New members to be added to Rim

A father-daughter organist team and a former Spokane County commissioner are the next to be honored on the Spokane Indians’ Rim of Fame at Avista Stadium, the team announced Wednesday.

Norm Thue started at the stadium when it opened in 1958, playing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and leading cheers like “charge!” When he left, his daughter Normalu Cooper took over and was the organist until 1992. Cooper will attend Tuesday’s season-opening Indians game for the Rim of Honor ceremony.

Former county commissioner W.O. Bill Allen helped spearhead the 1958 construction of what is now known as Avista Stadium, according to an Indians statement. He is often credited as the key figure in creating the city-county-private effort that spawned the stadium. Current county Commissioner Todd Mielke will represent Allen at the ceremony.

Already on the Rim of Honor are former Indians players Levi McCormack, Maury Wills and Dwight Aden, and former manager Tommy Lasorda.