This coming Saturday, July 19, the Indiana Gymnastics Hall of Fame will hold its third annual induction of candidates to the IGHOF at the Athenaeum Turners building in downtown Indianapolis. The Hall of Fame was an idea proposed by Betty Heppner, a long-time promoter and supporter of Indiana gymnastics in Indiana. The idea came to flower in 2012 with the first class of inductees, which included Walter J. Lienhert, Sandra Ruddick John, Muriel Davis Grossfeld, Terry Spencer Corcoran, Jaycie Phelps, and Bryon and Teresa Holden.
Holding the event at the Athenaeum makes a great deal of sense. The building was constructed from 1894 to 1898 by the Indianapolis Turnmeinde, a group of German-American citizens founded as an athletic and social organization. The building was called the German Haus and contained a theater, library, restaurant, meeting rooms, and a gymnasium. During WWI with the pervasive anti-German feeling, the name of the facility was changed to the Athenaeum. After nearly closing in the 1970s due to financial difficulties, the Athenaeum made a strong comeback and is a downtown landmark and destination place. The Rathskeller is one of Indy’s favorite restaurants and the place to go for the best German food.
This year’s inductees into the IGHOF include Myra Perkins Douglas, the 1956 NAAU Junior National champion as well as the 1958 Uneven Parallel Bars champion, and a member of the USA Team in the 1959 PanAm games. Roger L. Council, former Executive Director of the USGF and men’s gymnastic coach at Indiana State University will be inducted, as well as Sharon Phelps Coon, a member of the 1958 PanAm USA women’s gymnastic team and 1958 Tech High School graduate.
The event will be held the the Athenaeum Turners at 401 East Michigan St., starting at noon which will include tours of the building. The luncheon will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the David Wilke Room and attendees will order from the Rathskeller menu and pay accordingly. There is no charge to attend the event, but donations will be gratefully accepted. The event should conclude by 3:30 p.m.
The Passing of Gary Lee
If you are a fan of Indiana automobile racing from dirt tracks around the state, the passing of Gary Lee this last Sunday July 14, is very sad news. As a member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 500 Mile Race broadcast team, he covered the Turn Two action from 1990 to 1994 and Turn Three from 1996 to 1998. He was known for his strong and well modulated speaking voice and his quick, accurate, and cliche-free analysis of racing events. He did voice-overs for local commercials and popped up on TV on occasion. He was a very popular event speaker, sharing his knowledge of racing and events coverage. He owned the Whiteland raceway track for a while. He was best known as one of ESPN’s announcers when the network was just starting up. He and his friend, former race driver Larry Race, were the voices of the short track racing series Thunder which covered the beginnings of the careers of drivers such as Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart on the dirt tracks across the Midwest. He was later with the TNN Network as an analyst for Monster Truck and other indoor racing events.
Gary was born in Irvington and was a Howe High School graduate. He and his family were active supporters of the Irvington community. Among many other endeavors, Gary was on the Eastside Fire Museum Board and was responsible for the vintage fire truck that was such a popular part of the Irvington Halloween Festival parade.
Gary was a friend to this columnist and gave me some very helpful advice which included keep it simple, avoid cliches and remember the brevity is the soul of wit. He also set me up with several great interviews and introduced me to Bobby Plump.
Gary was 63 years old, which is way too young. He died of an apparent heart attack. Rest in peace Gary, and thanks for all the hard work and great memories.
snicewanger@yahoo.com
