April 26, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - A legendary football coach, a running back who was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, one of the best guards in men's basketball history, an All-American softball player, a long-time Aggie supporter, and the 1978 National Championship volleyball team comprise the latest class of Utah State University's Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, announced Thursday.

The dinner and induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame's sixth class is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 8.

The inductees include: MacArthur Lane, one of the top running backs in school history; Chuck Mills, who was Utah State's head football coach for six seasons from 1967-72; Max Perry, who was an outstanding basketball player in the late 1950's and early 1960's; Kelly Smith, one of the most decorated softball players in school history; Jay Dee Harris, who was a long-time contributor and advisor to Utah State Athletics; and the Aggie Volleyball team that captured the 1978 National Championship.

"We are extremely excited to induct another amazing class into the Aggie Hall of Fame," said Utah State Director of Athletics Randy Spetman. "This class joins 38 outstanding individuals and further ensures the proud tradition of Utah State Athletics."

A total of 43 individuals have now been inducted into the Utah State Hall of Fame, while the 1978 National Championship volleyball squad becomes the first team inducted. The Hall of Fame was founded in 1993 with 12 initial members, followed by eight additions in 1994 and seven in 1995. The addition of any members was stopped until 2006 when five more individuals were added, followed by six more recipients in 2007.

The Hall of Fame Committee made its final selections for this year's class in April. The inductees must fit into one of five categories: student-athlete, coach, team, athletics staff member, or contributor/special achievement. Contributor/special achievement includes individuals who have contributed to the ideal of sports at the University. Each nominee must receive at least 75 percent of the committee's vote to be eligible for induction.

2008 Utah State University Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame Class

Jay Dee Harris
Hometown: Logan, Utah
Contributor and Advisor to Utah State Athletics

Jay Dee Harris was a long-time contributor and advisor to Utah State Athletics serving as a member of the USU Board of Trustees and The Board of Regents, along with being a member of the Old Main Society. Jay Dee, who was an advisor to many athletics directors at Utah State, also served on the National Advisory Board and was actively involved with the Big Blue Scholarship Fund. Jay Dee and his wife Alice made significant financial contributions to Utah State Athletics at a time of important growth within the department. The Harris Athletics Center, which houses many of USU's sports programs and academic services, is named in their honor. Jay Dee will be inducted into the Utah State Hall of Fame posthumously as he passed away in the fall of 2006.

MacArthur Lane
Hometown: Oakland, Calif.
Sport: Football
Years: 1965-67

Nicknamed "The Truck" during his playing days at Utah State, MacArthur Lane was a versatile performer who started at linebacker during his sophomore season before moving to the offensive backfield as a junior. During his two years at halfback, Lane averaged 6.9 yards per carry, which still ranks second all-time in school history. In his first season running the ball, Lane rushed for 466 yards on just 46 carries, for an average of 10.2 yards per carry. During the season, he had two 100-yard games and three touchdown runs of 60 yards or longer, including an 84-yard burst against Hawai'i, which still stands as the seventh-longest touchdown run in school history. Lane continued to perform well during his senior season as he notched to more 100-yard games, including a career-high 207 yards on 20 carries in a 44-27 win at West Texas State. Following his collegiate days, Lane was the 13th player selected in the 1968 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1971. In all, Lane played 11 seasons in the National Football League as he spent four years with the Cardinals (1968-71), three years with the Green Bay Packers (1972-74), and four years with the Kansas City Chiefs (1975-78).

Chuck Mills
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Sport: Head Football Coach
Years: 1967-72

At the age of 38, Chuck Mills was hired as Utah State University's 14th head football coach after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Arizona for one season. Mills coached at Utah State for six seasons, leading the Aggies to an overall record of 38-23-1 (.621), including a 17-7 (.708) home mark. During his USU career, Mills was 8-4 against USU's in-state rivals BYU and Utah, and his 38 career wins still rank second all-time in school history. During his six years as Utah State's head coach, which is tied for the fourth-longest tenure in school history, Mills led the Aggies to four winning seasons including back-to-back 8-3 campaigns in 1971 and 1972. Mills graduated from Illinois State University in 1950 and spent the next five years as a coach at the high school ranks in his hometown of Chicago, while at the same time coaching a semi-pro team that posted a 30-0-3 record in two seasons. In 1956 he served as a line coach at Citrus Junior College in Azusa, Calif., and then spent five seasons as the head football and wrestling coach at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. Mills then moved to Pennsylvania where he was the head coach at Indiana (Pa.) University for two seasons, followed by a one-year stint as the head coach for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.

Max Perry
Hometown: Columbus, Ind.
Sport: Men's Basketball
Years: 1959-61

A two-time United Press International "Small America" first-team selection, Max Perry transcended time with his fancy ball-handling and behind-the-back passes. Referred to by local media as "Max the Magician", Perry helped lead Utah State to a 24-5 record during the 1959-60 season, which included wins against Villanova (73-72 ot) and St. Bonaventure (99-83) in the 1960 postseason National Invitation Tournament in New York City. During his senior season, Perry became the first player in school history to score 40 points in a single game as he made 20 field goals en route to a career-high 45 points against New Mexico on Mar. 3, 1961 in the George Nelson Fieldhouse. Following his senior campaign, in which he scored 421 points, Perry became Utah State's all-time leading scorer as he poured in 1,236 points during his three-year career. Perry, who was a three-time all-Skyline Conference performer, still ranks 21st all-time in scoring at Utah State, and is one of just 32 players in school history to score 1,000 points.

Kelly Smith
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Sport: Softball
Years: 1984-86, `88

Kelly Smith became one of the most decorated softball players in Utah State history during the 1980's as she earned All-America honors three times during her career. Described as one of the best offensive players of her time, Smith hit an even .400 during the 1985 season, which ranks third all-time in school history for a single season. Smith also toed the rubber for the Aggies during her freshman season and to this day still holds the single-game school record for most innings pitched with 22 against Oklahoma State. During her freshman season, Smith helped lead Utah State to the NCAA Tournament and a seventh-place finish at the College World Series. Smith, who also played basketball at Utah State during the 1987-88 season, ranks third all-time in school history with a .340 batting average, and sits among the top-10 at Utah State in sixth other offensive categories.

1978 National Championship Volleyball Team

It was a dream season for the Utah State volleyball team in 1978. Coached by Marilyn (McReavy) Nolen and Mary Jo Peppler, the 1978 Aggies became the first team in Utah State history to capture a National Championship by defeating UCLA in four games in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Led by All-American's Annette Cottle, Sandy Lynn and Lucia Chudy, Utah State notched a 42-4-2 record during the season, including 26 straight wins to start the year. USU then concluded its season with 12 straight wins, including its victory in the AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) championship match against the Bruins. Along with All-America honors, Cottle received the Broderick Award as the nation's top player, while Lynn was named to the AIAW all-tournament team. Other members of the 1978 National Championship team included Gayle Adamowitz, Jan Corley, Katrinka Crawford, Drora Epstein, Jill Hirschinger, Dea Kidd, Sheryl Meyer, and Jo Vrazel.

Previous Inductees By Class:

Class of 2007: Ladonna Antoine-Watkins (track, 1994-97); Robert Broughton (football and wrestling, 1963-65); Rulon Jones (football, 1976-79); John Ralston (football coach, 1959-62); Jay Van Noy (baseball and football, 1946-49); Nate Williams (men's basketball, 1970-71).

Class of 2006: Kris Stano Lilly (gymnastics, 1982-83); Marvin Roberts (men's basketball, 1969-71); Al Smith (football, 1984-86); John Clyde Worley (baseball, men's basketball, football, and track, 1917-19); Dr. John Worley (football and track, late 1940's, team physician).

Class of 1995: Tony Adams (football, 1970-72); Jay Don Blake (men's golf, 1980-81); Karolyn Kirby (volleyball, 1979-81); Clark Miller (football, 1960-61); Bill Staley (football, 1965-67); Conley Watts (men's basketball, 1933-34); Glen Worthington (football, men's basketball, and track, 1926-29).

Class of 1994: Ladell Andersen (men's basketball, men's basketball coach, and athletics director, 1949-51, 1961-71, 1973-83); H. Cecil Baker (men's basketball, track, and men's basketball coach, 1922-25, 1950-61); Mark Enyeart (track, 1974-77); Phil Olsen (football, 1967-69); Eddie Peterson (football and track, 1934-36); Len Rohde (football, 1957-59); Elaine Roque (volleyball, 1979); Frank "Buzz" Williams (football, track, wrestling, athletics director, 1942, '46-48, 1964-1973).

Class of 1993: Annette Viola Cottle (volleyball, women's basketball, volleyball coach, 1976-79, 1982-84); Wayne Estes (men's basketball, 1963-65); Mary Lou Ramm Flippen (softball, 1981-83); Fern Gardner (women's basketball, softball, tennis, volleyball, women's basketball coach, softball coach, volleyball coach, 1972-79); Cornell Green (men's basketball, 1960-62); Ralph Maughn (men's basketball, football, track, men's basketball coach, football coach, track coach, 1942-46, 1951-88); George "Doc" Nelson (athletics director and wrestling coach, 1923-58); Merlin Olsen (football, 1959-61); E.L. "Dick" Romney (athletics director, baseball coach, men's basketball coach, football coach, track coach, 1919-49); Kent Ryan (men's basketball, football, track, 1934-37); L. Jay Silvester (track, 1956-59); Elmer "Bear" Ward (football and track, 1932-35).