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The athletic
department and an appointed committee began working on the
Hall of Fame in November of last year. The inductees were
announced in August and the curtain was unveiled Sunday.
Dr. Steve Cobb,
UAA's athletic director, says they are the best coaches,
student athletes and administration the university has had.
They have met and exceeded the standards.
He addressed
and praised the inductees directly.
“We aren't
pleased,” he said. “We're honored.”
Tom Besh
A native of Anchorage,
Tom Besh was UAA's first full-time ski coach, serving from
1977-1990. He moved on to serve as chair of UAA's physical
education department and was in this position until his
death in an airplane crash in 1993 at the age of 45. As
head ski coach at UAA for 13 years, his teams produced one
national championship, 19 All-Americans and numerous top-10
NCAA championship finishes.
Paul Crews spoke
on behalf of the Besh family emphasizing Besh's wonderful
personality.
“ Tom was
our leader,” Crews said.
“He had
a keen interest in athlete students regardless of their
ability,” said Besh's wife Judy, who, along with his
daughters Kendra and Leah, was present for the ceremony.
Teri Frankie-Lavalle
“Uncommon
greatness describes Teri,” said Paul Stoklos, UAA's
gymnastics coach.
Originally from
Edmonds, Wash., Frankie-Lavalle was the first gymnast recruited
and signed at UAA. She is also UAA's only two-time Athlete
of the Year, winning the award in 1986 and 1990. She was
a three-time All-American in 1985, 1986 and 1990. Stoklos
described Frankie-Lavalle as self-reliant, independent and
a perfectionist. After several knee surgeries, including
a complete reconstruction, she was also known as the girl
on crutches.
Frankie-Lavalle
said she receives rewards daily from gymnastics.
“Thank you
for giving me a place for my gymnastics to be nurtured,
then honoring me for it,” she said. She now lives in
Leominster, Mass. with her husband, John LaVallee and their
son, Carson.
Hansi Gnad
Originally from
Langen, Germany, Gnad arrived at UAA as a tall, lanky swimmer
who committed to play for a year.
“I couldn't
play when I arrived,” Gnad wrote in a letter. He left
after a four-year career as one of the best basketball players
to come out of UAA. He was named to the NCAA Division II
All-American Team as well as UAA Athlete of the Year. Gnad
finished his career as the team's No. 1 all-time leading
scorer and rebounder. His records still stand. His jersey
number 33 was retired in 1987 and hangs in the Sports Center
gym.
Unable to make
the trip to Alaska, Gnad was presented by Dave Rehfeldt.
He described Gnad as immature, yet dedicated and extremely
hard working and read a letter from Gnad.
“You can't
possibly imagine what UAA has done for my life,” Gnad
wrote. He ended his letter with some advice for the current
athletes at UAA.
“I still
hate Fairbanks. Keep kicking their butts.”
Robin Graul
“There are
people who talk about what they're going to do, then there
are those who do it. Robin was the latter,” said UAA
men's basketball coach Charlie Bruns as he presented Graul.
Originally from
Denver, Colo., Graul finished her four years with the women's
basketball team in 1989 as the most acclaimed women's basketball
player ever at UAA. She was a four-time team Most Valuable
Player and three-time Continental Divide Conference Player
of the Year. Her jersey number 22 is retired and hangs in
the gym. She was UAA Athlete of the Year in 1988 and set
18 school records. Many of her records still stand including
most career points and most games started. She is currently
a regional manager of a property management company in Mesa,
Ariz.
Trading the sun
for the cold, Graul was one of the first female basketball
recruits.
“Awesome
memories,” said Graul.
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UAA's
athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb praised the inaugural Seawolf
Hall of Fame class: "We aren't pleased. We're honored."
(By David Hayes/Northern Light)
Dr.
Lee Piccard was the only administrator inducted the inaugural
Seawolf Hall of Fame.