With the Martins Ferry Athletic Hall of Fame’s nine-member Class of 2022 complete, it’s time to turn the attention to another aspect of recognition – the “Wall of Honor”.

This category – entering its sixth year – serves as a way to thank those people who have made significant contributions or support to the athletic program, not as an athlete or coach, but in a variety of “behind the scenes”, motivational or inspirational ways.

This year’s selections are Evert Briggs, Ken Campanizzi, Bob Hill and Joe Kosar.

While not directly part of the Hall of Fame, these individuals will be honored during Hall of Fame Day – both at the afternoon reception at the high school and during on-field ceremonies at halftime of the Purple Riders’ home game against Linsly Local on Friday, Aug. 26 – and their photos will be placed directly across from the Hall of Fame display outside the cafeteria at MFHS.

Previous honorees to the “Wall of Honor” were Jim Knellinger, Bill Meyers, Bill Pratt and Dr. Divakar Bangera (2016); John Applegarth, Fred Beck, Henry McCue and Robert “Shorty” Wilson (2017); Frank W. Bowen, Annie C. Tanks, Robert McNabb and Larry Deaton (2018); Warren Hood, Tony Collette, Russ Armstrong and Tony Suriano (2019); Larry Green, Heloise Knapp, Gail Horner and Bob Zilai (2020); and Jack Boston, Ron Holzopfel, Larry Riser and Dr. Harold Meyer (2021).

Here’s a look at this year’s selections:

Evert Briggs – If you’ve been to a Martins Ferry sporting event, no doubt you’ve seen the guy with the camera capturing the action. Briggs has taken photos of practically every-time athlete who has passed through the hallowed halls of Ferry High School dating back a half century. Countless senior year pictures and weddings were also captured by Briggs’ camera. The owner of Briggs Photography since 1976, he is a Past President of the Professional Photographers of Ohio, Past President of the Triangle Photographers Association and for several years he served as a Photoshop instructor at Triangle Institute.

In addition to covering Purple Rider athletics, he spent many years as the photographer for the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference, taking photos at various post-season and all-star events, banquets and other functions.

Ken Campanizzi – “Coach Camp” has worn many hats in the athletic world over a half century.

At Martins Ferry, he was at various times the head varsity baseball, , golf and bowling coach and also spent many years as a varsity assistant/junior high coach in football, baseball, basketball, tennis and softball.

Campanizzi – who coached the 1991 Purple Riders’ golf team to the OVAC Class 3A championship – was also active many years with the Eastern District Golf Coaches Association, serving as president from 2004-08. Also involved as a rules interpreter for countless OHSAA tournament-level events, he was inducted into the Ohio High School Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004.

He turned his attention to the growing high school sport of bowling and serves as OVAC Bowling Championship Director and East Ohio Bowling League Commissioner.

A graduate of Flushing High School (Class of 1962) and West Liberty State College (1970), he was a standout athlete at both levels in baseball. He earned first team all-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) honors as a pitcher in 1970 after posting five complete-game victories and a sharp 1.92 E.R.A.

Bob Hill – He began his coaching career in 1976 with the Purple Riders’ basketball program while also serving nearly a decade as the head golf coach. He served as junior high, freshman and junior varsity basketball coach for many years under several different head coaches (Larry Duck, Joe Gala, Gene Joseph, Jeff Sabatino) until 2010 and continued to assist the program through scouting of opponents, both at games and in the film room. His contributions to MFHS didn’t end with coaching, however, as he also sold tickets, parked cars near Ferry Stadium and more recently served as host to the officials at home football games. A graduate of Shadyside High School, he received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and his master’s degree from the University of Dayton. Hill received the District 12 Basketball Coaches Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2021.

Joe Kosar – A graduate of Warwood High School (Class of 1970) and West Liberty State College (Class of 1974), Kosar spent nearly four decades in an variety of roles with the Purple Riders, including head/assistant girls’ basketball coach, head golf coach, assistant football coach, assistant softball coach and assistant athletic director. He was head coach of the Purple Riders’ 2011 OVAC Class 3A champion golf team. Upon retirement, he worked as a ranger at the Oglebay Park Golf Course and eventually moved to Jacksonville, North Carolina where he worked for Dick’s Sporting Goods. He passed away in 2021.