W.F. Wellman Exhibit Hall
at the
Indiana Welcome Center
(I-80/94 & Kennedy Avenue South - Hammond, Indiana)
August 25 through October 7, 2009
Visit the exhibit August 25 thought October 7, 2009 to find out the new 2009 South Shore Sports Legends.
2009 People's Choice Legend Nominees
Doug Adams - Basketball
Doug Adams graduated from Hammond High School in 1943. He began coaching varsity basketball at Michigan City Elston High School in 1957. During his 20 years of coaching he won 12 conference championships, 18 sectional titles, 8 regional titles, 1 semi-state title, and his 1966 team won the state championship. He was named Indiana Coach of the Year in 1966 and 1972, and was the 1971 National Basketball Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1981.
George Buksar - Football
George Buksar graduated from Clark High School, Hammond in 1945. He played football for both Purdue University and the University of San Francisco. In 1949 he was drafted to the Chicago Hornets in the AAFC. The following year he joined the NFL, and during the next three years played for the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Colts.
Angela Hamblin - Basketball
Angela Hamblin graduated from Lew Wallace High School in Gary and was a high school basketball All-American. She played for the University of Iowa, and was drafted by the WNBA Washington Mystics in 1998. She was waved by the Mystics prior to the season and signed with the Detroit Shock. Following her WNBA career she became a coach at Lew Wallace High School.
Frank Kurth - Athletic Director/Coach
Frank Kurth was Athletic Director at Hobart High School from 1940 to 1973. During that time he coached the high school cross country team to 2 team state titles and coached 12 individual state champions. He also coached track, basketball and football at Hobart. The field house in the new Hobart High School (opening in January 2009) will be named after Frank Kurth, and a 70-ft mural of him will be in the gymnasium of the field house.
Monica Maxwell - Basketball
Monica Maxwell graduated from East Chicago Central and was an Indiana All-Star. She played basketball in college for Louisiana Tech helping take the team to consecutive Final Four appearances. Following college, she was played for the WNBA Washington Mystics. In 2000 she was the number one pick for the Indianapolis Fever in the WNBA expansion draft.
Ted Topor - Football
Ted Topor graduated from East Chicago Roosevelt in 1949. He was All-Conference for football in 1945 and 1946. He played for the University of Michigan in 1950 through 1952 and was the MVP in 1952. In 1950 he helped the team win the Rose Bowl Championship. Following college he played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.
Visit the exhibit August 25th through Oct.7th to see who is the 2009 People's Choice Legend.
2009 South Shore Sports Legends
Tim Bishop
Darrel Chaney
1984 & 1985 Crown Point Girls Basketball Champions
The Platis Family
Al Pilarcik
2008 South Shore Sports Legends
James Arthur "Jim" Bradley
Donald Elser
Milo (Milan) Komenich
1937 Hammond High Wildcats Football Team
Tom Stokes
2008 Contributing South Shore Sports Legend
Ray Nichels
2008 People's Choice South Shore Sports Legend
Mary Lou Piatek-Daniels
2007 South Shore Sports Legends
Dick "Skull" Barnett
John Baratto
Vince Boryla
Vic Bubas
Lee Calhoun
John Campbell
Rodolfo "Rudy" Chapa
Richard Corbet "Corby" Davis
Bob Dille
Gene Donaldson
Drew Family (Homer, Scott, Bryce, Dana)
1970 EC Roosevelt Boys Basketball/
1971 EC Washington Boys Basketball
Charles O. Finley
Raymond P. Gallivan
Abe Gibron
1940 Hammond Tech Boys Basketball
Tom Harmon
Don Howell
Gerald Irons
Karras Family (Lou, Alex, Ted, Paul)
Ron Kittle
Kelly Komara
Bernie Krueger
Bob Kuechenberg
Don Larsen
Ken Lofton
Louis "Bo" Mallard
Lloyd McClendon
Mike McGill
Davage Minor
Hal Morris
Tom Nowatzke
Dave Parry
Dan Plesac
LaTaunya Pollard
Gregg Popovich
Ron Reed
Glenn Robinson
Pete Rucinski
Amy Ruley
Ken Schreiber
Tim Stoddard
Nick Strincevich
Hank Stram
George Taliaferro
Frank Thomas
Guy Wellman
Ray Wietecha
Fred "The Hammer" Williamson
Tony Zale
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 South Shore Sports Legends. CLICK HERE to nominate someone.