Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Voting for the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2011 continues through Wednesday, Oct. 6.

Periodically, we will share some of the write-in recommendations submitted by readers.

Here are a few:

Recommendation: Jeff King
Submitted by: Pat Brighton
Why: Four-time Iditarod champion and fierce competitor, Jeff King has consistently come up with ideas that have been adopted by the mushing community. He has helped create widespread interest in the Iditarod and sled dog racing.

Recommendation: Marcie Trent
Submitted by: Tony Knowles
Why: Please accept my full support for the inclusion of Marcie Trent in the ASHOF. I knew Marcie for more than twenty years before her tragic death on McHugh Peak trail in 1995. Marcie’s personal accomplishments and inspiration and work for others in running was well know to me and to everyone involved with the growing participation in improved health through running. Her skill and stamina in running was matched by a remarkable interest in promoting a lifestyle for others. Thousands of runners, myself included, were inspired and encouraged by her presence on the trail, usually ahead, and dedication to promoting community participation and support.

Recommendation: Ted Stevens
Submitted by: George Lowe
Why: Senator Stevens legacy in American Sports is unparalleled. Stevens was only one of 8 members of the House and Senate to support American athletes during the Moscow boycott. He is the father of the United States Olympic Committee. He received the highest honors from both the USOC and the IOC. Stevens helped secure the funding for the Salt Lake Games. He helped create and fund the Challenger Center in Girdwood for disabled athletes. He helped fight for Title IX so that girls and women would have equal opportunity in sports. When he was Chairman of the Appropriations Committee he put emphasis on Boys and Girls clubs adding at least 10 in Alaska. Not sure there is anyone who has done more for sports in America.

Recommendation: Dick McCormick
Submitted by: Richard Franklin
Why: I would like to nominate Coach Dick McCormick who coached the first Alaska high school state champions, the Lathrop Malemutes back in March 1959. His team was the underdogs in both the Western Alaska Championship tournament and the state tournament. Alaska became a state January 1959. Although it was 51 years ago, Coach McCormick was an outstanding coach, teacher and leader emphasizing team work, conditioning and never giving up.

Recommendation: Ron Mohr
Submitted by: Ken Sifford
Why: He is a bowler, active in the state and nation. Voted Senior Bowler of the Year last year for the PBA national tour.

Recommendation: Alaska Ski for Women
Submitted by: Ann Mize
Why: Sally Burkholder and I created the Ski for Women in 1997. Our goal was to get more women out for the local races already held. We tried to remove all their ‘excuses’ for why they skied regularly but few ever got in the weekend citizens races. The first year,1997, we were overwhelmed with the fantastic turnout of over 1000 women of all ages! The event continues each year always on Super Bowl Sunday. All proceeds go to various local women’s causes such as AWAIC, the shelter for abused women.

Recommendation: Dick McCormick
Submitted by: Bobby Williams
Why: Some 51 years ago an exceptional coach and teacher, Dick McCormick of Lathrop High School, coached his team to the first-ever Alaska high school basketball championship. I think he deserves to be nominated and hopefully elected to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Coach McCormick exhibited the very best of sportsmanship and was an inspiring coach.

Recommendation: Marcie Trent
Submitted by: Dick Mize
Why: She was one of our pioneer women runners and an inspiration to all, especially women of all ages. Her running record is very impressive, i.e. she was 52 years old when she won the Equinox Marathon in 1970–the second fastest womens’ time from the inception of the race in 1963. Marcie won the Equinox again in 1973 and 1976, and was 2nd in 1978, and third in 1979 at the age of 61. Her husband John Trent described his wife as an avid runner who had “run over 70,000 miles and finished 70 marathons.” She was also very involved in organizing local community races.