Inaugural Hall of Fame event to honor former Mesa standouts
On Nov. 3, Mesa Community College will hold its first Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at the Dobson Ranch Inn on South Dobson Road in Mesa. Proceeds of the event will go to the Athletic Scholarship Fund
The dinner, which is being presented by the Dwight Patterson Sports Academy, is being put on to honor administrators, community benefactors, coaches and athletes who contributed to the school’s athletic program during its first decade.Among those being honored will include the late John Riggs who was MCC’s first executive dean, serving from 1965-1974.
The school’s first athletic director, Theo Heap will also be honored for his contributions to Mesa athletics, as he served from 1966-1979.
Several former MCC coaches will also receive honors at the dinner. Tennis and basketball coach Lot Christensen will be honored as well as Jim Brock, who coached from 1965-1971 and won a NJCAA Coach of the Year award during that time.
Carvel Jackson is also being honored for his role as a track and field coach and athletic director. Jackson worked at MCC from 1969-1976 won a NJCAA Coach of the Year award and is also a member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame.
Paul Widmer, who was a football and golf coach at MCC from 1967-1980 is also being honored.
Former MCC athletes are also to be honored at the dinner for their career acheivements.Among the athletes being honored are Bill Byron, who was an ACCAC Champion and All-American from Mesa from 1971-1972, and Jim Christensen, an All-ACCAC basketball player from 1966-1967.
NJCAA Hall of Fame member Mark Murro, who was an All-American and a National Champion in track and field at MCC will also be honored.
In all there will be 11 former MCC athletes being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“The event will be a good way to honor those who contributed to the MCC athletic program,” said MCC Sports Information Director Lew Shaw. During the ceremony, a slideshow for each inducted member will be presented to show their contributions to the program.
Tickets for the event are still availabe and reservations can be made to attend the event through Oct. 31