There are times when you see refreshing revelations when you revisit
your previous career for a day.
On Saturday night, I had the chance to wear my sports reporter hat and
cover the St. Helena High Athletic Hall of Fame at the Native Sons Hall
in St. Helena, CA. Current St. Helena Star/Weekly Calistogan sports
reporter Gus Morris reached out to me because he has an exceedingly
busy schedule. I can relate because I was in his shoes from 2004-2014
and I know the community pressure that comes with it.
First of all, shoutout to the six new inductees: Bob “Bimmer” Sculatti
(Class of 1946, athlete and distinguished service), Hardland Morley
(1954), Terry O’Rourke (1977), Fred Miller (Coach, 1980-1997),
Rebecca “Beci” Ivanoff (1987) and Adam Beattie (1999). Each of the
inductees hold or are among the leaders in school season or career
records.
When I was devoting 18 years to the journalism industry, I had a chance
to cover many great sporting events but I had never covered a Hall of
Fame induction ceremony. Hearing the stories from the inductees and
those who presented them were fascinating because you learned about
the jumping off points of their success.
The second shoutout goes to board members Jim Gamble, Mike Werle
and Tom Hoppe for welcoming me with open arms as their guest to
cover the event. I also had the pleasure of sitting next to former Saints
football head coach Dan Boyett, who introduced Beattie. Yes, Boyett
was desperate enough to sit next to an objectionable soul like yours
truly but don’t hold that against him. All kidding aside, I consider
Boyett a friend and valued resource.
During the ceremony, Gamble referred to yours truly as the “best sports
reporter in St. Helena Star history.” I’m flattered beyond belief because
the newspaper has been around for 120 years. I feel great about my
legacy but there’s only one Starr Baldwin. He truly is the GOAT
(Greatest Of All Time).
The SHHS Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2013 thanks to the
heavy lifting of Jim Hunt, who passed away in 2017. Gamble added
that the organization received permission from St. Helena Unified
School District superintendent Dr. Marylou Wilson to proceed with
construction of the Hall of Fame room in the foyer of the gym at St.
Helena High. The goal is to complete the project in two years.
The Hall of Fame having its own home is as important if not more so
than having the Hall of Fame itself. About five years before the
aforementioned Hunt made the SHHS Athletic Hall of Fame come to
fruition, yours truly openly lobbied for it in the Star sports section.
“The goal of the Hall of Fame committee is to preserve history, honor
excellence, and connect generations,” Gamble said while addressing
the crowd. “Connecting the generations is something we take great
pride in. What the Hall of Fame committee is trying to do every year
is honor the great athletic accomplishments of deserving men and
women from all generations by dividing them into three groups and
inducting members from each of those generations.”
My reasons were many, recognizing history, appreciating excellence,
etc. For the Hall of Fame to have its own sacred place within a couple
of years, however, is significant.
Boyett had a sentiment that was on point before he introduced his
former quarterback, Beattie.
“It is so wonderful to hear that there is going to be a home for the Hall
of Fame,” Boyett said. “It adds to all of the great athletic facilities that
are here in St. Helena.”
Gamble went on to quip: “The Green Bay Packers will have nothing
on our Hall of Fame.”
While much of what Gamble said was in jest, the importance of the
Hall of Fame having a permanent home cannot be overstated. While
the gym itself would have been a nice, during basketball and volleyball
season, loose balls fly around and hit either the plaques or the
plexiglass that protects them. Oh, and don’t forget baseballs and
softballs when it gets too rainy to practice outside. Not to mention,
there are loose balls from any myriad of PE classes.
For the St. Helena High Athletic Hall of Fame, there will be no place
like home.
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