BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS

The Tacoma Athletic Commission is proud to host the Banquet of Champions which will be held on Thursday, June 4th in the Exhibition Hall at the Tacoma Dome. A social hour will be held at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:30pm and the program from 7:30-9:00pm. This celebration will be emceed by Tacoma native and former KIRO-TV news anchor Gary Justice and will feature the Columbia Bank Male and Female High School Athletes of the Year recipients, Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame inductees, MVP Physical Therapy Most Valuable Player honorees, the First Family of Sport Awards, Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year recipient and Clay Huntington Sports Communication Scholarship recipient.

The Male and Female High School Athlete of the Year recipients will each receive a $2500 scholarship to the college of their choice. These award culminate the monthly recognition program sponsored by the TAC and Columbia Bank during the school year. All 33 high schools in Pierce County are invited to attend.

Guest speakers in recent years have included Guest speakers in recent years have included former Washington State University football coach Jim Walden, Seattle Seahawk quarterback Brock Huard, track Olympian Doris Brown Heritage; Lorenzo Romar, University of Washington men's head basketball coach; Joe Callero, former University of Puget Sound men's head basketball coach; Dori Monson, KIRO News Radio personality; Tom Glasgow, KIRO Sportscaster; and Bob Bender, former University of Washington men's head basketball coach.

Thursday, June 4th, 2009 Details to follow Football coach, lecturer, author, radio and television personality and humorist - those are just a few of the career opportunities Jim Walden has embraced over the past 40-plus years. Who would have ever guessed a dare-devil quarterback out of Mississippi would eventually become one of the most recognized sports icons in Washington State University history - but that is exactly the road Walden has traveled. The most recent generation of Northwest football fans knows Walden as Bob Robertson's sidekick each Saturday afternoon during the football season. While Bob calls the action, Walden offers insight, encourages the team and isn't bashful admitting he's a "homer" rooting for his beloved Cougars from the broadcast booth. He too can be brutally honest when things are not going well, but then what else would Cougar fans expect - he coached the same way - telling it like it was, good or bad, beautiful or ugly. Walden first emerged on the Cougar scene in 1977 as an assistant for newly hired head coach Warren Powers. A year later and after a stunning upset of Nebraska at Lincoln in the 1977 opener, WSU President Glenn Terrell and athletic director Sam Jankovich decided Walden would become the Cougar's fourth coach in four years. One of their requirements was a commitment from Walden he wouldn't bolt at the first opportunity. But it is even doubtful they would have expected Walden to still be associated with the Crimson and the Gray when a new century was ushered in.
	During his nine-year run as WSU's head football coach, Walden won 44 games to rank third in career victories. In 2001, Walden stepped into the Cougar broadcast booth alongside Robertson and for the past four years has been informing and entertaining listeners to Cougar football broadcasts. And also let it be known he wasn't a bit bashful about suggesting WSU's run of three straight 10-win seasons started when he joined the broadcast team. Walden's latest venture has been that of an author. Last summer he and Tacoma journalist Dave Boling authored a book about his experiences at WSU, "Tales from the Washington State Cougars Sideline" - now in its second printing. A noted story-teller, Walden is sure to offer some entertaining and humorous insights that you won't want to miss.

Please complete and return to: Tacoma Athletic Commission PO Box 11304, Tacoma, WA 98411

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Banquet Sponsorship Packages

Click Here to View a List of Past Pierce County Male and Female High School Athlete of the Year Award Recipients

Click Here to view a List of the Athlete of the Month Winners for the 2006-07 School Year

THE DICK HANNULA AMATEUR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award is presented annual to Pierce County's amateur athlete of the year. The award was established in the name of Dick Hannula whose career as a swim coach is legendary. Hannula's efforts over the years epitomizes the best qualities of amateur sports.

Click here to View a List of Past Dick Hannula Amateur Athlete of the Year Award Recipients

THE CLAY HUNTINGTON SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

The Clay Huntington Sports Communication Scholarship Award is a TAC effort, dedicated in Clay's name, to assist worth local high school students in their pursuit of broadcasting or journalism at the college of their choice.

Click here to View a List of Clay Huntington Sports Communication Scholarship Award Recipients

TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame was the brainchild of longtime sportscaster, sports writer, and radio station owner Clay Huntington who, in 1957, encouraged the Tacoma Athletic Commission to recognize the communityís great sports stars for their outstanding athletic achievements over the years. Individuals who have brought significant local and regional acclaim to themselves and to the Tacoma-Pierce County area are honored with induction into this prestigious Hall of Fame.

Click here to View a List of Past Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame Honorees

FIRST FAMILY OF SPORTS AWARD

The First Family of Sports Award recognizes the contributions of parents, foster parents, or guardians who instill and help maintain athletes' successes.

Click here to View a List of Past First Family of Sports Award Recipients

MVP PHYSICALTHERAPY MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD

This award is given to the male and female determined to be the Most Valuable Player in Tacoma-Pierce County to their team during the current school year. It is an award that emphasizes teamwork in a true team sport and epitomizes an individual who understands and recognizes the value of integrating his/her game with that of their teammates.

Click here to View a List of Past Most Valuable Player Award Recipients

2008 HONOREES
TACOMA - PIERCE COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Mark Alger (Squash), Steve Ansett (Basketball), Frisco Burnett (dec.)(Bowling), Jim Clifton (Basketball), Curt Corvin (Track & field ), Jim Crews (Auto Racing), Michelle Finnvik Biden (Track/Cross Country), Jerry Hartley (coach) (Water Polo), Bill Hobart (dec.) (Basevall), Brock Huard (Football), Jim Kittilsby (Administrators), Denny Krick (Bowling), Kelly Larson (Basketball), Susan Lenth Moffet (Swimming), Warren Logan (coach) (Track & field), Duane Lowell (Football), Jim Martinson (Wheelchair racing), Bill McGovern (dec.) (Football), Lea McMillan (Handball, Dave Minnitti (Baseball), Brian Mogg (Golf), Frank Morrone Baseball), Marshall Perrow (Snow skiing), Aaron Pointer (Officials), Art Popham (dec.) (Sports Broadcasters(, Dana Powers Hubbard (Swimming), Robb Powers (Swimming), Cliff Schiesz (Baseball), Mark Smith (dec.) (Swimming) Rod Stewart (Swimming), Ed Stricherz (dec.) (Officials), Dave Svendsen (dec.) (Football) Govnor Teats (dec.) (Sailing), Joan Teats (Golf), Gene Thayer (Softball-Fastpitch), Suzanne Vick Paulsen (Volleyball), Louie Weir (dec.) (Hockey), Burt Wells (Coach) (Track & field), John West (Soap Box Derby), Kirk White (Wrestling), Aaron Williams (Track & field), Catherine Williams (Gymnastics), Dick Yohn (Softball-Fastpitch)

1970 Wilson HS Boys Swimming State Championship Team:

Dick Hannula (Head coach), Jim Boettcher (Driving Coach and Assistant Swim Coach) Dave Ashara, Dave Burgley, Tom Dickson, Jeff Edwards, Jim Garglardi, Dan Hannula, Dave Hannula, Brent Heisler, Gary Holmquist, Mark Hoffman, Randy Hume, Chuck Johnston, Kevin Kambak, Kurt Knipher, Scot Knowles, Dennis Larsen, Steve Lindeman, Boob Music, Bart Rohrs, Herb Schairbaum, Greg Searles, Brandon Smith, Kelly Smith, Dave Sowell, Bob Tonellato, Rick Unrue, Dave Williams, Hans Wold, and Dave Wright.

FIRST FAMILY OF SPORTS AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Dick & Sylvia Hannula Family:
Dick, Sylvia, Dan, Dave, Dick and Debby.