Dan Doornink - Football

Doornink was a standout athlete at Wapato High School who earned a football scholarship to WSU. As a Cougar from 1974-77, Doornink rushed for 1,739 career yards on 410 carries while averaging 4.1 yards per carry, and scoring 12 touchdowns. His career rushing yardage total puts him 10th on WSU's all-time list, earning him membership I WSU's athletic hall of fame.

Drafted by the NFL's New York Giants, Doornink spent his 1978 rookie season as a Giant before moving on for seven more seasons with the Seattle-Seahawks. As a Seahawk fullback, Doornink specialized in third-down situations, and was well respected by defenses because of his pass receiving ability. His best season with Seattle was 1979, when he rushed for 500 yards, caught 54 passes for 432 yards, and scored nine touchdowns.

He retired from football after the 1985 season and then began his journey into medicine. He is currently a doctor in Yakima specializing in internal medicine.  Dan still stays close to sports, however, serving as a youth coach in the Yakima area.

Dave Heaverlo - Baseball

Heaverlo, an Ellensburg native, gained notoriety while pitching for Central Washington University (CWU). His successful career at Central made Heaverlo a charter member of the inaugural CWU Sports Hall of Fame (class of 1983).

Heaverlo pitched seven seasons at the major-league level - all as a relief pitcher. The right-hander spent the 1975-77 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, 1978-79 seasons with the Oakland A's, the 1980 season with the Seattle Mariners, and a return to Oakland for one final season in 1981. Being known as a prankster made Heaverlo a positive clubhouse influence. His major league career featured 356 appearances, 537 innings pitched 26 saves and a respectable 3.41 earned run average.

Today, Heaverlo lives and works in Moses Lake, where he has a talk radio show and helps coach the Big Bend Community College baseball team. He also spends time following his son Jeff's career in the Seattle Mariners organization.

Ron Howard - Football

Ron Howard played varsity football, basketball and track for Pasco High for three years. As a senior, Howard led the Pasco hoop squad to a 25-1 record - with the one loss coming in the state championship game to Snohomish - 53-51 in overtime.

After graduating in 1970, Howard went on to become a basketball star at Seattle University. Although Seattle University had no football program, Howard was drafted by the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, who had had their eye on him since he was a sophomore at Seattle U. Despite the odds, Howard made the Cowboys as a tight end and spent two seasons with the Cowboys, before moving back to Seattle for another three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before injuries forced him out of the game. Howard's team record for receptions by a tight-end in a season stood for nearly 30 years before being broken.

Howard works today as the House Administrator in the Seattle School District. He is part of the coaching staff for football, basketball and track at Rainier Beach High School and is working towards his principleship credentials.

A little known fact, Super Bowl X featured two Tri-Citians, and now Central Washington Hall of Famers, playing against each other; Howard for the Cowboys, and Ray Mansfield for the Pittsburgh Steelers (Central Washington Sports Hall of Fame Class of 1999). Also, Mansfield interned at Pasco High where Howard was one of his students. Who could have predicted these two paths would cross again on the NFL's biggest stage!

Darrel Keller - Wrestling

The Keller brothers earned three high school state wrestling championships between them at Kennewick High in 1965 and 1966, then four NCAA championships at Oklahoma State University from 1968-71. Back in the 1960s, the Keller's were two of the toughest wrestlers in the Northwest.

Darrell was Washington State Champion at 123 pounds in 1966 as a senior at Kennewick High School .  From there, Darrell wrestled for Columbia Basin College in 1967 and was the Northwest Junior College National Champion, the National Junior College Champion, and was recognized as the Outstanding Wrestler of the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.

In 1970, while at Oklahoma State University (OSU), Darrell was the NCAA Champion at 134 pounds, going 15-1. He was also the U.S. Wrestling Federation Freestyle National Champion at 136.5 lbs., and was named Outstanding Wrestler for OSU.

The following year, Darrell's dream to become a two time NCAA Champion was nearly halted by a shoulder injury that required surgery. Rather than miss this opportunity, he wrestled using only one arm to qualify for the NCAA championships. For the NCAA Championship Tournament, he had a strap allowing him to move his arm about four inches from his side, giving him some movement. However, in his final match he was up against the returning NCAA Champion. For this match, Darrell removed the shoulder strap so he could have nothing holding him back. He won the match 16-12 and become the NCAA Champion at 142 lbs, was named Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Tournament, and was named Outstanding Athlete for OSU. That year, he also represented the West in the East-West Dual Match.

Darrell was on the US Olympic Team in 1972 and was the US Wrestling Federation Freestyle National Champion in 1973. In 1997, Darrell Keller was inducted into the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame.

Dwayne Keller - Wrestling

In the 1960s, the Keller's were two of the toughest wrestlers in the Northwest. The Keller brothers earned three state high school wrestling championships between them at Kennewick High in 1965 and 1966, then four NCAA championships at Oklahoma State University from 1968-71.

In 1965 and 1966 while at Kennewick, Dwayne won Washington state titles at 115 pounds his junior and senior years. He was also a two-time Runner-up National AAU Champion. In 1966, he went to Oklahoma State University on a full scholarship. There he had a 64-1 record and the team won two NCAA National Team Championships.  Dwayne held the record for most consecutive wins at OSU until 1984 and has the second all time winning percentage at 98.5%.

In 1968, wrestling at 123 lbs., he was the Big Eight Champion, NCAA National Champion, and Outstanding Wrestler. In 1970 at 126 lbs., he was again, the Big Eight Champion and NCAA National Champion. And in 1971, at 134 lbs., he was the Big Eight Champion and NCAA National Champion Runner-up.

Dwayne was a member of the USA Wrestling Teams sent to and in 1970, to and in 1971, and to in 1975, where he received the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the United State Wrestling Federation National Tournament.

Len Pyne - Baseball

Pyne was a pioneer coach for Columbia Basin College in Pasco, coaching baseball, golf, and basketball. At CBC, Pyne coached the Hawks to regional championships in both 1963 and 1964, and between 1957-1964, his teams were 166-73, a record even more impressive considering several four-year schools made a habit of scheduling the Hawks early each season. Pyne spent the latter end of his career coaching golf (12 NWAACC titles in 15 years), as a basketball assistant coach (seven titles in eight years), in addition to serving as Director of Athletics and Chairman of the Physical Education Department.

Pyne lives in Kennewick and enjoys golf, traveling and hunting waterfowl.

Ray Stein - Basketball

Ray Stein was a remarkable athlete at Richland High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football for the Bombers in the early 1960s. Considered one of the greatest athletes ever to wear the green and gold, Stein was an all-state basketball player at Richland in both 1963 and 1964. As a senior, Stein was a Prep All-American, selected by Coach and Athlete Magazine as one of the Top Ten high school basketball players in the country.

He went on to become a three-year starter at Washington State University, from 1965-68, where he played under Marv Harshman. The Cougars went a combined 46-31 in that period. Stein was the team captain his final two seasons at WSU, and was also voted most inspirational both seasons. In his junior year, Stein was an honorable mention All-Pac-8 Conference selection. Stein was noted for his off-the-court talents as well, wining the Pac-8 Student-Athlete Award while at WSU.

After college, Stein went on to become a teacher and coach in the Spokane School District, where he still lives.

Special Contributor's Award: Ken Maurer - Waterfollies Association

Ken Maurer is a graduate in English and journalism from Washington State University. Following graduation, he was editor of a weekly newspaper and then served in the public relations department at General Electric on the Hanford project.  He opened his own advertising agency in the Tri-Cities in 1957. Now known as the Maurer Group, his company specializes in publicity, public relations, and event and association management.

Maurer was one of a small self-appointed group of people who began searching for a major event that would generate national publicity and attract people to the area in the early 1960's. In 1964, the Pasco Water Follies became the Tri-City Water Follies and small boat racing continued one more year at Sacajawea Park. The next year, boat racing moved to Columbia Park, but the big change was still yet to come.

After a year of investigating unlimited hydroplane racing - traveling to race sites to take measurements, snap photos and make contacts - the exploratory committee hosted its first unlimited hydroplane race in 1966. Under the direction of Maurer and a very dedicated group of volunteers, the Tri-City Water Follies hosted its first major attraction. Maurer's company has provided management and office services to the Water Follies, boat races and air show for the past 40 years.