The Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame recognized its Class of 2013 Friday night prior to the Whitko at Tippecanoe Valley boys basketball game in Akron.

The group, which includes 15 former players and four special contributors, will be inducted next June during a ceremony at Grace College.

Following are the members of the distinguished class, the fourth for the Hall of Fame, starting with the players.

Bob Creighton was a 1958 Atwood graduate and four year letter winner for the Greyhounds.  Bob led the Greyhounds in scoring his senior year with 314 points.  Bob’s 692 career points ranks fourth highest among Greyhound scorers in the decade of the 1950’s

Jim Irwin was a 1960 Atwood graduate that led Tom Settler’s first Atwood squad in scoring with 320 points. Jim went on to play both basketball and baseball in college graduating from Ball State University.  Jim went on to coach at the high school level for 37 years. Jim’s varsity coaching included basketball, baseball and golf. Jim’s basketball teams won sectionals at Bluffton, Southern Wells and Eastbrook he coached at several schools along the way including Pierceton and Whitko.

Al  Study was a 1960 Beaver Dam graduate who led the Beavers in scoring his senior year with 347 points.  Al’s career total of 683 points ranks second among Beaver Dam scorers in the 1960’s.

John Clay was a 1955 Claypool graduate and a four year letter winner for the Knights.  John teamed with fellow Claypool hall of famer Dick Morris to lead the 1955 Knights to 11 wins the second highest win total for a Claypool team in the 1950’s. John scored 545 points in his high school career.

Rex Woodruff was a 1960 Claypool graduate who led the Knights in scoring his senior year with 306 points. Rex made the All-County first team his senior year.

Richard (Dick) Stouder was a 1954 Etna Green graduate who played on Eldon Ummel’s 1952 County Championship team that beat the Warsaw Tigers in the county championship game 59-49. Richard led the 1953 Cubs in scoring and was a First Team All-County selection that same year. Richard scored 593 points in his high school career.

James Stouder was a 1958 Etna Green graduate and played on Jim Robbins powerhouse 1957 and 1958 Etna Green teams that won back to back County Championships and the 1958 Sectional Championship. Etna Green had an incredible 49-3 record in those two seasons. Jim was a First Team All-County and All-Sectional selection in 1958 and scored 687 points in his career.  Jim now joins two of his brothers who have been selected to the Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bob Long was a 1960 Mentone graduate and was the leading scorer for Paul Bateman’s 1960 County Championship team which ended the season with a 20-5 record.  Bob scored 365 points his senior year and was selected to the All-County first team.

Jerry Ryman is a 1963 Mentone graduate who joined the Bulldogs after playing three years for the Atwood Greyhounds whose school shut down after the 1962 season.  Jerry helped lead Paul Bateman’s 1963 team to a County Championship and an outstanding 23-2 season.  Jerry scored 334 points that season and made the first team All-County and first team All-Sectional teams that year. Jerry also made the 1962 All-County team while playing for Atwood.  Jerry went on to have an outstanding collegiate career at Grace College where he still holds the Grace record for assists in a game, a season and for a career. Jerry also went on to a coaching career at all levels including a stint coaching the Grace College Lady Lancers.

Chuck Fleischauer is a 1958 Milford graduate who led the Trojans in scoring his senior year with 441 points. Chuck was selected to both the All-County and All-Sectional first teams in his senior year at Milford.

Jon Sroufe was a 1960 North Webster graduate and a three year starter for Coach Donnie Butts. During those years North Webster produced a record of 57-15 with John leading the way in scoring in 1959 with 384 points. Jon tallied 900 points in his career and made the All-County squads in both 1959 and 1960 along with an All-Sectional selection in 1960.

John McFarren was a 1959 Pierceton graduate who led Kosciusko County in scoring in 1959 with 381 points.  John helped coach Burt Niles teams to a two year record of 27-16 with John making the 1959 All-County First Team.  John finished his career with 547 points.

Emery Brandenburg was a 1955 Silver Lake graduate who led Art Windmiller’s 1955 squad to a 19-4 record and a County Championship. Emery hit a dramatic last second shot in the County championship finals to beat Pierceton 56-54 Emery led the Ramblers in scoring his senior  year with 391 points and was a First Team All-County selection in 1955.

Tom Firestone was a 1961 Syracuse graduate and a First Team All-County selection that year. Tom led Rollin Cuttler’s team in scoring his senior year with 315 points. Tom was also a member of Dick Beck’s 1959’s, 21-3 team that won the County Championship. Tom continued his participation in high school basketball with coaching. Tom coaching career included stops at Bremen and Northwood.

Lavon Harman was a four year letter winner for the Warsaw Tigers who graduated in 1956. Lavon help lead the Tigers to back to back sectional titles in 1955 and 1956. Lavon made the All-Sectional teams in both 1955 and 1956 and scored 313 points in his senior year.  Standing at 6 foot 5 Lavon was one of Kosciusko Counties best big men in the decade of the 1950’s.

The quartet of special contributors includes a former official, two members of the media and a legendary coach.

Don Lozier was a 1948 Leesburg graduate and was an outstanding basketball player in his own right. Don played for Coach Burt Niles during his high school career. Don went on to play college ball at Manchester College.  Don was an ISHAA Official from 1954 to 1969 and worked numerous sectionals regionals during his career.

Norm Hagg, a 1955 Leesburg Blue Blazer graduate made his mark in the 1960’s with his coverage of Kosciusko County Basketball for the Warsaw Times Union.  Norm later broadened his coverage of local basketball by becoming a play by play radio broadcaster for WRSW basketball games.

Rita Price, an Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame member and native of Marshall Count, has been adopted by Kosciusko County as one of our own. Rita started her sports casting career in 1970 and did her first play by play in basketball in 1976. She has done every girls basketball state championship since 1976 and has broadcasted both boys and girls basketball and football for Tippecanoe Valley since 1976. Rita has won numerous awards for broadcasting and worked for WRSW going on 54 years.

Bill Patrick, a 1956 Sidney graduate and Indiana Hall of Member, in his 44th year of coaching high school basketball.  Coach Patrick is nearing 700 win mark for career victories and when that happens he will be only the fifth coach in Indiana history to achieve that mark. Coach Patrick’s teams have won 15 sectionals, three regionals and one semi-state.  Coach Patrick is in his 15th year at Tippecanoe Valley and has won 10 TRC titles.  Coach Patrick started his varsity coaching career at his Alma Matter Sidney High School in 1964 and other stops included South Whitley and Whitko before his stint at Tippecanoe Valley. Coach Patrick, who won his 699th career game Friday night versus Whitko,  is the first coach selected to the Kosciusko County Basketball Hall of Fame.