Two deserving individuals, one team and a very special family will be inducted into the Butler Community College Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Rudi Johnson, Maggie Ham (Minnick), the 1999 Butler football team and the Callaway family have all been voted on unanimously to be inducted into the Grizzly Athletic Hall of Fame this year.
"This is another great class of people to add to what we have already in the Hall of Fame," said Butler Athletic Director Todd Carter. "Rudi got Butler football over the top and into the national spotlight which we have maintained to this day. The 99' team joins the 81' and 98' National Championship teams in the Hall of Fame. Maggie came in and in her one year did to softball what Rudi did to football. She put Butler into the national headlines, in which, like football, they still hold to this day. The Callaway family has been one of the top GrizzlyBacker supporters for years. They helped kick off what will now be the 17th Annual Mountain Oyster Feed."
Rudi Johnson was a member of the Butler football team from 1998-1999, helping lead the Grizzlies to win back-to-back NJCAA National Championships. Named the 1999 NJCAA National Player of the Year, Johnson is the Grizzlies' all-time leader in rushing yards (3,827) and rushing touchdowns (46).
Maggie Ham (Minnick) was a starting pitcher on the Grizzly softball team during the 2012-2013 school year. Ham, who holds the Grizzlies' single-season leader in wins (30) and strikeouts (288), led Butler to its first Final Four appearance at the NJCAA National Tournament.
The 1999 Football team was the third team to win a NJCAA National Title for the Grizzlies. Butler finished 11-1, won the KJCCC Championship and defeated Dixie State, Utah, 49-35 in the Dixie Rotary Bowl to win the NJCAA championship. That team was made up of:
1 Chavez Donnings, 2 Mark Strickland, 3 Bobby Patterson, 4 Lance Stegman, 5 Stephen Williams ,6 Daniel Houser, 7 Terrance Dean, 8 Charles Berry, 9 David Routt, 10 Daniel Cobb, 12 Sam Breeden, 13 Mike Graham, 15 Jesse Mease, 16 Randy Johnson, 18 Adam Stiles, 19 Charles Dennis, 20 Patrick Henry, 21 Jason Hamm, 22 Rudi Johnson, 23 Darrell Jones, 24 Carl Witherspoon, 25 Ronnie Arnold, 29 Justin McAtee, 30 Nate Blevins, 32 Greg Collins , 33 Rueben Logan, 34 Corey Brown, 36 Mike Hodgens, 40 Shaun Smith, 41 Corey Williams, 42 Luke Parthemer, 43 Dustin Nicol, 44 Chad Warner, 45 Jason Brown, 46 Phil Hubbard, 48 Michael Kendall, 52 Mike Fritzler, 54 Nick Cirrintano, 55 Courtney Young, 58 Nathan Blasi, 61 Tony Anastasio, 68 Howard Duncan, 73 Ross Foley, 74 Nathan Howard, 75 Mike Bowers, 76 Nick Jones, 78 Justin Jinks, 79 Matt Anderson, 80 Jason Blevins, 81 Brock Weaver, 82 Ben Forrest, 84 Mike Jackson, 91 Jason Burgess, 98 Corey Rice, 99 Logan Jacobs
Coaches:
Head- James Shibest
Assistant Head Coach: Steve Braet
Defensive Coordinator: Shawn Raney
Offensive Coordinator: Troy Morrell
Assistant Coaches: J.R. Lemons, Rance Holt, Buford Pringle, Steve Gleason,
Managers: Stephanie Carruth, Coby Babb, Jake Bent
Athletic Trainer: Todd Carter
Athletic Director: Curtis Hammeke
President: Dr. Jacqueline Vietti
The Callaway Family, Bill and Lucy and Dave and Jennifer have been supporters of Butler Athletics for over 40 years. They have been long time members of the GrizzlyBackers and season-ticket holders. Dave was instrumental in getting the Annual Mountain Oyster Feed started back in 2003. The Callaway's have shown unwavering support of Butler Athletics and resemble what it truly means to be a GrizzlyBacker and supporter.
They will join 17 individuals and four teams as members of the Grizzly Hall of Fame. Of the 17 individuals already enshrined, nine are athletes, five are donors and three are coaches. The four teams are all national championship teams: 1953 men's basketball and coach Dave Weatherby, 1970 cross country and coach Ollie Isom, 1981 football and coach Fayne Henson and 1998 football and coach James Shibest.
The Butler Athletic Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 at BG Products Veterans Sports Complex. More details to follow.
