Honoring the heritage of Howard County's best athletes, coaches and contributors
NEWS & NOTES
CLASS OF 2016
WELCOME TO THE CLUB!
JIM BUTCHER: Played basketball at Kokomo HS from 1953-1955; Indiana All-Star his senior season and selected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary team in 1980. Set then Memorial Gym record with 34-point game. Played two seasons at Montana State, averaging 8.8 and 11.2 points per game as a guard and was No. 2 in nation with a 94-percent free throw percentage.
JIM CALLANE: Spent 15 seasons as a varsity basketball coach at Danville, Linton-Stockton and Haworth and 18 years as the Kokomo HS athletic director in the years following the merger of Kokomo and Haworth. As AD, five teams and 11 individuals won state championships. Responsible for major up-grades to KHS facilities, including the addition of soccer complex. Standout player at Rushville HS and DePauw University; 2008 inductee into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and 2002 DePauw Athletics Hall of Fame.
DeWAYNE EWING: A three-sport star at Northwestern HS, football is what he was known for. Threw 58 touchdowns and 4,348 yards his final two seasons. At Butler University, he still holds nine records including career total offense (7,743 yards in four years), passes completed career (656) and season (246), and yards passing career (8,094) and season (3,182).
MATT JOHNSON: Considered one of the best all-around athletes ever at Kokomo HS. Led football team in total offense for three years; career passing leader with 3,498; won NCC title in 1987. Helped lead basketball team to IHSAA state runners-up finish in 1989 as starting guard. Helped lead Kokomo baseball team to IHSAA state runners-up finish in 1988; career batting average of .344. Walk-on at Notre Dame; back-up quarterback for two seasons; kick holder as a senior; won three major bowl games; named “Best Practice Player” by Lou Holtz. Also a member of the gold medal winning team hand ball American squad at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival.
DENNIS KASEY: A 1978 graduate of Kokomo HS and lifelong Kokomo resident, he served 27 years as the sports director at WHMB-TV in Noblesville; created the High School Game of the Week which brought prep sports into Central Indiana homes each week. Also a founder of the Indiana Sports Magazine and founding board member of the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame. Earned the 2009 IHSAA Distinguished Media Services Award and was known for his sports trivia.
MISTINA OLIVER: Won back-to-back state championships as a leader on the Kokomo Lady Wildkats basketball teams in 1992 and 1993. She scored 1,174 points to become second Lady Kat in the 1,000 Point Club. Named to the Indiana All-Star team and left Kokomo in the top three of nearly every offensive category. Also had more than 300 career assists and steals as Kokomo posted a four-year record of 94-7.
MARCIA SHEARER: A trailblazer in local girls swimming, Shearer started the Northwestern HS swim program as the only swimmer in 1976-1977. She won two sectional titles her senior year in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles, and then won the IHSAA state championship in the 100 while finishing fourth in the 50. Her points total alone placed Northwestern in 15th place. At Indiana State University, she was a three-time MVP with nine individual records at graduation; 1981 ISU Female Athlete of the Year. She also participated in the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials.
INDUCTION BANQUET
This will be the 14th class inducted into the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame. The 14th Annual Induction Banquet is scheduled for October 29, 2016, at Creative Financial Centre, home of the cfd Companies. Tickets for the Induction Banquet will be available for $25 by calling Vice President Ron Barsh at (765) 453-4739.
NEWSLETTER TRIVIA
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FOUNDED IN 2003
The Howard County Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 2003 by charter President Dean Hockney and a group of sports enthusiast who realized the need to formally recognize the great sports personalities from Howard County. With a charter class consisting of two major league baseball brothers, an Indiana Mr. Basketball, a professional bowler, a legendary record-breaking hoopster and an all-around athletic sensation, the HCSHF launched with a banquet that drew more than 200 fellow sports fans. Now, with 60 inductees, the Hall of Fame - located at the Ivy Tech Kokomo Events & Conference Center - adds six new members each October.
The Howard County Sports Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization that recognizes the best athletes, coaches and contributors who have participated in athletics in Howard County, Indiana.
MISSION STATEMENT
Let it be known that the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame was established on March 25, 2003, with a purpose to honor outstanding persons, living or deceased, who have gained prominence and have made substantial contributions on behalf of themselves and Howard County in the fields of amateur and professional sports.
