Athletics Hall of Fame to
applaud inductees
By Purdue Sports Information
A former Purdue president who served as athletic
director leads the list of 2001 inductees to the Intercollegiate Athletics
Hall of Fame.
The late Edward Elliott, Purdue's president from
1922 to 1945, joins George King, former athletic director, and six other
Boilermaker greats in the new class.
The 2001 group, which will be formally inducted
in November, brings to 64 the number of Hall of Fame inductees since
its founding in 1994. The formal induction and dinner will be Nov. 2
at the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms. The class will be introduced
at halftime of the Nov. 3 Purdue-Illinois football game.
Here, in alphabetical order, is a brief sketch
of all the inductees:
Joe Campbell
Campbell was a two-sport athlete from 1955 to 1957.
He was the 1955 NCAA individual golf medalist. Campbell was an All-American
and two-time Big Ten individual champion. A basketball starter for two
years, he was team captain and Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient in 1957.
He became Purdue’s men’s golf coach in 1974 and held the position
for 18 years. The team captured a Big Ten Championship in 1981.
Sybil (Perry) Caruthers
Caruthers won four letters in track and field and
was a captain of the team from 1983 to 1985. Caruthers graduated with
10 Purdue records in sprints and hurdles. A two-time MVP and four-time
All-American in the 60 meters, 400 meters and two sprint medley relays,
Caruthers also held several Big Ten titles and records. Caruthers competed
in the 1984 Olympic trials and was named to the Purdue Hall of Honor
for her contributions to the program.
Edward Elliott
Elliott was chosen based on his leadership of the
University from 1922 to 1945, during which he saw the completion of
Ross-Ade Stadium, Lambert Fieldhouse and Gymnasium and two golf courses.
Purdue won nine Big Ten basketball titles and two football titles during
his era. In difficult years for the nation, he gave leadership and support
to intercollegiate athletics, improving its administration and status,
even serving as interim athletic director for a year in 1940.
Cecil Isbell
Isbell was a player and coach at Purdue. A 1937
All-American, he contributed to Purdue’s football tradition while
gaining fame for offensive innovation. He played halfback for the Boilermakers
for three years — 1935 to 1937. Isbell played professional football
with the Green Bay Packers for four years. He then coached four years
at Purdue, three as head coach, before becoming head coach of the Baltimore
Colts.
Bob King
As an assistant basketball coach from 1960 through
1974, King was responsible for recruiting Purdue greats Rick Mount and
Dave Schellhase. King also was an assistant and associate athletic director
from 1974 to 1993 and also held top leadership positions in several
Indiana coaching organizations.
George King
King was Purdue's men’s basketball coach from
1965 to 1972 and director of intercollegiate athletics from 1971 to
1992. As men’s basketball coach, King led Purdue to a 109-64 record
and took the Boilers to a Big Ten title and its only NCAA national championship
game in men’s basketball in 1969, where they lost to Lew Alcindor
and UCLA. After becoming athletic director in 1971, King provided leadership
for 21 years, increasing Purdue’s national role by heading the
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and chairing
postseason bowl committees.
Dale Samuels
Samuels, the starting quarterback from 1950 to
1952, led Purdue to an upset of top-ranked Notre Dame in 1950, ending
the Irish unbeaten streak at 39 games. His totals in passing yards (3,154),
touchdown passes (27) and completion percentage (.502) still remain
high in Boilermaker rankings. Samuels also served Purdue as assistant
coach, alumni association official and associate athletic director.
Fred Wilt
Wilt’s selection was based on being head women’s
track and field and women’s cross country coach from 1978 through
1989. During his tenure, Wilt's teams finished ahead of their opponents
79.7 percent of the time in track and field and 76.3 percent of the
time in women’s cross country. He produced 17 different All-Americans,
including national champion Andrea Marek in the 3,000 meters in 1982.
Under Wilt’s leadership the track and field team won its first
Big Ten title in 1989 and cross country title in 1980.
*There is a five-year waiting period from the time
a former athlete, coach or administrator leaves Purdue before he or
she can be nominated.
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