Sports Halls of Fame have been very much in the news lately. The Texas Sports Hall of Fame
finally inducted our Nolan Richardson, the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame held its induction banquet not so long ago and is already taking nominations for next year, the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame has started planning for its fall induction banquet and is also already taking nominations.
And now comes the biggie so far as El Pasoans are concerned: The El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame.
I call it the “biggie” because the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame doesn’t involve just one sport or one organization but all of them. Being inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame means you’ll be among the best of the best in all-around sports in El Paso.
This year’s induction banquet will be held this coming Wednesday, April 29, in the glamorous Signature Room at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
I’VE BEEN involved with many of the local athletic halls of fame and I’ve been amazed at how many outstanding El Pasoans are willing to chip in and help. Barnard Polk, who has served as president of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame on two different occasions, including the last two years, is a perfect example.
A graduate of Austin High School and UTEP, he has worked in banking, as director of a center that aided transients, was named Austin High’s Outstanding Ex in 2012, has been a a pastoral assistant at First Christian Church and has been active in Jaycees, Sertoma Club and the UTEP Heritage Commission.
He’s added such a touch of class to the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame that it seems to have shined even more under his leadership.
LOOK AT WHAT you can expect at this year’s induction banquet Wednesday:
- Mingling with eight very special inductees.
- The introduction of special guests Marina Lee, the daughter of one of the Hall’s first inductees (Andy Cohen) in 1955 and Judy Phelan O’Connor, the daughter of the Hall’s first president, John Phelan.
- A silent auction of some very valuable historical items.
- A chance to thank Mr. Polk for his invaluable service to the Hall. He’ll be stepping down as president this year.
- And, of course, a delicious meal.
Officially, the festivities will start at 4 p.m. with a press conference for inductees. There will be a social hour at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. You can start bidding for some of the auction items as early as 4 p.m. Kevin Lovell will again serves as Master of Ceremonies. Admission is only $30 per person.
INDUCTEES this year as reported before are long distance runner Ruben Dominguez, official Bob Geske, photographer Brian Kanof, Coronado High School tennis coach Jerry Pippin, long distance runner Paul Pearson, former UTEP football coach Mike Price and all-around athlete Ed Stansbury.
The programs at the banquet will have full resumes and photos of their accomplishments.
It’s going to be a whingdinger of a party. You really should be there.
LET ME ADD a bit about the two aforementioned El Paso sports halls of fame. They, too, have dedicated and accomplished leaders.
El Paso businessman Fernie Grado did a whale of a job as president of the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame last year and has passed the baton this year to another dedicated and hard-working gentleman, longtime and highly successful Montwood High baseball coach Tom Carrillo. He’s already set the dates for accepting nominations for this year.
And then there’s Jeff Darby, who handles the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame. One can only imagine what a difficult job he has as sports information director at the school but he is busy now taking nominations and setting up a meeting of the board of directors for the fall induction banquet.
El Paso has so much talent in sports that I’m forever in awe.