Wv Inaugurates Hall Of Fame

An anthropologist, a physician, a sprinkling of former athletes and a mountaineer will be among the honorees of the brand-new West Valley Hall of Fame.

Seven alumni of West Valley High School will be inducted into the hall of fame next week.

“We hope what we’ll have in the future will be people bringing forward other names,” said Les Rurey, one of the organizers of the hall of fame and the year-old West Valley Alumni Association.

“We had a lot of fun coming up with these names. But we just went with local people. I’m sure there are wonderful people who have done wonderful, humanitarian things in this country” who might be named to the hall of fame in the future.

The induction is scheduled at a noon luncheon, May 31, at the Red Lion on Sullivan.

The first members to the hall of fame are:

Jennifer James, class of 1960, anthropologist, lecturer and author.

Kim Momb, class of 1960, a mountaineer who reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1984 and two years later died in an avalanche.

Jim Shively, class of 1960, deputy federal prosecutor in Spokane and former prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Gayle Strait, class of 1953, doctor of cardiology and internal medicine, Vietnam veteran who won the Bronze star, and athlete at West Valley and Washington State University.

Gene Reiger, class of 1946, retired teacher and athlete at West Valley and WSU.

Chris Runberg, class of 1932, U.S. Army colonel who died while saving others during World War II, athlete at West Valley and WSU.

Tom Ventris, class of 1930, retired teacher, coach, businessman, athlete at West Valley and Whitworth College.

For reservations to attend the event, call Wally Heidenson, 926-6999.

, DataTimes