Hopkins plans to finally establish an Athletic Hall of Fame

Work is progressing on establishing the first-ever Hopkins High School Athletic Hall of Fame program to honor the community’s heritage and history.

Hopkins High School Athletic Director Adam Valk said, “When I came to Hopkins I was surprised there wasn’t one (Hall of Fame) already in place. We have enough history here to support it.”

Valk has organized a nine-member committee, has received permission to proceed with the project from the Board of Education and has turned loose special education teacher Linsey Mitchell, also assistant girls’ basketball coach, to make it into her master’s project.

Hall of Famers can be nominated by anyone from the public. Forms are available in all main offices in the school district and they soon will be posted on line at the district’s web site.

Valk said a committee would be responsible for sorting through nominees and make selections every year. He said he hopes to have the first group honored at a ceremony during halftime of a home football game next fall and at a special dinner and ceremony at the high school cafeteria and gym the following evening.

“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.

Members of the committee are 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 the group started meeting last August to get plans going. They are seeking nominations of athletes, coaches and community members.

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

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.