Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS IN NOVEMBER!!
ARE THESE OREGON SPORTS HALL OF FAMERS…HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

NAME CATEGORY AGE BIRTHDAY

MORRIS “BUCKY” BUCKWALTER SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS 91 11/22/1933
JACK CRABTREE FOOTBALL 89 11/19/1935
AARON THOMAS FOOTBALL 87 11/7/1937
DON ESSIG SCHONELY AWARD 86 11/18/1938
ROBERT “PUDGY” HUNT MASTERS ATHLETE 86 11/3/1938
TOM LEVAK MARTIAL ARTS 86 11/8/1938
JOHN HART 1966 LINFIELD BASEBALL 78 11/2/1946
DWIGHT JAYNES SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS 77 11/13/1947
AHMAD RASHAD FOOTBALL 75 11/19/1949
CORKY CALHOUN 1977 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 74 11/1/1950
MAC WILKINS TRACK & FIELD 74 11/15/1950
DAVE GASSER COACHING 73 11/18/1951
RON LEE BASKETBALL 72 11/2/1952
MARY BUDKE GOLF 71 11/16/1953
CAROL MENKEN-SCHAUDT BASKETBALL 67 11/23/1957
RUDY CHAPA TRACK & FIELD 67 11/7/1957
STEVE JOHNSON BASKETBALL 67 11/3/1957
LIZ DOWNING DUATHLON 66 11/6/1958
HAROLD REYNOLDS BASEBALL 64 11/26/1960
KELLY BLAIR-LABOUNTY TRACK & FIELD 54 11/24/1970
CHRIS KUNDA 2006-2007 OREGON STATE BASEBALL 40 11/1/1984
DALLAS BUCK 2006-2007 OREGON STATE BASEBALL 40 11/11/1984
DARWIN BARNEY 2006-2007 OREGON STATE BASEBALL 39 11/8/1985
REED BROWN 2006-2007 OREGON STATE BASEBALL 39 11/27/1985
BRIAN BUDROW 2006-2007 OREGON STATE BASEBALL 38 11/12/1986

Night of champions
Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony

Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

Sport Oregon Announces 2024 Oregon Sports Hall of Fame Inductees for Night of Champions

Historic induction ceremony set for October 29th at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts; Oregon Sports Awards winners recognized during memorable evening of sporting achievements in Oregon

Portland, Ore. (Sept. 18, 2024) – Today, Sport Oregon unveiled its esteemed 2024 class of inductees into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Emceed by KGW’s Orlando Sanchez and Oregon legend Neil Everett, the Hall of Fame induction and Oregon Sports Awards celebration will take place at the Night of Champions on Tuesday, October 29. Marking Sport Oregon’s inaugural year hosting the event, the evening will not only honor these exemplary individuals, but also the positive and widespread impact of sport in Oregon.

This year’s Oregon Sports Hall of Fame class features distinguished athletes, including soccer superstar and Olympian Megan Rapinoe, three-time College World Series champion coach Pat Casey, Portland Timbers icon Diego Valeri, handball Olympian Rick Abrahamson and the 1984 and 1985 Portland State Volleyball teams will be honored, recognizing their significant contributions to Oregon’s rich sports legacy.

The Night of Champions also features a celebration of the many standout achievements from the top athletes and teams across the state of Oregon over the past sporting year. A highlight in Oregon sports for decades, this year’s Oregon Sports Awards will recognize the top athletes, teams and coaches at high school, college and professional levels throughout the state.

In addition, the Oregon Sports Awards annually recognizes exemplary athletes, teams and coaches at high school, college and professional levels throughout Oregon. This year’s distinguished recipients include:

• Johnny Carpenter Prep Athlete Player of the Year Award o Will Semler (Lincoln High School – Tennis) and Addisen Fisher (Bend High School – Softball)

• Slats Gill Person of the Year Award o Mike Johnston (Head Coach, Portland Winterhawks)

• Harry Glickman Professional Athlete of the Year o Award Sabrina Ionescu (Former University of Oregon and current NY Liberty – Women’s Basketball) and Ryan Crouser (Olympic Track & Field)

• Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of the Year Award o Jade Carey (Oregon State and Olympic Gold Medalist – Gymnastics) and Travis Bazzana (Oregon State Baseball)

• Ad Rutschman Small College Athlete of the Year Award o Alison Takamiya (George Fox – Golf), Carolina Moreno (Southern Oregon – Women’s Wrestling), and Hunter Sparks (Eastern Oregon – Wrestling)

“The Night of Champions is not just about reflection, it’s a forward-looking celebration of the talent and dedication that these athletes and teams have brought to our community,” said Jim Etzel, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Oregon. “It is with pride that we gather to honor this diverse group of sports legends and champions whose achievements have left an indelible mark on Oregon’s sports history.”

The Night of Champions is a tribute not only to the state’s historic greats but also to the emerging athletes who are poised to shape Oregon’s sporting future. Through celebrating their accomplishments and ongoing commitment, Sport Oregon seeks to ignite passion and ambition in young, aspiring athletes across the community. This event plays a crucial role in strengthening community bonds and pride, united by a collective enthusiasm for sports to enhance Oregon’s social and economic landscape.

Attendees will include luminaries from Oregon’s sports scene, past and present athletes, and fans from everywhere, all gathered to appreciate the state’s commitment to excellence in sports.

About Sport Oregon

Sport Oregon understands that the impact of sports is undeniable. It’s economic. It’s social. It’s emotional. A dedicated, thriving sports tourism environment is crucial to the wellbeing of our state. Sport Oregon has an unapologetic love for Oregon and wants to share it with the world. The natural scenery is our playground, and the vibrant hospitality community is eager and ready to host you, your events, your teams, your fans and your families.

About The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1978 to recognize and appreciate Oregon’s rich athletic history. Our goal for this legacy is to inspire participation in sport and foster awareness of the values and life-long rewards gained from this participation. The organization is built on the premise that the lessons of sports have a tremendous impact on society.

About The Oregon Sport Awards

In 1948, the Oregon Sports Writers and Sportscasters’ Association hosted the first-ever Bill Hayward Banquet of Champions. The event began as a sit-down affair, honoring past and present Oregon sports greats. Later, in 1986, the event was rebranded and renamed the Oregonian Banquet of Champions. In 2001, the event became the Oregon Sports Awards, presented by Nike. In 2021-22, the Oregon Sports Awards began following a seasonal schedule with fall, winter, and spring awards given after each season, finishing in an end- of-year Celebration of Champions, recognizing every winner in every sport and overall Athlete of the Year Awards. This shift allowed the Oregon Sports Awards to shine the spotlight on the student-athletes when their season has recently completed while celebrating all winners equally including collegiate, professional and team awards. Past award winners have included the likes of Terry Baker, Dick Fosbury, Steve Prefontaine, Joni Huntley, Neil Lomax, Danny Ainge, Dan O’Brien, Gary Payton, Tiffeny Milbrett, Joey Harrington, Nick Symmonds, Jordan Kent, Kevin Love, Liz Brenner, Megan Rapinoe, Ashton Eaton and Marcus Mariota.

The ENTIRE ceremony of the 2023 Oregon Sports Hall of Fame inductions can now be viewed on line at the following YouTube link.

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