By BUBBA KAPRAL

Executive Sports Editor

BRILLIANT — The inaugural Brilliant Hall of Fame induction ceremony, staged last August, proved a smashing success.

The second edition has now been finalized. It will be held Aug. 7-10.

The event is more than a hall of fame ceremony. Much more. It is a social happening, featuring dinners, parade, cornhole tournament, mixer, sock hop and a dinner-dance.

Kevin Barr, chairman of the Hall of Fame organizational committee, said the Hall of Fame has been expanded this year to include former Blue Devils who excelled beyond the athletic field.

“During the selection process last year, we realized that we had a number of Brilliant High graduates who excelled professionally, and we thought it was appropriate to start recognizing some of those individuals for their accomplishments,” Barr said. “It’s important to include former Blue Devils who excelled in other areas, including teachers and administrators.

“After the huge success of our inaugural Hall of Fame, our committee was anxious to get started on the 2019 Hall of Fame, the Brilliant All Class Reunion, the 200th Celebration of Brilliant and the 50th anniversary of the Brilliant Graduating Class of 1969,” he added. “Our meetings have been labeled a “mini” reunion by all who attend and have been a complete pleasure for all of us to continue what we started one year ago. With a growing committee and a lot of enthusiasm, we are hopeful this year’s celebration will be even better for all those involved.”

The individual inductees for the 2019 class are:

Baseball: Kent Pierce;

Basketball: Bill Nest, Ray Smith and Jack Hoover;

Fans of the Blue Devils: Amel Malesky, Sandy Linn, Earl Richardson, Jim Degenhardt, American Legion Post #573 and the Brilliant Fire Department;

Football: Jim Graham, Tom Fox, Wesley Hand, Denny Cook, Larry Brooks, Jody White and Dick Kennedy;

Music: Richard Markwell and Ron Retzer;

Professional Achievement: Dr. Rebecca Van Beneden and Dr. Kirby Blankenship;

Teachers and Administrators: Adam Goykovich (history), Imogene Louk (physical education), Ray Scherich (drama); Andrew Suranovich (English/guidance counselor), Moses Zegeer (social studies), Charles Sindlinger (physic and chemistry/athletic director) and Bill Merryman (principal);

Track: Bobby Risdon and Lou Hilliard;

Wrestling: Ron Huggins.

The teams being honored are: 1958 football; 1959 football; 1958-59 basketball; and 1972 track and field, which was runner-up in the OVAC.

The homecoming festivities will be combined with the Brilliant’s bicentennial celebration and the 50th reunion for the class of 1969. The celebration lineup includes:

• Wednesday, Aug. 7: A Coleman’s’ fish and chicken fry at Brilliant American Legion Post 573. The night will feature music by Noah?s Pickers and a lights-on tour of the acclaimed Brilliant Haunted House.

• Thursday, Aug. 8: A cornhole tournament will be held at the Blue Devil football field at 10 a.m. Entry fee is $5. The game is on, rain or shine. The back-up site is the school gymnasium. A ‘Coffee Pot Cruise’ will be held immediately following the tournament. The cruise will begin at Optimum Blinds and end at the North Elementary. Judging will take place on the house-decorating contest. Prizes will be given for the first six places and any house in the former Brilliant School District is eligible.

• Friday, Aug. 9: A mixer will be held at the football field from 1-4 p.m. The mixer includes a chicken dinner at $15. A free sock hop will be held in the North Elementary gymnasium from 8-10 p.m. featuring music by 40 Plus.

• Saturday, Aug. 10: Brilliant Hall of Fame parade and induction ceremonies. The parade begins at 10 a.m. The parade will end at the high school and the induction ceremonies will follow immediately.

• Novelist and Brilliant native Robin Yocum will serve as the grand marshal of the parade.

• The evening will conclude with a buffet dinner-dance at the Mingo K of C Hall. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. The dinner-dance is $35.

Following are members of the teams being honored this year:

1958 FOOTBALL TEAM: Head Coach Charlie Becca; Assistant Coaches Gene Cross and Carl Hamill. Players: Ed Simpson, Dennis Cook, Bob Linn, Jerry Doughery, Charles Bane, Charles Edwards, Ralph Coleman, Jack Hoover, Richard Fraley, Bill Dehnart, Bob Stewart, Jack Sweeney, Dick Freeland, Ronald Ross, Bill Smythe, Bob Rine, Ronald Brandfass, Joe Popp, Wesley Hand, Bill Chave, Lynn McCutcheon, Ralph Brown, Jim Sterling, Harold Cook, Wilbur Moore, Dale Degenhardt, Jim Presley, Ron Jaros, Paul Dunn, Jim Coleman, Dick Singleton, Tom Harmon, and Roger Young. Managers: Charlie Nest, Tom Moore, and Earl Richardson. Cheerleaders: Jayne Taylor Brandfass, Linda Russell Sommer, Ginnie Grubb, Sparkie Branigin, Pat Brizzoli Lantz, Jane Freeland Gillison, Sue Kennedy Cocorn, and Carol Retzer Bane.

1958/1959 BASKETBALL TEAM: Head Coach Carl Hamill. Players: Dennis Cook, Dale Degenhardt, Jim Presley, Jack Hoover, Matt Kessler, Charles Edwards, Jim Coleman, Jim Edwards, Richard Fraley, Dick Freeland, Harold Cook, Lynn McCutcheon, Eddie Tarr, Bill Tilton, Adam Kolopajlo, Bob Scott, Roger Young, Charles Schaffer, Larry Walters, and Bob Stewart. Manager Dennis Bradley. Cheerleaders: Jayne Taylor Brandfass, Linda Russell Sommer, Ginnie Grubb, Sparkie Branigin, Pat Brizzoli Lantz, Jane Freeland Gillison, Sue Kennedy Cocorn and Carol Retzer Bane.

1959 FOOTBALL TEAM: Head Coach Charlie Becca; Assistant coaches Earl Davis and Carl Hamill. Players: Mark Tamburro, John Cook, Ron Brandfass, Ron Jaros, Rich Degenhardt, Terry Edwards, Bill Dehnart, Ralph Brown, Jim Coleman, Dale Degenhardt, Joe Popp, Wilbur Moore, Bob Rine, Bill Chave, John Sterling, Andy Adrian, Harold Cook, Lynn McCutcheon, Eddie Tarr, Charles Bane, George Puntenney, Paul Schmidt, Jack McIntire, Tom Harmon, Roger Young, Jim Presley, Charles Schaefer, Anthony Bruce, Jim Sterling, Wesley Hand, Jack Sweeney, Rich Fraley, Owen Ashton, and Bob Stewart; Managers: Bruce Graham and Sam Retzer. Cheerleaders: Linda Russell Sommer. Jayne Taylor Brandfass, Sparkie Branigin, Bertha Kackley Kleineke and Jane Freeland Gillison.

1972 TRACK TEAM: Head Coach Sam McCullough. Athletes: Keith Hilliard, Lawrence Carpenter, Allan Brown, Lloyd Rand, Joe Cammer, Charles Brettell, Bob Wentz, Rick Biriam, Danny Ferguson, Harry Fair, Eddie Campbell, Kevin Mayle, Nick Sipcich, Larry Joiner, Terry Mellott, Dave Jenkins, Jeff Bucey, Ralph Robinson, Ken Moore, Mark Owens, Todd Henry, Jim Frye, Tom Mayle, Nick Pomento, John Zorbini, Bill Graham, Mike Carpenter, Tony Muscari, Jeff Cook, Spencer Edwards, Hank Williams and Greg Grant.