NEW YORK – Columbia University has unveiled its 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame class, to be inducted at a special black-tie dinner and induction ceremony in Low Memorial Library on Columbia University's Morningside Campus Thursday, October 20, 2016.
The Class of 2016 Hall of Fame class includes 20 individuals and three teams representing nine different sports programs. There are 16 former student-athletes along with three former dedicated staff members. Two of the honorees (Judie Lomax and Ylonka Dubout-Wills) represent the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium.
The inductees were selected by a vote of a selection committee of Columbia Athletics affiliates, including alumni and athletics administrators.
“We would like to congratulate all the members of this outstanding Hall of Fame class,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Physical Education Peter Pilling. “All of these individuals and teams have made a lasting impact on Columbia Athletics. We cannot wait to welcome them back to campus this fall and celebrate their tremendous accomplishments.”
Among the honorees are football standouts Johnathan Reese and Paul Kaliades. Reese is Columbia's all-time leading rusher in a single-season and single-game. Kaliades was a standout linebacker and placekicker, who earned All-America honors.
Columbia wrestling's first-ever All-American, Bob Hartman, also gets the call, along with 1957 NCAA epee champion and 1960 Olympian James Margolis.
Two of the three “first-ballot” Hall of Famers are two of women's basketball's all-time greats. Judie Lomax, the 2010 Ivy League Player of the Year and All-American, will join teammate Megan Griffith, who took over the reins as head women's coach in March. A 2012 U.S. Olympian and NCAA sabre champion Jeff Spear, also will be enshrined in his first time on the ballot.
Rocco B. Commisso, who is a former men's soccer player and a loyal, long-standing contributor to the program, as well as pioneering sports and news executive Roone Arledge will be honored in the special category.
The members of the Class of 2016 of the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame is:
Male Student-Athletes, Heritage Era
Howie Hansen '52CC, Football
Bob Hartman '52CC, Wrestling
Male Student-Athletes, Modern Era
Steve Charles '79CC, Soccer
Paul Kaliades '73CC, Football
James Margolis '58CC, Fencing
Matt Palmer '07CC, Wrestling
Johnathan Reese '02CC, Football
Jeff Spear '10CC, Fencing
Female Student-Athletes
Allison Buehler '03CC, Softball
Liz Cheung-Gaffney '98CC, Soccer
Ylonka Dubout-Wills '84BC, Track & Field
Megan Griffith '07CC, Basketball
Judie Lomax '10BC, Basketball
Sara Ovadia '09CC, Golf
Sophie Reiser '10CC, Soccer
Team, Heritage Era
1954 Men's Fencing
Team, Modern Era
1979 Men's Soccer
Team, Female
2006 Women's Soccer
Athletics Staff
Kevin DeMarrais '64CC, Director of Sports Information (1965-67, 1969-84)
Paul Fernandes, Associate AD, Head Baseball Coach (1977-2008)
Ron Russo, Wrestling (1972-91)
Special Category
Rocco B. Commisso '71SEAS, Men's Soccer
Roone Arledge '52CC
Nominations for the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame were submitted by the general public by the deadline of March 4, 2016. Inductees are eligible in the following categories: Category 1: Male Student-athletes – Heritage Era (1867 to 1953-54), Category 2: Male Student-athletes – Modern Era (1954-55 to 2010-11), Category 3: Female Student-athletes (1898 to 2010-11), Category 4: Athletics Staff, Category 5: Teams – Heritage Era (1867 to 1953-54), Category 6: Teams – Modern Era (1954-55 to 2010-11), Category 7: Teams – Female (1898 – 2010-11), Category 8: Special Category for Individual Achievement.
Tickets to the black-tie dinner and induction ceremony are available by contacting Maggie Johnson at (212) 851-9610 or mej2112@columbia.edu. Media members may contact Mike Kowalsky at (212) 854-7064 or mk3531@columbia.edu.
