Inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: January 11, 2013

View photos of award recipients and speakers »

View photos from throughout the evening »

Members of The Founders Hall

On Friday, January 11, 2013, The Hill School celebrated more than 100 years of athletics history during the inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Hill has produced many contributors to the sports world with iconic names - names such as Sabin Carr '24, who in 1927 set a world record in the pole vault, and a year later won Olympic gold in the event; Dick Harter '48, the basketball coach who NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird labeled a “defensive genius,” and in 1976 took his University of Oregon basketball team to UCLA and handed John Wooden’s Bruins their first home loss in 98 games; and, perhaps the most recognizable name of the group, 1951 graduate Lamar Hunt, the man who founded the Kansas City Chiefs and decided to call the NFL championship game the “Super Bowl.”

View a video of the induction ceremony.

In 2011, a dedicated team of Hill administrators, faculty, and alumni decided that, after 125 years of competitive athletics at the School, it was time to establish an honorary hall and recognition program to pay tribute to those individuals and teams who have shaped The Hill’s athletics history. The announcement of The Hill School Athletics Hall of Fame formation immediately sparked significant alumni interest, with more than 150 nominations made in the first three months. After much discussion in the early months of 2012, the inaugural induction class and Founders Hall were decided upon in May and unveiled during the School’s Alumni Weekend in June.

“The energy and excitement surrounding the Hall of Fame has been amazing,” said Director of Alumni Relations Bill Robertson '92. “Having a Hall of Fame means a tremendous amount to our alumni base as there is a strong sense of pride in the players, coaches, and performances of the past, as evidenced by the flood of nominations that came in after we announced the Hall’s creation.”

Each Hall of Fame induction class will include up to five total inductees from the following categories: Athlete, Coach, Team, or Extraordinary Sports Achievement. The Hill School’s 2012 induction class includes:

Ralph Hills ’21 (athlete), bronze medalist in the shot put in the 1924 Olympics.
Mike Vollmer ’86 (athlete), three-sport standout at Hill who captained the 1986 lacrosse team to a state championship before playing college football for Harvard.
Don Ronnie (coach), head basketball coach from 1955-1992 who remained with the program as a volunteer coach until 2011.
Longtime Division I college and NBA coach Dick Harter ’48 (Extraordinary Sports Achievement).
The undefeated 1949 football team.

For the inaugural year, the Hall of Fame Selection Committee decided to establish The Founders Hall, which is a one-time induction class for posthumous and/or “uncontestable” Hill coaches, alumni, and administrators who had a significant impact on Hill athletics. A total of 17 men were voted into the Founders Hall:

Coaches Frank Bissell ’33 (wrestling), Henry Colbath (track and field), Thomas Eccleston, Jr. (ice hockey), Dick O’Shaughnessy ’50 (football), and Harry Price (lacrosse); Olympians Sabin Carr ’24 and Alberto Mestre ’82; former Athletics Directors David Mercer, Jack Riley, and Michael Sweeney; and Briggs Cunningham ’26, Clarence Fincke 1893, Jimmy Gillison ’29, Sam Horner ’56, Lamar Hunt ’51, Tom Northrup ’64, and Dave Willman ’88, whose contributions to the School athletically and beyond warrant recognition.

Zack Lehman, Harry Price, and Seth Eilberg

“With the opening of our Hill Athletics Hall of Fame, we will bring attention to the countless examples of excellence over the long and rich athletics history of our great School,” said Director of Athletics Seth Eilberg. “We have a long, proud history that has been filled with several tremendous accomplishments and exemplary leaders, both here at The Hill and in the community, and even on the national stage. The legends we honor and their accomplishments serve to inspire our present day student-athletes and coaches to further our proud legacy.”

The evening began with opening remarks from Duncan Banfield '91, president of The Hill Alumni Association, and Headmaster Zachary Lehman.

“Though I am new to the School, I have already gained a deep appreciation for the great athletics history here at The Hill,” Lehman said. “All of us here understand the countless hours our student-athletes spend on the fields, court, pool, rink, track, or mat, and we value the lessons they learn from coaches, teammates, and athletes here before them. Tonight we will honor many of those great athletes and coaches, all of whom have helped shape numerous young men and women into the great people they are today -- people who are not just physically strong, but strong in character.”

During his opening remarks, Headmaster Lehman made a surprise announcement when he revealed that one of the turf fields that the School plans to construct will be named for Associate Headmaster emeritus and longtime lacrosse coach Harry Price. Harry spent 27 years at The Hill in a variety of capacities, including instructor of mathematics, director of admission, and Associate Headmaster. He guided the lacrosse program to some of its most successful seasons, including the 1986 State Championship. Harry retired from The Hill in 2000.

Following Headmaster Lehman’s remarks, a video presentation about The Founders Hall was shown; after the video, each member of the Founders Hall who was in attendance was called to the stage to receive his formal induction award. A family member or School representative accepted on behalf of those not in attendance. The 2012 Induction Class was introduced as the final portion of the program, with a different person speaking on behalf of each member – head boys' track coach Bill Yinger '95 spoke about Ralph Hills; longtime lacrosse coach Harry Price spoke for Mike Vollmer; Doug Beaver '73, captain of the 1972-73 basketball team and president of the Hill Basketball Association honored Don Ronnie; Mari Harter remembered her husband, Dick Harter '48; and Tom Richey '50, a standout on the 1949 football team, spoke on behalf of the team.

Please consider making a nomination for the next class of The Hill School Athletics Hall of Fame.