Stockton set for NW Hall

Tue., Sept. 13, 2005

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com (509) 927-2180

Inland Northwest Hall of Fame When: Tuesday, Oct. 25 Where: Spokane Arena, 10:30 a.m. Reservations: $30, call Spokane Regional Sports Commission, 995-5629 or 299-7281 Athletes

Jack Spring – Was the most dominating Spokane prep pitcher of the 20th century. Spring pitched a total of five no-hitters for Lewis and Clark High School and his American Legion team from 1949-51, and averaged 15 strikeouts per game for three seasons. He began and finished his 18-year pro career with the hometown Spokane Indians. The left-handed reliever pitched for seven major league teams in parts of eight seasons with a lifetime record of 12-5 and a 4.26 ERA. In 1962 he appeared in 57 games for the Los Angeles Angels with a 4-2 record and 4.02 ERA, with six saves. After retiring from baseball in 1969 he spent 23 years with West Valley School District as a teacher, coach and athletic director. He coached the Eagles to the 1978 state baseball title.

John Stockton – The Spokane native was selected as one of the National Basketball Association's 50 greatest players of the 20th century. After an outstanding basketball career at Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University, the 6-foot-1 guard spent all 19 years of his NBA career with Utah Jazz. He retired as NBA's career leader in assists and steals, finishing with 19,711 points, 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals. He also holds NBA records for most assists in a season (1,164 in 1990-91) and highest assist average (14.5 in 1989-90). In addition, Stockton was a member of gold-medal winning "Dream Teams" in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. At Gonzaga University, he was a two-time All-West Coast Conference selection and player of the year in 1984, leading the league in scoring, assists and steals. At Gonzaga Prep, he set the then single-season Greater Spokane League scoring record with 373 points and a 23.3 average in 1980.

Coach

Wayne Gilman – Developed Ferris High School into a boys basketball juggernaut. He compiled a 347-113 record in 18 years, winning nine Greater Spokane League titles, advancing to 12 state tournaments, placing in 10, finishing second four times and winning the state title in 1994. A Springdale native and former basketball team captain at Eastern Washington University, he also coached nine years at Cascade Union High School near Salem, Ore., and five at Moses Lake before coming to Ferris in 1983. His 1974 Cascade team also won a state title. He had a 32-year career coaching record of 522-276. In addition, he coached the Ferris girls' cross country team to three top-three state finishes, including a state title in 1991.

Contributor

Ed Sharman – Invented the sports anchor concept in Spokane and was the area's premier television sports reporter until leaving KHQ and the business after 22 years in 1981. The Washington State University graduate has remained active on the sports scene, serving on the boards of the Spokane Regional Sports Commission, Inland Northwest Sports Writers and Broadcasters, the Inland Northwest Hall of Fame and State B basketball tournament steering committee. He chaired the Inland Northwest Sports Banquet and the SWABs award nominations and played a leading role in development of the highly successful Junior Awards Luncheon. He's also a board member of the Conservation Futures program that has preserved thousands of acres of open space for public use.

Scroll of Honor

Carl Cirullo – Came to Spokane from Drumheller, Alberta, to play hockey in Spokane in 1948 and then made a life here. He had a career-high 30 goals for the Spokane Flyers during the 1950-51 season. He stayed with the Flyers until 1958. When he left his active playing role, he put the medical training he received in the military service to use by serving as trainer for the Jets (1964-73), Flyers (1974-80) and Chiefs (1982-85). Cirullo, among others, played an active role in formation of the Spokane Oldtimers Hockey Association.

Jim Slavin – Spokane's "Mr. Handball" has been a force in his sport for more than five decades. A graduate of Washington State University in 1949, he captured numerous championships during a 50-plus year career. He was Spokane city champion five times in the 1960s. He won seven national age-group championships and numerous city and state titles. He also won the world Diamond Doubles championship with Frank Yannan in Ireland in 1994.

Spokane native John Stockton, named one of the National Basketball Association’s 50 greatest players, will be inducted into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame Oct. 25 at the Spokane Arena.

Stockton is in the class of 2005 that includes the late Ferris basketball coaching legend Wayne Gilman, Spokane baseball standout Jack Spring and pioneering television sports journalist Ed Sharman.

“We’re excited with this year’s class headed by future NBA Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist John Stockton,” said INW Sports Hall of Fame committee chairman Jon Heimbigner. “Like Ryne Sandberg in baseball, it’s neat we’re getting him into our Hall of Fame before going into the NBA’s.”

Also being honored during ceremonies and luncheon are additions to the hall’s Scroll of Honor, local handball age-group champion Jim Slavin and longtime Spokane hockey figure Carl Cirullo.

This is the second induction and luncheon hosted entirely in the Arena under the auspices of the Hall of Fame committee, Spokane Regional Sports Commission and Public Facilities District, Heimbigner said.

Rosauer’s Super Markets is beginning its second decade as the major sponsor. Bud Nameck returns as master of ceremonies.

The day will begin with a 10:30 a.m. induction ceremony, followed by a no-host reception with lunch at 11:30. Reservations are $30 and may be made by calling Jan Neuman of the SRSC at 995-5629 or 299-7281.

Stockton, who graduated from Gonzaga Prep and Gonzaga University, spent his 19-year NBA career entirely with the Utah Jazz. He retired as the league’s career leader in assists and steals.

Gilman, who died in 2001, turned the Saxons into a basketball powerhouse. He was 347-113 in 19 seasons, winning nine Greater Spokane League championships, qualifying for state 12 times and reaching the finals five times with a state championship in 1994.

Spring’s baseball career spanned 44 years, first as a pitcher at Lewis and Clark High School and later in the minor and major leagues. He coached the sport at West Valley, winning the State AA championship in 1978 before becoming athletic director, and managed in the minors.

Sharman invented the sports anchor concept in Spokane and spent 22 years at KHQ, leaving in 1981. His reach was broader, serving on boards of the SRSC, Inland Northwest Sports Writers and Broadcasters, Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame and State B basketball tournament.

Cirullo played for the Spokane Flyers for a decade beginning in 1948 and spent more than 20 years as trainer for the Flyers, Jets and Chiefs teams.

Slavin captured numerous handball championships during a 50-plus year career, including five Spokane city titles, seven national age-group championships and a world doubles title.

Stockton set for NW Hall

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