Hall of Fame

Indiana Sportswriters & Sportscasters Association
Hall of Fame
Class of 2020
Greg Bell
Larry Goffinet
Mike Hutton
Ray Marquette
Paul Page

Myron Rainey
For the 25th year, the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association will induct new members into its Hall of Fame. This year’s six-member class will be inducted at the ISSA’s annual banquet on April 5th at the Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood.
The Class of 2020 includes the following people who have graced Hoosier newspapers, radio stations and television airwaves over the past several decades:
Greg Bell, WIOU Kokomo _ After graduating from Butler in 1975, the New York native became an adopted Hoosier, launching his radio career in Shelbyville. He joined the staff of WIOU in 1983, and served as the voice of the Kokomo Wildkats for 27 years. Additionally, Greg spent time serving as the voice of IU-Kokomo athletics, as well as calling games for WXVW in Jeffersonville. Greg is a member of the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame, and he was named the ISSA’s Marv Bates Sportscaster of the Year in 1998.
Larry Goffinet, Perry County News _ The Tell City native returned home to Perry County upon graduation from the University of Evansville and never left town, spending 40 years as a full-time contributor to his home-county newspaper. These days, Larry still writes for the publication on a part-time basis. Larry has won awards for his coverage from both the IHSAA and the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association over the years, as well as helping the News win the award for Best Sports Section on three occasions from the Hoosier State Press Association.
Mike Hutton, Gary Post-Tribune _ Mike has been telling the stories of sports in northwest Indiana for the past 27 years. Mike has covered numerous colleges such as Valparaiso, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Indiana during his days as a sports scribe in the state, as well as covering numerous state championships for high school teams from ‘The Region.’ Mike also has shined a spotlight on coaches for the work they do away from the field and classroom, especially in urban settings. Mike was named as the top sports columnist in the state in 2007.
Ray Marquette, Indianapolis Star/News _ Ray was an award-winning journalist, receiving the Best Sports Reporting Award from the Indianapolis Press Club three times and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches for his contributions to the game. Ray served as Executive Director of the United States Basketball Writers Association, which continues to recognize his leadership by presenting the Ray Marquette Award each year to its outgoing president. Ray also was a president of the American Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. Ray was the Vice President of Public Affairs for the United States Auto Club until his untimely death in 1978.
Paul Page, WIBC/NBC/ABC/ESPN _ Paul’s voice is synonymous with open wheel racing and all things Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He first joined the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network in 1974, and by 1978 joined NBC as the host of the network’s ‘SportsWorld’ program. In 1987, Paul joined ABC where his motorsports talents were once again linked to the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. He hosted the television coverage of the 500 on 25 occasions. Paul has broadcasted events across the globe, including every continent with the exception of Antarctica.
Myron Rainey, WBIW Bedford _ Myron has been the voice of Lawrence County high school sports for 45 years. After serving as the voice of the Mitchell Blue Jackets for four years, Myron became the voice of the Bedford North Lawrence Stars in 1979. During that span, Myron served as the soundtrack for the legendary high school career of Damon Bailey, including the state championship game at the then-Hoosier Dome in 1990. In addition, Myron has served terms as both the recorder and clerk of Lawrence County.
In addition to these new Hall of Famers, the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association will recognize the following winners of annual awards:
Corky Lamm Sportswriter of the Year: Justin Cohn, Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette _ Justin has served a variety of roles since joining the Journal-Gazette staff in 1997. Since 2014, Justin has been a senior sportswriter for the paper, focusing in on two of Fort Wayne’s pro sports staples, the Fort Wayne Komets and Fort Wayne Mad Ants. His respective blogs about the two teams, ‘Ice Chips’ and ‘Mad Antics,’ combine the written word about those teams with relevant social media. Justin also previously served as the paper’s Indianapolis Colts beat writer.
Marv Bates Sportscaster of the Year: Greg Rakestraw, ISC Sports Network _ This is the second time that Greg has won this award, also claiming the prize back in 2015. Greg serves as the vice president of the ISC Sports Network, which is seen on nine cable systems across the state of Indiana. In addition, Greg also is the voice of the Indy Eleven, serves as the pre-season television voice of the Indianapolis Colts, hosts the Colts Radio Network’s post-game show, and is one of the lead announcers for the IHSAA Champions Network.
Ron Lemasters Lifetime Achievement Award: Charlie Jenkins, WXVW Jeffersonville _ Inducted into the ISSA Hall of Fame in 1999, Charlie passed away on December 30th at the age of 84. Charlie spent 54 years broadcasting Southern Indiana high school sports, primarily for WXVW in Jeffersonville. Charlie also spent time broadcasting for WKJK-AM and legendary radio station WHAS-AM in Louisville. Charlie was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
These nine honorees will be recognized at the association’s 25th annual banquet on April 5th, which begins at 2 p.m. at Valle Vista Country Club in Greenwood. Tickets are available, with four-course meal included, for $30. To order tickets, send a check for $30 per ticket to Fred Inniger, ISSA Treasurer, 3011 Noble Hawk Drive, Kendallville, IN 46755. Please order your tickets before March 20.
In accordance with this year being the 25th class inducted into the Hall of Fame, there will be a special recognition of previous Hall of Famers as part of this year’s event.
The Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association was founded in 1946. The ISSA created its Hall of Fame 50 years later in 1996. With the addition of the Class of 2020, the ISSA Hall of Fame will grow to 124 members.
PREVIOUS CLASSES
2019
Gordon Engelhardt
Chuck Freeby
Mike Haynes
Robin Miller
Rita Price
Art Saltsberg
2018
Conrad Brunner
Larry Clisby
Tim Ethridge
Steve Krah
Mark Montieth
Tom Rietmann
2017
Bill Benner
Jim Brunner
Dan Egierski
Reggie Hayes
Arv Koontz
Bob Simmers
2016
Chris Denari
Pete DiPrimio
Kent Hormann
Matt Kopsea
Dan Korb
Bob Nagle
2015
Bill Beck
Bob Jenkins
Mark Morrow
Blake Sebring
Jason Whitlock
2014
Andy Amey
Mike Chappell
Tracy Dodds
Tom Rust
2013
Mark Boyle
Mike Emrick
Andy Graham
Bill Robertson
Ben Smith
2012
Bill Bilinski
Mike Knezevich
Dave Niehaus
Steve Warden
2011
Dick Denny
Bob Lovell
Joe McConnell
Dean Pantazi
Phil Richards
2010
Jerry Birge
Paul Condry
Walt Ferber
Lynn Houser
Jack Lorri
2009
Howard Kellman
Mike Lopresti
Pat McKee
2008
Al Hamnik
Dave Kitchell
Bob Lamey
2007
Jan Clark
Fred Inniger
Tom Kubat
2006
Bob Forbes
John Harrell
Dick Mittman
2005
Bob Bridge
Bob Ford
Don Hein
Tony Roberts
Max Skirvin
2004
Don Fischer
Bill Fowler
Don Jellison
Rex Kirts
Forest Miller
Stan Sutton
Vic Tanguy
Ben Tenny
Luke Walton
Carl Wiegman
2003
Dennis Kraft
Dave Krider
John Mutka
Joe Smith
2002
George Bolinger
Bob Chase
Jim Costin
Paul (Bud) Gallmeier
Dick Ham
Morry Mannies
Tom Reck
2001
Jerry Baker
Bill Fluty
Ron Lemasters
2000
Don Bernhardt
Joe Boland
Joe Edwards
Kurt Freudenthal
1999
Jimmie Angelopolous
Charlie Jenkins
Chris Schenkel
1998
Marv Bates
Bob Hammel
Sam Simmermaker
Bob Towner
1997
Joe Doyle
Hilliard Gates
Corky Lamm
Bob Williams
1996
Bob Barnet
Dale Burgess
Don Burton
Tom Carnegie
Bob Collins
Sid Collins
Johnny DeCamp
Bill Fox
Gordon Graham
Dan Scism