12 Hall of Fame inductees introduced
Formal induction to be in April
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Fans at this year's Ripley County basketball tournament welcomed 12 new inductees into Ripley County's Basketball Hall of Fame between the consolation and championship games on Saturday night.

Batesville High School gym was the site of the sixth annual Hall of Fame introductions emceed by Ted Ahaus, vice president of the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame board of directors.

Two of the group of 12 are deceased, and two of those being honored were unable to be present. Family members and/or friends received the certificates of membership for them.

Other members of the board of directors participating in Saturday night's introductions were Randy Young, treasurer, and Roberta Brandes, secretary. President William "Gus" Moorhead also assisted.

Members who will be formally inducted in April at the Osgood Bull Pen are: Jerry Bohman, a 1971 Batesville graduate; Art Brebberman, 1956 player at Napoleon and Batesville girls' coach from 1979-1991; Ethan Jackson, a 1954 Holton graduate; Donna (Lamping) Hoeing, 1981 Batesville player and Batesville girls' coach for four years.

Also, Mary Jo McClelland, coach of Jac-Cen-Del girls' basketball team from 1976-1978 with a 55-3 record and state runner-up in 1978; Allen Smith, 1960 graduate of Versailles High School. Accepting for Smith was his friend and former teammate Darrel Scott.

Chris Smith, three-year varsity player at South Ripley, graduating in 1970; Michael G. Smith, player at both Napoleon and Jac-Cen-Del schools; William Wanstrath, graduate of Batesville High School in 1979 who holds the rebounding and blocked shots records for the Bulldogs.

Collins Wildman, graduate of New Marion in 1928, where he later taught and coached. Wildman, who passed away in 1969, was represented by his sister Geneva Myers of Milan.

Julie Wilhoit, 1981 graduate of Jac-Cen-Del, where she excelled in basketball and is presently coaching a Division I school - Loyola Marymount University in California -was unable to attend because of commitments to her team. She was represented by her parents Ted and Marlene Hughes of Osgood.

The recipient of the Meritorious Service Award was Forest G. Waters, Versailles and South Ripley administrator, who passed away in 1987. Waters served on the Indiana High School Athletic Association Board of Control for two terms and was president during his second term.

Accepting for Waters was his grandson Kevin Waters of Mason, Ohio.

Each of the inductees received a framed certificate following the reading of the biographical information that qualified him/her to be elected to the basketball hall of fame.

Generous applause greeted each of the former athletes, who were guests, along with their families, at a buffet supper in the hospitality room of the high school.

The formal induction in April will include short responses by each of the recipients and the presentation of plaques from a grant from the Ripley County Community Foundation, Inc.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO

The 2006 inductees of the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame receive framed certificates after their introduction on Saturday, January 7, between games at the boys part of the Ripley County Tourney. Pictured are: Kevin Waters, grandson of the late Forest G. Waters, recipient of the Meritorious Service Award; Marlene Hughes, mother of Julie Wilhoit, a recipient; Geneva Myers, sister of the late Collins J. Wildman; Donna (Lamping) Hoeing, and Mary Jo McClelland; Standing: Darrel Scott, teammate of recipient Allen Smith; Ted Hughes, father of Julie Wilhoit; Chris Smith, Art Brebberman, Ethan Jackson, William Wanstrath, Mike Smith, and Jerry Bohman.