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.

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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

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2016

Chris Denari

Pete DiPrimio

Kent Hormann

Matt Kopsea

Dan Korb

Bob Nagle

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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

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2007

Jan Clark

Fred Inniger

Tom Kubat

2006

 Bob Forbes

John Harrell

Dick Mittman

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2005

Bob Bridge

Bob Ford

Don Hein

Tony Roberts

Max Skirvin

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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