The University will induct eight individuals and three teams into the newly established Athletics Hall of Fame on May 23 in Beckham Hall. The inaugural class includes seven former players, a long time coach, and three teams from the school’s illustrious past. The Hall of Fame’s permanent location will be the Warren Street lobby of the Freeman Athletic Center and will include an interactive electronic presentation.
The 1946, 1947, and 1948 football teams received the first team inductions in commemoration of their combined 22-0 record and three consecutive Little Three titles during a program-record 28-game unbeaten streak. Leading the way in the coaches’ category is Norm Daniels, who coached five sports — football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, and squash — during his 40-year career spanning from 1934-1973.
The first seven alumnus inductees are being honored for successes both at Wesleyan and beyond, and include Olympians, a world-class marathon runner, and one infamous NFL coach.
C. Everrett Bacon ’13 was an All-American quarterback while also leading the basketball, tennis, and baseball teams during his career at Wesleyan. Bill Belichick ’75 spent his time at Wesleyan honing his coaching skills as a member of the football, squash, and lacrosse teams. Barbara Martin Herzlich ’81 still holds several scoring records for the women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams. Kathy Keeler ’78 left her mark at Wesleyan on the crew and basketball teams before going on to win gold in the 1984 Olympics as a member of the U.S. rowing team. Bill Rodgers ’70 won four Boston and New York marathons each during the 1970s and was regarded as one of the best marathon runners in the world. Henri Salaun ’49 won a national squash title in the 1950s. James I. Wendell ’13 won silver in the 110-meter hurdles during the 1912 Olympics.
Wesleyan Athletic Director John Biddiscombe explained that despite a rich, 140-year athletic history, Wesleyan had never honored its finest athletic accomplishments.
“In the past year it was decided that the time had come to recognize and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our athletes, coaches and teams,” said Biddiscombe. “The call for nominees resulted in 420 members of the Wesleyan community nominating 180 individuals and teams.”
Along with providing a public forum to display Wesleyan’s past athletic accomplishments, the Hall of Fame will serve as a way to reconnect alums that have fallen out of contact with both the school and their teammates.
“The Hall of Fame [will] reengage alums that may have not been active with Wes since graduation. Some of the people sending nominations were people we have not heard from for 30 years,” said Biddiscombe.
The second class of inductees will be announced in the fall of 2008, with the induction ceremony planned for Parents Weekend 2008.
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