L&C’s Athletics Hall of Fame Turns 40

This fall, in conjunction with Lewis & Clark’s 150th anniversary celebration, the college is marking the 40th anniversary of its Athletics Hall of Fame. Five former student-athletes and two teams will be honored at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, October 20. The inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the Homecoming football game against Pacific University on Saturday, October 21.

Lewis & Clark’s Hall of Fame is believed to be one of the very first in the Pacific Northwest. In the late 1970s, Fred Wilson BS ’51, longtime football coach and athletic director, and Chuck Charnquist BS ’58, public information director at the time, spearheaded the effort.

The inaugural class in 1978 included Jim Davis, Albany College BS ’39 (football, basketball, track); Bob Pollard BS ’50 (basketball, football, baseball); Merlin “Bud” White BS ’51, MAT ’58 (track); Ruben Baisch BS ’51 (football); Ken Servas BS ’54 (basketball); Caley Cook BA ’55 (track, football); Royce McDaniel BS ’61 (football, basketball, baseball); Pat Clock BS ’62 (football, wrestling); Pete Ward BS ’62 (baseball); and Jim Boutin BS ’64 (basketball, track).

The criteria for induction require former Lewis & Clark student- athletes to have graduated at least 10 years ago and to have accomplishments that bring honor to the person or the college. Anyone can make a nomination through the athletics website or by mail. The deadline for nominating next year’s honorees is March 15, 2018.

Since its inception, the Pioneer Athletics Hall of Fame has inducted 173 former student-athletes, 20 teams, and 28 stakeholders for either meritorious service to the athletics program or lifetime achievement in sports.

2017 Inductees

Individual Inductees—Those being recognized for their individual athletic accomplishments include Dick Voll BA ’53, MEd ’58 (football); Chris Edison BA ’84 (swimming); Jerry Walker BA ’92 (football, track); Jeremy Cox BA ’98 (football); and Carla McHattie BA ’06 (cross country, track).

1991 Football Team—The 1991 football team was the last to win a conference championship, tying for the title with Linfield after finishing with a 5-1 record and a 7-2-1 mark overall. Lewis & Clark qualified for the NAIA national playoffs that season. This Pioneers team included Dan Ruhl BA ’92, who was an NAIA First-Team selection. Ruhl was inducted into the Lewis & Clark Hall of Fame in 2002. Fellow Hall of Famers Brandon Ito BS ’94 and Jake Smith BA ’93 were members of the team, and Brent Pavlicek BS ’92 was an NAIA Honorable Mention selection that season.

2005–06 Women’s Rowing Team—The 2005−06 women’s rowing team was the first to earn an NCAA nationals bid and is the only team to do so since rowing became an intercollegiate sport at Lewis & Clark. The Pioneers won the petite final at the NCAA 39s during the 2005–06 season and finished in sixth place in the first varsity eight nationally. At the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Championships, the team won the first varsity eight, second varsity eight, and varsity four, defeating the NCAA Division II champions in the process.