Albion legends included in sports Hall of Fame
Penny Barnes
Staff Writer

Along the wall leading into the Dow Recreation and Wellness Center, Albion has plaques honoring the athletic achievements of some extraordinary people. New to the wall this year will be 16 plaques, introducing today's athletes to the legends of the past.

Among those honored this year are four women.

"You've got to be kidding," said B. June Luke Dempsey, '54, on learning of her nomination. "Women's athletics weren't nearly as intense as they are now."

Dempsey is among 13 indivuals and three teams that have been selected as the newest inductees into the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dempsey remembers Albion as a place that allowed women a lot of freedom and a lot of support for women's sports from the entire population of the campus.

"I played volleyball, basketball, field hockey, tennis and softball," Dempsey said. "It was the thing to do."

The Athletic Hall of Fame was created to recognize those who have made extraordinary contributions to Briton athletics, according to Marcia Hepler Starkey, '73, director of parent and alumni relations and chair of the Hall of Fame Committee.

This year's inductees will be honored at a dinner held in Baldwin Hall at 5:30 p.m. today.

"This is our single most attended alumni event," Starkey said. "We usually have 300-400 people in attendance."

To be considered as an inductee, one must first be nominated. According to Starkey, candidates are nominated by alumni, staff and coaches.

Athletic administrators or others who did not attend Albion must have served at the college for 10 years; however, an athletic administrator can be selected immediately after leaving the institution or immediately after retirement.

Being selected to the Hall of Fame means different things to different people.

Some are honored for their service to Albion after graduation as well.

"[Paul W. "Skip"] Ungrodt, Jr., '52 and [William C.] Ferguson, '52 were nominated for both athletics and their service to Albion College throughout their lives," said Tom Raven, '97 associate director of alumni and parent relations.

"To be nominated is a great achievement and honor not only for the individual, but also for the team the individual played on," said Virgil Petty, Haslett junior and a running back for the current Albion football team.

The 1997 Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees are as followed: David M. Barrett, '64, football; John E. Bromley, '29 (deceased), basketball; Frank R. Carr, '78, baseball, football; B. June Luke Dempsey, '54, basketball, field hockey, volleyball; William C. Ferguson, '52, baseball; Tracy A. Garnwe, '83, track, basketball; Barbara A. Lindblom, '53, volleyball, basketball, badminton, field hockey, softball, swimming, tennis; James E. Misner, '66, football, baseball; Cameron B. Owens, '81,track, cross country; Wilma Hurley Spencer, '38, basketball, field hockey, archery, swimming; Paul W. "Skip" Ungrodt, Jr., '52, tennis; Donald E. Vadivort, '56, track, cross-country; the 1947-48 basketball team; the 1976 field hockey team; and the 1981 track team.