WASHINGTON STATE TRACK AND FIELD COACHES ASSOCIATION

HALL OF FAME


After many years of planning and research, the Washington State Track and Field Coaches Association announced the foundation of a Hall of Fame last year and introduced the initial 12 inductees. Super Jock & Jill provided plaques and a permanent display at its store near Green Lake in Seattle.

1995 Charter Members - The following 12 members of the new Hall were Inducted on May 25, 1995, in Tacoma. 

Mitch Angelel

Four years after graduating from Central Washington University, Mitch began a 40-year tenure at Mason Junior High in Tacoma in 1929.  He also coached at the University of Puget Sound and had two undefeated years at Stadium high School.  Mitch organized the Tacoma Track and Field Club and was instrumental in developing the Pierce County and Pacific Northwest Junior Olympic Program. He was active in track until his passing in 1992. 

Bill Brickert   

This Washington state grad coached for 34 years - eight  at Cle Elum, 12 at Shelton Junior High and 14 at Shelton  High. During his career, Bill's teams won 85 percent of their  meets and, even after retirement, he coached another eight  years at Capital until 1990.  Bill was elected the first president of the Washington State Track Coaches Association in  1972. 

Howard Dolphin   

Graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1952, and coached at Otis Orchard High School until he came to East Valley of Spokane in 1961.  Howard coached at East Valley for 27 years,  producing seven league championships, a state title in 1979 and 19 Individual state champions. He moved to West Valley  in 1988 as an assistant and has been there since. 

Bob Dorr   

After receiving his degree in 1940 at the University of  Washington, Bob spent his entire 31-year career as the head  track coach at Bellingham High School.  In that career, his teams won  five league titles, five district titles and were state champions in 1949, 1951, and 1958. Bob, who retired In 1978, won  80 percent of his dual meets and developed nine Individual  state champions. 

John Eagle   

Graduated from Lewis & Clark College and taught and coached for 32 years, including 26 at Fort Vancouver. He  compiled a dual-meet record of 244-41-1, including a streak of 55 In a row. His teams won 11 league championships, nine district titles and placed at state twice. During his career he developed nine individual state champions. 

Art Frey  

From 1943 to 1968, Art's teams at Lewis & Clark High won  75 percent of their dual meets, captured 17 Spokane league  titles, including three In a row, and won a state title in 1962.  The '62 team included five of Art's 12 state champions. He  also coached great mile relay teams, putting together a  string of five straight state championship squads. Art passed  away in 1980.

Art Hutton  

Art started his lengthy career at Clover Park, where he won a state title in 1952, and added stints at West Valley, Yakima and Eisenhower. Art took over at Central Washington in 1963 and his teams won eight straight conference and district titles. After CWU, he coached the Moroccan Olympic team In 1972 before returning to Clover Park Art finished his career as cross country and assistant track coach at the University of Washington. He retired in 1985 and passed away in 1986.

Jack Mooberry  

In high school, Jack was a state champion sprinter at Wenatchee in 1926 and 1927 and went on to be a national- class sprinter at Washington State. He coached at Longview and Rogers of Spokane for ten years before returning to Pullman in 1946. In 28 years at Washington State, Jack won 70 percent of his dual meets, including seven straight years in the NCAA top 10. He was named NCAA Coach of the Year In 1969. Jack coached 53 All-Americans and had athletes in five Olympics. He retired in 1973 and passed away in 1978.

Noble Moodhe  

Coached at Wenatchee High in the 1920s. He coached Wes Foster, who was a national-record breaker in the 50- and 100-yard dashes and later coached Jack Mooberry. During Noble's tenure, Wenatchee won four consecutive state titles from 1924 through 1927.

Tracy Walters  

In 10 years at Rogers of Spokane, Tracy's teams won seven Spokane league titles. He coached Jerry Lindgren and guided him to world-class status as a prep athlete and he coached seven other state champions. He spent a year at San Jose State, where he helped develop Lee Evans. 

Dan Watson   

Coming from Colorado in 1957, Dan established a successful program at Baker Junior High in Tacoma in 1957. He moved to Lincoln in 1965 and built one of the most successful programs in state history, winning numerous league and district championships and six state titles before his retirement in the late 1980s.

Lowell Wiggins  

After graduating from Washington State, Lowell came to Highline High in 1926. Under his guidance, Highline was a consistent entrant at the state meet and won state titles in 1931 and 1933. When he stopped coaching and went into administration, Lowell continued to referee all track meets at Highline until his death In 1972.

Class of 1996

Lee Cave

Lee graduated in 1946 from Wenatchee High where he was a three-year letterman and state runner-up in the 880 as a senior. After a short stint in the Navy, Lee was a three-year letterman in track at Washington State before graduating in 1953. Lee taught and coached at Nespelem, White Swan, Hudson's Bay and Fort Vancouver before settling down at Columbia River. Lee was the head cross country and track coach for 20 years at CR until retiring in 1983. During that time, his teams piled up a dual-meet record of 102- 35, won six league titles, four district titles and produced eight individual state champions. Throughout his career Lee contributed to the sport as a teacher, clinician, official and coach.

Ike Cummings   

Ike graduated from Troy High ('53) in Montana where he was the state champion in the 440 his senior year. He then went on to Eastern Washington and was a three-year letterman in track. He received a BA and MA in education from EWU before starting his teaching career at Almira and Davenport. Ike moved to Cashmere in 1967 and became the head basketball and track coach. While at Cashmere, his 1969 track team was third at state and his 1972 basketball team won the state title. Ike move into administration in 1973 as athletic director at Eastmont. He was the director of the A and B state track meets for 14 years until his retirement in 1993.

Herm Caviness   

Herm graduated from Coulee Dam High in 1951 and went on to Eastern Washington, where he was a distance runner until graduating in 1955. Herm spent seven years as an elementary and junior high track coach at Coulee Dam and Quincy before moving to Spokane to become head track coach at Ferris.  Herm coached in Spokane for 19 years and his teams won 15 league titles in the Greater Spokane League and a state title in 1971.  Herm coached several outstanding athletes, including Rick Riley and Judd Eddy.  He remains active in teh sport as an assistant at West Valley.

Class of 1997

Frank Ahem  

Frank is in his 45th year of coaching, including 36 years in Seattle Central area schools and eight years in Seattle parochial schools. He is currently in his second year as head coach at Highline Community College.   During his long coaching career, Frank has been associated as a head coach or assistant with 26 state championship teams in track & field, cross country and basketball. He has coached athletes who have set state and national records, including Peller Phillips, Mark Phillips and Shirley Walker.   Frank graduated from O'Dea High School and attended Washington State University where he played varsity basketball as a freshman. He then spent two years in the army before finishing his education at Seattle University, where he also played basketball. He later earned his master's degree from the University of Washington.   Today, Frank uses his considerable knowledge and skill to continue a lifetime of contributions to the sport of track. 

Dennis McDonald

Dennis graduated from Bellevue High School in 1954 and then went to the University of Washington where he earned his BA and WD.   He began his career as a coach at Chinook Junior High and then moved to North Thurston High School where he was an assistant from 1972-84 and head coach from 1985- 88. He also founded the Thurston County Striders and ran the program from 1968-94.   Dennis was the founder and administrator of the Washington State Decathlon and Heptathlon Championships, an event that has become an integral part of the sport in our state since its beginning in 1972.   Through his efforts, Dennis has given our greatest athletes the opportunity to compete in multi-event competition, gain national attention, earn college scholarships and, for one more week, enjoy the sport's offerings.   There are many athletes and coaches who appreciate what Dennis has done for Washington prep track and, field.

Class of 1998

Tom Buckner   

Tom graduated from Hudson's Bay in 1959 where he was a four-time state  champion. He graduated from Central Washington in 1966 after being a  nationally ranked sprinter and captain of the track team. His first coaching job  was at Franklin Pierce where he spent 12 years. His teams won seven  conference titles and four straight state titles from 1974 to 1977.    In 1978 he moved to Mead and coached for the next eight years. His Mead teams were undefeated in duals six of those years, won six GSL titles and  placed at state three times. Tom moved to Oregon in 1986 and his Gresham  boys and girls won four league championships.                             

Spike Arlt  

Spike graduated from Ritzville in 1956 and from Washington State in 1960. He competed in track and football at WSU and was Athlete of the Year in 1960. He coached both sports at Harrington and Eastmont before moving to Central Washington in 196 8. Spike was the head men's coach at Central from 1975 to 1989 and during that time his teams won two district titles and had 22 All-Americans. He was Coach of the Year in 1986 through 1988. Spike has also boom a leader in the development and implementation of computer-assisted coaching and has produced software in this field.                           

Jim Daulley 

Jim was an outstanding athlete at Arlington, Ore., and competed for Oregon  State. He entered his coaching career in 1970 at Baker Junior High in Tacoma  and moved to Wilson where be became the head coach in 1975. He coached  seven years and retired in 1981 to enter the insurance field. While his career was short it was spectacular. His dual record was 59-3, including 44 straight.  His teams won four AAA state titles in 1975, '78, '80 and '81 and never  finished lower than fourth. He produced state champions in 15 of 16 events.                        

George Rowswell   

George has been coaching track for 57 years and at 80 is still involved. He  began in 1940 at Nespelem and included stints at Waterville, Winlock, Chelan,  Centralia and finally North Thurston where he coached from 1955 to 1997. In  his career,  George has coached league championship teams in football,  Baseball, basketball and track. He has coached 20 individual state track  champions. George has dedicated his life to coaching young people and has  made a lasting contribution to the sport.

Class of 1999

Gary Smith  

Gary graduated from Eastern Washington  University in 1962 and began his coaching  career at Okanogan. He moved to Bridgeport  where his teams won three league titles.   From there he moved to Castle Rock and  finally to Omak where he coached for 21 years  until 1992.   At Omak, Gary coached boys for six years and  then spent the next 15 years coaching the girls.  During that time his teams won 10 league titles,  10 district championships and were in the top  six at state eight times. Smith's Pioneers  finished second at state twice and won it all in 1983.   Gary coached seven state champions and his  athletes set five state-meet records, including  three in the 1600 relay.   During the summers, Gary coached AAU track  from 1969 to 1988 and he built a program that  had as many as 60 athletes from Omak and  neighboring towns. Gary also coached football and basketball and served on the state meets games committee from  1960 to 1993.             

Gerald Martin   

Jerry dedicated over 35 years to coaching track and field teams at the high school and college levels won three league tales.  He began at Colfax and went on to Columbia Basin College, Washington State University, Spokane Community College, North Central High and Eastern Washington University. In his career he has coached 12 All- Americans and produced numerous league, conference and national champions. Jerry won a national (NCAA Div. 11) cross country title while at Eastern Washington.  The best indicator of Jerry's tremendous contribution to the sport is the fact that he influenced so many young men who have stayed in the sport - over 20 head and assistant coaches in the state today can say  that Jerry was their coach and a huge factor in their development. 

Class of 2000

Joel Wingard

Joel graduated from Shelton High School in 1961 where he played football and ran for Hall of Fame coach Bill Brickert in track. He went on to the University of Puget Sound where he earned a degree in math and competed in track for four-years. Joel then embarked on a teaching and coaching career that literally took him all over the world from Nigeria to Colorado to Gig Harbor, to England and Mexico. But it was in his coaching career at Peninsula and Gig Harbor High Schools that Joel established himself as one of the most successful coaches in state history. His girls won four state titles and were second three times. His boys won one state title and were second twice. Along with numerous league and district titles, his teams won the state dual meet championship I I times, and Joel coached 29 individual state champions. Joel has also been a tireless worker for the sport of track and field in this state. He was president of the Track Coaches Association, served on the WIAA Spring Sports Committee, administered several district and state meets and serves on the Executive Board of Washington Cultural Exchange. He was named Girls' Track Coach of the Year in 1994 and Boy s' Track Coach of the Year in 1996 and the fact that he has 20 former athletes coaching cross country or track is a testament to the mark Joel has made on our sport in this state.

George Makela

George Makela graduated from South Kitsap High School in 1957 where he was a state placer in the Shot Put. He went on to the University of Washington earning varsity letters in track and placing 7th in the Pacific 8 Shot in 1961. After graduate work at Oregon State, he came to Cashmere in 1968, and became the head track coach in 1970, a position he held until his retirement in 1998. In his 28 years at Cashmere, George was actively involved in WIAA Spring Sports Committee work, the Washington State Coaches Association, and the administration of the State Meet. In addition to his many contributions to the sport of track and field, George built one of the most successful programs in state history. His teams won three state championships, were second 4 times and third 6 times. He coached a staggering 37 state champions, and those athletes set 16 state records. He was named State Track Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1994; and for all of 'this and the hundreds of athletes' lives he touched, George is inducted into the Washington State Track coaches Hall of Fame.

Class of 2001

Gary Baskett

Gary graduated from West Seattle High where he was a school record holder in the shot. He attended Wenatchee Valley College and Central Washington and set Central's shot record while placing ninth in the NAIA National meet. Gary's coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Central and included stints at Illwaco, West Seattle, Lincoln-Seattle, Federal Way and Wenatchee Valley leading up to a 20-year stay at Mead. At Mead, Gary developed a program that was one of the most dominant in state history. His teams won five state titles, were second four times and third twice. His teams combined for a 17-year undefeated dual meet string and produced 29 individual state champions. Gary continues to contribute as a clinician, master's track official and cultural exchange coach. He also serves as an assistant at Spokane C.C.

Keith Collins

Although Keith only coached for 10 years at Ritzville he has been an important contributor to the sport.  During his high school days in Cashmere, Keith was a multiple state champion and national decathlon winner. He went on to Washington State and set a school record in the decathlon and placed third in the 1982 NCAA meet.  After graduation, Keith was the track coach at Ritzville from 1983 to 1992. His boys teams were state champs twice with 11 total individual champions. His girls won five state titles, including four in a row from 1988 to 1991, with 28 individual winners.  Keith is now an elementary principal in Lynden and he continues to support track by serving as the Northwest league and district referee, the state 2A-IA-B state meet referee and as a WIAA track rules clinician.

Jim Freeman

Jim graduated from Western Washington in 1964 and set the Vikings' school record in the 3-mile run.  He started coaching cross country at Mt. Baker High and he took over the boys track program in 1975. Jim coached track for 24 years until his retirement in 1998.  During his tenure Jim built on the tradition Bob Tisdale started, winning numerous league and district titles along with state titles in 1975, 1988 and 1989.  Jim's boys medaled in every event at state.  Although he is retired, Jim continues to be active, teaching math at Lummi Tribal school, serving on Mt. Baker's school board and as an assistant women's Basketball coach at Whatcom Community College.  Jim was inducted into the cross country coaches Hall of Fame last year.

Class of 2002

Duane Hartman

Track and Field lost a great friend in 2001. Cancer took his life in September, but his memory will live on with his induction into the Hall of Fame. Duane grew up in Tacoma and graduated from Bellarmine High School in 1959. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Eastern Washington University. He joined the Mead High School coaching staff while he was still in graduate school. In 1967, Duane took over the track and field program at Mead. At that time, Mead had been winless for the last three years. By 1978, his teams had gone undefeated in dual meets for five straight years with two Boys GSL titles and one Girls GSL title. He built a program and started a tradition that eventually led to the winning tradition that Mead would become known for in the Greater Spokane League and the state in the 1980's and 1990's. In 1978, Duane moved to Spokane Community College where he was the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach to John Buck. He succeeded Buck in 1983. Between both coaches, SCC won an unbelievable 16 straight NWAACC Titles. Duane "retired" from his head coaching position at SCC in 1996, but he never stopped coaching or contributing to the sport. He remained as an assistant coach at SCC and volunteered as an assistant coach at the newly formed Mt. Spokane High School, He was an official at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games where he watched one of his former SCC athletes, Dan O'Brien win the gold medal in the decathlon. Duane was planning to serve as head coach of Mt. Spokane High School during the 2002 season when he finally lost his battle with cancer. In his final days, the WSTFCA was able to hold an induction ceremony that touched his heart. He will remain the only active coach ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. His contributions will were great and his memory lives on in the many athletes, coaches and other people he touched over his great career.        

Warren Logan

Warren Logan graduated from Lincoln High School in 1951 after an incredible career in both football and track and field. He was a high school cross-state AU-Star in football and a standout decathlete in track and field. Following high school, he attended University of Puget Sound where he continued to excel in both football and track and field. While in college, he was a four-year letterman and inspirational award winner in football and one of the leading point scorers on the track and field team. After college, he began coaching at Lakes High School where he compiled yet another outstanding record of success. This was especially notable when it came to the state championship meet. His teams won two state tides in 1975 and 1987, placed second three other times, third twice and fourth three times. During his career, he coached twelve individual state champions and six relay team state champions. He had six state champions in the 400m event alone. He was named as Washington State Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year in 1987 and was nominated for national coach of the year honors in 1984 and 1988. Since retiring, Warren continues to volunteer at track and field meets in his local area and make contributions to the sport that he has already given so much to over the last forty years.