past TAC President-Refereed first NCAA D1 National Championship Football Game
Basketball
Football
Denise Baxter and Sara Halasz-Price
Tom Gallagher, Steve Harshman, Torey Hunter and Desmond Trufant
Golf Todd Erwin
Media
Tom Glasgow (Broadcaster) & Art Thiel (Sportswriter)
Mountaineering Jason Edwards
Multi-Sport
Officiating
Volleyball
Wrestling
Sheri Bauer-Cruz
Mark Stricherz
Jody DeGroot & Courtney Schwan
Bryan Bartelson and Jordyn Bartelson
8:30pm Closing - Chris Egan, MC
HOSTS
Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission
Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Connelly Law Offices
GOLD SPONSORS
Darrell Cochran - PCVA Attorneys At Law
Dominos
SILVER SPONSORS
Bob Young
Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair
Columbia Bank
Commencement Bank
Edwards Family Foundation
Erickson Logging
Evergreen Excavation
Key Bank
Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, L.L
Willie Stewart, Sr.
TAPCO
Titus Will
Woodworth Capital
BRONZE SPONSORS
Caffé D'arte
Michele Johnson
Ladenburg Law
Parks Tacoma
Tacoma Oral Surgery
Washington Golf
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
American Party Place
Anthem Coffee
Arc Riot
Ardesson’s Shoe Repair
Calvary Cemetery
Classy Chassis
Comeback Sports
Financial Insights
New York Life
Puget Sound Title Company
Tacoma Rainiers
Quigg Bros., Inc.
Tower Lanes
Wanna Cupcake
Winning Seasons
A Shout-Out To Our Local Sports Writers
Thanks to these individuals who prepared the biographies about the following honorees in this publication
NICK DAWSON
Denzel Boston and Steve Harshman.
Nick Dawson is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum and is the former Sports Information Director at Pacific Lutheran University for 22 years as well as at Evergreen State College. He enjoys soccer, softball and golf in his spare time.
CRAIG HILL
Jason Edwards and Jill Fox-Mullen
Craig Hill is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum and former sports reporter and outdoor writer for The News Tribune. Craig is the author of two books-Washington Hiking and Pacific Northwest Hiking with Matt Wastradowski by Moon.com. Outdoor sports, Olympic sports, football, baseball, golf and basketball are right up his alley.
SHAWN MCDOUGALL
Connelly Law Offices (sports officials), Denise Baxter, Teri Wood and Tom Burmester
Shawn McDougall is retired math teacher and baseball coach, having taught at Stadium High School for nearly 40 years. A 1981 Stadium and 1985 Whitworth University grad, he fervently enjoys following his favorite sports teams and occasionally hitting a green in regulation.
TODD MILLES
The Ladenburg Family, Bryan Bartelson, Jordyn Bartelson
Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum www.tacomasportsmuseum.org
State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame www.washingtonsportshof.org
Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball-Softball Oldtimers Association www.oldtimerbaseball.com
Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club www.tacomarainiers.com
West Central District III www.wiaadistrict3.com
WIAA www.wiaa.com
Todd Milles is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum and a former sports reporter for The News Tribune. Read his current writing about statewide high school sports at VarsityWAnews.com. A Foss High School and Washington State University graduate, Milles worked as an award-winning sportswriter for The News Tribune starting in 1994. And, in tune with his "ManyHatsMilles" Twitter handle, he covered just about everything for the newspaper, ranging from University of Washington football to being the lead writer for the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. But, most dear to his heart is the coverage of local athletes at the high school and collegiate level ("if you’re not looking after your local scene, what are you really covering?").
SHAWN O’NEAL
Alan Anderson, Thomas A. Cross Award, Todd Erwin, Tom Gallagher, Art Thiel, Sara (Halasz) Price, Tom Glasgow and Emersyn Walker
Shawn O’Neal is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum. A graduate of Spanaway Lake High School (1991), Washington State University (1995) and the University of Idaho (2016), Shawn works in media advocacy for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and as Senior Editor for college sports at Lindy’s Sports Annuals.
TYLER SCOTT
Sheri Bauer-Cruz, Desmond Trufant, Jody DeGroot, Courtney Schwan, John Wohn, Torey Hunter
Tyler Scott is a contributing writer for the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum. A Puget Sound native and Pacific Lutheran University alumnus, Tyler has worked in several small college sports information offices in Washington and Oregon and also provided freelance high school sports coverage for The News Tribune
253-677-2872 | www.tacomasportsmuseum.org
Throughout the years, Tacoma-Pierce County has received recognition thanks to the national and international caliber of its athletes and teams. Since its founding in 1994, the Sports Museum has honored athletes, coaches, oJicials, and other figures who have brought acclaim to our community.
Throughout the years, Tacoma-Pierce County has received recognition thanks to the national and international caliber of its athletes and teams. Since its founding in 1994, the Sports Museum has honored athletes, coaches, oJicials, and other figures who have brought acclaim to our community.
Visit www.TacomaSportsMuseum.org to see the extensive collection and learn more about the terrific stories of athletic achievement that our community has to share.
Visit www.TacomaSportsMuseum.org to see the extensive collection and learn more about the terrific stories of athletic achievement that our community has to share.
Support the Museum Today
Support the Museum Today
When you support the museum’s eJorts to preserve the rich sports history of Tacoma-Pierce County, your contribution helps maintain the virtual museum archives including:
When you support the museum’s eJorts to preserve the rich sports history of Tacoma-Pierce County, your contribution helps maintain the virtual museum archives including:
• Photo and artifact catalog (with over 6,000 archived documents)
• Photo and artifact catalog (with over 6,000 archived documents)
• Old-school sports programs (more being added from personal donations)
• Old-school sports programs (more being added from personal donations)
• The Locker Room Chat interview series (featuring dozens of prominent athletes and coaches)
• The Locker Room Chat interview series (featuring dozens of prominent athletes and coaches)
• Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame (an archive honoring our area’s best athletes, including those inducted tonight at the Tribute to Champions)
• Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame (an archive honoring our area’s best athletes, including those inducted tonight at the Tribute to Champions)
• Sports Spotlite quarterly newsletter (articles and anecdotes about local athletes and events, current and past. You can subscribe to this quarterly email newsletter.)
• Sports Spotlite quarterly newsletter (articles and anecdotes about local athletes and events, current and past. You can subscribe to this quarterly email newsletter )
• Clay Huntington Broadcast Center (listen and watch historic radio and TV clips)
• Clay Huntington Broadcast Center (listen and watch historic radio and TV clips)
• Scrapbooks (view decades-old histories via personal scrapbooks donated to the museum)
• Scrapbooks (view decades-old histories via personal scrapbooks donated to the museum)
In addition to the extensive virtual collection, we continue to raise money for an eventual return to a physical location. Your support is greatly appreciated.
In addition to the extensive virtual collection, we continue to raise money for an eventual return to a physical location. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Please contact Marc Blau (mhblau1951@gmail.com) or 253-677-2872 for more information.
DONATE TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM
DONATE TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM
Visit TacomaSportsMuseum.org. On the home page, click on the following graphic:
Visit TacomaSportsMuseum.org. On the home page, click on the following graphic:
We will follow-up with acknowledgement of your gift, which may be tax-deductible if you itemize deductions on your tax return.
We will follow-up with acknowledgement of your gift, which may be tax-deductible if you itemize deductions on your tax return.
The museum has several options to receive donations other than credit card payments. Please visit www.tacomasportsmuseum.org/waystogive/ to learn more.
The museum has several options to receive donations other than credit card payments. Please visit www.tacomasportsmuseum.org/waystogive/ to learn more.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
FROM THE ARCHIVES
NY Yankees Hall of Famer Babe Ruth (right) joins Dr. William Burns for a round at Fircrest Golf Course in 1926.
NY Yankees Hall of Famer Babe Ruth (right) joins Dr. William Burns for a round at Fircrest Golf Course in 1926.
Celebrating female athletes
The following items from standout local women are part of the
Museum collection
Gertrude Wilhelmsen of Puyallup wore this hat at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. She finished seventh in the javelin and eighth in the discus, the top America in each event. She was also a softball star who was inducted in the Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball Softball Oldtimers Hall of Fame.
Doris Brown Heritage wore these track spikes during her career that took her to the Olympics twice (1968 and 1972) in addition to multiple cross country and marathon wins. She was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, National Track Coaches Hall of Fame and National Distance Running Hall of Fame.
(left) Tacoma-raised swimmer Kaye Hall won this gold medal at the World University Games in Torino, Italy in 1970. That was two years after her 1968 Olympics gold medal in the 1 OD-meter backstroke. Her Olympic gold in Mexico City came in world-record time.
(right) This 1995-96 U.S. Gymnastics national team jacket belonged to Onnie Willis. The Wilson High grad led UCLA to three NCAA national championships and was the individual NCAA all-around champion in 2001.
Help us return
public access to the museum and its abundant collection of artifacts from our local sports history
We need your help to make the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum a vibrant, accessible community treasure again.
After 24 years with dedicated, secure space at the Tacoma Dome, changes at the Dome forced the Sports Museum to vacate its space in 2018. Since then, we have had a treasure of artifacts in storage. While the Museum website (TacomaSportsMuseum.org) offers a significant amount of content where you can flip through game programs, read Hall of Famer bios and see thousands of photographs, it does not compare to seeing Olympic medals, game-worn uniforms, trophies, equipment and hundreds of other items that all have a story to tell.
There have been many discussions and ideas shared over the past several years to help the Sports Museum find suitable space to allow the public to engage with the collection in a more personal, impactful way. We welcome all of your creative ideas to help the museum find a home again.
Tacoma has a strong commitment to museums. Since sports are a key fiber in the fabric of the community, we want to return the Sports Museum to a deserved place as a destination among the other community gems that share our history, our stories and the accomplishments of our people.
If you have an idea how the Sports Museum could be integrated in a current space or even be part of a new building project, we are happy to listen. Ideally, there would be sufficient space for display cases and exhibits to feature many of the best artifacts in our collection and allow enough room for a crowd to gather and comfortably experience and interact with the Museum. Additionally, a temperature-controlled resource/storage room would be helpful for the thousands of event programs, yearbooks, and personal scrapbooks that have been donated to the museum by nationally-recognized athletes like Herman Brix, Doris Brown Heritage, Marv Harshman, and Marv Tommervik. The signed Boston Celtics jersey and shoes worn by NBA AllStar Isaiah Thomas deserve a public audience. Same for the signed jersey from World Series-winning pitcher Jon Lester. Our storage space is bursting with artifacts missing an audience.
We have considered options to pair the Museum with a banquet facility that youth sports teams or other organizations could use for events. Perhaps you know of an option to integrate the Museum collection in an existing facility that is publicly accessible and secure. Any idea is worth consideration. We look forward to your creative thinking to re-establish the Museum beyond its virtual presence.
The Museum has some financial resources to participate in funding this endeavor. However, in addition to your ideas, we could also use your financial support to help provide a catalyst to move this project forward.
You can donate to the museum at TacomaSportsMuseum.org. Click on donate button on the home page. Please contact Marc Blau (mhblau1951@gmail.com) or 253-677-2872 to share your ideas. Thank you for your support.
We give where we live
WHO WOULD YOU PUT ON THE MOUNT RUSHMORE OF TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY AREA ATHLETES?
In our June issue of the SPORTS SPOTLITE quarterly newsletter we will feature a vote/survey of the greatest athletes ever from throughout Pierce County. Who you would put on the Mount Rushmore of Tacoma-area athletes?
The Fab Five of Tacoma-Pierce County L. to R.: Doug McArthur, Ben Cheney, Stan Naccarato, Clay Huntington and Tom Cross As honored in 2005 in the “Playground to the Pros” book (pages 8-16).
Jon Lester, Isaiah Thomas, Luther Carr, Ryan Moore, Herman Brix, Lawyer Milloy, Ahmad Rashad, Earl Anthony, Megan Quann, Christal Morrison, Kate Starbird, Doris Brown Heritage, Kaye Hall, Onnie Willis, Gretchen Kunigk-Fraser….
WHO DO YOU CARVE OUT OF GRANITE FOR ALL TIME?
To participate, subscribe now to the Sports Spotlite newsletter which is emailed in March, June, September and December featuring stories about local athletes, teams, museum artifacts and other news, To view past newsletters and subscribe please visit tacomasportsmuseum.org/newsletter/. The cost? $0.00
Subscribe to the newsletter to stay in touch with Tacoma-Pierce County sports history and receive updates on our quest to find a permanent home to house the incredible collection of artifacts that tell the story of our local history. Together, we CAN make this happen and we encourage and welcome your ideas.
Examples from Sports Spotlite newsletter
A NEW HOME OF OUR OWN . . .
Welcome back to another Tribute to Champions, Hall of Fame induction event. Since 1994 the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum has honored the “best of the best” in athletic performance, coaching, administration, and service.
For decades, the sports museum called the Tacoma Dome home, but in 2018 due to remodeling, our lease was not renewed, and we had to move the collection into storage. Through years of trials and tribulations and even enduring the Covid years, we have come out the other side and are ready for a “New” home. We are currently exploring several locations that meet our specifications: 20,000 s.f., 20+ foot ceiling height and ample parking. It has been a challenge with these requirements, but we are turning over every stone.
Currently the museum has a total of 6,868 artifacts, and there are approximately 300 items that have not been processed since we have been in storage. Our collection is impressive! Over forty sports (40) are represented, ranking it in the top five for multisport museums in the country!
As we celebrate our 2026 Class of Inductees and other special award winners, let us all get energized and excited to be part of the next chapter of the sports museum’s history. WE NEED EVERYONE pitching in to make this a reality. It is time to get real, roll-up our sleeves and dive in!
If you want to be part of the action in any way, you own a building or know of one, are getting your estate in order, or have any amazing one-of-a-kind sports artifacts, reach out to us. We are ready to welcome you with open arms!
Marc Blau, President and Co-Founder
mhblau1951@gmail.com 253-677-2872
Colleen Hall Barta, Executive Director
colleenhallbarta@gmail.com 253-208-9702
one open door can open doors across a community.
Our most important work happens outside the four walls of our bank. KeyBank gets involved to help keep our communities full of hope and opportunity.
Thank you, Tribute to Champions, for making a difference.
Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award
Baseball – Jeff Berg
If you happened to watch the Savannah Bananas at T-Mobile Park last summer, you were probably entertained by the acrobatic catches, stilts, dance routines, colorful uniforms, and numerous other zany antics. But did you notice the umpiring crew? Among the crew was Puyallup’s own Jeff Berg, who for the past two decades has been coaching and umpiring baseball in Pierce County.
Born in Spokane, Jeff participated in baseball, hockey, football, and lacrosse as a teen. After graduating from Issaquah High School in 1987 and Western Washington University in 1991, Jeff spent nine years as a coach with Diamond Sports Bulldogs. Since joining the umpiring ranks, he has worked three WIAA 4A State Regional tournaments and has officiated the North and South Puget Sound League 3A and 4A State Feeder games for three years. In addition to umpiring high school and summer league games, in 2025 Jeff began umpiring NWAC Community College contests. He also was invited to call games ( and perhaps do a little dancing ) for the 2026 Banana Ball Championship League, a six team barnstorming exhibition league that will feature two teams at Cheney Stadium in late May.
Jeff doesn’t just call balls and strikes a few times a week. Between March of 2023 and March of 2024, he umpired over 300 games and received the Pierce County Umpires Association “Iron Man” award. Jeff also serves on the Pierce County Umpires Association training team.
Basketball – Andre Springer
The positions of point guard, quarterback, and catcher all require leadership and decisionmaking skills. Guess which positions Andre Springer played?
Originally from Detroit, Andre graduated from Plymouth-Canton High School in Canton, Michigan in 1991, participating in football, basketball, and baseball. After graduating from Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, Andre began officiating in each of those three sports. He came to Washington and immediately went to work for the Washington Officials Association, again refereeing each sport for the WIAA. Since 2011, Andre has officiated WIAA, NWAC community college, Northwest Conference (NWC), and Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) men’s basketball games. He has taken the floor twice in the WIAA 1A and 2A state tournaments, served as referee for the NWAC championship game in 2022 and 2023, called the NWC finals in 2024 and 2025, and officiated in the NCAA D3 national tournament in 2025. He counts his work with the WIAA Unified All-Star Games as among his most rewarding.
Andre most recently served as the Executive Board President of the Tacoma Basketball Officials Association. He is a retired special education teacher, having worked for the Puyallup Public Schools.
Football – Mike Keblbek
Originally from Medford, Oregon, Mike helped open Foss High School and graduated in 1975, having played football, basketball, and baseball. He began his membership in the Western Washington Football Officials Association in 1986, worked his first high school varsity game in 1988, and with 38 years under his belt, he plans to keep blowing the whistle for at least two more years to meet a personal goal of 40 years of officiating. He has worked numerous WIAA State playoff games including a Class A state title between Morton/White Pass and the Lynn/Ritzville/Sprague team. Mike has also coached youth baseball and participated in recreational league basketball, flag football, and slowpitch softball.
Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)
Football – Terry Simmonds
Whether Terry Simmonds was performing his duties as an administrator of the State of Washington Disaster Program or readying for Friday night high school football, preparation was essential.
Born in Olympia, Terry attended Olympia High School, participating in the unique combination of football, baseball, and golf. He started his officiating career in 1972 before graduating from Saint Martin’s College. Recently he was honored for his 53 years of taking the field nearly every Friday night during the season. Terry has officiated over 50 high school and/or college playoff and championship games in football while also working state playoff games in baseball, softball, and basketball. He has worked extensively on many South Sound athletic association boards since the 1970’s and is currently the assigning secretary for both the Western Washington Football Officials Association and the South Sound Umpires Association.
After retiring from the Washington State Department of Transportation in 2004. Terry supervised a golf group for seniors that grew to over 300 members. That group has since donated a substantial amount of golf equipment to local schools.
To the novice lacrosse observer, the terms “muffin”, “rip duck”, “braveheart”, and “alley” may be elusive. So ask Jeff Bambrick, who knows those terms and much more about lacrosse, one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and a sport that will return to the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
While Jeff readily admits he was an “average player at best” during his high school days at Bishop Blanchet High School in the mid-1980s, he has enjoyed great success as a lacrosse coach. Jeff began coaching in 2003 with the Puyallup Youth Lacrosse and South Sound Lacrosse organizations. From 2016 to 2025, he was the coach at Bellarmine Preparatory School, twice reaching the state tournament semi-finals and being named the Washington State High School Boys Lacrosse Association (WHSBLA) coach of the year in 2024.
Beginning in 2012, Jeff has been officiating for the South Sound Youth Lacrosse Association and for the WHSBLA since 2014. He also serves as a state-level trainer for the Washington Lacrosse Officials Association and as a regional assigner. His work with South Sound Lacrosse has been instrumental in helping to increase the number of officials and improve officiating with the intent of ensuring player safety.
It is not unusual for Michael Garosi to be recognized in public by children who say “he refereed my soccer game this week”, followed by a parent who says, “he refereed my game this week, too.”
Michael attended Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, Pa., playing midfielder for the soccer team and sprinting for the track squad. After high school he joined the Air Force, and over the next four decades played military intramural soccer while stationed at McChord AFB/JBLM. Michael also played adult recreational league soccer in Tacoma and Pierce County for nearly 20 years.
He began his refereeing career in 1987 with the Pierce County Soccer Referees Association, having just left active duty. While serving in the USAF Reserves, he graduated from Saint Martin’s College in 1988, then went to work for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Over the next 39 years, Michael has called over 4000 games, including WIAA matches, youth recreational league soccer, military intramural, and Special Olympics.
Lacrosse – Jeff Bambrick
Soccer – Michael Garosi
Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)
Softball – Dennis Mullens
If the name of the game ends in “ball”, then Dennis Mullens has probably played, coached, and officiated the game at some point in the past 50 years.
While attending Mullens High School in West Virginia, Dennis was already refereeing youth league football. Since 1980, Dennis has officiated the WIAA 4A championship game (2002), Northwest Semi-Pro championship and all-star contests, women’s professional football, and the first-ever American football game featuring a team from the U.S.S.R. on U.S. soil. He has also served on the association’s board, supervised the Pierce County Parks Little League football program, and has trained football officials
Dennis also began officiating basketball, baseball, and softball in 1980. He has worked numerous WIAA West Central District basketball championships and state tournament games, and has umpired WIAA 4A and 3A district tournament games. Most recently, he has umpired ISSA senior softball World Tournament contests.
Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)
By all accounts, Johnny Jones is a quick learner.
Originally from Chicago, Johnny was a three-sport athlete for Lonoke High school in Arkansas, participating in football, basketball, and track. He excelled in basketball, and after graduating in 1989, he passed up the opportunity to play in college for the call to serve in the United States Army. While in the service, despite having never before played in an organized league, Johnny earned Armed Forces All-America honors in volleyball in 1991-1992.
After serving two years in Germany, three tours in Saudi Arabia, and over 10 years in the National Guard, Johnny retired from the service and settled in Washington state. He spent roughly a decade coaching AAU and recreational league basketball before joining the officiating ranks. In 2016 he was recognized as the Tacoma Basketball Officials Association (TBOA) “Rookie of the Year”, and in 2018 he began officiating volleyball with the Tacoma Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board (TPCVOB). In his relatively short officiating career, Johnny has earned praise for his professionalism on the court and has twice been selected to officiate at the WIAA state tournament. He also regularly serves as the first referee (R1) for NWAC community college, NAIA, and NCAA D3 contests.
Johnny is proud and honored to receive this award. Thanks for your service, Johnny, both to our nation and to our local athletes.
Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award (continued)
Wrestling – Pete Janda
Longevity and excellence tend to get rewarded, and Peter Janda has demonstrated excellence for a long time.
A standout wrestler at Renton High School and Western Washington University, Peter began officiating wrestling in 1967 and hasn’t stopped. A founding member of the South Sound Wrestling Officials Association, Peter has worked numerous WIAA state tournament meets, served as SSWOA president, SSWOA assignor, and has evaluated officials. Peter was selected as the WIAA Official of the Year in 2019 and received the Washington Officials Association President’s Award in 2024. This year he will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award recipient. In addition to his decades on the mat, Peter has also served as Clerk of the Course and as a member of the Jury of Appeals for the WIAA Track and Field championships.
Peter has also enjoyed much success as a Cross Country and Track and Field coach at Shelton High School, serving from 1976 to 1998. He retired from teaching in 2000.
CONNELLY LAW OFFICES EXCELLENCE IN OFFICIATING RECIPIENTS
2025 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Dan Graves
Basketball (B & G) Darin Barr
Football Keon Edwards
Soccer JJ Snyder
Softball Clarence Dean
Volleyball Rocky Zlock
Wrestling Steve Rider
2024 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Phil Taylor
Basketball (B&G) Cedric McClure
Football Shawn Farber
Soccer Scott Webster
Softball Regie Johnson
Volleyball Joe Sakaria
Wrestling Michael Maye
2023 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Bob Matekel
Basketball (B&G) Drew McDougall
Football Keith MacFie
Soccer Cal Lovering
Softball Mike Partlow
Volleyball Nadia Tialavea
Wrestling John Rivers
2022 RECIPIENTS
Baseball No recipient chosen
Basketball (B & G) Rick Fox
Football Jeff Ausbun
Soccer Pat Muir
Softball Bill Schey
Volleyball Jerry Aeschlimann
Wrestling Kevin Bauers
2021 RECIPIENTS
No recipients due to COVID-19
2020 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Jim Jezek
Boys Basketball Larry Berg
Girls Basketball Ricky Underwood
Football Tyler Olsen
Soccer Ray Moffatte Jr.
Softball Randy Sears & Amy Wertz
Track & Field Joanne Flom
Volleyball Dave Dempski
Wrestling Darrell Spivey Jr.
2019 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Mike Stephenson
Girls Basketball Hiram “BJ” Aea
Football Joe Horn
Soccer Larry Baughman
Softball Scott Buser
Volleyball Peter Thomas
Wrestling Chris Brayton
2018 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Mark Polcyn
Girls Basketball Allen Estes
Fastpitch Softball Graig Bolton
Football Dwayne Johnson
Soccer John O’keefe
Volleyball Debbie Beckwith
Wrestling Ton Maki
2017 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Tom Purchase
Boys Basketball Randy Black
Girls Basketball Alberto Perez
Fastpitch Softball Ken Laase
Football Dan Stivers
Soccer Dana Reinhart
Volleyball John Wohn
Wrestling Glen Kuhn
2016 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Phil Taylor
Boys Basketball Tony Schoeler
Girls Basketball Kevin Walk
Fastpitch Softball Bruce Ledbetter
Football Ron Anderson
Soccer Cy Palmer
Track Cathy Sanderson
Volleyball Lenny Llanos
Wrestling Randy Holberg
2015 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Dave Williams
Boys Basketball Ed Rounds
Girls Basketball Frank Manowski
Fastpitch Softball Ken Cheslik
Football Dennis Mullens
Track and Field Ed Viering
Volleyball Walt Gogan
Wrestling Daryl Eygabroad
2014 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Larry Stevens
Girls Basketball Bill Weatherby
Fastpitch Softball Greg Farias
Football Clarence Leingang
Soccer Joe Tompkins
Volleyball Paul Jensen
Wrestling Hugh Birgenheier
2013 RECIPIENTS
Boys Baseball Rob Ruth
Boys Basketball Mark Stricherz
Girls Basketball Ross Parker
Fastpitch Softball John Everett
Football Rich Salstrom
Lacrosse Keith MacFie
Volleyball Tina Preece
Wrestling Bruce Osborne
2012 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Lee Gregory
Girls Basketball Ron Rosi
Fastpitch Softball Bill Rudd
Football John Dively
Swimming/Track Dick Unrue
Volleyball Teri Wood
Wrestling Eric Davis
2011 RECIPIENTS
Boys Basketball Paul Guetle
Girls Basketball Mandel Scott
Fastpitch Softball Jack Stonestreet
Football Ken Wood
Volleyball Robyn Buck
Wrestling Brian Dunbar
2010 RECIPIENTS
Baseball Ron Shaw
Boys Basketball Steve Wusterbarth
Girls Basketball Wayne Agness
Fastpitch Softball Dick Hassan
Football Terry Keister
Volleyball Earl Powell
Wrestling Terry Beckstead
Dr. Michele L. Johnson
Pierce College
Chancellor Emerita
Pierce College Raider
Athletics HOF
CONGRATULATIONS
Ha ll of Fame In d uctees and T ribu te t o C hamp i ons Hono r ees
SPORTS HALLS OF FAME
Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame
https://www.tacomasportsmuseum.com/hall-of-fames/
Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball-Softball Oldtimers Hall of Fame https://www.oldtimerbaseball.com
Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame https://www.kitsapathleticroundtable.org/kitsap-sports-hall-of-fame
Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame https://www.spokanesports.org/community/hall-of-fame
Washington Soccer Legends http://wasoccerlegends.org
Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame (part of the Seattle Sports Commission) https://www.seattlesports.org/signature-events/the-pacific-northwest-football-hall-of-fame Celebrating the finest representatives of Washington & Oregon Football.
Pacific Northwest Minor League Football Hall of Fame (Est.2012 in Puyallup) https://pnwfbmlhof.com
Yakima Valley Sports Awards (under the Yakima Valley Sports Commission) https://www.visityakima.com/yakima-sports-awards/
FOR FUN. FOR COMPETITION.
For Everyone.
WA Golf is the largest golf community in the northwest bringing together more than 103,000 golfers across Washington and Northern Idaho to play, compete, and connect. Join us.
WAGOLF.ORG
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 significant national recognition 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, Sandy Koufax, Joe Namath, 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.
A list of inductees from 1960 thru 2025 can be found at www.washingtonsportshof.org along with photos, ceremony videos and past programs. Nominations for future considerations may be submitted by clicking on “About” on the home page and then scrolling down and clicking on the Nomination Criteria and Selection Process link.
For more information contact Marc Blau, Executive Director at 253-677-2872 or mhblau1951@gmail.com.
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.
The First Family of Sports Award recognizes multi-generational contributions to athletics in Pierce County. Parents, grandparents and siblings play critical roles to support athletes and their pursuit of excellence. We salute the families that seek generational connection through sports.
FIRST FAMILY OF SPORTS AWARD RECIPIENTS
2025 Linden Family- Jon, Krista, Lara, Eva, Annika, Elsa, Klara, Mia and Sophia
2024 The Bartelson Family—Bryan, Jennifer, Jordyn, Brooklyn, Chance
2023 Stueckle Family—Dan, Heather, Kayla, Kimmie, Karlee, and Kyle
2022 The Armstrong Family—Parents Frank and Ivy and children Eloise, Dorothy, Bayyinah, Frankie, David, Dennis, Al and Beverly.
2021 No recipients due to COVID-19
2020 The Heinrick Family-John, Irene, Jack, Patricia, Margaret, Dennis and Kathleen
2019 The McPhee Family- Bill & Georgia, Kathy, Diane, Scott, Colleen, Brad, Mark, Maureen, Bryce and Jim
2018 The Barsh Family-- Israel, Denise, Joshuael, R-Jay, Jacob, Caleb, Joseph, Isaac and Josiah
2017 The Beauchene Family---Paul, Janice, Suzanne, Angie, Renee and Lisa
2016 The Mullen Family—Mike, Rosanne, Pat, Molly and Nick
2015 The Carrigan Family—Paul, Jean, Andy, Mike, Casey, Tim and Clancy
2014 The Shelton Family- Alan, Sheri, Aaron, Aubrey, Ben, Austin, Karina and Kaleb
2013 The Clark Family---Bob, Pat, Jackie, Denise, Robyn, Lori and Michele
2012 The Medved Family—Bob, Shirley, Ron, Judy, John, Susie, Michael, Pat, Tom, Tim, Karen, Kevin, Jim and Jerry
2011 The Tingstad Family—Ed, Darlene, David, Mark and Ed
2010 The Huard Family—Mike, Peggy, Damon, Brock and Luke
2009 The Westering Family—Frosty, Donna, Holly, Sue, Brad, Scott and Stacey
2008 The Hannula Family—Dick, Sylvia, Dan, Dave, Dick and Debby
2007 The Names Family--Scott, Sis, Tom, Clint and Paula
2006 The Williams Family--Joe, Cleo, Joe, Jerry, Susan, Dave, John, Jordan and Jennifer
First Family of Sports Award – The Ladenburg Family
When Frank Ladenburg was in law school at Gonzaga University in the early 1970s, he played on a recreational men’s slowpitch team in Spokane.
The nightly action fed into childhoodmemory flashbacks of when he and his brothers would run over to Peck Field, which was a few blocks away from the family’s house, and watch some of the legacy local teams play 14-inch softball, notably Heidelberg, Tucci and Sons, and Sons of Italy. And it gave him an idea. Why couldn’t the Ladenburgs do big things on a softball field?
Yes, when folks have heard the Ladenburg name over the past halfcentury, it has usually come in other circles - law, politics or civic service.
When it came to making a name in Tacoma sports, however, the 16 Ladenburg brothers and sisters were diamond dusters - as in dusting the competition for decades. They were simply known around town - and quickly statewide - as “The Family”
Their franchise of multiple teams was expansive: In both men’s 12- and 14-inch slowpitch, men’s modified fastpitch, co-ed slowpitch and women’s slowpitch, the family racked up well over 100 trophies over 22 seasons, winning league, city and invitational tournament titles - and one historic state championship.
“We were a very close family,” MaryJane Ladenburg said. “Before the girls team started, we’d go and watch the boys every weekend. It was our life.”
Baseball always had a large presence in the Ladenburg upbringing. As the lead mentor for his siblings, Frank would get neighborhood pick-up softball games going at nearby Franklin Park. Or the brothers and sisters would play kickball in the street.
and
As they grew older, most of the Ladenburgs played organized sports. Here was the sibling lineup, from oldest to youngest:
* Kathy: A 1964 Stadium High School graduate, to set a winning tone for her siblings, she was a Metro Parks box-hockey champion.
* Frank: A 1965 Stadium graduate, he was a youth football teammate of Bobby Moore, who later became NFL All-Pro wide receiver and television personality Ahmad Rashad.
* John: A 1967 Stadium graduate, he was largely responsible for bringing the Men’s U.S. Open golf championship to Chambers Bay while he was Pierce County Executive.
* Marlene: A 1969 Stadium graduate, she played club girls softball in high school and later at Tacoma Community College.
* Nadine: A 1971 Stadium graduate, she was a guard on the Tigers’ girls basketball team, and also played one season of club “Powderpuff” football.
The Family
Back row l. to r. Debbie Ladenburg, Jill Smart, Phyllis Mayhew, Mary Jane Ladenburg,Pat Daily, Dana Skansi and Avril Cordero. Front row l. to r.: Monica Ladenburg, Pam Baebler, Connie Ladenburg, Gail ladenburg,
Shannon and Erik Ladenburg
First Family of Sports Award (continued)
* George: A 1973 Stadium graduate, he was an outfielder on the high school baseball team, then played at Olympic College (outfield) and the University of Puget Sound (shortstop). Also played semi-professional baseball with the Tacoma Raiders.
* Mike: A 1974 Stadium graduate, he was a wide receiver and defensive back on the Tigers’ football team, and played in the outfield on the high school baseball team. Also played baseball at Olympic College.
* Barry: A 1975 Stadium graduate, he was a member of the Tigers’ boys cross country team, and played in the outfield on the high school baseball team.
* Barbara: 1975 Stadium graduate, she did not play sports in high school.
* Dan: A 1977 Stadium graduate, he competed on the Tigers’ wrestling team, and played in the infield and outfield on the high school baseball team.
* David: A 1977 Stadium graduate, he was a guard on the Tigers’ boys basketball team. Also played basketball at Tacoma Community College.
* MaryJane: A 1979 Stadium graduate, she earned a scholarship to play modified women’s fastpitch at Tacoma Community College.
* Alan: A 1981 Stadium graduate, he was a multiple-year varsity wrestler with the Tigers.
* Dale: A 1984 Stadium graduate, he was an infielder on the high school baseball team. Also was a youth basketball coach and official.
* Gail: A 1984 Stadium graduate, she played on the Tigers’ softball team.
* Lissa: A 1984 Stadium graduate, she played on the Tigers’ softball team. Also participated in youth gymnastics.
Frank’s idea of a family softball dynasty did not come into view until 1977 - three years after he and John graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law and began playing for Lakewood-based Robi’s Camera at Peck Field. Once the idea was hatched, the brothers created the non-profit “Ladenburg Foundation,” which got them a license to hold “Reno Night” fundraisers to build a hefty expense account for equipment, different-colored pinstripe uniforms and unlimited tournament travel. And in 1977, the “Family” franchise took the field for the first time. “Same year the (Seattle) Mariners started,” Frank said.
Their 14-inch men’s slowpitch team’s debut came at the Joe Stortini Invitational at Peck Field. Led by six Ladenburg brothers, the “Family” won the tournament. And it just kept winning big invitationals around the state in Bellingham, Bremerton, Brush Prairie, Ephrata, Kent, Yakima and all over Pierce County, mainly fielding Ladenburg brothers, but utilizing cousins, brothers-in-law, neighbors, co-workers - and even a Ladenburg sister now and then. The “Family” team was built to do well in the 14-inch game, which was big in the 1960s until it began dying out in the mid-1980s in Washington state. “The 14inch game was played on a smaller field where the softball could not travel 499 feet in the air,” George said. “It was a way more defensive game, and that is why our family was successful because we could run, we could throw the ball and we could play great defense.”
The “Family” team’s crowning achievement came in 1981 when it survived a 24-team qualifying tournament to earn the Tacoma region’s final berth to the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) state championships at Frank Geri Fields in Bellingham. As the lowest seed of the 32 teams, the “Family” got on a roll, including a win against defending state champion Olympic Structure, of Olympia, in the tournament semifinals on a walk-off home run. Olympic Structure came out of the consolation bracket to earn a spot in the championship against the “Family” - and won the first game, 7-5, to set up a winner-take-all rematch. In front of a packed house, with the game being broadcast on local radio, the “Family” eked out a 1-0 victory to become the first team from Tacoma to capture an ASA state 14-inch softballl title.
“Obviously all of us remember the 1981 state championship because we were not really supposed to make the tournament. We weren’t even considered the top team in Tacoma,” said George, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player. “But the way to do it with your blood brothers, I sure got a lot out of that. I was blessed to have some pretty big moments, and we accomplished something we wanted to do that we thought was out of reach.”
Front row l. to r.: Barry, Frank and Dale.
Second row l. to r.: John Sr., Dad, Mom, Frank Jr., George and Mike. Third row l. to r.: Kathy (hidden), David, Alan and Daan and rest of the family,
Lower Right—The old adage that “You can’t tell the players without a scorecard” has never been more true then when playing against The Family slowpitch softball team!
First Family of Sports Award (continued)
As the years went on, and the “Family” expanded into different teams, media attention picked up. A Tacoma News Tribune article on the Ladenburg brothers was taped in major leaguer Doug Sisk’s locker since he knew the family.
Once a national media member saw the story, Sports Illustrated came out to Tacoma to do a take-out story and photo shoot at Cheney Stadium. “Good Morning America” called and did an on-air interview, as did National Public Radio.
“Everybody in our family wanted to play, play, play,” John said. “I signed us up for tournaments every year in late March until September … for three weekends per month. We played in up to two leagues during the week. By the time we were done with our season, we had more at-bats than most major leaguers.”
Who are these guys? The Ladenburg boys, of course!!
Frosty Westering Excellence In Coaching Award
This award was established to honor a legendary coach, Frosty Westering, and to inspire and recognize those who follow in his footsteps. Frosty emphasized a double-win theme: victory on the scoreboard and the satisfaction of playing to one’s personal potential. He instilled a love of teamwork and competition, and stressed “service above self.”
Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award
Jill Fox-Mullen
On Nov. 22, 2025, Jill Fox-Mullen and her Emerald Ridge High volleyball team left Yakima’s SunDome with their latest state tournament trophy in hand. A season of accomplishments told a success story: Undefeated in the SPSL, league champs, Coach of the Year honors for Fox-Mullen and co-head coach Bobby McGivern, third place at districts and seventh place at state.
But this, like each of her 20 years of coaching, is just the quantifiable part of FoxMullen’s success. There’s also something deeper. Something more important, harder to measure and a reason it is especially meaningful for her to receive the 2026 Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award.
“This award represents far more than wins and championships,” Fox-Mullen said. “It reflects Coach Frosty’s legacy of integrity, character, leadership, and putting people first. To be connected to those values is deeply humbling and I am truly honored to receive this award.”
For 40 years his players responded by portraying excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award is presented to a local coach in recognition of their commitment to excellence and devotion to the personal growth of their players.
Selection Criteria:
An active coach from a middle or high school, youth or adult league, junior college or university in Pierce County.
A coach who keenly develops the character of their players.
A coach who has been highly successful for a number of years in the win/loss column.
An outstanding role model.
Skilled at motivating others.
Devoted to the personal growth of their players.
Fosters cooperation, sacrifice and humility.
Instills a love of achievement, teamwork and competition.
Respects and follows the rules of the game and those who officiate them.
Represents integrity and ethics.
Exhibits a "service above self" attitude.
Displays and encourages strong community involvement.
Those values have long been reflected in Fox-Mullen’s approach to coaching just as they were for the legendary PLU coach who stressed “service above self.” Her connection to that legacy is also personal, having coached Westering’s granddaughter, Heather Johnson, during her time at Rogers High School (1996-99).
In 16 years at Emerald Ridge, Fox-Mullen is 283–143. Her teams captured five league championships, advanced to the state tournament seven times and she was named SPSL Coach of the Year three times. In 2015 and ’18 she was picked to coach the Washington State Coaches Association All-State Game. ERHS went undefeated in league play in 2013, ’14 and ’25. The Jaguars finished in the top three at districts seven times and placed at state six times. ERHS was third at state in 2013 and ’17 and finished second in ’14 and ’15.
“Coaching is so much more than X's and O's and Coach Jill Fox-Mullen understands that better than most,” said Jesse Kase, the ERHS athletic director. “She is passionate about the sport and takes coaching seriously as evidenced by her program-wide success over the years. The legacy she has built will undoubtedly be a foundation for programs for years to come.
“She knows the game of volleyball inside and out, but her expertise in the ‘extra work’ and
Coach Jill Fox-Mullen and Assistant Coach Lynn Wardle leap for joy with a big District win over Tahoma!
Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award (continued)
administrative duties – communication, planning, preparation, fundraising, management, etc. are what set her apart in a region full of high-quality coaches. We have been extremely fortunate to have Coach Fox-Mullen behind the Emerald Ridge volleyball program for the better part of the past two decades.”
Fox-Mullen graduated from Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie, Ore., in 1987. She was a star outside hitter and setter for the Kingsmen, lettering three years and earning all-state and team MVP honors her senior year. She also played club volleyball and qualified for districts in golf.
She arrived in the South Sound area in 1987 where she made an immediate impact at the University of Puget Sound.
Fox-Mullen started at outside hitter for four seasons with the Loggers and was the team captain her final two seasons. UPS qualified for the national tournament her freshman season. As a senior, she earned all-district, all-region and allAmerica honors.
Fox-Mullen started coaching in 1991, serving stints as the JV coach at her alma mater in Oregon, before starting her long career in the Puyallup School District. She coached Kalles Junior High (1992-95) before taking over at Rogers High. She later coached a season at Ferrucci Junior High (2009).
In four seasons at Rogers, Fox-Mullen went 57-51, led the Rams to the state tournament (1997) and won the 1998 WIAA Team Academic State Championship with a 3.870 team GPA.
Fox-Mullen coached Puyallup’s RAGE Volleyball Youth Program, 2004-2010, and Puget Sound Volleyball Academy’s club team, 2017-2024.
“The greatest reward from coaching over the years has been the relationships built – with the coaching staffs I’ve had the privilege to work alongside, as well as the players, their families, managers, athletic directors, and administrators,” she said. “Each of you has made this journey special in your own way.”
L. to R.: Lily Cruz, Sara Boyle , Head Coach Jill Fox-Mullen and Assistant Coach Lynn Wardle
The Jaguars of Emerald Ridge took second place in the 2015 State tournament. In the huddle (l. to r.) are coaches Whitney DuRocher, Jill Fox-Mullen and Bobby McGivern.
Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award (continued)
Alan Anderson
Founder of the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayaking Racing Team Adventurer, Visionary, and Legendary Trailblazer
Alan Anderson has built his life around his love for the wilderness and his commitment to adventure. He’s a visionary whose journey has inspired generations to embrace the outdoors, challenge their physical and mental limits, and pursue greatness. Born in Tillicum, WA and raised on American Lake in Lakewood, Alan was the youngest of three children. His early years were filled with a hunger for adventure that bridged into a life of physical and mental exploration.
At 20, Alan was drawn to the Pacific Crest Trail. The five-month trek tested his endurance awakening a deeper understanding of the mind, body, and soul. From there, Alan climbed many mountains around the world, accumulating dozens of summits and countless stories. In 1979 he was one of the last to receive the Six Peak Pin from the Mountaineers summiting all 6 PNW mountains including Mt. St. Helens five months before it erupted.
Alan’s competitive fire never dimmed. In 1995 his curiosity was sparked when he discovered adventure racing. The Sea to Summit Adventure Race became the largest adventure race in the world by the time Alan and his teammate won in 2001. The race consisted of multi-discipline events and tested cognitive excellence.
TACOMA
Downtown Tacoma - 1911 Pacific Avenue
Old Town - 2312 North 30th Street
Point Ruston - 5005 Main Street, #105
PUYALLUP
Downtown Puyallup - 210 West Pioneer
Sunrise Village - 10305 156th Street East, #101 Sunrise Medical - 11102 Sunrise Blvd East, #111
Next, Alan set forth on dream that was much bigger than himself. In 2003 he created an “adventure club” for youth, and founded the Gig Harbor Canoe & Kayak Racing Team (GHCKRT) as a nonprofit 501(c)(3). With only two athletes, Alan built a team that became 11-time national champions.
Their first nationals in Georgia (2004) was humbling placing last. But Alan saw it as a beginning, not a defeat. The team returned home, trained relentlessly, and came back stronger. In 2005, they swept the bantam age group, winning 87 medals. They won their first nationals in 2012 and have sense won 11 national championships.
GHCKRT has become a model for excellence, coaching youth, adults, and para-athletes—sending hundreds of athletes through the program. Alan’s leadership has been recognized with multiple Coach of the Year awards, and a national trophy called the “Alan Anderson Trophy” recognizing topperforming women’s K-4 team at US nationals. Since founding GHCKRT, Alan serves as a volunteer and his contribution is rooted in steward leadership.
Alan has served as the Director of the United States Sprint Coaches Association and a member of the U.S. Para Canoe Committee. He continues to pioneer the sport at the highest levels. In addition, GHCKRT hosts the Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup and the Narrows Challenge, attracting competitors from around the country and benefiting the local community.
Frosty Westering Excellence in Coaching Award (continued)
As the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approaches, GHCKRT created an Olympic fund providing financial support to athletes working towards earning a spot on the Olympic team.
Alan’s legacy has transformed many lives. GHCKRT is a community of athletes, parents, coaches who believe in the power of adventure. Alan’s dream has evolved into a movement and ripples through the lives of thousands.
“There’s magic in these waters,” Alan says—and thanks to him, many will continue to thrive and break barriers.
Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award
The Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who captures the true passion for athletics. This passion can be demonstrated through participation, promotion and organization.
Athletics brings out the best of us as individuals as well as collectively as a team. It challenges us both physically and mentally. It brings out our best in moments when our best is required. This competitive spirit shows itself in a variety of ways over the course of a lifetime. It is not about winning but about competing. It is about sustainability and perseverance. It is about bringing out the best in yourself and others, through ability, effort and attitude. When one does that, it leaves a legacy, a road map of courage, for others to follow.
This award recognizes all of the above and the Tacoma Athletic Commission is proud to honor this year’s recipient of the Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2025 Margaret McCormick & Jack Connelly
2024 Kathy Hemion & Duncan Stevenson
2023 Phyllis Templin & Jan Wolcott
2022 Wendy Malich & Tim Thompson
2021 No recipients due to COVID-19
2020 Brian Kamens & Aaron Pointer
2019 Willie Stewart & Dan Watson
2018 Tom Mustin
2017 Angie Eichholtz
2016 Dick Hannula
2015 Stan Naccarato & Ken Still
2014 Bob Robertson
2013 Joe Stortini
2012 Ruggles Larson
Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award
Teri Wood
Upon graduating from Aquinas Academy in 1974, the chance to participate in varsity athletics at an academic institution would have greatly appealed to Tacoma native Teri Wood. However, opportunities for girls at that time were relatively scarce. Although Title IX was signed into law in 1972, the interpretations, policies, and consequences of the law would not be settled for decades. For Teri, who played flag football, volleyball, basketball, and fastpitch at Aquinas, the alternate course of action was obvious: grab a whistle and become an active advocate for equity in sports for women.
Volleyball was one of the Teri’s favorite sports, so it was natural for her to join the Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board. She began refereeing in 1975, and for 44 years provided a positive role model for young women while quickly becoming one of the area’s top officials. Teri officiated her first WIAA state tournament matches in 1980, followed by seven of the next nine state tournaments. In 1989 she earned the highest possible officials rating of National referee, indicating superior skill and experience, enabling her to officiate NCAA Division I matches. She went on to referee college volleyball for over 20 years. Teri was named a recipient of the Washington Officials Association Meritorious Service Award in 1995, and in 2012 received the Connelly Law Offices Excellence in Officiating Award for volleyball. In 1999, she was co-recipient of the TPCVOB’s Wayne Gardner Match Point Honor Award, recognized for her leadership, devotion, and contributions to the advancement of volleyball in Pierce County. Teri also served as president of the TPCVOB in 19911992.
It was not just at the volleyball net that Teri’s passion for advancing women’s athletics was manifested. She was the head volleyball coach at Silas High School in 1996-1997, and assisted the volleyball, basketball, and fastpitch teams at Lincoln High School during various seasons in the 1990’s and 2000’s. Teri was a supervisor for the WIAA State Track Meet at Lincoln Bowl in 1989-2002 and served as floor supervisor for the WIAA Girl’s Basketball championships at the Tacoma Dome in 1989-1999.
Perhaps the most important work Teri did to help ensure equity in sports came through her work with the Tacoma Public Schools. She began in the district athletic office in 1989, and by 1993 she had advanced to the Office of Equity and Diversity. She held the position of Title IX Specialist, working closely with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the district’s high school athletic directors to remain compliant with Title IX law. One of her proudest accomplishments was partnering with Metro Parks to bring the Heidelberg Sports Complex into compliance by updating field conditions for the girl’s facilities, which were used by Tacoma schools. Teri retired from TPS in 2023, having spent ten years as a Human Resources Specialist before returning to the Athletics and Activities office. She still is a presence on school campuses, acting as supervisor of Stadium Bowl and Lincoln Bowl.
Teri received her associate’s degree from Highline College in Criminal Justice in 1976 and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from Western Washington University in 2008.
NWAC Championships-L. to R.: Heather Darrough-Teri Wood-Robyn Buck-Holdener
L to R: Margie Oleole, Teri Wood, Fujiko Gardner, Marc Blau, Paul Jensen –a friendship forged thru volleyball officiating
L. to R. Mike Fitzpatrich (former Sumner HS Head VB coach-TeriKevin Aoki (PLU head VB coach)
Doug McArthur Lifetime Achievement Award
Tom Burmester
Just as every good baseball player learns to hit the curveball, every successful person triumphs when thrown the proverbial “curveball”. It is no surprise that when life threw self-avowed “baseball junkie” Tom Burmester a couple of curveballs, he hit them out of the park.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Tom came to Tacoma when his father was transferred to Fort Lewis in 1948. He graduated from Mt. Tahoma in 1965, having played guard on the basketball squad and lettering all three seasons in baseball as an outfielder. Tom chose to attend Central Washington University, playing baseball during his freshman and sophomore years before graduating in 1969.
The next fall he began his teaching and baseball coaching career at Baker Junior High in Tacoma. He received his master’s degree from Oregon State University in 1972. In 1976, life threw Tom a curveball. Despite having only one year of high school junior varsity coaching experience and a good measure of hesitancy on his own part, Tom was named head baseball coach at Green River Community College. His reluctance was unfounded as each of his teams reached the conference post-season tournament, finishing as high as second place in 1981. A total of nine Gators signed professional contracts during his seven year tenure at Green River, including Tacoma’s own World Series champion Doug Sisk. Tom was twice recognized as the Washington Community College Baseball Coach of the Year.
By 1983, with his coaching days behind him, Tom had moved on to teaching mathematics and computer science at Foss High School. In 1988, a bigger breaking curve came towards Tom. Due to a mid-year emergency, the school needed an ASB advisor. Again, in spite of having no experience as an activity coordinator or with student government, Tom accepted the challenge and masterfully served the Foss student body in that position until 2008. It was under his leadership and vision that for many years the Foss Homecoming Dance was held at Union Station in downtown Tacoma, boasting over a thousand students in attendance and greatly contributing to the Foss ASB treasury. Tom also successfully lobbied for a change in the daily school schedule that would allow International Baccalaureate students an easier opportunity to participate in ASB, effectively bringing together seemingly disparate student groups.
As if running the school’s ASB was not enough, Tom began serving as the Foss athletic director in 1993. The WIAA had already noted his organizational and administrative skills, as he had been the WIAA State Baseball Tournament director since 1991, a position Tom still holds today. In addition, he has acted as WIAA State Regional Basketball director and the West Central District 3 (WCD 3) Regional director for baseball, wrestling, and for both boy’s and girl’s swimming. He received the WCD 3 Meritorious Service Award in 2003, the WCD 3 Athletic Director of the Year in 2005 and 2011, and was named the Washington State High School Activity Coordinator of the Year in 2006. He retired in 2012, and is a member of the Mt. Tahoma High School Hall of Fame, the WIAA Hall of Fame, the Washington Activities Coordinators Association Hall of Fame, and the Washington Secondary School Athletic Administrations Association Hall of Fame.
The awards and accolades are meaningful and deserved, but Tom knows the name of the game is serving students, which he did for over 40 years as a teacher, advisor, administrator, and mentor. Throw him a curveball now – he will still hit it out of the park.
Cey’s Union 76 Baseball team was coached by Tom Burmester (left) and brother Ed (right)
Tom Cross Recreation/Athletic Administration Award (New)
Tom Cross Recreation/Athletic Administration Award
This Distinguished Achievement Award is presented to current or former recreation or athletic administrators or organizations who have demonstrated exemplary leadership within their organization. Recipients are recognized for their ability to communicate effectively, implement innovative programming, and manage organizational responsibilities with outstanding skill. In addition, honorees have shown a strong passion for sports or athletics, along with a steadfast commitment to supporting the welfare of staff, coaches, participants and the general public as a whole. The award was created to honor the significant contributions of Pierce County Parks & Recreation Department administrator Tom Cross, whose dedication and vision inspired countless individuals with a passion for engaging in athletics and/or recreational activities. Tom Cross devoted his career to broadening sports and other recreational opportunities within the community, ensuring that programs were accessible to everyone—regardless of age, gender, or skill level. Through his leadership, access and active participation in sports and recreational activities saw remarkable growth throughout Pierce County.
Pierce County Parks & Recreation Department (circa 1970-2010)
For the Cross kids, Tacoma and Pierce County serve as a living memorial to their father.
Seemingly every field and recreation structure, golf course and public park near their home exists based on some level of effort put forth by their Dad.
Tom Cross was a big personality. From the loud sport coats, to the cigars, to the stories he could – and would – tell in any setting, at any time. But what stands out most to his kids is the love and relationships he always put front and center and the people who were like family because of it.
Literally millions benefitted from Cross’ passion for recreation. Softball players, ice skaters, mountain climbers, golfers, wallyballers, horseshoe throwers – the list could go on endlessly -- or the countless young professionals he mentored, launching many a career centered on love of community and its people. He gave of his time in a way few could ever match.
“He never had an unkind word to say about anybody,” Tom’s oldest daughter Chris said. “We’d be on an officiating trip with him, walking in downtown San Francisco, and somebody would walk up to him and say, ‘hey, you’re Tom Cross … how are you doing?’ It was just one of those kinds of things and it was all the time.”
Cross’ passion was sports and recreation for all – not just the best players, but all of them – and it made a lot of great things happen in Tacoma and, later, greater Pierce County.
“His thing was people and parks,” Chris Cross said. “He wanted to have the parks so the people could go out and enjoy them and spend time with each other and have that be a great part of their lives. That is what he enjoyed and he thought others would, too.”
There were many accomplishments, but perhaps his signature feat was Sprinker Recreation Center, which opened off of Pacific Avenue in Spanaway in 1968 as a field complex and then as a full recreation center in 1976. For the full facility grand opening, Cross presided in Bicentennial finery, complete with a Styrofoam boater hat, looking like Harold Hill in “The Music Man.”
Cara Cross noted that her dad’s classic style choices were recognized on national TV by Hall-of-Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden. Cross was wearing one of his garish sport coats while standing on the field – as used to be the practice for timers -- working a Seahawks game when the bombastic coach went into one of his signature bits regarding one of her dad’s signature looks.
Accepting the award; Travis Buell, Director Pierce County Parks & Recreation Department
L. to R.: The Cross Famly—Cara, Tom, Ruth, Thom and Chris
Tom Cross Recreation/Athletic Administration Award (New) (continued)
She remembered: “The camera panned and Madden called out, ‘hold on, look at that guy.’ Look at that jacket. That is the ugliest jacket I have ever seen. I would not use it to cover my car in the winter.’”
Perhaps not, but the coats were part of the big, welcoming personality and the connection Cross had with so many and that led to so much.
"Those of us who worked for him," longtime Pierce County parks staffer Marc Blau explained, "found a way to stay involved in sports and recreation for years. There is no doubt, of the overall influence he had on the lives of people involved in sports and recreation. His contribution has been more profound and comprehensive than any other person in the history of Tacoma."
Cross was born in Tacoma and attended Stadium High School. There, he was an all-state basketball player known for his aggressive, spirited play. After graduation in 1938, he played at the College of Puget Sound and helped lead the team to the 1939-40 Northwest Conference Championship. While in college he also started officiating, taking a random call in the CPS Physical Education department from a high school willing to pay $3 for a couple of guys to come call a game. He eventually served in World War II where, according to his obituary, “he thought he would be driving a truck, but instead the army assigned him to supervise a recreation center on post."
Gene Lundgaard and Tom Cross
CPS basketball
Tom (L) ready to ref a football game
Tom and Lorne Merkle
Marv Harshman and Tom - Tacoma Mountaineers pro basketball team members
L. to R.: Marv Harshman, Ben Cheney and Tom Cross
Tom Cross Recreation/Athletic Administration Award (New) (continued)
When the war ended he came back to Tacoma and it all started to take off in a real way. He wrapped his education at CPS, was appointed athletics supervisor at Metro Parks and soon started officiating football and basketball. His impact from that point is hard to fully measure, but it was massive.
As an official: Cross has been called the “Father of Washington Officiating” and called countless games in the Intermountain Athletic Conference and Pacific Coast Conference, which became the Athletic Association of Western Universities in 1959 and the Pacific 8 Conference in 1968, later the Pac-10 and Pac-12. He officiated Rose Bowls and All-American games and, beyond taking games himself, was an official observer. He would often take his children or young professionals he was mentoring up to Seattle to evaluate officiating at Huskies games.
In recreation: Tom moved from Metro Parks to Pierce County Parks in 1958, pulling his family from the Proctor area of Tacoma to Parkland, where he perhaps made his greatest mark.
Jim Montgomerie tried to have a conversation with Tom whose famous words were “ I can’t talk right now as I am headed out to check on a “pastoral setting”. It meant he was going golfing!
The results were stunning: youth sports, leisure classes, specialized recreation, summer day camps, facility scheduling and management at multiple community centers, a variety of special events, and staff training and supervision, two golf courses, portable swimming pools for instruction in local communities and much more.
Be it the Daffodil Festival, Sound to Narrows, Tour de Pierce, Fantasy Lights or anything else that went down in the county, Cross and his staff were part of the planning and execution.
Ruth and Tom
L. to R: Basketball officials extraordinaire —Marty Erdahl, Jack Johnson, Dale Bloom and Tom Cross
Dedication of Military Road in front of Sprinker Rec. Center. L. to R. Jan Wolcott-Cara Cross-Barbara Gelman-Ruth CrossChris Cross-Jake Bujacich
First down—THAT way.
Tom and Clay Huntington at the Sound-to-Narrow finish line
Lorne “Shorty” Campbell and Tom Cross checking out the swimming area at American Lake
Tom Cross Recreation/Athletic Administration Award (New) (continued)
But Cross was more than just a planner. If a team needed an opponent on short notice, Cross would pull some friends together and join them on the field. He played well into his 50s, always had fun when he was working and made sure others did as well. That said, it was less about work and more about life.
“It pretty much consumed our family,” Cara Cross said. “We had family trips around officiating assignments … it was pretty all encompassing for our family and we got to go to some Rose Bowls and a lot of other big games. It was just our life and I really enjoyed it.”
As Cross took his family to work he also took work to his family. In 1958, Chris Cross asked her dad why there were no softball leagues for girls. Of course, Cross created one, and the Lassie League was formed. Chris’ team was the Cheney Fillies, sponsored by Ben Cheney.
“He was fun Dad and he was a fun coach,” Chris said. “When he was coaching, he would always smoke a cigar and when he wasn’t smoking it he would chew on it and shake it at us. He would get frustrated with us and rub his bald head. He would sometimes get frustrated and his face would get red, especially coaching girls, but he was always fun. He was just a heck of a nice guy.”
Spire Rock was the brainchild of Wayne Cooke.
An Old school underhand free throw by Tom with the Tacoma Mountaineers
Team photo of the Parks & Rec Staff -Look closely and see how many you can recognize, let alone name them.
L, to R. Clay Huntington, Joe Stortini, Jill Magnson, Pat Gallagher, Tom Cross and unknown
Mark Tommerwik and Tom Cross, Pac-8 FB officialsthrow by Tom with the Tacoma Mountaineers
Tom delivers ceremonial first pitch at the dedication of the Tom Cross Ballfields at Sprinker Rec Center. Longtime umpire and friend, Lorne Merkle is the umpire
Tom Cross Recreation/Athletic Administration Award (New) (continued)
Darrell Cochran Lifetime of Service Award
John Wohn
Darrell Cochran Lifetime of Service Award
The LIFETIME OF SERVICE RECOGNITION is presented to an individual who has a heart of gold and volunteers for everything for both the TAC and the Sports Museum: Golden Gloves, Athlete of the Year luncheons, Salute to Sports, Tribute to Champions.
Past Recipients
2025 Ed Menotti
SOCIAL
Few have contributed more to maintaining the history of South Puget Sound athletics than John Wohn. A long-time member of the Tacoma Athletic Commission who helps with the annual Tribute to Champions and the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame.
Born Jan. 15, 1934, in Northville, Michigan, Wohn lettered in tennis at Michigan’s Plymouth High School. Following his graduation in 1952, he served in the United States Navy and made his way to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for his occupation until retirement.
Beginning in 1988, Wohn worked as an area volleyball referee for more than 30 years, also serving as a scorekeeper and certified line judge. He has served numerous positions on the board, including secretary, treasurer, and administrative assistant, and developed a strong reputation for reliability as he was known to never cancel a match after accepting the assignment.
Wohn has been notable for making sure everything is ready for local volleyball officials, with updated notebooks, rulebooks, badges, and other supplies. He updated the website and would willingly drop whatever he was doing to fill in at a match when needed. Along with that, he also regularly helped train new officials as referees, scorekeepers, and line judges.
As mentioned above, Wohn has contributed immensely to South Puget Sound athletics even beyond his work on the volleyball court. He is an original member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum Board of Directors and has worked since the museum’s inception in 1994 to ensure volunteers were trained and available to keep the museum open to the public. He himself was often present in the museum during football, basketball, and wrestling state championship contests when the museum was located at the Tacoma Dome.
In other sporting activities, Wohn has been an active player with the Tacoma Badminton Club and worked with his wife Jackie to run the annual Daffodil Festival Tournament. They also share a passion for University of Puget Sound sports, often attending football, volleyball, and basketball games on campus, hosting team dinners, and helping take tickets or maintaining the shot clock. He is a past president of the UPS Logger Club and earned the 2003 TAC President’s Award and the 2006 City of Destiny Award for “Adult Sustained Service” by the City of Tacoma.
Jackie and John
Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award
The Dick Hannula Award is given to the top male and female amateur athletes in or from 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 worldclass swimmers such as Kaye Hall-Greff, Janet Buchan Elway, Barbara Mitchell, Chuck Richards, Dick, David and Dan Hannula, Miriam Smith, and Sarah Rudolph.
Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award
Denzel Boston
Denzel Boston is just the second male athlete to win the Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award twice, joining Ryan Moore (2003, 2005).
A 6-foot 4-inch, 210-pound wide receiver last fall for the University of Washington, Denzel was the 39th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Denzel put together a remarkable career for the Huskies with 132 receptions for 1,781 yards, an average of 13.5 yards per reception. He entered the national spotlight, and the minds of National Football League player personnel, with 20 touchdowns over two breakout seasons in 2024 and 2025. He is ranked No. 8 in career receiving touchdowns at the University of Washington.
The former Emerald Ridge High School standout saw action in 18 games during his first two seasons in purple and gold, but he was overshadowed by the Huskies trio of Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan, all of whom are now standouts in the National Football League.
With the Huskies’ wide receiver room in need of a star to step up and shine, Denzel responded to the opportunity.
During the 2024 campaign, he led the Huskies with 807 receiving yards and nine touchdowns while finishing second on the team with 60 receptions. He also returned 11 punts for 80 yards. In the Huskies’ first season in the Big Ten, Denzel was named honorable mention all-league by both the coaches and the media.
As a senior in 2025, Denzel led the Huskies in all receiving categories – and improved in each over the previous season – with 62 catches for 881 yards (14.2 yards per reception), with 11 touchdowns. His 11 receiving touchdowns place him sixth on the UW single-season list. In addition, he returned eight punts for 104 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown against UC Davis.
In the ultra-competitive Big Ten Conference, which sent eventual national champion Indiana and two other teams to the 12-team College Football Playoffs, Denzel earned third team All-Big Ten honors at wide receiver in the vote of both coaches and media. With a major in Comparative History of Ideas, Denzel also earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Academic team.
Dick Hannula Male and Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award (continued)
One way or the other, there will be a lot more golf ahead for
The former Charles Wright Academy three-sport star wrapped her career as a Fighting Hawk this season at the University of North Dakota, where she has been a three-year captain at the top of the lineup card and a steady scorer for coach Kris Kroetsch. She carded a personal best 68 in March while playing at the Bell Bank “Pay it Forward” Collegiate outside of Phoenix. It was the best single-round score by any UND
“The par fives were short so I really went for it,” she said. “I only have a few more tourneys
Her golf scores are only part of that equation, but when classes end she’ll head back to Arizona for a spell and see what might be possible on the pro side of the game. Her career has been marked by tantalizing low scores, but consistency has been elusive. With several sub-70 scores on her resume and a big-
“(Pro golf) has been a hope for me,” she said. “I am at a point where I will see how it goes. I know my skill is there but my scores have not been, but it is definitely worth a shot and I am going to try for sure and plan to come back to Grand Forks and serve as a graduate assistant here if it does not work out.”
Regardless, Walker is prepared for a bright future. She first travelled to Grand Forks as a highly decorated three-sport performer, having led the Tarriers in volleyball, basketball and golf, where she splashed onto the scene as a state individual champ in her freshman year, also leading CWA to the overall team title. She never lost that crown, polishing it for two years during COVID-19 cancellations and winning it again as a senior, when the Tarriers finished second overall.
Golf has gone well, but the full college experience has been the greater highlight for the Lakewood product. As an elementary education major, she has logged more than 450 hours of community service in her years with the Fighting Hawks, working for animal shelters, churches and in the local schools and literacy programs. She is a worship leader in her church and an intern with the United States Golf Association this past summer at the US Women’s Open.
“I have loved it,” she said. “UND is a big, Division I school in a smaller town, the hockey is unreal, the athletic department here and UND and Grand Forks are so community and volunteer based and, when you live in a place like this and you are an athlete, people know who you are and I just love the community tightness of it. I would not have wanted to go to college anywhere else. It is a special place.”
Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award Recipients
2025 Avery Cukjati Curtis HS/Santa Clara University
2025 Denzel Boston Emerald Ridge HS/University of Washington
2024 Hannah Pukis Bellarmine Prep/WSU/Univ. of Oregon
2024 Brandon Kaylor Bonney Lake HS/Oregon State University
2023 Brynna Maxwell Gig Harbor HS and Gonzaga University
2022 Kendall Burks Stadium HS and University of Washington
2022 Zyonna Fellows Mt. Tahoma HS and University of Arizona
2021 No recipients due to COVID-19
2020 Morgan Weaver Curtis HS/Washington State University
2020 Malachi Flynn Bellarmine Prep/WSU/San Diego State University
2019 Jamie Lange Sumner HS/University of Puget Sound
2019 Kaleb McGary Fife HS/University of Washington
2018 Margaux Arntson Annie Wright School/Claremont McKenna College
2018 Michael Gretler Bonney Lake HS/Oregon State University
2017 Kate Landau Tri-Valley HS (NY)/Georgetown University
2017 Sefo Liufau Bellarmine Prep/University of Colorado
2016 Jenna Mullen Emerald Ridge HS/Portland State University
2016 Morgan Weaver Curtis HS/Washington State University
2016 Josh Garnett Puyallup HS/Stanford University
2015 Whitney Conder Puyallup HS/Northern Michigan/US Army
2015 DaVonte Lacy Curtis HS/Washington State University
2014 Courtney Schwan Bellarmine HS/University of Washington
2014 Scott Crichton Foss HS/Oregon State University
2013 Andrea Geubelle Curtis HS/University of Kansas
2013 Courtney Schwan Bellarmine HS/University of Washington
2013 Taylor Meeks Orting HS/Oregon State University
2012 Andrea Geubelle Curtis HS/University of Kansas
2012 Austin Seferian-Jenkins Gig Harbor HS/University of Washington
2012 Kaleb Shelton-Johnson Lincoln HS/University of Puget Sound
2011 Alex Montgomery Lincoln HS/George Tech University
2011 Andrew Putnam Life Christian Academy/Pepperdine University
2010 Brie Felnagle Bellarmine Prep/University of North Carolina
2010 Isaiah Thomas Curtis HS/ University of Washington
2009 Melanie Roach 2008 Summer Olympic Games
2009 Johnny Spevak Puyallup HS/Central Washington University
2008 Christal Morrison Puyallup HS/University of Washington
2008 Brandon Gibson Rogers HS/ Washington State University
2007 Megan Quann Jendrick Emerald Ridge HS/Pacific Lutheran University
2007 Kellen Harkness Cascade Christian HS/Ohio State University
2006 Christal Morrison Puyallup HS/University of Washington
2006 Joe Rubin Foss HS/Portland State University
2005 Ryan Moore Cascade Christian HS/University of Nevada at Las Vegas
2004 Reggie Williams Lakes HS/University of Washington
2003 Ryan Moore Cascade Christian HS/University of Nevada at Las Vegas
2002 Dana Boyle University of Puget Sound
2001 Chad Johnson Rogers HS/Pacific Lutheran University
2000 Megan Quann Emerald Ridge HS/Pacific Lutheran University
1999 Kirk White Curtis HS/Boise State
1996 Karl Lerum Pacific Lutheran University
1997 Shannon Forslund Mt. Tahoma HS
1996 Dusty Brett Bellarmine Prep
1995 Brock Huard Puyallup HS/University of Washington
1994 Marc Weekly Rogers HS/Pacific Lutheran University
1993 Kate Starbird Lakes HS/Stanford University
1992 Sonya Olejar Bellarmine Prep/Stanford University
1991 Damon Huard Puyallup HS/University of Washington
1990 Andy Maris White River HS
1989 Sonya Brandt Pacific Lutheran University
1988 Mike Oliphant University of Puget Sound
1987 Jim Martinson Puyallup HS
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame
Basketball
Denise Baxter
Many of us may not remember the first time we touched the ball that we fell in love with or that brought us enjoyment and maybe even fame. But Denise Baxter, who would eventually excel in multiple sports and revel in competition, recalls the seminal moment when she was seven years old and knew she would be a basketball player.
Born in Bellevue, Wa., Denise was involved in typical children’s activities like ballet and tumbling but preferred the competitive nature of sports such as swimming and softball. One day while waiting to be picked up after softball practice, she walked into the adjacent gym and watched a pick-up basketball game. After the game, a player rolled a ball over to her, and after dribbling and shooting for a while, she was hooked. Denise was arguably a basketball “gym rat” before there was such a term, often playing and shooting around with boys. Thus began the journey that would see her claim all-league honors, play on league championship teams, make the game-winning basket in a Women’s NCAA Tournament contest, garner league Coach of the Year honors, and take her teams to the WIAA Girls Basketball state tournament.
By the time she left junior high, the dream of playing basketball or some sport collegiately was firmly in her mind. It is believed that Denise was the first woman ever to earn nine varsity letters at Stadium High School in Tacoma, lettering all three years in volleyball, basketball, and softball. She was named allleague in basketball and softball in her junior and senior seasons, leading the Tiger softball team to an undefeated season in 1979, culminating in a state championship title.
Denise was one of the top-rated girls basketball players in Washington upon her graduation from Stadium in 1980. She took her point guard talents to Santa Monica Junior College, again claiming all-league and all-tournament team honors as her team won the Southern California division championship. Her play earned her a scholarship to Louisiana State University, where for three years Denise played for former U.S. Olympic team and legendary coach Sue Gunter. The Lady Tigers finished in the Associated Press top twenty rankings in her first two seasons, reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 round in 1984. In her senior year of 1985, LSU won the National Women’s Invitational Tournament as Denise was once again named to the all-tournament team.
After brief coaching jobs in the Tacoma, Clover Park, and North Kitsap school districts, Denise became the head girls basketball coach at Central Kitsap High School in 1995. In 19 seasons of leading the Cougars, her teams reached the WIAA West Central District tournament 16 times, winning the league championship four times. Her teams made three appearances in the WIAA state tournament and she was named league Coach of the Year five times.
Beyond the records, Denise always stressed individual and team improvement over the course of the season. She hoped her passion for the game was evident to and would rub off on her players. She is most proud of what her former players have accomplished in their professional lives.
Denise is a member of the Stadium High School Athletic Hall of Fame. She retired from teaching in 2022 and currently lives in Arizona with her husband Bill, a former Central Kitsap baseball coach. She enjoys skiing and swimming and, always the competitor, proudly reports besting Bill on the golf course.
Denise Baxter (Bottom row, second from right, #15) was a member of the 1979 Stadium High School Girls Slowpitch Softball State Championship team.
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Sara Halasz-Price
Sara (Halasz) Price has a pretty solid track record of showing up places, being good right away … and then rising to greatness. She did it at Lakes High School, then at the University of New Mexico and now as a high school basketball coach in her home state of Alabama.
The former all-state player for the Lancers was an All-Mountain West player for the Lobos and now is coming off back-to-back final four runs in the Alabama 6A State Tournament with her Mountain Brook Spartans.
But to be clear, none of it was really easy.
The daughter of a colonel in the United States Army, Sara Halasz arrived in Lakewood in a somewhat typical route for military kids, but did get to spend four years with the Lancers. Her last two she made all-state and averaged 20.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as a senior. She also lettered in softball and played AAU ball for Baden Elite. She was a Parade All-American team nominee.
She landed a scholarship to New Mexico and played well enough in her first two seasons that she was a pre-season All-MW selection before blowing her knee out in a scrimmage. That cost her that season, but she came back more quickly than was expected and was ready to go for the next season, only to blow the same knee again in mostly the same way.
“You really don’t know what to say when people ask you how you feel,” she told the Cahaba Sun in 2017. “At the time, I was mad, it was questioning, like the ‘why me?’ sort of thing. I took it really hard. I was real bummed about it. But what I learned from it was about my character. About ‘How do I act without the game of basketball?’”
She could have reasonably been done, but came back for a third crack at her junior year and then played two straight years, never missing a start and scoring 1,000 points for her career and also ending with both an undergraduate and graduate degree from UNM.
While she was in school her parents moved back to her native Alabama and she joined them after two years of professional ball in Europe. She landed her first coaching job as part of a teaching role at Pinson Valley High School, outside of Birmingham, where she spent four years and stabilized the program but never won big. The administration at Mountain Brook didn’t lock in on the win-loss record and has been paid off big.
Mountain Brook made the state title game last year and the Final Four this year, getting sent home one game short of a second consecutive shot at the state title.
Price told Village Living in Alabama that she asks her players one question every day and it’s one that says a lot about who she’s been all these years: Did you compete?
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Tom Gallagher
There have been countless football greats to come out of Pierce County and, specifically, the football factory that was Puyallup High School in the late 1980s and early 1990s under coach Mike Huard. Some of the names are more easily remembered than others – the quarterbacks, of course, are some of the biggest and best in state history.
So yes, the casual fans will quickly recall Billy Joe Hobert, Damon and Brock Huard both for their huge success with the hometown Vikings but also for heading up the road and doing big things for the University of Washington and beyond.
Those who truly know the history of high school and college football in the area know that Tom Gallagher belongs on any list right next to those guys. His career was cut short – as often happens for football players, especially lineman – but he is inarguably one of the best interior players in state history, an integral member of a Washington Class AAA state champ, an NCAA National Champ and three Rose Bowl teams.
Gallagher came up in Puyallup at the dawn of the national recruiting era, back when the top high school players mostly stayed close to home, but were starting to be pulled across the country to the bigger brands. Players would go from the Tacoma area to places like Michigan or Notre Dame and Gallagher certainly could have gone anywhere. The Vikings were state champs during his junior year and some considered them the best football program in the nation. Hobert was the big-ticket quarterback, Joe Kralik the standout wide receiver and Gallagher, along with Steve Wolff, were the guys up front doing the dirty work. All stayed in state – Wolfe headed over to Wazzu – and Gallagher never even considered a different route.
He had always wanted to play for Don James and was not much interested from hearing from anybody else – didn’t even take another visit -- though his decorated high school career would have landed him literally anywhere. At that time, however, few programs were on better trajectory than Washington. Gallagher played behind College Football Hall of Famer Lincoln Kennedy for two years and blocked for Napoleon Kaufman, winning a national championship with the 1991 team. He then started his remaining two years, earning first-team All-Pac-10 as a senior for coach Jim Lambright on the first post-James team, following the coach’s resignation in the face of conference sanctions.
Gallagher was on track to follow the NFL path that would have seemed logical considering his pedigree and ideal size, but an injury during the 1994 Blue-Grey Game on Christmas Day curtailed his highest potential. He still played briefly in the NFL with the Broncos and Chargers, but the injury never let him max out. That said, the dream wasn’t a professional career, but wearing the purple and gold.
"Playing for the University of Washington, it was a dream come true," Gallagher said before he was honored as a Husky Legend before a 2018 game. "A lot of people doubted me when I was a younger kid, saying 'yeah right,' but that just fueled my desire to do this even stronger.”
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Steve Harshman
One of the greatest families in Pierce County’s illustrious sports history has added another member to the Hall of Fame. Steve Harshman joins his father, Sterling Harshman, his uncle Marv Harshman, and cousin, Dave Harshman, as a member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. Marv earned national acclaim coaching basketball at Pacific Lutheran, Washington State and the University of Washington. Sterling was a track & field sprint record holder at Pacific Lutheran, while Dave earned his induction in basketball. “That’s the part of it that is most rewarding for me,” Steve said. “The fact that my uncle and father are in there makes it very special for me.”
Steve earned his place in the Hall of Fame in the sport of football, first as a standout offensive lineman at Pacific Lutheran and then as a nearly unbeaten head coach of the minor league football Pierce County Bengals and Auburn Panthers.
Steve grew up in the Parkland area, graduated from Franklin Pierce High School and went off to Central Washington where he played for a year before transferring to Pacific Lutheran University. After sitting out a year, an intercollegiate rule at the time, Steve earned numerous conference, region and all-America honors as a 6-1, 230-pound offensive guard. He also set records in the shot put and discus throw for the PLU track & field program, records since broken. At the end of his college career, Steve was named the winner of PLU’s Jack Hewins Award as PLU’s outstanding senior athlete.
After graduation from PLU, Steve, then 6-1 and 250 pounds, had a free agent tryout with the Portland Storm of the United States Football League. While he had the best times and the best strength test numbers for offensive linemen, the coach told Steve that he was too small to play in the league.
Steve started his coaching career as head coach of the Pacific Lutheran freshman team in 1972. Then, while working on his master’s degree from PLU, he was approached by the newly formed Pierce County Bengals to be head coach. Because he still wanted to compete, Steve was a player and offensive coordinator for the team in 1973. A year later he transitioned to being player and head coach, doing that until 1979. During those years, Steve earned all-league honors six times as an offensive lineman.
The Bengals were Northwest International Football League regular season champions from 1973-77 and again in 1979, winning 32 consecutive regular season games during that time, and they were named 1979 minor league national champions by Pro Football Weekly. The Tacoma News Tribune named Steve its amateur coach of the year four times.
After the Bengals disbanded, Steve became head coach of the Auburn Panthers in 1984 and led the team to two undefeated seasons. Under Steve’s tutelage, the Panthers two NFA titles and the 1985 West Coast Championship, defeating the San Jose Bandits.
Steve was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame, a regional honor, before his induction this year into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame.
Steve went on to a 20-year career at Bennington (Neb.) HS, where he taught social studies and coached football and track & field. As a defensive coordinator, he helped lead Bennington to a state football championship and numerous conference and district titles.
Ping Pong throwers (L. to R.) Steve Harshman, Carl Peterson, Dan Pritchard and Randy Shipley pose for admirers. Editors note: Description taken directly from PLU Yearbook. We did not make that up!
Torey Hunter
Torey Hunter has been part of championship football teams across almost every level – as a player in high school, as a collegiate coach, and as a scouting director in the Canadian Football League.
Born Feb. 10, 1972, in Tacoma, Hunter starred as an All-State, area, and league honoree on the gridiron at Curtis High School while helping Curtis win the 1989 WIAA State Championship. After graduating in 1990, he headed to Washington State University, where he earned All-Pac 10 honors all four years while helping the Cougars reach a Copper Bowl and Alamo Bowl.
After participating in the 1995 Senior Bowl, Hunter was drafted in the third round of the National Football League draft with the 95th pick by the Houston Oilers. That led to an eight-year playing career in the NFL, European Football and CFL, playing for the Oilers, the Amsterdam Admirals, the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos.
Following his playing career Hunter headed back to college as a coach, with stints at Western Washington University (2002), Idaho State (2003-06), Central Washington (2007), Eastern Washington (2008-10) and University of Idaho (2011-12). During his time at Eastern, he helped coach the Eagles to the 2010 National Championship.
From there, Hunter headed north of the border, where he was Director of US Scouting for the Edmonton Eskimos/ Elk in the CFL (2013-17), during which time the 2015 Edmonton squad won the Grey Cup Championship. He has also been Director of Player Personnel/Development for the British Columbia Lions (2018-20). Since 2022, he has served on the Board of Governors and as the Director of Player Personnel Cleats vs. Cancer All Star Event.
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Desmond Trufant
A three-sport star for Tacoma’s Wilson high school, Desmond Trufant stayed home to excel on the football field for the University of Washington before becoming a top NFL draft pick with a nine-year professional career.
Born September 10, 1990, in Tacoma, Trufant was an all-league honoree on the gridiron, hardwood, and track at Wilson. His top performances were in track and field, as he took second place at the 4A state meet in the triple jump and 11th in the long jump as a junior. His performances helped lead Wilson to the team state championship in 2006, and he graduated with the most track points scored in school history. On the football field, he earned all-state honors following his senior season and was named All-Narrows League as both a running back and a cornerback.
Following his 2009 graduation from Wilson, Trufant headed to the University of Washington, where he earned second team All-American and first team All-Pac-12 honors as a cornerback in 2012 while helping the Huskies rank second in the conference and 16th nationally in pass defense as a senior.
The Atlanta Falcons made Trufant a first round pick (22nd overall) in the 2013 NFL draft, as he was the third cornerback selected that year. He played the next seven seasons for Atlanta, playing all 16 games four times and topping out with 70 tackles as a rookie and four interceptions in his final year in Atlanta (2019). He was named to the 2015 Pro Bowl and to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2013.
Following his time in Atlanta, Trufant played two more seasons with Detroit, New Orleans, and Las Vegas. He finished his NFL career with 366 total tackles, six sacks, 89 pass deflections, 14 interceptions, three forced fumbles, seven recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns. He ranked second in Falcons’ history in pass breakups upon his retirement.
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame
Todd Erwin
Don Erwin had a vision for his son, Todd. Wrote it in his baby book, in fact.
“He wrote that I was going to be a golf professional,” Erwin said. “I was not trying to live out his dream, but my parents gave me every opportunity that I could have to have some degree of success.”
By every metric, Todd Erwin has had a great deal of success.
He was state individual champion at Bellarmine, led the Lions to the team title and won a Pacific Northwest Golf Association Juniors title, all in 1979. From there it was off to Weber State University, where he played golf and studied business. His time in Ogden was in no way wasted as, for the next 40-plus years, he’s worked in golf and business … and learned many a lesson on the business of golf which he has passed on to others through coaching and teaching.
Erwin was a two-time winner on the Canadian tour and had momentum toward a PGA Tour card, but fell short a couple of times at PGA Qualifying School, once in his mid-20s and again in his mid-30s.
“I was riding high and I just was not good enough in those moments,” he said. “I wasn’t horrible, but I just was not good enough.”
Of course, golf has a lot more to it than what we see on TV each weekend, and Erwin’s inability to make the big tour just sent him on to other things. He served as the golf coach for nine years at UPS and is the current pro at Oakbrook Gold Club in Lakewood and has had many other instructional roles, including his relationship with Kyle Stanley, a Bellarmine grad who is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“I mean, my dream was to play the PGA Tour and that got thwarted … and I figured I had had a couple of chances and did not make it through and well, maybe the writing is on the wall,” he said. “I got into the golf business and I can still play and make some money in the game and work and play competitively. I had the accolades that I have had and a very diverse golf career and I have gotten to do a ton of stuff and a lot of guys do not get that. I am very lucky.”
These days, Erwin is supported by his son and daughter – Kyle and Julia – as well as his girlfriend Jennifer, but says he rarely plays the game. He still loves the game, but loves it more for other people than himself.
“I can still go out and play,” he said. “But I’d be more interested in pulling off to the side and working on (his playing partner’s) bunker game or something like that. I played for so many years of my life, and been around the game so much and I just feel lucky to be able to say that.”
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Tom Glasgow (Broadcaster)
A young Tom Glasgow would wrap his day’s schoolwork at Larchmont Elementary, return home and sit on the porch and wait for the afternoon Tacoma News Tribune to arrive.
He said he was a bit of a “weird kid,” interested in Watergate and other news of the day, but he’d still flip right to the sports pages to learn about the distant heroics of Roberto Clemente or Gaylord Perry, but was more interested in the local successes of the Seattle SuperSonics, Sugar Ray Seales and the Tacoma Cubs.
“I had an early interest in sports like a lot of kids who grew up in Tacoma and was about all things Tacoma sports,” Glasgow said. “So the first team was the Tacoma Cubs and the local teams were always a big deal, be it UPS or PLU. Earl Anthony was a big deal and those guys kind of fueled a passion I had for sports and started in Tacoma and then broadened out from there. Saturday nights there would be replays of PLU or UPS games and that would be Doug McArthur and Clay Huntington and Art Popham.”
As if paying it forward, Glasgow has spent the past 40-plus years being the guy who helps others enjoy their own passion for sports as one of the area’s quintessential sports voices and a multiple time Emmy Award winner. “The thing that I feel most fortunate to be is versatile,” he said. “I feel like, if you give me an assignment and time to prepare for it, I feel like I can do it.”
The Mount Tahoma graduate started as a high school stringer for Popham, providing Friday night updates from places like Lincoln Bowl. While attending college at PLU, he was hired by Pete Gross as a producer at KIRO radio, where he worked with local legends like Wayne Cody and Bob Blackburn for one of the nation’s most highly rated news stations. Glasgow eventually crossed over into TV and has been a broadcaster and host in just about every capacity imaginable, serving for two years as the cable TV voice of the Vancouver Grizzlies before the team left town, but Glasgow remained one of Seattle’s most ubiquitous and likable media personalities. He’s filled a variety of roles in Mariners and Kraken broadcasts, Pac-10 and Pac-12, the Big Sky Conference and, really, anytime there is competition involved, Glasgow is probably somewhere within its media ecosystem, be it Super Bowl coverage or a high school volleyball game.
Glasgow never pursued a career beyond the Pacific Northwest. Growing up in Tacoma, it was the Puget Sound sports scene he cared about and it was where he stayed anchored, with his wife Heidi and daughters Abby and Olivia.
“I have loved where I lived and I never aspired to (a more national job),” he said. “I do not want to say I had the talent level to operate at that level, but you’d like to think you could. But I am a creature of comfort fundamentally, and everything I wanted to do as a kid growing up was only about doing it here. These things I was able to do, these were my dreams coming true.”
Tom interviews Cal Raleigh
Tom interviews Julie Rodriguez
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Art Thiel (Sportswriter)
Art Thiel describes his time on the Mount Tahoma basketball team in a way only one of the great voices in the history of Puget Sound media could: “I used to say I was the King Maker. There were a lot of good big men in the Tacoma City League in those days. I never made all-league, but none of those other guys would have done it without me. They scored a lot of points because of me.”
Just a few years after his graduation from Mount Tahoma and then Pacific Lutheran, Thiel was in Landover, Md., covering the Sonics winning their only NBA title … and years later he chronicled their sale and departure for Oklahoma City. He covered the highs, lows and many in-betweens, but it all started in Tacoma.
Well, after it started in Thompson Falls, Mont.
“We had a trailer on the banks of the Clark Fork River and I thought that was how the world worked until we got to the big city of Tacoma,” Thiel said. “But I can say I had a really good time at Mount Tahoma.”
The 6-8 big did not match the school’s athletic legacy of Ahmad Rashad and Ron Cey, but did play for the PLU JV team before money matters forced the issue and thrust him fully into his career. He started as a preps writer at the Tacoma News Tribune, moved up to the Bellevue Journal-American and eventually landed at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he covered the Sonics, University of Washington football and eventually succeeded John Owen as sports columnist in 1989 until after the paper folded its print edition. It’s the role he is most known for and one he has continued to work in even after his “retirement.” In his post-print years, he started Sportspress Northwest and now writes for Post Alley Seattle.
The list of events Thiel covered need not be listed. If it was big in sports or Puget Sound-area fans were interested in it no matter where it was on the globe, he was there. Talking to Thiel is like finding the best airport bar storyteller imaginable, save for the fact that his stories are true. From meet-cute security line encounters with Katarina Witt, onfield chats with A-Rod, threats of arrest from former Sonics owner Barry Ackerley or press box meet ups with the legendary journalist and good dude Jim Murray, Thiel’s years as a writer rise to a level very few could ever hope to match and are not over, winding down though they are.
“I was thrilled to have the opportunity. I tried to … be there for the reader, to give an honest opinion -- in my column days -- about what was going on with our sports passions and their sports dollars. I felt like the reader turned to me for an honest opinion and an attempt at the truth as best I could perceive it and I was not worried about hurting a team or player’s feelings. If they did not like it, that’s fine. All I needed them to do was respect that I was trying to be honest with the reader.”
Art interviews Bill Walton with son Luke, patiently standing by.
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Mountaineering
Jason Edwards
Few mountaineers embody excellence, leadership and service as completely as Jason Edwards. A world-class climber, certified alpine guide and veteran of highaltitude expeditions, Edwards has distinguished himself not only through personal achievements, but through a lifetime dedicated to helping others safely reach their highest aspirations.
Even as a 16-year-old scaling Mount Rainier for the first time, Edwards led a friend to the 14,411-foot summit. “I had a drive to climb on my own and to guide on a regular basis,” said the long-time University Place resident and Pacific Lutheran University graduate.
This instinct to lead, serve and challenge himself defined a career that spanned decades and the world. Edwards went on to climb the highest peak on every continent, completing the Seven Summits in 2001 via both recognized routes, including Everest, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, Aconcagua and both Carstensz Pyramid and Mount Kosciuszko. He guided and led expeditions across the globe, from Alaska and the Andes to Antarctica, Tibet and Nepal. He served in key leadership roles on multiple Everest expeditions between 1991 and 2001, including as expedition leader for international teams.
Yet it is his connection to Mount Rainier that stands as the cornerstone of his legacy. Edwards has reached the summit 347 times via 22 different routes -- more than all but five climbers. While most of the approximately 5,000 people who summit Rainier each year do so once, Edwards returned again and again, often pushing the limits of endurance. He completed 43 one-day ascents.
“Jason has always been an endurance athlete,” said longtime climbing partner and fellow guide George Dunn, the first person to summit Rainier 500 times. “One of his favorite feats was one-day ascents of Mt. Rainier. He did a very early ascent of Liberty Ridge in a day, a feat that still amazes me.”
Liberty Ridge, one of the mountain’s most demanding routes, is typically a three-day climb and attempted only by elite mountaineers. In 1985, Edwards was one of the first known climbers to complete it in a single day. In 2010, at the age of 51, he did it again.
"Jason trains very seriously so he is in great shape, plus he is a talented climber,” Eric Simonson, director of International Mountain Guides, told The News Tribune in 2010. “I don't know of very many climbers that could do this, that is for sure."
Edwards began guiding for Rainier Mountaineering in 1981 before joining International Mountain Guides. He balanced his climbing career with years as a business career teacher in the Puyallup School District and served as a Washington State Emergency Medical Technician from 1977 to 2020.
“Jason took his job seriously and was always prepared, both mentally and physically,” Dunn said. “The kind of person you are glad to be with when conditions are most challenging.”
In 1994, he executed a solo high-altitude rescue of New Zealand climber Mark Whetu from 28,200 feet on Mount Everest’s Northeast Ridge – one of earth’s most extreme environments. It was one of many rescues Edwards performed around the world, consistently placing the safety of others above his own ambitions.
Among the most meaningful climbs of Edwards’ career was with Bronka Sundstrom, a 77-year-old Holocaust survivor. Edwards, whose father was a World War II prisoner of war, led Sundstrom in 2002 on a one-day climb that made her the oldest woman ever to summit Rainier. Edwards and Sundstrom, eternally linked by their shared history and love for the mountain, remained friends until she died in 2023 at the age of 98.
Across decades in the mountains, Edwards left his mark by building a hall-of-fame legacy defined not just by elite achievement, but by leadership and service.
"I'm extremely grateful for the experiences I've had,” Edwards said, “and for the time I've spent in the mountains with some truly amazing people."
L TO R: Jason Edwards, Bronka Sundstrom and Ryan Stephans
2026
Multi-Sport
Sheri Bauer-Cruz
A multi-sport star, Sheri Bauer-Cruz won state championships across three sports between Rogers High School and Green River Community College while earning a total of nine athletic letters at Rogers.
Born November 20, 1964, in Tacoma, Bauer-Cruz competed in volleyball, basketball, and track at Ballou Junior High before heading to Rogers High School in in 1980. During her time at Rogers, she lettered all three years in volleyball, basketball, and softball, for a total of nine letters. She helped lead all three teams to SPSL championships during her tenure.
The 1983 Rogers softball team won the state championship with Bauer-Cruz earning first team allleague honors as a second baseman and earning Athlete of the Year honors and the Gold Athletic Award for the school that year. Following her high school graduation, she headed to Green River Community College, where she made the all-star team while helping the volleyball team win the 1984 state title and the basketball team win the 1985 state title. On the softball diamond, she made another all-star team and helped the squad finish third in the state, narrowly missing a threesport championship trifecta.
After two years at Green River, Bauer-Cruz earned a full scholarship to University of Montana to play volleyball. At Montana, she was a starting outside hitter for two years and a 1987 team captain. She graduated from University of Montana in 1988 and California State Hayward in 1990.
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Mark Stricherz
The Stricherz family has made officiating Pierce County athletics a bit of a family affair, with a run of 80 years beginning with Hall of Famer Ed officiating football and basketball in 1946. Mark Stricherz continued the line of his father but easily stands out on his own for a 50-plus-year run of officiating that began in 1975 and continues to this day.
Born March 15, 1954, in Enumclaw, Mark Stricherz played basketball through his high school and community college experience. He won the TAC Tacoma Pierce County Hoop Shoot in both 1969 and 1970 and finished high school with the three-year career school scoring record while earning first-team all-league honors. He graduated from Washington High School in 1973, played basketball at Tacoma Community College and graduated from University of Puget Sound in 1977. While at TCC, he helped the basketball team win the 1974 Northwest Association of Community Colleges Championship.
Stricherz joined the Western Washington Basketball Officials Association and Tacoma Basketball Association while still a student at UPS in 1975. He has had runs with the Northwest Community College Officials Association (1990-2003) and NAIA Collegiate Basketball Officials Association (1993-98), but he has stuck with the WWBOA and TBA since the beginning 51 years ago and continues to this day.
During his more than 50 years of officiating experience, Stricherz has worked eight WIAA State Basketball Tournaments. He was named the Dave Kerrone Western Washington Basketball Officials Association “Official of the Year” in 2010 and received the Tacoma Pierce County DAA Basketball Official Award in 2013. He officiates basketball at all local levels and throughout the year, noted for his professionalism in all aspects of the game. He has totaled more than 7,500 games officiated, with more than 7,000 of those on artificially repaired legs.
Along with Ed and Mark, the Stricherz officiating family also includes Hall of Famer Jay, who began officiating football and basketball in 1967 and concluded with a 35-year career officiating in the Pac 10.
1969 Hoop Shoot Champion, Mark Stricherz with father Ed (left) and Pierce County Parks & Recreation Director Tom Cross (right)
2026
Volleyball
Jody DeGroot
Jody DeGroot established herself as a historic and nationally-renowned volleyball coach during a 13-season head coaching stint at Bellarmine Prep. She truly went out on top, winning the state title in her last three years as coach before handing off the reigns and focusing on her role as an education administrator at the school
Born July 4, 1965, DeGroot played volleyball (outside hitter) and softball (second base) for four years at Bellarmine Prep before graduating in 1983. She graduated from Gonzaga University in 1987 and returned to Bellarmine as a teacher about 10 years later.
DeGroot coached softball for the Lions from 1998-2002 and started coaching volleyball as an assistant in 1999. After three years, she was promoted to the head job, and she led the Lions to 4A dominance throughout the next 13 years. Her teams won seven 4A Narrows League Titles and reached 10 state tournaments.
DeGroot’s final four seasons coaching Bellarmine Prep volleyball saw the Lions attain an overall 122-8 record, and each of her last three seasons ended with a 4A state crown. She became only the fourth coach of a 4A program to win three or more consecutive state titles. During that run, she earned American Volleyball Coaches Association National High School Coach of the Year in 2013. OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM-5PM
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Volleyball
Courtney Schwan
Already one of the most decorated volleyball players in Western Washington history, Courtney Schwan continues to add to her list of accolades with a professional career that has spanned much of the globe.
Born May 9, 1996, in Spokane, Schwan graduated from Bellarmine Prep in 2014. While at Bellarmine, she twice earned Gatorade State Player of the Year honors for Washington while leading the Lions to consecutive 4A state titles. She was also named a 2013 MaxPreps First Team All-American and played on the US Youth National Team, which won the 2012 NORCECA U18 Championship.
Following that illustrious high school career, Schwan headed to University of Washington, where she became one of the key contributors to an annual top-10 program. She twice earned All-Pac-12 honors, including 2017 Pac-12 Player of the Year, and earned AVCA All-America consideration in back-to-back years (first team in 2016 and honorable mention in 2017.
After graduating from UW in 2018, Schwan headed to Europe and turned pro. She played with Larini Filottrano and Sigel Marsala in the top professional Italian league (2018-19) before heading to France to play for Terville-Florange OC (2019-21), Greece to play for Aris Thessaloniki (2021-22), and back to Italy to play for Volley Severato (2022-23) and Aeroitalia SMI Roma Valley (2023-24). She returned stateside in 2024 and has played for Major League Volleyball’s Orlando Valkyries since 2024, with a stint for Creamline in the Phillipines in 2025.
Through it all, Schwan continues to express her love for her home and a desire to bring her skills back to the Puget Sound region: “I’m proud to be from the Pacific Northwest, and I stayed there throughout my college career as well because I love the PNW. Hopefully we can get a pro volleyball team here soon!”
Jody DeGroot and Courtney Schwan
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Wrestling
Bryan Bartelson
No small-school WIAA wrestling program around the state of Washington is churning out Mat Classic championships quite like Orting High School.
And Bryan Bartelson - the son of a military boxing champion - was responsible for getting the ball rolling on the program’s success.
Once a downtrodden team that recycled used singlets for its combatants, Orting instantly responded to Bartelson’s work-hard, no-excuses mandate after he was hired in 1990 as a first-time high school coach.
Bartelson’s philosophy was born out of his own on-mat experiences when he wrestled for national hall of fame coach George Wilfong, placing third at the state championships in 1986.
It was after that he vowed to work the extra mile to be an even better coach, volunteering at youth programs around east Pierce County until he was hired to coach Orting Middle School in 1988 - and then promoted to the high school ranks two years later.
Bartelson immediately turned around that school’s fortunes, leading the Cardinals to seven league titles during his 12-year tenure (1990-2002). Orting placed fifth in the 1994 WIAA championships.
Because of growing family-business responsibilities, Bartelson hired former Puyallup teammate Mike Sowards as an assistant one year before stepping down in 2002. Sowards led Orting to its first Class 1A championship in 2009 - and the program has collected nine WIAA championships (Class 1A or 2A) since that point.
But Bartelson didn’t stay away from coaching for very long.
He was hired to lead both programs at Puyallup in 2012, including an emerging girls team that included future five-time national champion Whitney (Conder) Cox, one of the trailblazers in Washington girls wrestling.
Bartelson also got to coach his two daughters, Jordyn and Brooklyn, to WIAA championships at Mat Classic. Jordyn was one of the state’s first four-time girls state champions. He also coached his son, Chance.
After 30-plus years of service, he was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association (WSWCA) hall of fame in 2023. Bartelson currently is the co-director of Puyallup Falcons Junior Wrestling with Sowards.
2026 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Wrestling
Jordyn Bartelson
They don’t make them any tougher than Jordyn Bartelson. And hardly more successful.
Known primarily at Puyallup High School for her rise in quickly-growing girls wrestling as the second four-time WIAA champion (2013-16) behind Kiona-Benton standout Sheridan McDonald, Bartelson also won a Class 4A championship in fastpitch softball - and went on to capture an NCAA Division II women’s soccer national title at Western Washington University.
But when you are the daughter of a hall-of-fame wrestling coach such as Bryan Bartelson, chances are you are going to leave some sort of lasting impression on the mat.
A notorious gym rat who loved the weight room, Jordyn Bartelson grew up winning at all levels in youth wrestling - and then dominated once she came to high school in 2012 where she was coached by her father.
She captured her first Class 4A title at Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome at 118 pounds as a ninth grader. She defended her championship at that weight class before moving up to 120 and winning state titles there as a junior and senior. She finished her prep career with a 143-7 record with 127 pins.
Bartelson’s competitive nature seamlessly transferred to other sports as well.
As the starting second baseman, she was a key contributor as a sophomore in Puyallup’s run to a WIAA softball title in 2014, marking the school’s first state championship in that sport in 36 years.
And in girls soccer, she was a three-year all-4A SPSL starting midfielder, leading the Vikings to a pair of Class 4A state playoff appearances (2013, 2016).
To this day, Bartelson doesn’t have a great explanation to why she chose to pursue soccer over wrestling in college, indicating it had something to do with her next-level preparation work with Washington Premier (FC) in club.
But ended up being a valuable investment. Months after enrolling at WWU in Bellingham, she became an on-field regular during the Vikings’ run to a national championship, including tallying a goal in the final four against Kutztown (Pa.)
Bartelson was also a team captain for WWU’s return to the NCAA Division II championship game in 2019, and she finished with 92 career games played, which ranks No. 2 all-time in program history. The two-time, all-GNAC performer went 88-8-3 during her tenure.
She also won a Northwest women’s indoor championship as the leading scorer for Snohomish County FC in 2022, and competed in the national tournament
Rain or Shine at the Heidelberg Sports Complex—Bob Maguinez Was Always There for Me
THE ROLE OF THE UMPIRE IN BASEBALL
An umpire should be there and not be there at the same time. Unobtrusive. Make the calls. Direct the harmonious flow of the game. Be omniscient.
BOB MAGUINEZ
Bob comfortably fit the description above. The game was never about him. He was on the field to help us navigate our way through the game. Here follow two examples.
RAIN
Late summer, mid-1990s, Wednesday night game, seven innings, Heidelberg Sports Complex, very light but steady rain falling. Two Pierce County Roy Hobbs League Over-30 teams were on the field; the Tacoma Yankees and the Tacoma Cascades. Bob Maguinez was the umpire behind home plate.
It did not take long for the rain to increase. The Tacoma Cascades were winning and shutting-out the Yankees. I was on the mound. The field was always well-maintained by the staff at Metropolitan Parks, but tonight the weather intervened and it was getting wetter and wetter. I adjusted early into the game.
I sat a little lower in my delivery to the plate so I had solid footing. The ball was wet so I threw only four-seam fastballs. The ball had a natural sink due to it being heavier as a result of being wet. Our Cascades team was steadily adding runs to the score. The batter’s box was not in good condition and the manager of the Yankees was quite vocal in telling Bob that he should call the game. We were in the fourth inning. Rain coming down, but could still see through it.
Bob called time and walked out to the mound. He was followed by my catcher and the manager of the Yankees. He looked down at the mound. He looked up at me and said “Jimmy, if you say it is too wet to play then I will call the game.” I told him I was not having any trouble on the mound and it was playable. Bob turned around and was followed back to home plate by my catcher and the manager of the Yankees. He called for the next batter to get in the box, again, over the objection of the manager of the Yankees.
I pitched all seven innings. The Cascades added some more runs and won the game 9-0.
SHINE
Hot, sunny, Saturday afternoon at Heidelberg Sports Complex. Summer was in full bloom in the South Sound. Again, mid-1990s. The Tacoma Cascades were playing a nine-inning game against a now-forgotten team. Bob Maguinez was the infield umpire and I was on the mound. The home plate umpire was squeezing me. It continued and I became somewhat frustrated.
During one inning that I was on the mound, there was a runner on first base and Bob was standing behind the mound and shading a bit toward first base. I peered back at him before I went into the set position. Bob calmly looked at me and said “Jimmy, there is no free lunch in baseball.” In an instant, I understood what he was telling me. I snapped out of my funk and got right back into the game.
WHERE IS BOB THIRTY YEARS LATER WHEN I AM NOW 76 AND COULD HAVE USED HIS COUNSEL?
Okay! Bob is an immortal, but his earthly life ended on June 6, 2000. I knew there was no free lunch in the workaday world of my professional career as a teacher and an attorney. Bob taught me that there was no free lunch for me on the baseball field.
But, I thought that finally there would be free lunch for me in my post-retirement years. Bob could have saved me a lot of tossing and turning in sleepless nights if he had been around on the Ides of March, March 15, 2015, when I retired—and told me to get that silly notion out of my head and focus on these later innings of the game.
So, now when I awaken with a start in the middle of the night and long for that free lunch—I chuckle, chuckle, turn over, and fall asleep so that I can dream about what will be on the menu for my lunch in the new day that is on its way.
Pindar, another immortal, now guides me with his quote “A graceful and honorable old age is the childhood of immortality.”
About the Author: Jim Lopez practiced law for thirty-seven years. He played semi-professional baseball for parts of two years in 1972 and 1973. He had Secondary Education teaching credentials in three states and also taught on the graduate and postgraduate levels director. Jim was a pitching coach for eight years at Puyallup High School in Puyallup, Washington, and for two years at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington.
Jim Lopez
Bob Maguinez
The Northwest Room at Tacoma Public Library is the home of the extensive photograph collections of the Richards Photography Studio and The News Tribune, both sources of thousands of images of local teams, athletes, and competitions. To search our collections, or for more information, visit:
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
Bob Maguinez 2005
Lornie Merkle 2005
Cap Peterson 2005
Marv Scott (coach) 2005
Wes Stock 2005
Ron Storaasli 2005
Joe Stortini 2005
Softball
Steve Whitaker 2005
1956 Stanley Shoemen team 2005
Baseball/ FB & BB Official
Baseball/FB/BB Official
Baseball/Basketball/Football
Baseball/Football/Slowpitch
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
Bill Hobert 2008
Dave Minnitti 2008 Player/Umpire
Frank Morrone 2008 Player/Umpire
Cliff Schiesz 2008
Craig Parks-Hilden 2009
Jim Nettles 2009
Baseball Tacoma, Inc (1972-1991) 2009
Stan Naccarato (General Manager), Robert Alessandro, Tom Baker, Dr. James Billingsley, Mike Block, Harold Brotman, Morley Brotman, Francis Browne, Bill Cammarano, Sr,, Ray Carlson, Brad Cheney, Warren Chinn, Larry Ghilarducci, Doug Gonyea, Norma Honeysett, Clay Huntington, Dr. Robert Johnson, Bob Kelly, Frank Manley, Carl Miraldi, Gus Paine, Frank Pupo, Frank Ruffo, Jim Topping, Mike Tucci, Sr., Walt Wiklund, Alden Woodworth, John Xitco, and E.J. “Jim Zarelli.
Sister City Cultural Baseball Exchange (1987-2009) 2009
Tony Anderson, Tak Ikeda, and Joe Kosai.
Gary Moore 2010
Bob Christofferson 2016 (Groundskeeper)
Joe Keller 2016
Tony Barron 2019
Rick Barnhart (coach) 2020
Bill Murphy 2020
Scott Nielsen 2020
Nick Hagadone 2025
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
Dan Inveen 2005 Basketball/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
Visit the LOCKER ROOM CHAT website at www.tacomasportsmuseum.org/lockerroomchat/ for a variety of informative interviews with local sports icons including Seattle Mariners broadcaster, Gary Hill Jr.; Bob Christofferson and members of the baseball grounds crews at T-Mobile Park and Cheney Stadium, LPBA bowling Hall of Fame member Jeanne Naccarato, longtime Tacoma school administrator Willlie Stewart and many more.
2025 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
Univ of Puget Sound Men’s 1976 NCAA DII
National Champions 2005
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 (player/coach) 2006
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 1982 State High School Champions 2007
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)
Jim Clifton (athlete/coach) 2008
Steve Anstett (athlete/coach) 2008
Bob Angeline 2009
Alan Kollar 2009
Mike Mullen (coach) 2009
Kate Starbird 2009
1970-71 Puyallup HS Boys Basketball State AAA Championship Team (23-1) 2009
Team includes Rich Hammermaster (head coach), Jim Clifton (asst coach), Dave Normile (asst coach), Jerry DeLaurenti (scorekeeper), Merv Borden, Dave Crouch, Randy Dorn, Steve Gervais, Rick Gienger, Bruce Graham, Ron Kitts, Tom Krage, Paul Krippaehne, Lanny Lewis, Dan Picha, Jamie Reno, John Trageser, and Doug Weese. Managers Fred Angelo, Paul Baker, and Tom Drury.
Curtis Allen 2010
Casey Calvary 2010
Kay (Koppleman) Peterson 2010
Robyn (Clark) Sharp 2010
Marvin S. “Tom” Tommervik, Jr. 2010
1971 Curtis HS Boys Basketball Class AA State Champions Team (24-0): 2010
Team includes Gerald Redburg (head coach), Mike Mullen (assistant coach), Arne Handeland (assistant coach), Jim Ball, Tim Beard, Mike Berger, Tom Hargadon, Tim O’Connell, Cliff Peterson, Brian Roark, Tom Shoemaker, Gary Smith, Pat Swesey, Mark Wells, Paul Zurfluh, Dave Berger (mgr), and Ray Mahnkey (Athletic Director).
Kim (Butler) West 2016
Bob Ross (coach) 2016
Mark Wells 2016
Jim Black (coach) 2019
Jennifer Gray Reiter 2019
Tim Kelly (coach) 2019
Bob Niehl (athlete/coach) 2019
David Adams 2020
Dave Harshman (coach) 2020
Brendon Merritt 2020
Tatum (Morris) Brown 2020
Mary Ann (Stoican) O’Dell 2020
Kate Rue 2020
Jerry Williams (player/coach) 2020
Plywood Tacoma National NABA Champions (1971 & 1973) 2020
Mark Anderson, Steve Anstett, Jay Bond, Curt Gammell, Mike Dahl, George Grant, Jim Harney, Steve Hawes, George Irvine, Mike Jordan, Charles Lowery,
Lynn Nance, Darron Nelson (player/coach), Clint Names, Tom Names, Lee Sinnes, Dan Steward, Keith Swagerty, Tom Tommervik, Jim Van Beek, Ted Werner, Dave Wortman, Gary Wortman and sponsor Dick Burrows.
Debbie Miller 2022
Tyce Nasinec 2022
Julie (Butler) Hiles 2023
Willette White (coach) 2023
Gary Wusterbarth (coach) 2024 Also Tennis (Referee)
Bryce McPhee 2025
Jim McPhee 2025
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 2006
Jim Stevenson 2006
Jerry Ledbetter 2007
Larry Fulton 2007
LuAnn Moore 2007
Frisco Burnett 2008
Denny Krick 2008
Bob Bjorke 2009
Bob Hanson 2016
Mike Karch 2019
BOXING
Freddie Steele 1957
Jack Connor 1963 Promoter/Manager
Pat McMurtry 1965
Harold Bird 1967
Frankie “Chi-Chi” Britt 1972
Jim Rondeau 2005 Boxing (referee)/ Athletic Administrator
Davey Armstrong 2005
Leo Randolph 2005
Sugar Ray Seales 2005
Joe Clough (coach) 2006
Mike McMurtry 2006
Davey Ward 2006
Johnny Bumphus 2007
Dr. Charles Larson 2009 Administrator
George Wright 2009
Tom Mustin 2016
Emmett Linton, Jr. 2019
Bobby Pasquale 2019
Mylon Watkins 2020
CREW
Dan Ayrault 2005
Jim Fifer 2005
George Hunt 2005
Bob Martin 2005
John Sayre 2005
Adrienne Martelli 2023
FENCING
Harald E. Hilleman (Coach/Founder) 2020
FIGURE SKATING
Jack Boyle 2005
Patsy (Hamm) Dillingham 2005
Jerry Fotheringill 2005
Judi (Fotheringill) Fuller 2005
Jimmy Grogan 2005
Pat (Firth) Hansen 2005
John Johnsen (coach) 2005
Lois (Secreto) Schoettler 2005
Al & Iria Beeler 2007 Administrator/Judge
Kathy Casey (coach) 2007
Scott Davis 2008
FOOTBALL
Marv Tommervik (player/ref) 1958 Football/Baseball
John Heinrick (coach) 1959 Football/Basketball
Cliff Olson (coach) 1959 Basketball/Administrator
Joe Salatino 1959 Football/Baseball
Leo Artoe 1961
Phil Sarboe (coach) 1962
Frank Gillihan (athlete/ref) 1963
Don Paul 1963 Football/Baseball/Basketball
Al Ruffo 1964
Ernie Tanner 1964 Football/Baseball/Track
Myron “Chief” Carr (coach) 1965 Football/Track
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/Track
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
2025
Jerry Redmond (coach) 2005
Mark Ross (athlete/coach) 2005
Bob Ryan (coach) 2005
Fred Swendsen 2005 Football/Track
Gene Walters 2005
Clyde Werner 2005 Football/Track
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 Football/Track
Art Viafore 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
Brock Huard 2008
Duane Lowell 2008
Bill McGovern 2008
David Svendsen 2008
Ed Bemis (administrator) 2009
Harry Bird (coach) 2009
Gregg Friberg 2009
Billy Parker 2009
Paul Walroff (coach) 2009
Jack Walters 2009
Paul Hoseth (coach/admin) 2010
Dave Kinkela 2010
Steve Ridgway 2010
Jack Sonntag (coach) 2010
Joe Williams 2010
Damon Huard 2016
Jon Kitna 2016
Bob Lucey (coach) 2016
Lawyer Milloy 2016
Marcus Trufant 2016
Dick Zatkovich (coach) 2016
Singor Mobley 2019
Don Clegg (coach) 2020
Dane Looker 2020
1979 & 1980 MT. TAHOMA HS STATE CHAMPION TEAMS 2020
George Nordi (Head Coach), Morrie Boughton (Coach), Don Leebrick (Coach), Dan Gurash (Coach), Mike Deutsch (Coach), Ken Baker, Brian Barabe, Fred Baxter, Quinn Baxter, Garland Bearden, Steve Blomgren, Mike Bolte, Anthony Broughton, David Cabrera, Robert Callaghan, Mike Carrington, Ted Carter, Ivan Castillo, Curt Chojnowski, John Cole, Fred Cooper, Charles Dalton, Jeff Daschofsky, Earl Davis, Todd deCarteret, Ron Eckert, Dan Flannery, John Fuhrman, Bob Gibson, Brad Gobel, Ralph Gomez, Todd Goodson, Ken Gosteli, Louis Green, Ken Hanks, Maurice Hanks, Darell Harper, Joel Harper, Kevin Harper, Dan Hart, John Hayward, Dave Helzes, Frank Hobbs, Chris Horn, Steve Hoye, Brian Humphrey, Todd Hunter, Rod Jackson, Jody Jacobsen, Alonzo Jennings, John Johnson, Rich Lamonica, Rob Leonard, Todd Lundey, Vic Melton, Craig Meyer, Don Moore, John Moore, Ramon Moore, Larry Murphy, Robert Murphy, Dan Nelson, Scott Nordi, Alain Patton, Doug Parish, Dirk Pettitt, Todd Pressey, Arnie Richard, Robert Ross, Brian Rychner, Curtis Sanders, Dave Seago, Mike Sonnier, Ken Spencer, Angelo Suarez, Malcom Sorrell, Mike Vindivich, Lacy Walker, David White, James Whitford, Mike Young and Ray Richards (Trainer).
Hillary Butler 2022
Sherriden May 2022
Johnny Spevak 2022
Lewis Bush 2023
Jermaine Kearse 2023
Stafford Mays 2024
Mike Vindivich 2025
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
Doug Campbell 2008
Brian Mogg 2008
Joan Teats (administrator) 2008
John “Jeff” Harbottle III 2016
John Rudy (club pro) 2020
John Bodenhamer 2020
Golfing Gorilla (Tom Tuell) 2022
Jim Pike 2024
Michael Putnam 2025
Audrey Wooding 2025
Michelle (Wooding) Murphy 2025
GYMNASTICS
Roni (Barrios)Mejia 2005
Yumi Mordre 2005
Onnie (Willis) Rogers 2005
Tiffani (White) Rowland 2007
Catherine (Williams) Kadera 2008
Lindsey Lauderdale 2009
Elli (Maulding) McDaniel 2010
Hali (Saucier) Riechers 2016
Brad Loan (coach) 2020
HANDBALL
Gordy Pfeifer 2005 Handball/Slowpitch Softball
Lea McMillan 2008
Myron Schmidt 2025
HIKING/MOUNTAINEERING
Fay Fuller 2020
Bronka Sundstrom 2020
2025 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
HOCKEY
Neil Andrews 2005
Joey Johns 2005 Hockey/Fastpitch Softball
Dick Milford 2005 Hockey/Fastpitch Softball
Louie Weir (player/admin) 2008
HORSE RACING
Harry Deegan 1969
HUNTING
Marcus Nalley 1963
HYDROPLANE RACING
George Henley 2005
Armand Yapachino 2005
KARATE
Steve Curran 2019
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 2006
Eric Simonson 2022
OFFICIALS
Marty Erdahl 2006 Basketball
Merle Hagbo 2006 Football
Jerry Snarski 2006 Basketball
Chuck Gilmer 2007 Football
Wayne Gardner 2007 Volleyball
Ray Highsmith 2007 Football
Dave Kerrone 2007 Baseball, Football, Fastpitch, Slowpitch
Aaron Pointer 2008 Football/Baseball
Ed Stricherz 2008 Football/Basketball
Bruce Osborne 2010 Wrestling
Jan Wolcott 2010 Football/Basketball
Kirk Dornan 2016 Football
Walt Gogan 2016 Volleyball
Ken Laase 2016 Softball
Jay Stricherz 2016 Football
Terry Beckstead 2020 (Wrestling)
Buddy Horton 2020 (Football)
Dan Spriestersbach 2020 (Football)
Mike Burton 2023 (Football)
Jerry Meyerhoff 2024 (Football)
PHOTOGRAPHER
Bruce Kellman 2016
Bruce Larson 2019
RACQUETBALL
Sid Williams 2007
RIFLERY
Morgan (Hicks) Wallizer 2020
ROLLER SKATING
Lanny (Adams) Werner 2005
Tom Peterson 2006
Lin Peterson 2006
SAILING
Govnor Teats 2008
SNOW BOARDING
Liz Daley 2019
SNOW SKIING
Gretchen Kunigk-Fraser 1957
Joe LaPorte 2007
Marshall Perrow 2008
Rich Nelson 2020
SOAP BOX DERBY
David Krussow 2007
Greg Schumacher 2007
John West 2008
SOCCER
John Best (coach/admin) 2005
Jeff Durgan 2005
Dori Kovanen 2005
Mark Peterson 2005
Jeff Stock 2005
Dan Swain (coach) 2006
Brent Goulet 2007
Frank Hall (coach/admin) 2007
Colleen Hacker (coach) 2007
Danny Vaughn 2010
Joe Waters (athlete/coach) 2016
Tara Bilanski (player/coach) 2020
Brian vanBloomestein (coach) 2020
Gretchen (Gegg) Zigante (player/coach) 2020
Joey Gjertsen 2022
Tally Hall 2023
Mary Rink 2024
SOFTBALL (Fastpitch & Slowpitch)
Lloyd Blanusa 2005 Fastpitch
Vern From 2005 Fastpitch
George Karpach 2005 Fastpitch
Louise Mazzuca 2005 Fastpitch
Jack Hermsen 2006 Fastpitch
Art Lewis 2006 Fastpitch
Vern Martineau 2006 Fastpitch
Kathy Hemion 2006 Slowpitch/Basketball/Volleyball
Betty (Hart) Bland 2007 Fastpitch
Jay Beach 2007 Fastpitch
Gene Thayer 2008 Fastpitch
Dick Yohn 2008 Fastpitch
John Rockway 2009 Fastpitch Player/Softball Administrator
Joyce (Jones) Wolf 2009 Fastpitch player/Slowpitch coach
Bob Young 2009 Slowpitch
Bob Frankosky 2010 Fastpitch
Joe Kilby 2010 Slowpitch
Earl Mahnkey 2010 Fastpitch
Steve Orfanos (administrator) 2010 Fastpitch/Slowpitch
1965-71 Players Tavern/Heidelberg Slowpitch Softball Team 2016
Ken Alban, Doug Armstrong, Dave Bishop, Jerry Brodigan, Ed Burmester, Dick Dahlstrom, Jerry Ehnat, Jerry Foss, Bob Grant, Bill Hain, Bob Hause, Bill Herbert, Ken Laase, Jim Lane, Wayne Lange, Denny Larsen, Don Leaf, Don Kitchen, Marco Malich, Don Martelli, Terry Martin, Ron Moseson, Butch Pasquale, Gordy Pfeifer, Mike Prentice (batboy), Bud Reed, Al Reil, Bill Royne, Dick Samlaska, Steve Sand, Ron Schmidtke, Ken Schulz, Scott Schulz (batboy), Bob Sonneman Sr., Tom Sonneman, Jerry Thacker, Terry Trowbridge, Ted Whitney, Bob Young, Mike Zenk and Dick Zierman
Todd Cooley 2020 Slowpitch
Steve Shackett (coach) 2020 Slowpitch
Cleon Tungsvik (player/coach) 2020 Fastpitch
Margaret Heinrick 2024 Fastpitch
Pat Kelly 2024 Fastpitch
SPEED SKATING
KC Boutiette 2016
SPORTS MEDICINE
Dr. Sam Adams 2010
Dr. Bob Johnson 2010
SWIMMING
Don Duncan (coach) 2005
Janet (Buchan) Elway 2005
Kaye Hall-Greff 2005
Dave Hannula 2005
Dick Hannula Sr. (coach) 2005
Bob Jackson 2005 Swimming/Football
Chuck Richards 2005 Swimming/ Pentathlon
Miriam (Smith) Greenwood 2005
Dick Hannula, Jr. 2006
Dan Hannula 2006
Dan Seelye 2006
Mike Stauffer 2007
Sarah (Rudolph) Cole 2007
Dan Wolfrom (coach) 2007
Susan (Lenth) Moffet 2008
Rod Stewart 2008
Mark Smith 2008
Robb Powers 2008
Dana (Powers) Hubbard 2008
1970 Wilson HS Boys Swimming State Championship Team 2008
Team includes 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.
Debbie Gratias Williams 2009
Kathryn “K.C.” (Cline) Lemon 2010
Evan Martinec 2010
Jamie Reid 2010
Jim Baurichter (coach) 2016
Megan (Quann) Jendrick 2016
Dennis Larsen 2019
Chris Myhre (coach) 2020
Roxanne (Carlton) Raubacher 2020
Bert O. Thomas 2020
Steve Van Wart 2020
Paige (Wright) Olson 2022
Kellen Harkness (Diving) 2024
Kimo Streeter 2025
Wally Streeter 2025
TEAM HANDBALL
Blake Surina (See Track) 2022
TENNIS
Wally Scott 1959
Mike Benson (coach) 2005
Don Flye 2005
Pat Galbraith 2005
Dave Trageser 2005
Sonja Olejar 2006
Marilyn Kropf Appel 2009
1938 Stadium tennis team 2009
Darrell “Righty” Eden, Donald “Lefty” Eden, Bill Guyles, Dick Meyer, and Bill Taylor
Steve Finnigan 2016
Vern Ball (player/coach) 2020
2025 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall Of Fame (continued)
1996 Bethel HS Class AAA State Champions Team (34-0) 2010
John Reopelle (head coach), Monica (Lee) Aikins (assistant coach), Christine Nelson (assistant coach), Michelle Barlow, Dori (Bartusch) Shick, Corinn (Breon) Gallegos, Jorden (Gienger) Whittington, Rachelle (Gienger) Downie, Holly (Hobbs) Repp, Joanna Johnson, Jennifer Ladwig, Valerie (Lee) Jackson,
Heather (Mayo) Sloan, Malissa Reed, Donja (Walker) Asonte, Vera Wright (scorekeeper), Tynne Swick (manager), and Jim Ball (Athletic Director).
Jan Kirk (coach) 2016
Stevie Mussie 2016
Christal (Morrison) Engle 2020
Christy (Kubista) Brandt 2022
Jennifer Kubista 2022
Kylie (Marshall) Whitehill 2024
Jessica (Brodie) Hansen 2025
WATER POLO
Jerry Hartley (coach) 2008
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
Kirk White 2008
Terry Dawson 2009
Jesus Villahermosa 2009
Ray Barnes (coach) 2010
Warren DePrenger (coach) 2010
Les Kleinsasser 2010
Dan Hensley (coach) 2016
Brad Muri 2016
Kylee Bishop 2019
Mike Sowards (coach) 2020
Chris Wolfe (athlete/coach) 2023
Whitney (Conder) Cox 2025
Joe Reasons 2025
SPORTS WRITERS/BROADCASTERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS
Elliott Metcalf 1966
Dan Walton 1968
John McCallum 1971
Ed Honeywell 1972
Rod Belcher 2005
Jerry Geehan 2005
Don Hill 2005
Clay Huntington 2005 Sportswriter/Broadcaster
Earl Luebker 2005
Bob Robertson 2005
Don Davison 2007
Dick Kunkle 2007
Art Popham 2008
Stan Farber 2009
Mike Ingraham 2009
Jack Sareault 2009
Nelson Hong 2010
Ted Pearson 2016
Steve Thomas 2016
Doug Cowan 2024
Ed Bowman 2025
MEDIA (TEAM TNT 1987-2000) 2020
1987-2000 Tacoma News Tribune Sports Staff: Mike Bainter, Dave Boling, Don Borst, Joe Breeze, Corey Brock, Gary Brooks, Russ Carmack, John Clayton, Patricia (Greenleaf) Clayton, Bob Condotta, Glenn Crevier, Doug Drowley, Ursula (Muecke) Fagerstrom, Roy Gallop Jr. , Greg Gibson, Peter Haley, Greg Harris, Craig Hill, Chuck Hufford, Frank Hughes, Mike Kahn , Dean Koepfler, Robert Kuwada, Larry LaRue, John Lawrence, Arnold Lytle, Casey Madison, John McGrath, Rodney McKissic, Paul Miller, Todd Milles, Bob Mottram, Ron Newberry, Scott Oberstaller, Bob Payne, Dale Phelps, John Piekarski, Paul Ramsdell, Bill Reader, Mike Sando, Bill Schey, John Scott, Gordy Sholtys, Teresa Smith, Sheldon Spencer, Jim Trotter, Rob Tucker, Pete Wevurski, Eric Williams, Lui Kit Wong, Bart Wright and Victor Yoshida.
Have memorabilia such as vintage photos, programs, uniforms etc to donated to the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Museum for their growing collection? Contact Marc Blau to discuss:
In Memoriam
May 1, 2025-April 30, 2026
(Apologies to those whose passing we were unaware of)
Join us as we honor and celebrate those individuals who graced us with their athletic contributions in a myriad of capacities. We congratulate them for their passion and love of sports and for their contributions to the betterment of Tacoma-Pierce County. *Denotes induction into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame.
Robert Alessandro age 91 June 17, 1934-Dec. 3, 2025
Bob was a 1952 Stadium HS grad and played second base for Tigers and the local American Legion program. He played softball with Ray Ridge Motors, O’Brien’s and the Tacoma Smelter club. He was also an original member of Baseball Tacoma, Inc formed in 1972 to save baseball in Tacoma when the Chicago Cubs pulled out of their support with the Tacoma Cubs. The ’72 season was their first as the Tacoma Twins.
Ed Anderson age 92 Sept. 18, 1932-Aug. 17, 2025
Ed Anderson coached the men’s basketball team at PLU from 1975 until 1983. His PLU teams compiled a 119-93 overall record and won three conference championships.
Allan Burmester age 82 Sept. 22, 1943-Nov. 29, 2025
A volunteer coach at the South End Boys’ Club, Wes Drake contacted Al in the Fall of 1967, about coaching a baseball team for 15-16 year-old boys. The Wes’s Super Mart Colt teams won the Tacoma City League Championship seven of the nine years in existence. An advocate for Title IV and volunteerism, he was also devoted to brothers Tom and Ed.
Wayne Cooke age 94 May 10, 1931-Jan. 16, 2026
A teacher in the Bethel School District, Wayne spearheaded the design and construction of Spire Rock at Sprinker Recreation Center, his signature achievement. He was an avid mountaineer, he summitted Mt. Rainier several times and took countless students on treks to Pinnacle Peak, sharing his passion with everyone.
Bruce Bleckert age 90 Nov. 14, 1935-March 22, 2026
Bruce was a longtime owner of Custom Photo Service in Tacoma, specializing in black and white photo processing and restoration. In the early years of the TPC Sports Museum, Bruce often reproduced and repaired vintage sports photos that are part of the current collection and have been shared with the community for years. To say he was a ‘magician’ with his craft is an understatement.
Mary Jane (Bramman) Cooper age 102 May 18, 1923-Sept. 9, 2025 May Jane’s childhood was shaped by her "tomboy" tendencies and included hunting, fishing, playing baseball. grew as well as softball in "League of Their Own" style leagues in Texas and Washington. From 1948-1951 she played in four Washington State FastpitchTournaments, three regional tournaments and helped lead her teams to three state tournament championships.
Stanley Cross age 88 Mar. 29, 1937-April 5, 2025
Stan enjoyed cheering for his local sports teams, bridge and pinochle card games, In 2022, Pierce County transformed their Frederickson family farm into a beautiful community park now known as Stan and Joan Cross Park.
Chuck Curran age 80 Sept. 21, 1945-April 16, 2026
1963 Curtis HS grad and a 1967 UPS grad. A standout wrestler at Curtis, Chuck was best known as Coach to the many girls’ and boys’ basketball and Pop Warner football and baseball teams.
Phillip DeTurk age 93 May 11, 1932-Feb. 6, 2026 As a youth, Phil sold sodas at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, where he collected autographs of many legendary baseball players. He received a basketball scholarship at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1954 and moved to Puyallup where he practiced law for over fifty years. Phil competed in the Pierce County Parks & Recreation Department’s Decathlete of the Year contest (a takeoff of the old Superstars competition on ABC) for the first three years starting in 1974 and finishing 6th, 2nd and 3rd in the 40-49 division.
Leonard “Yogi” Eddinger Jr. age 76 June 6, 1949-Sept. 10, 2025
“Yogi” and wife, Cathy, enjoyed watching daughter, Breen, play volleyball at Bellarmine and Villanova and son Brad who played soccer under coach Joey Waters and also competed in tennis. Basketball was Yogi’s main sport having played while in the Navy which afforded him the opportunity to compete in the U.S. Armed Forces Tournament, with and against the likes of Bob Lanier, Bernard King, and Gregg Popovich.
*Jerry Ehnat age 84 an.10, 1941-July 6, 2025
Played for the Heidelberg slowpitch team in 1969, 70 and 71, the top team in Pierce County from the mid-60’s thru the mid-70’s.
Bonnie Erdahl age 89 Nov. 27, 1936-April 12, 2026
Wife of longtime football and basketball official, Marty Erdahl.
Chad Fullerton age 70 January 29, 1956- March 14, 2026
A Stadium HS grad, he coached his sons' youth sports teams and Odyssey of the Mind teams and was an avid baseball card collector, golfer, jazz enthusiast, spirited player on the pickleball court, loved spending hours snorkeling and watching eagles from his kayak.
Lawrence Ghilarducci, Jr. age 92 Aug. 5, 1933-Dec. 8, 2025
A 1951 Clover Park HS grad, Larry competed in basketball and track (high jump) for the Warrors, and then went on to play one year of basketball at Yale and and three years at Stanford. Back home he played in local recreation leagues including a team sponsored by the Gray Lumber Company. He was also an avid golfer with over a 60-year membership at the Tacoma Country Club. Larry was also on the Board of Directors of Baseball Tacoma Inc, taking over when his father, Larry Sr. passed away.
Gil Goethals age 97 Jan. 5, 1928-Jan. 24, 2025
Gil officiated volleyball with the Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board for 32 years (1989-2021) and was an exceptional recruiter as his two daughters, a son and a grandson all officiated the sport with him as well—truly a family affair. Gil was a recipient of Wayne Gardner Award for the exemplary way he represented the sport, on and off the court. A kind-hearted soul, Gil loved to fish and hunt and was a master at woodworking and famous for making birdhouses.
*Pat (Lesser) Harbottle age 91 Aug. 13, 1933-July 30, 2025
As a 14-year-old, Pat won the 1948 Seattle women’s championship and was a repeat champion in 1949. Representing the U.S. in the Curtis Cup in 1954 and 1956 were highlights of Harbottle’s career. While attending Seattle University she was on the men’s golf team and won the 1953 Women's National Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. During the 1950s, the U.S. Women's Open was played as a major on the LPGA circuit and she tied for fourth place in 1951. Pat was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports HOF in 2005 along with husband John and in the State of Washington Sports HOF in 1999.
John Hickey age 74 April 25, 1951-Nov. 4, 2025
John played basketball at Mason JH Mustang for two years, was a 1969 Wilson HS graduate and a 1973 WSU grad. A lifelong Cougar fan, John never missed a game in person or on TV. He coached his children in baseball, basketball and soccer.
Tom Hilyard age 77 Dec. 2, 1948-April 10, 2026
Graduated from Stadium HS in 1967 and presented a stalwart presence on the varsity basketball team.
James Hovee age 70 Mar. 26, 1955-Nov. 21, 2025
A Charles Wright Academy grad, Jim coached tennis at the University of Puget Sound and the Tacoma Country Club. He was passionate for being active outdoors and loved boating, water skiing and snow skiing,
Max Howard age 72 Mar. 6, 1953-Feb. 12, 2026
An official in Pierce County for over 40 years in football, basketball and softball in Washington, Oregon and California, Max worked several football and fastpitch softball state tournaments during his career and was known as “an officials’ official”, respected by all.
*Earl Hyder age 93 Oct. 15, 1932-Oct. 17, 2025
A 1952 Lincoln High grad, Earl was an all-city and all-state football player and an all-state baseball player. He played center field on the 1956 Stanley Shoemen team that won the AABC title, claiming the state, regional and national championships that year. And, his two-run homer in the ninth inning won the AABC national championship for the Cheney Studs in 1960. Earl was also noted for hitting the first home run at Heidelberg Park when it first opened.
Carol Sue (Petrich) Kalapus age 96 May 12, 1929-Dec 14, 2025
A Bellarmine Prep and CPS grad, Carol was the first female athlete to be asked to play tennis on the men’s team at CPS. She majored in recreation, showed horses, won fair ribbons for her landscape paintings, and at age 75 got into kayaking along the South Sound shoreline and lakes in Eastern Washington. Other days she could be found taking a daily ride on her three-wheel bicycle along the Tacoma waterfront or swims in her pool.
Michael “Jud” Keim age 62 Jan. 6, 1964-Sept. 6, 2025
Jud was a four-year letter winner in football and track & field for the Lutes including a two-time all-conference running back. He joined the PLU football coaching staff prior to the 2004 season and became the assistant head coach in 2010. Over the years he also served as the defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach, and recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator. Inspired by Frosty Westering, he started “Time with Keim Time”moments intentionally set aside with his players, not for football, but to talk one-on-one about life.
In Memoriam (continued)
Jamie Kirkebo Jr. age 75 Aug. 3., 1949-June 7, 2025
1967 Lakes HS grad.
An accomplished amateur golfer, having won multiple titles and championships throughout his life.
*Warren Logan age 92 Dec. 5, 1932-Sept. 19, 2025
A Lincoln HS grad, Warren played football and competed in track in the long jump, high jump and hurdles. At CPS he was co-captain of the Loggers football team. In his 22 years as the head Track and Field Coach at Lakes HS his teams won two state crowns and was a runner-up three times. Warren was inducted into the Washington State Track & Field Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002.
Dan Looker age 73 Apr. 24, 1952-Dec. 12, 2025
A 1970 Puyallup HS grad, Dan was an All-League Tight End for the Vikings. He loved fishing with his grandchildren golfing with family and friends and snowmobiling.
Steve “Gravel” Luhtala age 72 May 7, 1953-Oct. 17, 2025
A Fife ’71 high school standout in baseball, football, and wrestling, Gravel played slowpitch softball for years with The Haven, Heidelberg, Palmer Construction, West Coast Awards, and Scoreboard Pub teams. His gravelly voice was a giveaway to his nickname.
Kathy Manke age 85 Nov. 15, 1940-Feb. 13, 2026
Along with husband Lennard, Kathy and Len ran the Cloverleaf Tavern on 6th Avenue---well-known as the local gathering place on Friday nights after high school football and basketball games, drawing coaches AND officials to re-ash the evenings “highs and lows”.
Sandy Mazzei age 99 April 21, 1926-Dec. 13, 2025
A Lincoln HS grad, Sandy worked as a Vice Principal at Stadium, and later as an Administrator for Secondary Education at the Central District Office. He and wife Jean shared a passion for tennis.
Brent Michaelson age 66 May 19, 1959-Feb. 1, 2026
A Stadium High graduate, at age 12 he built his own Soap Box Derby and went on to win the Tacoma Soap Box Derby. He advanced to the national All-American Soap Box Derby competition in Akron, Ohio, where he won his first heat. While in high school he worked at Frisko Freeze.
*Donald Moseid age 88 July 26, 1936-July 27, 2024
Basketball with Cheney Studs Tacoma CC BB coach 3 CC titles Survived by wife, Diane; daughter Heidi; and granddaughter Keely. Notify Pat & Julie McGowan
Kurt Mueller age 63 Sept. 17, 1963-Sept. 3, 2025
A Stadium HS grad, Kurt played football, and baseball and was student body president his senior year. He attended University of Puget Sound and spent 31 years with the Tacoma Fire Department. He was also noted for having the best lawn in the neighborhood.
Dr. Phil Nordquist age 91 Aug. 29, 1934-Feb. 6, 2026
A 1956 PLU graduate, Phil was a basketball standout under Marv Harshman and also played football for four seasons. He was a member of the 1955-59 hoop team that was inducted into the PLU Athletic HOF in 2007 and is #5 all-time for Free Throws Made. He remained at the university as a member of the faculty and the university historian.
Carole Noyes age 84 Feb. 27, 1941-April 26, 2025
Daughter of one of the all-time greatest pitchers in Tacoma baseball history—Floyd “Lefty” Isekite. He led the Western International League three straight years for most strikeouts from 1938-40?? Is a member of the TPC Sports HOF. Survivor is grandson, Jon Noyes.
Vicki Panzeri age 71 May 22, 1954-Aug. 3, 2025
A nationally #2 ranked professional racquetball player and a member of the BJ’s slowpitch softball team in Tacoma in the 70s. She played racquetball through the 70s 80s and 90s and at one point she was #2 ranked player in the nation as a professional racquetball player! Vicki also went to a Rat City Rollers training camp and because she was little and fast, that earned her the nickname of Dot Dash!
Art Peterson age 89 April 25, 1936-Aug. 22, 2025
A 1954 Lincoln HS grad, Art enjoyed racquetball, handball, bowling and golf and was a key member of the Emerald City Masters, a senior softball team that traveled throughout the U.S., winning several national championships.
Jack “John” Price age 93 Feb. 10, 1932-July 8, 2025
A 1950 graduate of Clover Park HS, jack taught biology and coached football at Clover Park High school. He later on became principal at Lakes High school, worked in administration at the Clover Park School District headquarters and was an active participant with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.
Norm Reed age 85 Mar. 30, 1940-Jan. 13, 2026
A standout basketball and slowpitch softball player, Norm coached the Meridian Center Electric 55+ slowpitch team that was a perennial champion compiling a 95-1 won-loss record loss.
Albert Rettura age 92 Oct. 17, 1933-Jan. 9, 2026
A Stadium HS grad, Al played baseball for the St. Rita Church team and also enjoyed bowling and golfing.
John Ruffo age 82 Mar. 22, 1943-11/2/2025
A 1960 Bellarmine Prep grad, John was a renowned and legendary scorekeeper and fan of many Kennedy and Bellarmine high school athletic programs. He was also a die-hard Notre Dame, San Francisco 49ers and Giants baseball fan and enjoyed a beer and hot dog at the ballpark as much as a gourmet meal.
*Myron Schmidt age 97 Oct. 16, 1928-Oct. 23, 2025
Myron Schmidt was a true ambassador and champion of handball, having won 16 Tacoma Firefighter championships along with countless Tacoma YMCA, Tacoma Elks and Pierce County “Daffodil” tournaments. He also won multiple age bracketed Washington State and Northwest Regional titles, a USHA Singles Championship in the Super Singles division (60 and over ) and a National Singles Championship in the Super Veterans division.
Betty Shackett age 96 Oct. 12, 1928-June 8, 2025
Betty and her husband, Pastor Owen Shackett Sr followed sons Steve and Owen who were members of the People’s Church slowpitch softball teams--one of the country’s top Church teams annually.
Shari Shelton age 71 Mar. 26, 1954-July 8, 2025
Sharon was the matriarch of the TAC's 2014 "First Family of Sports." She was never given the opportunity to play organized sports herself but her love and encouragement of her five boys and daughter (all standout multiple sport careers at Lincoln High School) and 10 grandchildren was the catalyst to many championships across multiple sports in the Tacoma area as athletes and coaches. Sharon’s core belief was that “team sports are a vehicle to build relationships and uplift the community."
Dean Shepard age 75 Sept. 28, 1949-July 10. 2025 A 1968 Tahoma HS graduated, Dean taught for over 30 years in the Tacoma School District, coached football and track and field at Foss High School, football and wrestling at McIlvaigh Middle School and supervised Special Olympic games at Lincoln Bowl in the early 1990s.
Tom Sisul age 83 Jan. 6, 1942-April 26, 2025
A 1960 Stadium HS grad, Tom pitched for the Cheney Studs Babe Ruth baseball team in1957 and their 1960 Connie Mack team. A member of the baseball team at Central Washington University, upon graduation he was recruited as a pitcher to play in the New York Mets organization. Upon returning from Vietnam, Tom decided to go fishing in Alaska, enjoyed golfing and fishing and remained in Talkeetna as a high school teacher.
*Jack Sonntag age 89 Oct. 22, 1936-Mar. 4, 2026
A Stadium High School grad, Jack taught PE and coached at both the junior high and high school levels, including Foss High School, where his 1975 football team won the state championship. He later served as an Athletic Director, played slowpitch softball for Eagle Paper Box and in 2010 he was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame.
Pat Smith age 76 April 5, 1950-April 7, 2026
A 1968 Bellarmine Prep grad, Pat was a quarterback for the Lions but was also an exceptional athlete on the basketball court and baseball diamond and went on to enjoy a successful athletic career at Seattle University as well. He was also a highly competitive handball player.
Edward Starbird age 85 July 16, 1940-Feb. 11, 2026
Edward was a devoted husband and father who showed up for his kids and made sure they had all they might need - from water skis, to soccer practices to name a few. Daughter Kate Starbird is well-known as an elite basketball player at Lakes, Stanford and for Seattle Reign and Storm and a member of the Tacoma-Pierce County and State of Washington Sports Halls of Fame.
Larry Stevens age 20 Oct. 14, 1955-April 21, 2026
Larry refereed high school and middle school volleyball with the Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board for 11 years (1985-1996). He refereed basketball with the Tacoma Basketball Officials Association for 42 years and was their Assignor for the past five years.
Marty Stevens age 73 Sept. 28, 1952-March 24, 2026
A Mt. Tahoma HS ’71 grad, Marty earned varsity letters on the basketball and baseball teams under coaches Jim McDonald and Dean Mellor. He was also member of the highly successful Wes’ Super Mart baseball teams playing for coach Tom Burmester.
Josie Stortini age 75 Nov. 18, 1949-Nov. 15, 2025
A highly accomplished competitive ballroom dancer and if you don’t think that that involved a high level of athleticism, just ask husband Ken who couldn’t keep up with Josie but loved watching her on the dance floor.
Doug Thompson age 79 April 8, 1962-Sept. 21, 2025
A Bellarmine Prep grad, Doug loved all sports, especially basketball and was inspired by his legends, Spencer Haywood, Michael Jordan and Steph Curry. His accolades included selection to All-City and All-State teams.
In Memoriam (continued)
Tim Thompson age 74 Dec. 11, 1950-July 4, 2025
A 1969 Bellarmine grad, Tim was a three-sport varsity athlete (football, basketball, baseball), and was honored as Mr. Bellarmine, inducted into the Hall of Fame, and earned multiple athletic scholarships in football and baseball. Tim played three seasons of football at WSU, boxed in the Golden Gloves event, played football for the Pierce County Bengals and played slowpitch softball for The Haven Pub, Michael’s 11-11 Tavern, Home Plate Tavern, Palmer Construction, Bergie’s Tavern and Little Jim’s Pub to name a few.
Mike Tucci, Sr. age 85 Oct. 14, 1940-March 1, 2026
A Bellarmine Prep ’57 grad, Mike dedicated 40 years to Tucci and Son's and among the numerous significant projects was the construction of the Tacoma Dome. He served as Chairman of the Board of Tacoma's Triple A baseball team following in the footsteps of his father who was an original member of Baseball Tacoma Inc.
Audrey (Lakowskie)Vaughn age 99 June 7, 1926- April 13, 2026
A 1944 Stadium grad, she played second base for the 1945 and 1946 Washington state champion Lincoln Electric women’s fastpitch team and also played guard on the 1945 City Basketball Championship team. Audrey was also an exceptional golfer wining ladies championships at Madrona Links and Ft. Steilacoom. She and husband Tex also started an 8-and-under league for junior soccer in the 60s.
Pat Weber age 85 Nov. 12, 1939-Aug. 22, 2025
A longtime youth baseball team coach, Pat’s 1987 Tacoma Dodgers (16 and under) won the state championship and participated in the USA World Series. As coach of the “Over 30” Tacoma Senators team, they were a three-time champion of the Mickey Mantle League and won a Gold Medal in the 1994 Washington State Games. The team also competed in seven Roy Hobbs World Series in Florida in the 90s. Pat was also the starting centerfielder for Berry's of San Diego in the 60 and Over World Series where he hit .455 as they were the undefeated champions.
*Clyde Werner age 78 Dec. 10, 1947-Dec. 30, 2025
A ’66 Wilson HS grad where he was a three-sport letterman all three years, Clyde earned All-City and All-State honors for the Rams, played linebacker at the University of Washington where he was accorded All-America honors and played in the NFL from 1970-77 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Clyde was inducted into the TPC Sports HOF in 2005. He was also a state record holder in the shot put and discus.
Joyner “Mike” White age 86 Dec. 18, 1938-Aug. 25, 2025
Mike played outfield for the Houston Colt 45s in the 60’s and for the 1969 Tacoma Cubs Pacific Coast League championship team and worked on the maintenance staff at Sprinker Recreation Center.
**Jim Whittaker age 97 Feb. 10, 1929-April 7, 2026
Jim Whittaker was the first American to stand atop Mount Everest, a feat accomplished on May 1, 1963 through howling winds and temperatures of -35 degrees Fahrenheit to reach the 29,028-foot summit. In 1955, Whittaker became the first full-time employee of the Seattle-based outdoor-gear cooperative company REI and went on to lead REI as its president and CEO from 1971 to 1979. He scaled Mount Rainier more than 100 times. Brother Lou, also a well-known mountain climber, and Jim were inducted into the State of Washington Sports HOF in 2010.
Carol Ann Zech age 90 Dec. 24, 1934-May 27, 2025
The wife of UPS Basketball coach Don Zech, Carol was an avid hiker and found beauty and peace on the trails in both Washington and Arizona.
