If there is one thing that has become more commonplace in sports, it is schools, be it universities or high schools establishing their own Hall of Fames. Even professional teams establishing a Hall of Fame for its own franchise has become more mainstream.
Here in the Napa Valley, three of the six high schools have their own Hall of Fames -- Napa, Vintage and St. Helena. Calistoga and Justin-Siena would definitely have ample choices if they ever decided to start one. Since American Canyon did not open until 2010, it is far too early to form one now but the school already has candidates now if they ever went that direction. Napa Valley College also has its own athletic Hall of Fame.
In my last two years as a sports journalist, I was most actively involved with St. Helena’s Hall of Fame coverage. I had the chance to work closely with St. Helena High 1962 graduate Jim Hunt, who is the president of the organization that was formed in 2013. There had been talks for a few years of the organization forming but gained serious traction when Hunt took an interest in compiling record books for various sports of Saints athletics.
To be eligible as an athlete, nominees have to have graduated from St. Helena High at least 10 years prior to nomination and received recognition while at St. Helena, which includes but is not limited to North Central League I, North Coast Section and/or California Interscholastic Federation.
To be eligible as a coach, an individual must have coached at least one interscholastic athletic team, been employed by or contributed services to the high school as a coach for at least five years, and be no longer active as a coach at St. Helena High.
To be eligible for distinguished service, an individual must have participated in an activity that brought honor or positive recognition to the athletic program or contributed in some substantial way to the improvement of the athletic program. The qualification for this category is intentionally broad and relatively non-restrictive.
The common denominator for all three categories is that an individual must have displayed outstanding character and have been a positive role model in the community.
The committee then schedules meetings and evaluates nominees. Committee members cannot vote for themselves if nominated, nor may they abstain from voting for or against a candidate. There are no minimum or maximum number of inductees per year. If a nominee is unsuccessful in three attempts, there will be a five-year waiting period for re-nomination.
While I cannot speak for the requirements of the other schools, I’m sure they are at least somewhat similar.
There is yet another thing I have discovered. You cannot please everyone when it comes to nominating and inducting new members. Do you induct one that excelled at three sports first? Do you induct one that played three sports but only excelled at say one? Or do you induct one that played just one sport but excelled at that particular sport? To me, those who played three sports and either excelled at all three or at least two should be first in line. After that, candidacy needs much closer evaluation.
The justification that I find most comical is, “what about player X, Y or Z? They went on to play in college?” While that part of their resume should be looked at, it should not be an automatic ticket to induction. For openers, some junior colleges, NAIA schools or even Div. III schools will take most anyone that walks in the door because a) their coaches do not actively recruit or b) they need bodies to fill a roster. That statement is not meant to be cruel but it is simply reality.
Regardless of whether a youngster either a) simply goes to college without playing sports, b) goes on to play sports in college or c) goes on to bag groceries, the question should be, “does their athletic achievement at said school warrant Hall of Fame induction?”
To help understand the question even better, I bring up two more layers. Look at Joe Montana and Tom Brady. Each quarterback led his team to four Super Bowl championships. Montana is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brady will be too the first year he is eligible. That said, do they belong in the college football Hall of Fame? No. While both did some good things in college, Montana at Notre Dame and Brady at Michigan, their careers at that level were good but not great.
Now take Peyton Manning. He too is a slamdunk NFL Hall of Famer but is also a slamdunk College Football Hall of Famer. Keep in mind, Manning was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1997. However, Manning would be a College Football Hall of Famer even if he became an NFL bust or did not play a single down in the NFL. He would also be an NFL Hall of Famer even if he had a nondescript college career.
Something to think about when nominating an inductee for your school’s Hall of Fame, Ring of Honor, etc.
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