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West Chester University Announces Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2008
(RELEASE COURTESY OF WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS)
 WEST CHESTER, Pennsylvania (February 4) - West Chester University’s Athletics Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2008. The five-member class encompasses eight sports and represents WCU athletics during a stretch that reaches back to 1935 and includes nearly 50 years of intercollegiate competition.
The Class of 2008 consists of three women and two men, who combined to win one national championship and make three final four appearances, while earning nine All-America certificates. The class is highlighted by one four-time All-American as well. One inductee participated in four sports during his collegiate career while another was a three-sport all star.
The induction ceremony, set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, at the Inn at Chester Springs in Exton, Pa., brings the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame total number of honorees to 324. The Class of 2008 will also be introduced to the West Chester University community at halftime of the Golden Rams’ men’s basketball game versus East Stroudsburg that afternoon.
This year’s class is comprised of Al Gwinn (’36), Bill Killen (’63), Frank Kudlac (’78, pictured above), Jeannine Reinert Readdy (’82) and Cynthia Hiester Richards (’76). West Chester University’s Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2008 also includes the Messikomer Hall of Fame (men’s basketball) and Killinger Hall of Fame (football) induction classes, pushing the total number of this year’s class to 12. Five football players (Ben Tonon ’98, Michael Testa ’88, Melvin Hinton ’75, Lewis Jones ’62 and Bill Vansant) and two men’s basketball players (Anthony Bolden, ’96 and John Brown, ’67) received their plaques at separate ceremonies for those particular sports.
The West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame was created in 2000 and combined three of the five existing halls of fame under one umbrella. The Killinger Foundation and Messikomer Foundation still operate separately, but inductees into those halls of fame are included in the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame as well.
The introduction of the Class of 2008 marks the end of a lengthy selection process that began during the summer. A nine-member selection committee representing athletic administrators and current head coaches, former West Chester University athletes and Rams’ Athletic Association members began the process of developing a workable list from the hundreds of athletes nominated. Only athletes that graduated from WCU were considered and only those five years removed from their playing and coaching days are eligible.
In addition, the selection committee followed a charter, established to support the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame, that profiled a myriad of strict eligibility requirements for former athletes, coaches and administrators to be considered. "Primary" consideration for election to the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame was granted to accomplishments during an individual's tenure as an athlete, coach or administrator while at West Chester University. Honors attained or accomplishments that pre- or post-dated a candidate’s intercollegiate career were granted "secondary" consideration.
Once the selection committee comprised its recommended list, the names were forwarded to Director of Athletics, Dr. Edward M. Matejkovic, for his review and ratification.
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