University will induct first class of athletes into its Hall of Fame

Jay Berwanger won the first-ever Heisman Trophy in 1935.

The University will induct its inaugural class of the Chicago Athletics Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Hutchinson Commons Friday, Oct. 10. Last month, the University announced the 25 members of the Hall of Fame's inaugural class.

Established in October 2000, the Hall of Fame recognizes and honors men and women who have distinguished themselves and the University in the field of intercollegiate athletics, or who have contributed to the development of intercollegiate athletics at Chicago.

"The inaugural class represents the rich sports history of the University in a superb fashion," said Tom Weingartner, Associate Professor and Chairman of Physical Education & Athletics. "It includes individuals from Chicago's days as a member of the Big Ten Conference as well as individuals from more recent years. It also includes athletes and coaches from a variety of sports, both men and women. Although the committee faced the daunting challenge of selecting just 25 individuals from among scores of deserving candidates, I think it's a spectacular first class of inductees."

The inductees selection committee comprises members of the University faculty, staff and alumni. Twenty-five individuals were chosen for the inaugural class, and no more than six individuals will be selected annually in future years.

To be eligible for induction, former student-athletes must meet three criteria. They must have attended the University, competed in an intercollegiate sport and have completed their participation in intercollegiate sports a minimum of five years prior to induction. Coaches or administrators also must have ceased service in that capacity at least five years prior to induction.

The 25 inaugural members of the University Athletics Hall of Fame are:

Gertrude Dudley served as Director of Physical Culture for women from 1898 to 1935.

• J. Kyle Anderson lettered in baseball from 1926 to 1928 and went on to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He returned to Chicago to serve as head baseball coach from 1934 until 1971. During his tenure, he helped organize the American Baseball Coaches Association and coached the U.S. team in the 1959 Pan American Games.
• Noel Bairey, a two-time, most-valuable player for Chicago's women's swim team, placed among the top four finishers in three different freestyle events at the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championship in 1977.
• Frank Baker is the all-time leading rusher in Chicago's modern era (since 1969) football history with 4,283 yards, as well as a two-time Academic All-American. In 1993, he earned All-America, Academic All-America and University Athletic Association Player of the Year honors and received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship after rushing for a school record of 1,606 yards.
• Jay Berwanger was the recipient of the first-ever Heisman Trophy in 1935. Playing nearly every position on offense and defense, he also was named the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player and a consensus All-American. Considered one of the greatest college football players of his era, Berwanger is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Erwin (Bud) Beyer captained the gymnastics team from 1936 to 1938, and during that time, won four gold medals in national collegiate competition. During the 1940s and 1950s, he served as head gymnastics coach at Chicago, and in 1948, he coached the U.S. Olympic women's team.
• Herbert (Fritz) Crisler was one of the first two Chicago athletes to win nine letters in three sports, a feat he accomplished from 1918 to 1921. He was an All-Big Ten selection in football and basketball and captain of the baseball team. Following his collegiate playing career, he served as an assistant football coach at Chicago before becoming the head football coach at the University of Michigan.
• Gertrude Dudley served as Director of Physical Culture for women from 1898 to 1935. Under her leadership, competitive intramural basketball, field hockey, baseball and tennis quickly became popular women's sports. Dudley started an Annual Field Day for University women, which featured competition in various team and individual sports.
• Walter Eckersall, a three-time All-American football player from 1904 to 1906, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Eckersall was a star running back, kicker and defensive player. Following his career, he was selected to Walter Camp's All-Time All-America Team, honoring the greatest college football players during the sport's formative years.
• Ray Ellinwood set a world indoor track record in his first intercollegiate meet in 1936. Competing in the 440-yard run at the University of Notre Dame, Ellinwood posted a time of 49.00 seconds. He went on to win the 1936 Big Ten Conference indoor and outdoor championship in both the 440- and 880-yard runs. He also finished fifth in the nation that same year in the 440-yard run.
• Gretchen Gates is the all-time leading scorer (1,924) and rebounder (1,056) in Chicago women's basketball history. A four-time, All-Midwest Conference selection, Gates was an All-American and NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipient in 1986. She holds 11 Chicago career, season and game records.
• Bill Haarlow was a two-time All-American basketball player and a three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection. He led the Big Ten in scoring between 1934 and 1935, ranked second from 1935 to 1936, and ranked third from 1933 to 1934. At the time of his graduation, he was the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten history with 415 points in 34 games.
• Ted Haydon captained the track and field team in 1933 and returned to Chicago to serve as head track and field coach from 1950 to 1975. A member of the U.S. Track & Field Hall of Fame, Haydon later formed the University Track Club, which became a national force. As a student-athlete at Chicago, he was a national qualifier in the javelin.

J. Kyle Anderson lettered in baseball at Chicago, played professional ball and then returned to coach Chicago's baseball team for nearly four decades.

• Roy Henshaw was a standout pitcher for the Chicago baseball team from 1930 to 1932. Following his playing career, during which he gained All-America recognition, Henshaw spent eight years in Major League Baseball, including a three-year stint with the Chicago Cubs (1933 to 1936). He posted a 13-5 mark for the Cubs in 1935.
• George Lott won Big Ten Conference singles and doubles tennis championships in 1929 and went on to become one of the top professional players of his era. After his college career, he was a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team from 1928 to 1931 and 1933 to 1934. He also won a doubles title at Wimbledon, the French Open and the U.S. Open. In 1964, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
• Mary Jean Mulvaney came to the University in 1966 as Chairwoman of the Department of Physical Education for women. In 1976, she became Chairwoman of a consolidated men and women's athletic department, thus becoming one of the nation's first female athletic directors. During her tenure, the Chicago women's athletic program grew quickly and gained national recognition. Mulvaney also presided over the women's programs' move to the NCAA in 1981 and the men's and women's programs' shift to the University Athletic Association in 1987.
• Chester and William Murphy were inducted into the Chicago Athletics Hall of Fame as a doubles tennis tandem. The twin brothers won Big Ten doubles championships in 1938 and 1939 and were the runner-up team at the 1939 National Collegiate Tennis Championship.
• Nelson Norgren was the first athlete in Big Ten Conference history to win 12 varsity letters in four sports from 1911 to 1914. He was an All-American football player, an All-Big Ten performer in basketball and baseball, as well as a track-and-field athlete. He returned to the University to coach basketball and baseball.
• Harlan (Pat) Page was the first Chicago athlete to star on Big Ten Conference championship teams in three different sports. He was an end on the Chicago Big Ten football title teams in 1907 and 1908, a guard on the Maroon Big Ten championship basketball teams from 1908 to 1910, and a pitcher on the Chicago Big Ten championship baseball squad in 1909.
• Laura Silvieus earned 12 varsity letters in basketball, softball and volleyball from 1974 to 1977. During her career, she was elected captain of 10 of her 12 teams. She earned volleyball most-valuable-player honors in 1975 and 1976 and was named basketball MVP in 1977. Silvieus ranks among Chicago's top three all-time softball leaders in batting, runs batted in and stolen bases.
• Amos Alonzo Stagg served as head football coach and Director of the Department of Physical Culture at Chicago from 1892 to 1932. Under Stagg's guidance, Chicago emerged as one of the nation's most formidable football powers during the first quarter of the 20th century. During his tenure, Chicago teams compiled a record of 242-112-27 and won seven Big Ten Conference championships. Stagg was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 as both a player and coach. The NCAA recognized his contributions by designating the Division III championship game the Stagg Bowl.
• Joseph Stampf is the most-winning coach in Chicago basketball history with 208 victories, as well as a .638 winning percentage and two NCAA postseason tournament berths, from 1957 to 1975. He also enjoyed an outstanding playing career for the Maroons from 1938 to 1941 and capped his career as the Big Ten scoring leader in 1940 and 1941.
• Walter Steffen was considered one of the great quarterbacks during the early days of college football. He was an All-Big Ten selection from 1906 to 1908 and a consensus All-American in 1908. He helped lead Chicago to Big Ten titles in 1907 and 1908. Steffen is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Leon Strauss was an All-American fencer in 1947, placing second in the epèe and fourth in the foil as Chicago finished second in the nation in the team standings. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team in 1948 and 1952.
• Peter Wang was named the NCAA Division III Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1992, after winning his second consecutive national championship at the 177-pound weight class. Wang earned All-America honors four consecutive years, finishing third in 1989 and fourth in 1990 before winning individual titles in 1991 and 1992.