The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame hosted its annual Enshrinement Banquet and Ceremonies on Sunday February 11th at the University Plaza Convention Center, which is presented annually by The Killian Group. The all-day event began with an afternoon reception at the Hall of Fame where hundreds of sports enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the Class of 2007. A packed-crowd filled the University Plaza Convention Center during the evening banquet. Curtis McClinton moved the crowd with a stirring rendition of the national anthem and Doug Potts led the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was offered be Mark Curp. All three gentlemen are members of the Class of ’07. Fifteen individuals from diverse sports backgrounds and one Missouri College’s teams were inducted into the Hall of Fame during the event. The 2007 John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award recipient, 17 Missouri Sports Achievement Award winners, and the Special Olympics Missouri Hall of Fame inductee were also recognized. Each of the individual inductees addressed the crowd when receiving their plaques, and video clips produced by KY-3’s Ned Reynolds and Lisa Maddux punctuated the introductions. Video Clip speakers included, Joe Garagiola, Norm Stewart, Denny Matthews, Fred White, and Dave Duncan. Among the honored guests in attendance were Missouri Sports Hall of Famers Mike Shannon, Jerry Clinton, Rita Hoff-Scott and Ozzie Smith.

INDUCTEE

Bruce Sutter - Baseball
Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Sutter revolutionized the split-fingered fastball and was among the game's top relief pitchers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Sutter led the National League in saves five times and ranks 19th on the all-time saves list with 300 in a career cut short to 12 seasons due to injury. He had a 68-71 record and 2.84 ERA with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves. The right-hander, a native of Lancaster, Pa., was the NL Cy Young Award winner with the Cubs in 1979, finished in the top 10 of the NL MVP voting five times and was 2-0 with three saves and a 3.00 ERA in six postseason games. Sutter saved at least 20 games in nine consecutive seasons, and set an NL mark with 45 saves in 1984. He was the closer on the Cardinals' 1982 World Series championship team. Sutter is credited with two saves in that series, including the Series-clinching save in Game 7. Bruce Sutter is the first major league pitcher inducted in to the National Baseball Hall of Fame who never started at least one game and was the only member inducted in the 2006 Class of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Walt Jocketty - Baseball
Since 1995, under the leadership of General Manager Walt Jocketty, the St. Louis Cardinals have compiled six NL Central Division championships (1996, 2000, 2002, 2004-06), one NL Wild Card appearance (2001), two National League Championship (2004 and 2006), one World Series Championship (2006). The Cardinals have had seven straight winning seasons under Jocketty, including 100 plus win seasons in 2004 and 2005. Jocketty won his first world championship as a general manager when the Cardinals defeated the Tigers in the 2006 World Series, four games to one. Jocketty has been named the Executive of the Year in MLB twice, in both 2000 and 2004.

Curtis McClinton - Football
Sixth-leading rusher in Kansas City Chiefs history, McClinton was one of the early stars of the AFL with 762 rushing attempts for 3,124 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also caught 154 passes for 1,945 yards and 14 touchdowns and played in five Pro-Bowl games, following the 1962 and 1966-67 seasons. McClinton was named the Outstanding Player in 1962 and was a member of both Chiefs Super Bowl teams. He was named the AFL Rookie of the Year in 1962, when he rushed for 604 yards and caught 29 passes for 333 yards. McClinton was the first AFL player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl, catching a seven-yard pass in the second quarter of Super Bowl I. McClinton was inducted in to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1995. Currently, McClinton is a registered banker, and the owner of McClinton Development Company, Inc. in Kansas City, Mo.

Jim Eisenreich -Baseball
Eisenreich vaulted through the minors and onto the Twins roster in 1982, but after a .303 start he was placed on the disabled list after suffering symptoms of Tourette's syndrome. The illness never left, but with medication and Eisenreich's determination not to be ashamed of his condition, he returned with the Royals in 1987. With the Royals, Eisenreich was mostly used as a pinch-hitter and DH, but in 1989 he got his first chance to fill in at all three outfield positions and proved he could still contribute despite Tourette's. Eisenreich batted .293 with 27 stolen bases and won the Royals Player of the Year Award. Eisenreich was able to overcome the effects of Tourette's syndrome to have a long and successful career in major league baseball; Eisenreich went on to play in two World Series. The first was with the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies in 1993 and then with the 1997 World Series Champion Florida Marlins. Eisenreich now dedicates his time to improving the lives of children who have Tourette's syndrome through his Jim Eisenreich Foundation.

Jay Randolph, Sr - Sportscaster
Member of the National Radio Hall of Fame of Texas and a legendary sportscaster, Randolph as covered multiple sports throughout his career beginning at WHAR radio in Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1958. During the early `60's he was the voice of the West Virginia Mountaineer Network. And in 1963 he moved to Dallas, Texas where he handled the play-by-play for Dallas Cowboys pro-football and Southern Methodist University basketball on KLIF Radio. In 1966, Randolph joined KMOX-CBS Radio in St. Louis, where he covered St. Louis Cardinals football and hosted daily sports shows. Two years later, he became the Sports Director of KSD-TV/KSDK from 1967-1988 in St. Louis. Since then, Randolph has made significant contributions to PGA, LPGA, and Senior PGA telecasts along with NFL telecasts and MLB Games of the Week. His career also includes three Olympic Games and 22 years as lead announcer for Big 8 basketball.

Pat Leahy -Football - Soccer
Leahy, a valued member of three St. Louis University Billiken NCAA national championship teams during is playing career from 1969-72, joined the New York Jets in 1974. The Most Valuable Player in 1990, Leahy finished his impressive 18-year career (most seasons with one club in NY sports history) with the Jets as the team's all-time leading scorer, a record he still holds. Making Leahy the NFL's third all-time leading scorer with 1,470 points in 250 games played (fifth most in NFL history). Voted all-time NY Jets special teams player, Leahy kicked the longest field goal in NY Jets history (55 yards). A St. Louis native, Leahy has continued impacting sports off the field. Following his retirement, Leahy established the Pat Leahy Soccer Scholarship Endowment Fund in 1992, which funds 5th Year scholarships for Men's and Women's Billiken soccer players in St. Louis.

Erma M. Bergmann "Bergie" - Amateur Softball and Professional Baseball Player
A St. Louis native, Bergmann grew up playing baseball with her two brothers until at age 14 she was asked to play organized amateur softball. At age 19 she was asked to try out professionally for the All American Girls Baseball League in Pascagula, Ms. Bergmann, one of the real players from the movie "A League of Their Own", made the team and was recruited to play for the Muskegon Lassies in 1946. This was the first time in U.S. history women played professional baseball. Known for her strong throwing arm, Bergmann pitched a no hitter against the Grand Rapids Chicks...a career highlight. Bergmann pitched in this extraordinary baseball league from 1946 to 1951. After baseball ended, Bergmann returned to St. Louis and became one of the first pioneer policewomen in 1956. Bergmann retired after 25 years of honorable service in 1981.

Gene McArtor - Baseball
Named University of Missouri's baseball coach in 1974, McArtor led the Tigers for twenty years. McArtor coached Missouri to two Big 8 Conference titles and took six different teams to NCAA regional play. His success was not limited to coaching the Tigers. McArtor was the Chairman of the NCAA Baseball Committee from 1987-1992, Vice President of the American Baseball Coach's Association in 1987, and President of the Association in 1991. He retired as Missouri baseball coach in 1994 as the winningest coach in Missouri baseball history with a record of 733-430-3. McArtor was inducted into the American Baseball Coach's Association Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the organization's highest honor in 1997, the Lefty Gomez Award.

Ron Zetcher - Sports Officiating
Involved with officiating at the High School level since 1968, Zetcher has officiated baseball, basketball and football. Since that time, Ron has become one of the nation's top NCAA basketball officials, working 17 NCAA Tournaments and 20 National Invitation Tournaments during his illustrious career. As an official at the collegiate level, Ron has worked the
Big 12 Conference Tournament multiple times, the Big 8 Conference Tournament finals three years, Missouri Valley
Conference Tournament finals 15 years and other conference tournaments around the country. A tireless promoter of basketball officiating, Zetcher has conducted camps, provided training sessions and supervised basketball officials for the MIAA (18 years), SLIAC (15 years) and Show-Me-State Games (16 years).

Russ Sloan - Football Coach
An outstanding football player for University of Missouri, Sloan starred on the Missouri 1960 Orange Bowl team and held the receiving record during his playing days at Mizzou. After college, Sloan had a successful four years at Carthage High School as the football coach. He then went on to become football coach at Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State). As head coach, Russ Sloan captured three straight conference championships, (1969, 70 and 71), leaving with a fantastic .804 winning percentage; second only to the legendary Don Faurot in Truman State history. Sloan also achieved success as Athletic Director at Fresno State University in California and Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Brian Reynolds - Swimming Coach
Head Swimming Coach for the Drury University's men's program for 22 years and the women's team for 17 years, Reynolds has helped the Panther swimming and diving teams flourish and achieve national recognition as one of the elite programs in NCAA-II. Much of the team's success and national accomplishments have been a tribute to Reynolds' knowledge and expertise. Under the leadership of Reynolds, the Drury men's program has eight NAIA national titles and two NCAA-II national championships with the most recent title in 2002-03. The women's team has captured two NAIA national championships and has won four NCAA-II national titles. Coach Reynolds has earned several honors, which include being named as the NCAA-II national Coach-of-the-Year in the women's division in 1996-97 and was the men's division Coach-of-the-Year in 1996, 1999 and 2003.

Doug Potts - Football Coach
Winning 213 games, while losing 112 and tying two at Bolivar, Potts coached the Bolivar High School football team for 35 years (1966 - 2000). A Neosho native, Potts was a Football All-Time Letterman at Pittsburg State University (1961-64) and All Conference in 1964. Potts was named the Missouri State Football Coach-of-the-Year in 1992 and was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1994. Coach Potts has also served as President of the Football Coaches Association and Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

Bill Ross - Basketball & Golf Coach
As an athlete at the University of Missouri, Ross excelled on both the basketball court and the baseball diamond. Following graduation, he became a very successful high school basketball coach for eight years at Paseo High School in Kansas City, Mo. After a successful tenure as a prep basketball coach, he became instrumental in the development and implementation of the Intercollegiate Athletics program at Kansas City University, now known as UMKC. In the development of the program, he began the men's and women's basketball programs as well as the golf program at the university. Ross made a significant impact in UMKC's transition from NAIA to NCAA Division I athletics in 1987. He coached the men's golf team for 35 years, until his retirement in 2003.

Mark Curp - Long Distance Runner
One of the greatest long-distance runners in Missouri history, Curp a native of Polo, had a stellar career at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, where he starred multiple times in NCAA All American cross country and track, twice earning All-America honors on the NCAA Division I level. Curp's greatest achievement came on September 15, 1985 in Philadelphia when he broke the world record for the half marathon at 1:00:55. It remains the American record, according to USA Track & Field. Runner's World ranked him the number one road racer in the world in 1987 and 1988. Curp works as an Investor Relations Manager for American Century Funds in Kansas City. He resides in Lee's Summit with his wife, Teri, and three children.

Lou Adamie - "Mr. Scoreboard"
Adamie was a major league baseball scorekeeper in St. Louis for more than four decades. A first generation son of immigrant parents who became a celebrated sports personality, Adamie was known for his dedication to his job, his concentration and accuracy at the scoreboard. Adamie missed only one game in 42 years (due to the death of his mother), working over 4,000 games for both the Browns and Cardinals from 1941 through the 1982 season. He was the official scorekeeper for three All Star Games and eight World Series including the Cardinal World Championship in 1982.
In 1968 he was inducted into the communications wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., where he remains the only scoreboard operator recognized in Cooperstown.

1941-48 Missouri Valley College Football Teams - Team Inductees
Led by Coach Volney C. Ashford and Assistant Coach Warren Harris, the 1941-1948 Missouri Valley College Vikings Football teams hold the record for the longest winning streak under one coach with 41 straight victories. The Missouri Valley College football team streak started December 7, 1941 with a win over Rockhurst College 12-6 and ended December 4, 1948 with a loss to Evansville College 7-13. Football was halted at Missouri Valley College due to World War II from 1943-45. The program continued in 1946 and so did its winning ways. These teams and their winning streak are still considered one of the greatest achievements in small college football history. Football has always been at the forefront of Missouri Valley College athletics. The Vikings are nationally recognized as one of the oldest and most successful small college programs in the country. Their trophy case includes 18 conference championships, a small college national title, two national runner-up finishes and 13 national bowl games.

Hillyard - John Q. Hammons Founders Award
Newton S. (N.S.) Hillyard came to St. Joseph, Mo in 1891 and worked tirelessly to support his growing family and labored nights to invent new, innovative products to serve the maintenance industry. In 1907, despite the fact the country was in a depression, N.S. left his job to start the first of the Hillyard Companies. With the help of his family, N.S. took on a new, uncharted area of maintenance...wood gym floors. Determined to develop the best products, in 1920, N.S. erected a new plant and office building in St. Joseph that then housed the largest wood gymnasium floor west of the Mississippi River. He used it as a test site to perfect new wood gym seals and finishes. Determined to be the best, N.S. organized a company basketball team that became the national A.A.U. champions for two years straight and earned Hillyard a special exhibit in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. He went on to develop over 100 patented products and formulations, pioneered custodial training, and, along with his descendents, helped propel the Hillyard Companies to a leadership position in the maintenance industry. Today, Hillyard has evolved and grown into one of North America's largest distributors of cleaning equipment and supplies. Created with one individual's innovative vision and carried through by the spirit of family and thousands of employees, Hillyard is at the forefront of America's leading cleaning resource. Hillyard is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2007.

The Missouri Sports Achievement Awards were presented to: the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals (World Series Champions), St. Louis native, Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies (2006 National League MVP), 2006 Lincoln University Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Team (NCAA Division II National Champions), 2006 Drury University Men’s Swimming & Diving Team (NCAA Division II National Champions), 2006 Truman State University Women’s Swimming Team (NCAA Division II National Champions), 2006 College of the Ozarks Men’s Basketball Team (NAIA National Champions), 2006 Lindenwood University Men’s Indoor Track & Field Team (NAIA National Champions), 2006 Lindenwood University Women’s Ice Hockey Team (American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Champions), 2006 Lindenwood University Men’s Roller Hockey Team (National Champions), 2006 Lindenwood University Women’s Bowling Team (National Champions), 2006 Lindenwood University’s Intercollegiate Clay Target Shooting Team (Association of College Unions International (ACUI) National Champions), 2006 Missouri Baptist Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Team (NAIA National Champions), the 2006 Southwest Missouri Home School Lady Eagles Basketball Team (Class 5A National Champions) and Crush, women’s slow pitch class “D” softball team (2006 National Champions), Irl Robinson (2006-2007 Golf Clubmakers Association Worldwide Clubmaker of the Year), and the Riverview Bible Baptist High School Men’s Basketball Team in Forsyth, MO (2006 National Champions) and 2006 Missouri State University Handball Team (2006 National Champion).

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame was honored to recognize one Special Olympics Missouri Hall of Fame inductees during the Enshrinement ceremony, as well. In his 25 years of involvement Don Holbert, Special Olympics Missouri Hall of Fame inductee, has been a coach, a board member, and a staff member. Though he began with Special Olympics when his daughter competed, he has continued to share himself with all athletes in Missouri even beyond her participation. Challenged by his own physical disabilities, Don has been an amazing inspiration to those who know him. His energy and the positive attitude that he brings to every situation are incomparable. His personal statistics are not measured in percentages, but in the shear thousands of hearts he has touched.

Plans are already being made for he 2008 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement which is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of February 9th and 10th.