With a wealth of storied athletes throughout the years, Madera was one of the few towns in the valley that did not have an official Hall of Fame to celebrate their accomplishments. That has all changed as the Foundation for High School Athletic Needs (FAN) has announced that the first class of inductees will be honored at the 2008 Madera Sports Hall of Fame Dinner.
There will also be a permanent physical location for the Hall of Fame where mementos and plaques commemorating the inductees will be on display.
The ceremony will be held May 3, at Hatfield Hall from 5-10 p.m. and will include a catered dinner including dessert, live and silent auctions and the awards presentation.
Former San Francisco 49er Pro Bowl offensive lineman Bubba Paris will be the guest speaker with former new England Patriots and 49er great Russ Francis and other professional athletes will be in attendance.
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, a male and female Athlete of the Year will be named for both the Madera Coyotes and the Madera South Stallions as well as honoring a Most Inspirational Coach for each of the schools.
While the number of nominees comprised a large number, the selection committee narrowed the first class down based upon their high school achievements as well as the entire body of work in either their professional arena or some other athletic venue.
One coach, one team and nine individuals will be inducted in the first class while many of the nominees will likely make up the classes in subsequent years.
Leroy Zimmerman will be honored posthumously as the first coach in the Hall of Fame and gained fame both as an NFL football player who was named the NFL's All-League quarterback in 1944 beating out Hall of Famer Sid Luckman, and later as one of the most innovative softball pitching coaches as well as being a tremendous player.
The Madera high boys' basketball team of 1963 will be honored together having been the last Coyote team to have won a Valley championship.
Former Coyote and Fresno State star quarterback Mark Barsotti will be inducted as well. Barsotti led the Coyote football team to an undefeated North Yosemite League title in 1986 before going on to become a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and being named the 1991 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year.
Bryan Clark, traveling from his current residence in Texas, will also be inducted. He was drafted out of Madera High in 1974 by the Pittsburgh Pirates and had a nine-year major league career as a starting pitcher.
Kathy Haynes was four-year varsity letterman in three different sports for the Coyotes and won the 1978 California state title in the long jump her senior year. She still holds the Madera High record in the hurdles and had a storied basketball career playing for USC.
Brent Martin was the NYL Lineman of the Year in 1981 for the Coyotes before going on to earn All-Pac-10 honors as a center at Stanford and being drafted in the 10th round by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL draft.
Dwayne Crump, a three-sport star for the Coyotes before being a two-time All-PCAA cornerback for the Fresno State Bulldogs, had a 5-year career in the NFL as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
Barbara McAlister was one of the most prolific divers in her time having captured the Pan American Games title in 1963 and also being an Olympic finalist on both 1964 and 1968.
Kent Nance was a high school phenom as a running back and was named California's Mr. Football in 1960. Nance still holds many of the Madera high football records for a running back but is most known for scoring nine touchdowns in one game.
Robert Yslas was a premier distance runner who was one of the building blocks in coach Dennis DeWitt's 11 Valley championships and still holds the Coyote record in the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:10.
Steve Johansen had a legendary career as a wrestler at Madera High before going on to become the first All-American for Fresno State.
Purchase tickets for $50 by calling Bill Dawson, 479-1649, Staci Martines, 647-8332 or Jake Bragonier, 675-4500.
Paul Stanford Paul Stanford is the sports editor for the Madera Tribune. You can contact Paul at 674.8134 ext. 225 or e-mail at pstanford (at) maderatribune.net
