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A night of celebrating former students, coaches
Family, friends, teachers and school officials gathered to pay tribute to former students and community leaders for their contributions to Mountain Home High School during a ceremony Saturday evening.
The high school's second annual athletic hall of fame induction ceremony included nine individuals, including all-star athletes and former coaches.
Many of those inducted into the hall of fame graduated from the high school here and went on to compete in college athletic programs and professional sports. This year's "unbelievably impressive" class includes a two-time gold medalist and an NFL player, said high school athletic director Mark Cotton.
The 2016 Mountain Home Hall of Fame inductees were Barb Buchan, Will Gulley, Joy Memmelaar, Brent Pease, Rich Pease, Lloyd Schiller, Nikayla Skinner, Maury Townsend and Kenny West Jones.
Buchan, who graduated from Mountain Home in 1974, admitted that her aspirations to be a runner began when she saw Jim Ryan run in the Munich Olympic games. It was that personal determination that allowed her to become the first woman at the high school to break the six-minute mile.
However, her dreams of running in the Olympics changed when the maximum distance for women's track events was just 800 meters, she said. It convinced her to switch over to women's cycling, which led her to try our for the World Games in 1982 when she was 25.
But those dreams were shattered when she was involved in a crash during a time trial that left her in a coma for two months and required multiple surgeries to repair the damage to her brain. Undeterred, she continued to pursue her dreams as a member of the U.S. Paralympics, where she earned two gold medals at the 2008 games in Beijing, China.
All of her dreams started here in Mountain Home, she said.
Gulley was credited with the "profound impact" he had with the high school's basketball program, Cotton said. During his time with the Tigers, he was named the team's MVP in addition to his selection to the all-state squad.
During his college career with Westmont College, he earned the Golden State Athletic Conference 6th Man Award. He also holds the record for the most consecutive games played in the history of the college's basketball program.
Coming to Mountain Home was a "blessing" for Gulley, who was unable to attend the ceremony but presented prepared comments that were read at the event. He recalled how the Tigers went from winning one game in one season to being within arm's reach the following year due to the team's exceptional players.
Meanwhile, Memmelaar came to Mountain Home "on a whim" to accept a coaching position with the high school's softball team, Cotton said. During her coaching career, her teams earned three SIC championships while placing second and four in the state finals.
She was best known for the lessons taught to her players, which focused on being winners on and off the field, Cotton added. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, which would later claim her life, she never let her battle against the disease interfere with her ability to lead the teams she coached.
"She was a huge influence in our lives... and we will never forget her school spirit," Cotton said.
While a number of this year's honorees made contributions that impacted the local community for a number of years, others like Brent Pease gained national attention. A 1983 graduate, he earned the school's athlete of the year and all-conference honors in football and wrestling.
After playing with the University of Montana Grizzlies, including serving at the team's starting quarterback, he was drafted into the NFL during the 11th round by the Minnesota Vikings in 1987. His professional football career continued after he went to play for the Houston Oilers before he joined the World League, where he played for the Birmingham Fire and New Jersey Knights.
His mother, speaking on his behalf, thanked the high school for including him in this prestigious group of people. In prepared comments presented at the event, he thanked his parents for their support over the years, which allowed him to pursue his dreams.
Pease was one of two members of the immediate family inducted at Saturday's banquet. His father, Rich, earned his own distinction as the Tigers' head football coach from 1969 to 1984, who led the team to three SCIC championships and one second-place finish at state,
During his coaching career, he earned a number of accolades, including the State Coaches Association President's Award. He was also inducted into the IHSAA Hall of Fame and the Idaho State Athletic Director Hall of Fame.
"Coach Pease has a profound impact on my life as a student and athlete," said Gary Taylor, a former Tiger who later became a running back for Stanford University. "He cared a lot about his students and athletes. He pushed you to be your best at whatever it was that you were doing and made sure that you understood that there were no shortcuts to success."
Looking back at his coaching career, Pease hoped that he had made a difference in the lives of the players he worked with during his time with the Tigers. He added that he was honored to be included with the others inducted at Saturday's banquet.
Another of the coaches honored at the banquet has the distinction of having the high school's main gymnasium named in his honor. Schiller coached baseball, basketball and football during his time in Mountain Home, which included seven appearances at the state basketball finals.
According to Townsend, who was then recognized later in the ceremony, Schiller played an integral role in helping develop boys into young men. But that was just part of his list of accomplishments. He was also credited with starting the city's first recreation program, which he headed until 1967.
"Lloyd, more than any other coach, got more out of his players," Townsend said. He had a simple philosophy in which he expected his players to work hard to achieve great things.
"He's being recognized doing what he loved -- serving the students of Mountain Home," Townsend said.
The youngest inductee during this year's banquet graduated from Mountain Home in 2010, Skinner played four years with the Lady Tigers softball team, which won two state titles during that time. She said it was her love of softball that allowed her to make the transition to Mountain Home after she and her family moved her.
A three-time recipient of the school's player and pitcher of the year titles, she drew her inspiration from Memmelaar, who taught her a number of important lessons. It was those lessons that took her to the College of Idaho, where she continued her softball career.
"(Memmelaar) said the best way to play is to play with something to prove," said Skinner, who finished her college career with two Cascade Conference records along with seven career records with the College of Idaho.
Townsend, who served as an announcer for the Tigers football, basketball and volleyball teams for more than 25 years, was also the athletic co-coordinator for teams at Mountain Home Junior High School as well as Mountain Home Air Force Base Junior High School. He joined the local sports program at a time when the district didn't offer much in terms of competitive sports programs for younger students.
When he joined the district in 1964, there were no organized sports programs below the ninth grade level, he said. The district also lacked similar programs for female athletes.
Much of that has changed over the years, which has made a difference in the lives of today's students, according to Townsend. Sports, like other extra curricular activities, are an important part of helping students prepare for the challenges they will face in life, he said.
This year's final recipient was a letter man in football, basketball, baseball and track. It was his commitment and passion for these sports programs that led Jones to play for the all-state basketball team while earning an honorable mention by Coach and Athletic Magazine.
Following his graduation from Mountain Home in 1964, Jones went on to play basketball for the University of Idaho and Vallejo Community College in California.
He remains an "extremely humble individual" who showed how hard work translates to success in life, Cotton said.