NEW YORK – Columbia University has unveiled its 2018 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 18, 2018.
The 2018 Hall of Fame class includes 17 individuals and four teams representing 14 different sports programs and seven schools within the University. There are 15 former student-athletes along with two long-time staff members.
The inductees were selected by a vote of a selection committee of Columbia Athletics affiliates, including alumni and athletics administrators.
"We are thrilled to induct another outstanding group of individuals and teams into our Hall of Fame," said Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Physical Education
Peter Pilling. "This event is truly a special night to honor their accomplishments and recognize the foundation they have laid for our athletics program. Congratulations to the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2018."
The honorees include two key members of the 1968 Ivy League Champion men's basketball team, Heyward Dotson and David Newmark. Dotson was a three-time All-Ivy League selection before earning a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. A 7-foot center, Newmark averaged 19.9 points per game during his tenure with the Lions and went to play in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.
Coinciding with the 35
th anniversary of the Columbia-Barnard Consortium, the 1985-86 women's basketball squad that went 21-6 and received a bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament will take its place among the Lions' elite. Additionally, former Barnard College President Ellen Futter '71BC, who was instrumental in the creation of the consortium will be honored.
Among others being inducted include Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and first head coach in the men's basketball program's history, Harry A. Fisher, Barton Nisonson, who was the 1962 NCAA Sabre Champion and went on to serve as the orthopedic surgeon for the New York Jets and New York Rangers, and long-time administrator Ken Torrey, who was instrumental in the start of Columbia's varsity squash programs.
The members of the
Class of 2018 of the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame are:
Male Student-Athletes, Heritage Era
Norman Armitage '27CC, '29SEAS, Fencing
Barton Nisonson '62CC, '66P&S, Fencing
Ray Ruddy '32CC, Swimming & Diving
Charles Sands '1887CC, Golf/Tennis
Male Student-Athletes, Modern Era
Liam Boylan-Pett '08CC, Track & Field
Heyward Dotson '70CC, '76LAW, Basketball
Don Jackson '73CC, '80BUS, Football
David Newmark '69CC, Basketball
Michael M. Wilhite '78CC, '07GSAPP, Baseball
Female Student-Athletes
Diana Diep '96SEAS, Archery
Katie Beauregard Sheehy '03CC '06LAW, Volleyball
Erin Raggio Eriksen '03CC, Track & Field
Heather Ruddock '88CC, Track & Field
Anna Martens Davidson '89CC, Swimming & Diving
Charlene Schuessler Fideler '90BC, Basketball
Team, Heritage Era
1950-51 Men's Fencing
Team, Modern Era
1973 Men's Tennis
1980-81 Wrestling
Team, Female
1985-86 Women's Basketball
Athletics Staff
Harry Fisher, Men's Basketball
George "Butch" Seewagen, Men's Tennis
Ken Torrey, Administrator
Special Category
Ellen Futter '71BC, '74LAW, Former Barnard College President
Nominations for the
Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame were submitted by the general public by the deadline of March 18, 2018. Inductees are eligible in the following categories: Category 1: Male Student-athletes – Heritage Era (prior to 1968-69), Category 2: Male Student-athletes – Modern Era (1968-69-2007-08), Category 3: Female Student-athletes (1898 to 2007-08), Category 4: Athletics Staff, Category 5: Teams – Heritage Era (1867 to 1967-68), Category 6: Teams – Modern Era (1968-69 to 2010-11), Category 7: Teams – Female (1898 – 2007-08), 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
Greg Hotchkiss at gh2469@columbia.edu.
