(SPRINGFIELD) This past weekend was the induction ceremonies for the new Illinois Sports Hall of Fame, an extension of the existing Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield. Among the list of thirty-five (35) inductees was long-time former Olney Central College Baseball Coach Dennis Conley, who this past fall was among the inaugural list of inductees into the area National Athletic Hall of Fame, based out of Effingham County. Others of area interest inducted this past weekend were former Junior College Coaches Paul Schnarre and Rob Fournier of Wabash Valley College, Jerry Halstead of John A. Logan College, and Neil Fiala of Southwestern Illinois College, plus former Lawrenceville High School Coach Ron Felling, former area basketball players Jay Shidler, Tyra Buss Davidson, Luke Drone, Darin Blair, Mike Cunningham, and former professional and college players Walt Frazier, Bobby Jones, Kenny Battle, and Deon Thomas. The weekend event included a Friday Night of Memories which featured 11 speakers, followed by Saturday’s Hall of Fame Banquet and Ceremony. The Illinois Sports Hall of Fame was created by Tim Turpin, who also founded the Greater Evansville and Indiana Sports Halls of Fame over the past several years.
