County’s third Hall of Fame class announced

  • By Rich Myhre Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, May 30, 2012 4:55pm
  • SportsSports

With a permanent display just a few months from completion, the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame committee has announced its class of inductees for 2012.

Ten individuals and two teams will be formally enshrined during a banquet in September, and by then the plaques and memorabilia honoring the county’s greatest sports figures will be in display cases at Everett’s Comcast Arena, according to Hall of Fame committee chairman Frank Foster.

The addition of this year’s class will increase the Hall of Fame to 30 individuals and five teams in 11 different sports.

The 2012 class includes:

• Dick Armstrong, who coached football at Snohomish High School from 1963 to 1994, winning two state championships and 279 career games (including his nine years at Sultan, Concrete and Camas high schools), from Snohomish;

• Herm Atkins, a world-class distance runner in the late 1970s, from Everett;

• Karen Bryant, the president and CEO of the Seattle Storm, winner of two WNBA championships, from Edmonds;

• Terry Ennis, the longtime football coach at Cascade and later Archbishop Murphy high schools who won 287 games and three state titles in 36 seasons, from Everett;

• Ron Gipson, a starting fullback for the University of Washington in the 1978 Rose Bowl, from Everett;

• Jack Nichols, a UW basketball player in the 1940s who went on to play professionally, from Everett;

• Nancy Snyder, a coach in six different sports at Darrington High School over 30 years (and counting), her 1981 baseball team won a state title, from Darrington;

• Steve Thompson, a UW football player who later played in the 1969 Super Bowl with the New York Jets, from Lake Stevens;

• Tony Voltenpest, a 1992 and 1996 U.S. Paralympics sprinter, from Edmonds, and;

• Sherron Walker, a 1976 U.S. Olympic long jumper who still holds a state high school record in the event, from Everett.

Atkins, Gipson, Nichols, Thompson, Voltenpest and Walker are being inducted as athletes; Armstrong, Ennis and Snyder as coaches; and Bryant as a special contributor.

Nichols, Armstrong and Ennis are all deceased, though they will likely be represented by family members at the September banquet.

Also being inducted are the 1940 Everett High School and 1977 Mountlake Terrace High School boys basketball teams, both winners of state championships.

“This is an exceptional class,” Foster said. “As I look through the bios, we have individuals who’ve won state championships and people who’ve competed internationally. Each year it’s amazing that individuals in our county have done such incredible things.

“All these folks have come from Snohomish County,” he added, “and they’ve brought honor to themselves and to the county.”

Nominations for this year’s class were submitted by the public and by the 25-member Hall of Fame committee earlier this year. A committee vote this month determined the inductees.

Along with anticipation for the September banquet, there is also great excitement about the forthcoming displays, Foster said.

“It’s exciting to have the whole Hall of Fame coming to fruition,” he said. “This has been an incredible project that a lot of people have invested their time and energy into.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Jackson’s Chanyoung Park putts during the 4A District 1 Golf Tournament at Snohomish Golf Course on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chanyoung Park, Jackson girls golf claim District 1 4A titles

The sophomore headlines the Timberwolves’ underclassmen trio on the road to state.

Jackson's Gracie Schouten warms up before a District 1 4A playoff match on May 14, 2025 at Mill Creek Tennis Club. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Jackson, Glacier Peak and Mariner girls tennis secure state spots

Jackson took first and second in singles; Glacier Peak won doubles at the District 1 4A Tournament.

Shorewood's Rylie Gettmann hits the ball during a Class 3A District 1 girls tennis tournament at Snohomish High School in Snohomish, Washington on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Shorewood’s Rylie Gettmann four-peats as district tennis champ

Mari Brittle and Bridget Cox completed a Stormrays sweep with the doubles title.

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Nielsen runs across home plate during the game against Issaquah on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Wednesday, May 14

Grizzlies roar back to earn state softball bid.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 4-10

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 4-10. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) reacts after sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Andrew Mills / Tribune News Services)
NFL releases Seahawks’ 2025 schedule

Early DK Metcalf reunion, SF opener, 4 primetime games highlight slate.

Sonics’ return? NBA commissioner talks expansion

By now, it’s like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet.… Continue reading

Kamiak’s Aaron Choi hits a drive during the 4A District 1 Boys Golf Championship at Legion Memorial Golf Course on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kamiak boys golf swings Day 2 comeback to win District 1 4A

Knights overcome six-stroke Day 1 deficit as Jackson’s Kang wins individual title.

Snohomish’s Tully VanAssche places his ball on the green to putt during the 3A District 1 Boys Golf Championship at Legion Memorial Golf Course on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish boys golf paces District 1 3A field

Panthers win by 30 strokes as second-place Marysville-Getchell qualifies for first time.

Monroe's Cody Duncan (14) and Connor Dayley (10) prepare for a set piece during a District 1 boys soccer playoff game against Marysville Getchell on May 13, 2025 at Shoreline Stadium. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Monroe boys soccer downs Marysville Getchell, clinches state spot

The Bearcats control possession all game, win district semifinal 3-0.

Stanwood’s Addi Anderson pitches during the game against Monroe on Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Tuesday, May 13

Addi Anderson leads Stanwood to state.

Stanwood’s Gavin Gehrman spoils a two-strike pitch during a playoff loss to Kentlake on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Kent Meridian High School in Kent, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep baseball roundup for Tuesday, May 13

Spartans walk into state tournament.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.