Hall of Fame Web Site

The more than 30-year legacy of the Eagle Athletic Association will be honored on Oct. 1 this fall when that organization is honored as a recipient of the Eastern Washington University Hall of Fame Service and Contribution Award.

The families of 14 past presidents of the EAA have been invited back for the induction breakfast and ceremony, which will start at approximately 8 a.m. on Oct. 1, and is expected to take place at the EWU Special Events Pavilion (Reese Court).  The public is invited to attend and the cost is $20 per person. Guests must register via a link that will be available later in July at http://goeags.com/hof.aspx. Honored guests will also be recognized at halftime of EWU's football game against UC Davis later that day (kickoff is TBA, but as early as 12:30 p.m.), as well as Eastern's volleyball game the previous evening against North Dakota at 6 p.m.
 
Established in 1996, this year's class of four individual inductees and one team previously announced will bring the total number of individuals in the Hall of Fame to 78 and teams to 14. There will also be a total of 17 individual recipients and one organization which have received the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame Service and Contribution Award, with Michael and Katherine Roos also being honored with that award in 2016. Individual Hall of Fame inductees are Steve Kiesel (track & field/cross country and contributor), Becky Nelson-Clark (track & field and contributor), Michael Roos (football) and Ed Waters (men's basketball and contributor). The 1976-77 Men's Basketball Team will also be inducted.

The Service and Contribution award was created in 2007 to recognize extraordinary achievements and contributions by individuals with a past association with the Eastern athletic department. This award, selected by the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame Executive Committee, seeks to honor individuals who have contributed not only to EWU, but to other outside endeavors such as education, community service and coaching. John Lothspeich was given the first award in 2007, and others honored include Chuck Randall (2008), Jim Wasem Sr. (2009), Ernie Afaganis (2010), Arthur C. "Woody" Woodward (2010), Jon Heimbigner (2012), Vic Wallace (2013) and Lawson & Ruth Van Kuren (2016). In addition, a group of six individuals -- H. George Frederickson/Ken Dolan/Russ Hartman/Jim Kirschbaum/Ron Raver/Bill Shaw -- were recognized in 2011 for their tireless efforts in the 1970's and 1980's in helping Eastern achieve NCAA Division I status and become a member of the Big Sky Conference.

 

About the Eagle Athletic Association . . .

From 1983-2013, the Eagle Athletic Association was the main fund-raising arm of the Eastern Washington University Athletic Department. It created the foundation for external support and served as the backbone to the fundraising efforts of EWU Athletics for more than 30 years. It was renamed the Eagle Athletic Fund in 2014, but the main goal has remained the same since 1983 when the organization was formed in support of Eastern's rise from affiliation in NAIA to NCAA Division I athletics. The organization provides support for EWU Athletics both financially and through volunteer opportunities. It provides funding for scholarships that allow coaches to recruit high-caliber student-athletes. From 1983-2014, 14 different individuals have volunteered in the capacity as president of the EAA. Their leadership and guidance was an inspiration and guiding force behind the growth of the organization in more than 30 years of operation. The entire EAA membership has made a significant impact on the lives and success of all of Eastern's student-athletes, and their support has been a critical building block to where Eastern Athletics is today.

Past Presidents of the Eagle Athletic Association
1983-85 - Randy Behrens
1985-87 - *Dick Peirone
1987-89 – John Dacey
1989-91 – Thorne Tibbitts
1991-94 – Dave Zack
1994-97 – Ray Liberg
1997-2000 – Caren Lincoln
2001-02 – Dave Walker
2002-06 – Richard "Curly" Rousseau
2006-07 – Kent Nelson
2007-08 – Richard "Curly" Rousseau
2008-09 – Sam Anderson
2009-10 – Billie Jean Hall
2010-11 – Brendan Genther
2001-12 – Sam Anderson
2012-13 – Linda Fairhurst

*Deceased