7/9/2009 11:40:19 AM
ANNVILLE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley College has announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2009, including Jean Bedger '47, Jennifer Nauss Cornish '97, Dr. Howie Jones '65, Erik Orndorff '93, Dani Campbell Willard '91, and Richard Williams '68.
In addition, former basketball great Andy Panko '99 has been selected to the Hall, but will defer induction to a later year due to his ongoing play in the Spanish Liga ACB professional basketball league.
A Team of Recognition, to be announced later this summer, will also be honored at the induction banquet on Oktoberfest Weekend on Oct. 24 at LVC's Mund College Center. The class will be the 34th inducted to the Hall since its inception in 1976.
Jean Bedger '47 - Women's Basketball / Field Hockey / Archery
One of the pioneers in women's athletics at the Valley, Jean Bedger '47 was a multi-sport star. A native of Lebanon, Bedger came to Annville and led the women's basketball team to a 28-14 record over her four years. Consistently the team's top scorer (she was one of the few women of the era to shoot a one-handed jump shot), the team was 21-3 when she led in the scoring column. She was known to score 20 or more points a game at a time when the average team score for a game was 25 or 30 points. Bedger was an outstanding center halfback for the field hockey team as well, with the team going 12-6-3 in her career. Bedger also competed for LVC's archery team, and was a local tennis and table tennis champion; during her summers she taught swimming and was an accomplished horsewoman. Bedger was twice named Woman Athlete of the Year, was named Outstanding Woman Sports Leader, and was president of the Women's Athletic Association. Bedger remained involved in athletics after her graduation, and eventually served as the president of the National YWCA organization.
Jennifer Nauss Cornish '97 - Women's Track & Field
Jennifer Nauss Cornish '97 remains on the record books as one of LVC's top female track & field athletes. A member of the Central Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Cornish was an outstanding sprinter and long-jumper during her career from 1995 to 1997. She qualified seven times for the NCAA Championships, earning All-America status in the 200-meter dash with a sixth-place finish in 1996. She was also a three-time MAC Most Outstanding Performer, winning 15 gold medals overall including four outdoor golds as a senior in 1997. Twelve years later, she still holds school records in seven of her eight events - the indoor 55-meter dash (7.44), 200-meter dash (26.54), and long jump (18-3 3/4), and the outdoor 100-meter dash (12.51), 200-meter dash (24.90), 400-meter dash (57.68), and long jump (18-3 1/4).
Dr. Howie Jones '65 - Men's Cross Country / Track & Field
One of the founding members of LVC's first cross country team, Dr. Howie Jones '65 was a standout distance runner for the Dutchmen from 1962 to 1965. As a sophomore in the fall of 1962, Jones helped LVC win its very first cross country meet as the gold medalist, leading the young program to an exceptional 6-1 record that year. By his senior year, Jones won seven of eight dual meets as LVC went 7-1 and was fourth at MAC Championships. As a distance runner for the track & field team, Jones was equally outstanding as LVC's top miler. He set the program records for the mile (4:32.6) and two-mile (10:13), two distances that are no longer run since the NCAA went to metric distances. One of the team's top point-scorers, the two-time captain won six mile runs and seven two-mile runs as a senior.
Erik Orndorff '93 - Football
As quarterback for the LVC football team in the early 1990's, Erik Orndorff '93 was a record-setting signal-caller, twice earning all-MAC honors. A preseason All-America in 1992, Orndorff graduated as the career passing yardage and completions leader, and still holds the single-season records for passing yards (2,134) and completions (168). He also owns two single-game records, for most completions (26) and for the longest pass completed (98 yards). A team captain as a senior, Orndorff earned the John Zola Award and was an All-ECAC First-Team honoree.
Danielle Campbell Willard '91 - Field Hockey / Softball
Dani Campbell Willard '91 was the defensive leader for an outstanding string of LVC field hockey teams, including the program's first MAC Championship team in 1988. A two-sport athlete who captained both the field hockey and softball teams, Willard made her mark on defense for field hockey, earning the team's defensive MVP award as well as the LVC Distinguished Athlete and Sportsmanship awards. Willard remained active in athletics after graduation as head coach of the successful Palmyra (N.J.) high school field hockey team, and she is also an accomplished marathoner and triathlete.
Richard Williams '68 - Men's Cross Country / Track & Field
Dick Williams was another outstanding distance runner for the Dutchmen in the 1960's, excelling at both cross country and track. A four-year member and three-time MVP for both teams, Williams placed top-10 at MAC Championships in cross country twice and broke LVC's home course record three times in his career. On the track in the spring, Williams broke the mile and two-mile records held by fellow Hall of Fame inductee Howie Jones, and also held the 880-yard run mark. He was a three-time MAC medalist in the mile, and also medaled in the two-mile event. Williams was a two-time captain for both teams and a recipient of the 1968 Chuck Maston Award as LVC's outstanding student-athlete.