The first annual Hopkins High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held at halftime of the Vikings’ Oct. 21 varsity football game.

A buffet-style dinner will be held at 6 p.m. the following evening at the high school cafeteria, with the formal ceremony to take place at 7 p.m.

The first class of Hopkins High School inductees will include Joseph Roxbury, Class of 1931; Jim Hazen, Class of 1949; Jerry Herp, 1957; Jim Newell, 1966 (coach 1970-2010); Karen Caywood Schwartz, 1977; Kris Knobloch, 1989; Tim Kisner, 1997; Sabrina Bird Mertes; Coach Al Deal and community member Carol Guy.

The first-ever Hopkins High School Athletic Hall of Fame program to honor the community’s heritage and history was established earlier this year by a special nine-member committee and special education teacher Linsey Mitchell, also assistant girls’ basketball coach, who has made it into her master’s degree project. Members of the committee were Athletic Director Adam Valk, Lee Dale (Pete) Arnsman, Rick Hazen, Scott VanBonn, Dan Kisner, Brooke Brenner, Jim Newell, Mitchell and Bob Beck, all coaches, school officials and longtime community members.

Valk said a committee would be responsible for sorting through nominees and make selections every year. “We (committee members) will try to have every decade represented,” the athletic director said.

Hall of Famers’ names will be placed on a plaque on the wall between the cafeteria and gymnasium, obviously being updated every year with new selections.

Martin, though only a Class D school, has a Hall of Fame, but Wayland does not.

Tickets for the dinner will $20 apiece and they can be purchased by calling the athletic office (269) 793-7616 (extension 1511) or by e-mailing adamvalk@hpsvikings.org The induction ceremony will be open to the public free of charge.

PHOTOS: The two mascots for Hopkins High School through the years were the Blue Devils and Vikings. The Blue Devil was discontinued quietly in the 1962-63 academic year.