Payton Headlines Tonight’s Banquet

Walter Payton, the career rushing leader in the National Football League, headlines tonight’s 49th Sports Awards Banquet.

Payton rushed for 16,726 yards and 110 touchdowns in his 13-year career with the Chicago Bears.

He’ll join longtime master of ceremonies Dennis Hull at the dais along with many of the finalists for the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters athlete, team and coach of the year awards for 1996.

The evening banquet and the Youth Sports Awards Luncheon are presented by the Greater Spokane Sports Association. Both events will be held in the Ag-Trade Center.

The banquet begins with a no-host social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7.

Payton also will speak at the sold-out noon luncheon. Rick Lukens, sports director at KXLY-TV, will be master of ceremonies.

The SWABs will present their junior male and female athlete, team and coach of the year awards and the 25-year service awards.

Banquet finalists

Amateur female: Alli Nieman, Jenni Ruff, Sarah Silvernail, Corissa Yasen.

Amateur male: James Darling, Nate Dunham, Mark Hendrickson, Scott Sanderson.

Coach of the year: Mike Babcock, Ed Cheff, Cindy Fredrick, Warren Friedrichs.

Team of the year: Lewis-Clark State College baseball, Spokane Chiefs hockey, Washington State University volleyball, Whitworth College men’s basketball.

Professional athlete of the year: Drew Bledsoe, Darin Blood, Dan O’Brien, John Stockton.

, DataTimes