UNIVERSITY OF DENVER ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 1999

HERITAGE ERA INDUCTEES

John Adams
Football and Baseball (1943-45)
When he came to the University of Denver in 1943, few knew that John Adams was just beginning what would become a long career as a leader in the sports community in Colorado. A stand out on the gridiron for the Pioneers in 1944-1945 he earned first-team All-Skyline Conference honors as both a full back and a quarter back. In his sophomore campaign he was an honorable mention selection at the full back position. In 1944 he set the schools benchmark for touchdown passes in a game when a completed four in a 41-6 victory against New Mexico on November 11 at Albuquerque. He was also a standout on the baseball diamond for the Pioneers. In addition to his athletic accomplishments excelled in the classroom graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Following his playing days as a Pioneer Adams became a multi-sport coach at Lincoln High School and West High School. The highlight of his coaching career came in 1949 when he led West High to the state baseball title. He was a longtime high school football and basketball official in Colorado. He was the chair of the NCAA Football Rules Committee in 1980-1981 and was the Section Editor of the NCAA Rules Committee from 1992-1995.

James Babcock
Men's Basketball(1943-37)
James Babcock was first team all-American in 1937 and garnered first-team all-Skyline Conference honors in 1936 and 1937. A four-year letterman for the Pioneers from 1934-1937, Babcock led the team in points (272), points per game (13.6), field goals (106) and free throws (60) for the 1936-37 season--a year when DU defeated CU for the right to play Montana State for the Skyline Conference Championship (which DU eventually lost to MSU in a best-of-three series). Babcock was an instrumental member of the DU team that captured the Eastern Division title of the Skyline Conference championship in 1937 and served as the team's captain that season - his senior campaign. During his four-year career he led the Pioneers to an impressive 48-27 combined record and the team never finished lower than fourth place in the conference standings.

Richard Hotton
Baseball and Basketball (mid 1920's)
Richard Hotton literally enriched thousands of lives during his various sports careers in Denver. While at the University of Denver, Hotton stood above his peers as one of the finest all-around performers in the school's rich athletic history. He was a perennial all-star in basketball and baseball for the Pioneers in the mid 1920s and in 1926 and 1927 he lettered in football as a place kicker. Upon graduation, Hotton signed a professional baseball contract with the Pueblo Braves of the Class A Western League where he played for four years. His career in baseball ended abruptly when the Western League dropped Denver and Pueblo at the end of the 1932 season. Hotton then spent more than 35 years teaching and coaching, mostly at West High, before retiring in 1969. In 1984 he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. In 1967 he received the Teacher of the Year Award, one of seven in Denver, and he accumulated a case full of trophies and medals as he moved along in his athletic endeavors.

Ellison Ketchum
Football (1927-29), Baseball, Basketball (1928-30), Head Basketball Coach (1940-42, 1946-48), Head Football Coach (1942), Director of Athletics (1944-50)
Few people, if any, have had the breadth of impact on the University of Denver's athletics department that Ellison Ketchum had. As a student-athlete , coach and administrator, he was a part of DU's athletic department in four decades. His career began as a student-athlete and he excelled. A 10-time letterman, Ketchum earned three letters each in football and baseball, and earned four in basketball. He was a second-team all-Skyline Conference receiver in football in 1929 and led the basketball team as its captain the same year. Following his playing days Ketchum served as an assistant football coach from 1937-41 and assisted with the basketball team sporadically. He was elevated as the head football coach in 1942 and led the team to a 6-3-1 (.650) record in his only season at the helm. As the men's basketball head coach he compiled a 44-45 overall record in four seasons from 1940-42 and then from 1946-48. In 1944 he accepted the athletic director's post and served in that capacity until 1950. He graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees from DU in 1931 and 1938, respectively.

Everette Marshall
Wrestling (1928)
Inducted into the third class of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1967, Everette Marshall is truly one of the outstanding athletes in the history of sports in the state of Colorado. Although his time at the University of Denver lasted only one year Marshall left his mark on the program. After turning professional Marshall wrestled more than 2,000 matches. His career as a professional lasted more than 18 years and he won the world heavyweight championship in 1937 - a title he retained for three years. During the three-year span he held the crown Marshall won 99.8 percent of his matches. He won more than $2.5 million in prize money and drew crowds ranging to 23,000 He became famous for his airplane spin move which usually ended with his opponents head either in contact with the rail (which was not padded) or in a row of seats in the arena. Following his days as a professional wrestler, Marshall dedicated himself to helping children and teenagers. He cofounded the famed Colorado Boys Ranch near LaJunta, Colo., which serves as a home to troubled youth.

MODERN ERA INDUCTEES

John Byrden
Men's Head Soccer Coach (1974-88)
The winningest coach in the history of DU soccer, John Byrden etched his name in DU's annals as one of the school's most successful coaches. During his 14-year tenure as the men's soccer head coach Byrden compiled an outstanding 172-83-18 overall record and he had just two sub-.500 seasons during that time. In 1983 and 1987 he led the Pioneers to the NAIA regional championship and the second round of the NAIA national tournament. On three occasions Byrden-led teams captured the NAIA District IIV championship. One of his most successful seasons was his last. In 1988 he guided the team to a 20-2-2 record and the third round (semifinals) of the NAIA championships. To this day the 20 wins are the most in the program's history for a single season. That same year the team won or tied 22 consecutive games before losing to Midwestern State (Texas) in the semifinals of the tournament - the longest win streak in the program's history. In 1989, following his death, a men's soccer scholarship was established by the athletic department in his name that is awarded annually to the outstanding junior men's soccer player.

Rick Chaffee
Skiing (1965-68) One of the most remarkable athletes in the history of NCAA asking competition is Rick Chaffee. During his three-year career for the Pioneers Chaffee simply dominated his competitors like few ever have. A three-time individual national champion, Chaffee elevated DU's already successful ski program to greater heights. During his three-year career the team captured the national championship each season. In 1965 Chaffee was simply the best alpine skier on the circuit. He captured the 1965 NCAA alpine title and was the NCAA slalom champion. In 1967 he captured his third national title when he won the slalom competition once again. For his performances he was named an all-American in '65 and '67. In 1968, after he completed his eligibility at DU, Chaffee competed at the highest level when he traveled to Grenoble, France, for the Olympic Winter Games. He competed in his second Olympic Games in 1972 in Sapporo, Japan.

Ted Farwell
Skiing (1958-59)
Ted Farwell's impact on the skiing world has been far reaching. A member of the University of Denver ski team in 1958 and 1959 he helped lead the team to back-to-back national runner-up finishes at the NCAA championships. In 1959 he had a banner year. That season he was the NCAA national champion in the Nordic event (which has since been discontinued) and earned all-American honors for his performance that season. After a successful collegiate career, Farwell went on to compete in three Winter Olympic Games. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1952 at Oslo, Norway, in 1956 at Cortina, Italy, and in 1960 at Squaw Valley, Calif. He then was chairman for the U.S. Olympic subcommittee on Nordic competition for the 1964 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. He is a member of the National Skiing Hall of Fame and the Colorado Skiing Hall of Fame.

Fred Tesone
Football, Track (1949, 1953-54)
An accomplished all-around athlete at the University of Denver, Fred Tesone became a fixture in Denver's sports history as a student-athlete and coach. Tesonce was an honorable-mention all-conference halfback on DU's last Skyline Conference championship team in 1954 which finished with a remarkable 9-1 record. Following the 1954 campaign he was honored as the winner of the Eddie Barton Trophy. After playing for the Pioneers in 1949, Tesone fought in the Korean War from 1950-52 before returning to the University of Denver. Upon his return he finished the '54 season as the 11th-best rusher in the nation with 777 yards - a mark that ranks second on DU's all-time chart for yards gained in a season. In 1953 he was an honorable-mention all-conference halfback and finished his career ranked third at DU in career rushing yards with 1,329 and third in average yards gained per carry (4.7). In addition to his prowess on the football field, Tesone was a star on DU's track team as well. Following his days at DU, Tesone played one year in the Canadian professional ranks with the Calgary Stampeders. He then moved into coaching at the high-school level and was the head football coach at Cherry Creek High School where he compiled an outstanding 204-40-2 record during a 15-year career. While at Cherry Creek he was the master mind of teams that captured two state championships and 15 conference titles.

Jerry Walker
Hockey (1959-61)
One of the most intimidating scorers in the history of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Jerry Walker helped elevate the University of Denver hockey program to the highest heights, culminating in two national titles in 1960 and 1961. Walker was the greatest scorer on arguably the greatest team in the history of college hockey. The 1960-61 Pioneers tallied an astonishing 30-1-1 record and Walker established himself as a giant in the sport. It was during that season he had what remains as the greatest individual season in the history of the WCHA as he scored 56 goals, including a record 10 hat tricks. At the conclusion of the 1961 season Walker was honored as the first-ever recipient of the WCHA's most valuable player award, was a first-team all-America selection, and was named to the all-tournament team at the NCAA championships. Walker stands out with the school's second-best points-per-game average of 2.05 and his 13 career hat tricks ranks second in the WCHA record books. In addition to his accomplishments on the ice, Walker was a standout for the Pioneers as a baseball player. Following his days at DU Walker played professional hockey for several years in various cities. A devoted family man, Walker lists his marriage to wife, Patricia, and the birth of their three children as his greatest accomplishments.

Mustapha Zidane
Soccer (1980-83)
One of the most outstanding soccer players in the history of the sport at the University of Denver, Mustapha Zidane helped DU garner national recognition during his career. A four-year letter winner for the Pioneers from 1980-83, Zidane became the most honored DU men's soccer player ever when he was named a first-team all-American in 1980 and then again in 1983. He was the team's most valuable player in 1981, '82 and '83, and he established the Denver record for career assists with 37. He also holds the single-season record for assists with 19 set in 1982. As a rookie, Zidane was second on the team in scoring with 15 points in 14 games played and he was the second-best scorer in 1982 when he tallied 35 points on eight goals and 19 assists. During his career the Pioneers compiled an impressive 40-15-4 record. The best finish for the Pioneers was in 1982 when the team was 18-3 and finished second in the NAIA Area III playoffs. He moved into coaching youth soccer programs in Colorado in the 1990s.

WOMEN'S INDUCTEE

Melissa Barton
Gymnastics (1977-81)
Melissa Barton had a stellar career as a member of the University of Denver women's gymnastics team. During her time on the team from 1977-81 Barton was a nine-time All-American on the team and four-time letter winner. Twice, in 1978 and 1979, she was honored as a first-team all-American at the AIAW gymnastics championships. Her highest finish was in 1978 when she placed second on vault. That same season she placed third on beam and was sixth on bars, on floor and in the all-around competition, and captured the Region 7 title in the all-around. In 1979 she finished no lower than fifth in any one event and helped the team to an AIAW runner-up finish at the championships. At the end of the 1978 season, as a sophomore, she was recognized for her outstanding achievements when she was named Denver's female athlete of the year. She also received the Pioneer Sportswoman of the Year award.

TEAM INDUCTEES

The 1981-82 Women's Gymnastics Team
One of the greatest teams in the history of women's athletics at the University of Denver, the 1981-82 gymnastics squad achieved unparalleled heights by dominating the competition like few have before or since. Led by second-year head coach Dan Garcia, the team captured the AIAW Division II national championship - the first national title for a women's sport in the school's history. The Pioneers finished the season with a 33-9 overall record and defeated 12 teams in the championship to capture the title. To make the victory even sweeter, it happened at the DU Fieldhouse. It was in 1982 that Karen Beer, a four-time all-American, captured the national championship in the all-around after winning the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise competitions. Four other gymnasts - Liz Fudge, Anne Mason, Diana Perkins and Sonja Fowler - also earned all-America honors that season. The other members of the 1982 championship gymnastics team included Toni Anderson, Joyce Marie Boyle, Rebecca Brown, Lori Avis, Linda Kring and Jackie Martinez.

The 1954 Men's Ski Team
In 1954 the University of Denver ski team began a remarkable run of dominance in the winter sport. It was at the conclusion of the 1954 season that the Pioneers captured the first of 14 national championship titles. In fact from 1954 to 1972 the Pioneers never finished lower than runner-up in the most prestigious collegiate skiing competition in the country. It was just the second season legendary coach Willy Schaeffer was the team's head coach and it was the first of 13 national crowns for Schaeffer while coaching the Pioneers. The Pioneers finished ahead of Seattle for the national crown in 1954 and the team was led by Marvin Crawford, Willis S. Olson and John L'Orange. Crawford, who was inducted into DU"s Athletic Hall of Fame in it inaugural year, had a banner season in '54 as he captured the national championship in the individual cross country competition as well as the skimeister event. Olson and L'Orange each won national titles as well. Olson was the NCAA champion in the jumping event and L'Orange was the NCAA slalom champion. For Olson it marked the start of three consecutive ski jumping titles he would win, which still ranks tied as the NCAA record for consecutive national championships won. Only three other times in DU skiing history have the Pioneers had four individual champions in one season. Other members of the 1954 ski team are Gary Bubeck, John Cress, Glynn Cress, Rusty Crook, Stanley Driskoll, Ole C. Gotaas, Gunnar Jansen, Gerald McClellan, David Miller, Dave Shaw, Dale Thompson, Francis Wallace and Alvin Wegeman. No all-America ski team was chosen until the 1956 season. The other members of the 1982 championship gymnastics team included Toni Anderson, Joyce Marie Boyle, Rebecca Brown, Lori Avis, Linda Kring and Jackie Martinez.