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2009 PHSAA Athletic
Hall of Fame Inductees List
1963 Boys Tennis
After finishing the 1962 season
with a 14-match winning streak, the boys returned to run the table in
1963. They went 22-0 in duals and won the conference and district
championships. Doug Ivers, Dave Holden and Lance Hudgens advanced to
the state meet. With Ivers and Holden reaching the semifinals in
doubles play, the Lions placed fifth in the final state standings.
1972 Boys Cross Country
Picking up on a strong finish the
previous season, the 1972 team posted an unbeaten record in dual meets
(12-0) and swept the conference, district and sectional championships.
Captained by seniors Wayne Doversberger and Geza Ehrentreu, the Lions
went on to place ninth in the IHSA state meet, the first PHS finish in
the top 10 since 1955.
1973 Boys Cross Country
Led by senior all-stater Dana
Hiserote, the Lions notched their second consecutive top-10 state
finish, placing eighth in the IHSA state meet. They also posted their
second consecutive unbeaten dual season, contributing a 12-0 record to
what would become a 55-meet winning streak, while also sweeping the
conference, district and sectional championships.
1974 Boys Track & Field
No PHS track and field team in
the modern era was as deep as this one. Members of the 1974 Lions
qualified for the single-class IHSA state meet in the 100, 220, 440,
880, mile, two-mile, mile relay, discus and shot put. Dana Hiserote took
fourth in the two-mile and Pat Wilkes fifth in the 100, while Dave Ayoub,
who would go on to set the state record in the 880, qualified for the championship heat as a freshman. The team won the conference title and
was unbeatable in duals, crushing all eight opponents.
1979 Girls Cross Country
Following the tradition of other PHS
sports programs that started strong, girls cross country exploded from
the starting line in 1979. Under coach Bob LaCroix, the Lions went
undefeated in eight dual meets, won the district championship and
finished eighth in the state in their very first season. The No. 1
runner was senior all-stater Jane Davis, who placed seventh at state.
Jane Davis
Class of 1980
Track and Cross Country
Jane was the first great female distance
runner at PHS. In 1979, she led the inaugural girls cross country team
to an undefeated dual season, the district championship and eighth place
at the state meet. Jane earned all-state honors by placing seventh in
the state meet, still best ever by a PHS girl. In track, Jane was the
conference champion in the 3200-meter run.
Earl Edwards
Class of 1980
Wrestling
When he graduated in 1980, Earl was
hailed as the best wrestler in PHS history. After winning the district
championship and placing second at sectionals, to qualify for state as a
junior, Earl blossomed as a senior. Wrestling in the 167-pound weight
class, Earl took fourth place in the IHSA state championships. He
finished his career with 10 first-place finishes in tournaments and
invitationals.
Keith Kelley
Class of 1950
Baseball
As a senior at PHS, Keith received the
Jack Koch Award as the school’s most outstanding athlete. He then
signed a pro baseball contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming one
of the first African-Americans to do so after Jackie Robinson integrated
the major leagues. Keith played two years in the Dodgers’ farm system
and pitched a no-hitter for Class B Lancaster. After serving in the U.S.
Air Force, Keith tried to return to pro baseball, but an arm injury
curtailed his career.
Ralph Lawler
Class of 1956
Professional
Sportscaster
Ralph is one of a select few
broadcasters who have called play-by-play for TV or radio in the four
major professional leagues: NFL (Chargers), Baseball (Phillies), NHL
(Flyers) and NBA (Clippers). He got his start at WSIV-AM in Pekin, while
a student at Bradley University. Ralph earned the Pennsylvania
Sportscaster of the Year award, but made his lasting mark as
play-by-play voice of the NBA’s Clippers, for whom he began calling
games in 1978. He has called more than 2,000 Clippers
games, including more than 1,600 in a row.
Rick Parker
Class of 1977
Track
A four-year letterman in track and cross
country, Rick in his senior year established the school record in the
mile, timing 4:19. That record has stood for more than 30 years
(converted to 4:17.5 for 1600 meters contested today). Rick earned
all-state honors in the half-mile, placing seventh in 1:54.17, second in
PHS history only to the state record of teammate Dave Ayoub.
Deane Richardson
Class of 1936
Physical Education and Coach
Deane captained the football and
basketball teams at PHS, and played basketball for Bradley University.
But he would earn a national reputation as a coach and physical
education director. Legendary basketball coach John Wooden tabbed Dean
to coach the UCLA freshman team during the 1950s. Deane, who earned his
doctorate in education from Stanford, went on to serve as chairman of
physical education at the University of Denver, University of Minnesota
and Arizona State University, where he retired in 1983.
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