Linfield Athletics 2005 Hall of Fame banquet goes well
McMinnville
N-R/News-Register from staff and wire reports Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2005
Linfield College celebrated its rich
sports heritage Saturday night, Nov. 5, 2003, inducting the eighth class of its
Athletics Hall of Fame.
A riveted audience of nearly 250 in Ted Wilson Gym watched as the 1961 Camellia
Bowl football team, the 1976 national champion mile-relay track team, five
exceptional individual athletes and two long-time supporters of the program
took their places in the pantheon of Wildcat legends.
Inducted in traditional ceremonies were:
= The 1961 football team, the first Wildcat team to play in a national
championship game in any sport, establishing the standard of excellence that
has flourished ever since.
= The men's 1976 Mile Relay team that won an NAIA championship and set a school
record that has never been threatened.
= Cliff Saxton (class of '52), the third Linfield football player to earn
All-America recognition and a four-year starter at guard.
= Joe Robillard ('69), whose pass interceptions and punt returns 37 years ago
are still in Linfield's record book and football lore.
= Alan Schmidlin ('80), first-team All-America quarterback who passed for more
than 5,000 yards and led two unbeaten teams.
= Ed Kama ('81), first-team All-America tackle on some of the Wildcats' most
powerful offensive teams.
= Lisa Lind Prevedello ('89), who held or shared five school records in track
and field and was Linfield's first Female Athlete of the Year.
= Dave Hansen, who has been at the heart of Linfield's football radio broadcast
team for 32 years and is also Dean of Students.
= Del Smith, founder and owner of world-renowned Evergreen Aviation and a
financial supporter of Linfield athletics for more than 30 years.
Steve Lopes ('84) also was elected to the Hall of Fame this year but was unable
to attend Saturday, so his induction has been postponed to 2006.
In their acceptances speeches, the inductees traced the role their Linfield
experience has played in their lives since they graduated.
"The sense of achievement becomes a part of your character,"
Prevedello said. "My thanks go to the Linfield community for improving my
life 20 years ago, today, and tomorrow."
Robillard said, "We took the values, lessons, skills and tools we learned
here and we used them to build a pretty good life."
Schmidlin said Linfield made him feel "confident and well prepared."
Smith said Linfield's athletic program was "one of the best classrooms on
campus. Linfield teaches young people to be successful, to learn values and
ethics," he said, noting that his company, Evergreen Aviation, has many
Linfield graduates as employees.
Keith Lazelle of the 1976 national champion mile relay team noted that Linfield
had many "ethical role models" among its coaches and teachers who
"gave us the opportunity to blossom and mature."
Paul Durham, coach of the 1961 Camellia Bowl team, received two standing
ovations. Durham, 92, came from Honolulu to accept induction for his players,
33 of whom were present.
Durham recited achievements of outstanding athletes "who make us proud of
Linfield."
He was one of several speakers who spoke proudly of Linfield's national record
of 50 consecutive winning football seasons. Durham's teams started The Streak.
Saxton called Durham's impact on his life "indescribable" and noted
that many players valued their Linfield experience so highly that when they
became coaches, they sent their players to Linfield as well.
Kama said he cherished his time at Linfield and the opportunity to be on the
field and compete.
While strong with reminiscence, the evening was not without levity.
Prevedello, who has three children, said "My life now is more about high
chairs than high jumping."
Hansen, who has broadcast Linfield football games for 33 years, said he is
often asked if it is difficult to remember the numbers of all the players.
"For me," he said, "remembering the numbers has not been so
difficult, but remembering the names that go with them has been difficult."
A 20-member selection committee chooses inductees to the Linfield Athletics
Hall of Fame. Nominations, with supporting information, should be sent to Kelly
Bird, Linfield sports information director kbird@linfield.edu. The 2006 class
will be selected in June.
