WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Over 50 Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame members were honored in an on-field recognition ceremony hosted by the Palm Beach County Sports Institute on Saturday, March 4 before the Florida Marlins spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals.  The ceremony commemorated Roger Dean Stadium as the permanent home of the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.  Banners honoring Hall of Fame members now hang in the concourse year-round for all visitors to see. 

Following the Hall of Fame recognition ceremony, Marlins Community Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Nancy J. Olson presented the Palm Beach County Sports Institute with a check for $2,500 for use in the promotion of youth sports in Palm Beach County.

Also announced before the game were the round two winners of the Palm Beach County Sports Achievement Awards presented by ESPN Radio 760 and sponsored by Toshiba Business Solutions, Florida, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Company and The Palm Beach Post.  Three times during the school year the Palm Beach County Sports Institute recognizes a male and female student from elementary school, middle school and high school with the Sports Achievement Awards. The winners are then made finalists for Athlete of the Year.

The round two Sports Achievement Awards winners for 2006 were:

Nichole Robinson of South Olive Elementary School, Landen Fresch of H.L. Johnson Elementary School, Becca Heller of Loggers Run Middle School, Scott Witkowski of Wellington Landings Middle School, Colleen Kilduff of Jupiter Christian School and Nicholas Brutus of Lake Worth High School.

The Palm Beach County Sports Institute, Roger Dean Stadium, and the Florida Marlins also held “Meet the Marlins” before the March 4 game.  Over 100 Marlins’ fans, kids and Palm Beach County Sports Commission members had the opportunity to receive autographs and interact with Marlins’ players Jeremy Hermida, Nate Bump and Brian Moelher.  “Meet the Marlins” was presented by ESPN Radio 760 and sponsored by Roger Dean Stadium, the Florida Marlins and The Palm Beach Post.

The Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame recognition ceremony was sponsored by: Toshiba Business Solutions, Florida, Roger Dean Stadium, Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Merrill Lynch, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, ESPN Radio 760 and The Palm Beach Post.

The following Hall of Fame members were in attendance for the recognition ceremony:

Sam Agresti,1998, wrestling

Viktoria Beggs, 2001, tennis

Scott Benedict, 2005, baseball

Sam Budnyk, 1983, football and coaching

Larry Bush, 2000, sportswriter

Joe Ceravolo, 1986, basketball

Randy Cooper, 1984, football

Steve Dorsey, 2001, sportswriter

Jack Eassa, 1995, baseball and contributor

Dr. Edward Eissey, 1997, contributor

Ed Elliott, 1992, football and basketball

Jim Gallagher, 1985, sportscasting

Pam Gerig-Bland, 2006, contributor

Jerome Groover, 2005, track

Harry Howell, 1998, track and field

Tommy Hutton, 1996, baseball

Jerry Jacobs, 1997, coaching

Buck Kinnaird, 1990, sportscasting

Lincoln Knowles, 1986, track and football

Jack Kokinda, 2003, baseball

Bill Massey, 2003, girls athletics

Bernie McCann, 2004, volleyball

John McDonald, 1990, coaching

Bucky McGann, 1982, basketball and football

Michelle McGann, 2001, golf

C.H. "Mac" McKinnon, 1990, administration

Dick Melear, 1984, track

Pat Murphy, 2001, sportscaster

Mickey Neal, 1998, basketball, football and golf

Chuck Otterson, 1996, sportswriter

Jay Rader, 2003, athletic director

Eddie Rhodes, 1992, basketball and track

Rick Rothman, 2002, track

Dick Sanford, 2001, sports announcer

Ron Sellers, 1989, football

Bob Shaws, 1986, baseball

Chuck Shaw, 2006

Bruce Trent, 2002, softball

Gail S. Whitney, 1985, gymnastics

The following Hall of Fame members were represented by family members during the recognition ceremony:

Bill Adeimy, 1980, contributor

Bob Balfe, 1977, sports editor

Len Brown, 1990, football

Marty Gold, 1987, baseball and football

Bernard Grall, 1986, contributor

Harry Massey, 2003, football

Dr. Skeeter Norley, 1992, contributor

Mel O'Bradovich, 1995, softball

Johnny O'Brien, 1993, boxing

Spencer Pompey, 1987, baseball

Bobby Riggs, 1980, football, basketball and baseball

Jack Sanford, 1987, baseball

Ben York, 1980, swimming

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