It’s a time of celebration at Independence Community College. The ICC Athletic Department has announced the inaugural class that will be inducted into the newly-formed Pirate Athletic Hall of Fame.
A total of 10 individuals were selected the first year, including numerous record breakers, national champions, All-Americans and community members that have been valuable pieces of ICC athletics since the school’s inception in 1925.
Induction ceremonies are scheduled as part of the Pirate football game against Montgomery County rival Coffeyville on Saturday, Oct. 23, which will include other activities over the course of the weekend.
Members of the inaugural class are: Ira Stockebrand (1931-49), Pirate football and basketball coach; Dave Dennis (1946-48), national champion golfer; Bob Sneller (1956-64), national champion men’s basketball coach and NJCAA Hall of Famer; Rick Park (1961-63), member of 1963 national champion team and NJCAA Hall of Famer; Wardell Wright (1975-77), two-time All-American in football; Margozata Raubo (1991-93), NJCAA All-American who holds numerous ICC women’s basketball records; Ruben Patterson (1994-96), all-time leading scorer in ICC men’s basketball history; Lamar Garrett (2003), two-time national champion and All-American in track; as well as two distinguished community boosters, Don Harris and Paul Torrance.
“This is a way to honor people that made monumental strides helping the athletic department do some of the wonderful things it has done,” said ICC athletic director Tammie Geldenhuys. “We have a really rich history of winning traditions. I’ve been amazed, now that I’ve gone back, to see the number of candidates and nominations. Looking at all these people in history, it just amazes me the things people have done. I don’t want them forgotten because they are important pieces of the past. We’ve looked back at people all the way from the start of ICC back in the 1920s. It’s just been a wonderful picture of athletics here. I would love everybody to see that same vision. I think the way you do that is bring people back.”
Athletes are not eligible for membership into the Pirate Hall of Fame until at least seven years have passed since competing at ICC. Coaches and administrators will become eligible for nomination after leaving their nominated position. All others become eligible upon nomination.
“We picked 10 the first year because we are starting for the first time and going all the way back to the 1920s,” Geldenhuys said. “We may do 10 again next year or we may do five, or we may do no more than five. We’re still working on that. But we have such a wide range of years and sports to go through. It’s an exciting process, and I think it’s one that I hope will carry through until the end of time.”
Geldenhuys said she has been busy contacting inductees or members of their family to participate in the weekend’s activities. Other past players and coaches are also expected to be in attendance.
“Every time I talk to somebody on the phone, every one of them said this is where it all began for them,” Geldenhuys said. “Many of these candidates have gone on and been Hall of Famers at other colleges, institutions or even at the NJCAA level. But this is still where they began, and they have phenomenal memories of what they were a part of.
I think that’s a valuable piece of history. I also want people to realize that, even after all this time, they have made a difference. This is just our way of saying thank you.”
Activities will get underway at noon on Oct. 23 with the Hall of Fame Luncheon in the Fireside Room on the ICC campus. Prior to the football game, there will be a tailgate party set for 5 p.m. at Emmot Field.
Game time is set for 7 p.m., with the induction ceremony taking place at halftime of the Pirate-Red Raven football contest. After the induction ceremony, there will be a reception on the track near the hospitality tent for fans to mingle with the inductees.
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