SPORT HALL OF FAME TO CELEBRATE LOCAL SPORTS HEROES AT WALL OF DISTINCTION CEREMONY

RIVERSIDE, CA – –   The Riverside Sport Hall of Fame is gearing up to add the next 27 names to the prestigious Wall of Distinction. The event will be held on Saturday, January 21^st at 11 a.m. at

CITY OF RIVERSIDE – CITY HALL – Council Chambers   |   3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA  92501

This year’s event will celebrate deserving individuals who have yet to be recognized and who have participated in the Olympic Games, as well as others who have excelled at a local, national or international level of competition in the areas of baseball, fast-pitch softball and officiating. Additionally, the Hall will honor coaches and athletic administrators for their outstanding achievements and for the positive examples they have set for Riverside’s youth. Brief bios of each honoree will be read as they are introduced and their names are revealed etched in granite, permanently recording this moment in Riverside sports history. Individuals to be recognized this year and worthy of this high praise by category are:

Olympians:                            Whitney Ashley, Tyler Clary and Brenda Martinez

Baseball:                                Matt Andriese and Austin Barnes

Fast-Pitch Softball:          Albert “Red” Strickland

Officiating:                             Paul Mahoney

Coaches/Athletic Administrators:

Gary Adcock        Glenn Anderson                 Ken Batdorf                           Don Birren

Delores “Smokey” Crisucci                            Ron Edmondson                 Becky Gagnon

Rich Graves         Bill Grisham                          Gene Hughes                       Will Jacobsmeyer

Dr. Linda Lacy    Charles Leathers              Tony Masi                               Brad Peters

Charlie Ricards                   Gwen Ritzau                         Rick Rowland                       Gary Rungo

Doug Smith

Riverside is proud of its exemplary sports history and each of these individuals that have contributed greatly to community pride. The annual event is free and is open to the public.

Knowing that there are far more praiseworthy individuals whose names have yet to be affixed to the Wall, the Riverside Sport Hall of Fame will continue to identify and add the names of deserving athletes, coaches and contributors each year at this Wall of Distinction event.

During this event, the names of those individuals who have been selected for induction into the Riverside Sport Hall of Fame 2017 INDUCTION CELEBRATION will be announced. The Induction Celebration and Parade of Champions will be held the evening of Monday, May 8^th at the Riverside Convention Center. For additional information, membership or to make a nomination of an individual for future consideration please visit the RSHOF website at: www.RiversideSportHallofFame.com, send an email to info@riversidesporthalloffame.com or contact the Riverside Sport Hall of Fame by mail:

P. O. Box 2423, Riverside, CA 92516.

MISSION OF THE RIVERSIDE SPORT HALL OF FAME

The Riverside Sport Hall of Fame is dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the role sports play in contributing to the quality of life in Riverside. The Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and community leaders who have brought fame or honor to the City of Riverside through their involvement in athletics. Furthermore, the Hall of Fame encourages participation in sports among young people by recognizing Riverside student athletes with scholarships; sponsoring local athletic events; and providing sports-related clinics for the benefit of athletes, their coaches and parents.