LBSU
Athletic Hall of Fame inducts new class
By
Kim Oswell
Daily Forty-Niner
Sports Editor
The 2005 Sports Hall of Fame will induct eight new members from Long Beach
State on Oct. 20.
The eight inductees include President Robert C. Maxson and his wife, Sylvia
Maxson, Coach Bill Barnett, former faculty member C. Thomas Dean, longtime
LBSU supporter Art Johnson, previous student and football player Herb Lusk,
former student and LBSU athlete Brita Bolane and former men’s basketball
player Morlon Wiley.
The class of 2005 is the 20th class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and
it will bring the number of members to 180.
There are many different attributes and qualities that are considered and evaluated
before someone is a candidate for the Sports Hall of Fame. A few of the requirements
include athletes who have been a part of a Long Beach State varsity team and
individuals who have given outstanding support to the LBSU athletics department.
The individuals included in this honor are people who have made an impact at
LBSU, whether in administration, helping the community of students or coaching.
The Maxsons have been very involved with LBSU athletics. President Maxson can
be seen on campus wearing his Beach Pride clothing and attending numerous athletic
events. Dr. Sylvia Maxson has been active in promoting and supporting women
athletes and has hosted the annual “Women in Athletics” Tea.
Barnett has been influential in water polo, from coaching at Newport Harbor
to coaching the men’s water polo Olympic team in 1988 and 1992.
Dean was influential in fundraising for athletic teams at LBSU and was the
dean for the School of Applied Arts and Sciences for a few years. He received
the President’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004.
The founder and president of People for the People in Philadelphia, Lusk left
his mark playing football at Long Beach State. He ranks No. 3 all-time in rushing
at LBSU with 2,142 yards.
Bolane had many achievements as a member of the women’s volleyball team
and was an All-American in 1995. She holds records at LBSU, including ranking
seventh on the 49er career kill chart and ninth in career digs with 928.
Basketball star Wiley was the All-Big West pick in 1988 and went on to play
12 years in the NBA with Dallas, Orlando, Atlanta, San Antonio and Miami.
The 49er Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony will take place Oct. 20
at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach. The dinner is $75 per person and $750 per
table of 10.
The inductions into the Hall of Fame occur annually and are decided by a committee
composed of faculty, community members, press members, and chairman Bob Livingstone.
The committee then votes on the people they think should be inducted.
There are photographs of the former inductees hung in the Ukleja Family Hall
of Honor in The Walter Pyramid. |
