1991 Inductees

Maxwell R. Berry, '51

A true all-around athlete, Max was a twelve-time letterwinner, earning four letters in basketball, four in baseball, three in track, and one in football. During his four-sport career, Max was a a member of six MIAA championship teams. He particularly excelled in basketball and was selected as Albion's Most Valuable Player in 1949 and as co-captain of the 1950 team. He won the Pleiad Sports Award for best athlete in both 1949 and 1950.

Upon graduation, Max began an illustrious high school coaching career, serving for three years at Ortonville and then 30 at Roseville. Max coached four different state champions in track and field, and twice was nominated as Michigan "Coach of the Year."

Max took an early retirement in 1986 and now resides in Rochester, Michigan.

Robert M. Eggleston, '51

An All-MIAA basketball selection at guard his senior year, Bob was named Albion's Most Valuable Player and served as co-captain. He competed in basketball for four years and won three letters. A three-time letterwinner in track, Bob was also a member of the team which won an MIAA Track Championship. He also lettered once in football. Bob was deservedly selected as Albion's College's 1951 Athlete of the Year.

After graduation, Bob worked for 20 years for Calhoun County industries. The past 15 years he has worked in higher education, with 10 years as Albion's director of alumni and parent relation. He is currently the director of development at the University of Nevada--Reno Foundation.

He passed away March 3, 2013.

Mary Perine Hadsel, '02

An Albion native, Mary was Albion College's first female MIAA Champion, and without a doubt was the best tennis player to compete in the league during her era. She captured three consecutive single titles (1900, 1901 and 1902) and finished second in 1899. Mary also won two doubles titles (1901 and 1902) and had two second-place finishes. At that time, tennis was a co-ed sport, and Mary led the way to two team championships (1900 and 1901).

After graduation, Mary taught English at Oxford College for two years and also at Albion High School. She later settled in Oxford, Ohio where her husband was a professor in the Latin Department at Miami University. She remained extremely active in community affairs and traveled to Europe on four different occasions. Mary passed away on May 8, 1955. Her tennis abilities were passed on to other family members: her son played for three years on his college's tennis team, her three granddaughters were fine tennis players, and her current nine-year-old great-grandson show exceptional promise.

John L. Hannett, '57

A four-year starter for the basketball team, John was selected First-Team All-MIAA in 1956 and 1957 , and was chosen as Second-Team All-MIAA in 1955. John established both MIAA and Albion scoring records during his career. He was the leading scorer in the MIAA during his junior year, averaging a record 22.8 points per game. That same year, John established an Albion season scoring record of 479 points in 21 games and was chosen as Albion's Most Valuable Player. Co-captain during his senior year, he was again Albion's leading scorer and Co-Most Valuable Player. Albion won the MIAA Basketball Championship that year, and in the championship game, an 82-77 win over Alma, John scored 32 points and established a free throw record, making 18 of 19 attempts. During his career, John was selected as Honorable Mention All-American, and was also picked as Second-Team All-American for Methodist schools.

John continued playing and coaching basketball after graduation. As the head basketball coach for Detroit Country Day High School, John established an impressive record over 15 years of 203 wins and 71 losses. He is currently the owner and president of Hannet, Inc., Realtors in Birmingham and Hannet, Inc. of Florida in Stuart/Palm City.

Frank L. Joranko, '52

Frank was a nine-time letterwinner, earning four in football, four in baseball and one in basketball. The 1950 baseball team on which he played won an MIAA Championship. Frank excelled in football and was selected as MIAA Most Valuable Player in 1951, after being an Honorable Mention selection in 1950.

Since graduation, Frank has had an outstanding coaching career on both the high school and college levels. His Ferndale High School team won the State Championship in 1972, and Frank was selected as the Michigan High School Football Coach of the Year that same year.

Frank returned to his alma mater in 1973 and has served in several capacities. As a head football coach, Frank won two MIAA Championships (1976 and 1977). The 1976 team garnered Albion's first 9-0 perfect season, and the 1977 squad earned the MIAA's first-ever post-season appearance in the NCAA Division III play-offs. Frank served as athletic director for Albion from 1975 to 1991, and he is an associate professor of physical education. As Albion's head baseball coach, he has won seven MIAA baseball Championships and was selected as an American Baseball Coaches District Coach in 1976. A member of the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee, he was instrumental in bringing the Division III National Baseball Championships to Battle Creek, with Albion College as the host school.

Michael N. "Mac" Palermo, '29

Mac was an stand-out football player during his career at Albion. A senior co-captain on the undefeated 1928 football team, he was selected as both an All-MIAA and All-State football player that year. In addition to winning the MIAA Championship, that team recorded six shut-outs and outscored its opponents 121-13. The greatest win of the season came over Michigan State (2-0) in the second game of the year.

After graduation, Mac remained committed to education. He served as a teacher and coach for 20 years in South Euclid, Ohio. He then became a junior high school principal for 13 years and finished his career by serving as director of secondary education for eight years. He was extremely active in civic affairs and received a merit award from the Boy Scouts of America. The library in the junior high which he served as principal was named in his honor. Mac passed away May 20, 1986.

Marshall R. Reed, '14

Marshall was an outstanding center on the 1911, 1912 and 1913 football teams, and was selected as an All-MIAA performer in 1913.

After graduation, Marshall began a most illustrious career in the Methodist Church. After earning a B.D. degree in 1916 from Garrett Biblical Institute and an M.A. from Northwestern in 1917, he was ordained into the ministry. During the following 30 years, Marshall served as pastor at five Michigan churches, with the last 14 years at Nardin Park in Detroit (now Farmington Hills). In 1948, Marshall was elected bishop of the Michigan Area, a post he held until 1964.

During his career, Marshall received honorary degrees from Albion College, Garrett Biblical Institute, Northwestern University and Adrian College, and also was a charter member of Albion's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, formed in 1940. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of both Albion College and Northwestern University. In 1962, he was elected president of the Council of Bishops, the church's highest elective office.

Marshall passed away March 1, 1973.

Jane Koepel Skorina, '50

An outstanding all-around athlete, Jane excelled in field hockey. Most Valuable Player her freshman year, she was selected for the Great Lakes Hockey Team. All together, she earned eight letters, four in field hockey and four in tennis. In addition, she was an intramural All-Star in volleyball, basketball, softball and bowling. President of Albion's Women's Athletic Association as a senior, Jane represented Albion at many Athletic Federation of College Women Conferences across the country. She also established herself as an umpire in volleyball, hockey and softball, and gained a national reputation as an umpire in basketball.

Jane earned both an M.A. and Ph.D. from Wayne State University. After serving as a teacher and a school psychologist for over 20 years, Jane began a private practice in psychology which she has continued for the last 17 years.

William G. Spanenberg, '24

A four-time letterwinner, Bill was the premier distance runner in the MIAA in his era. Captain of the 1923 track team, Bill established the MIAA mile record and won the MIAA Mile Championship in 1922 and the Two-Mile Championship in 1924.

After graduation, Bill worked for one year at Empire Junior High School, and then from 1929 to 1962 taught physical education at Nathan Hale Junior High School in Cleveland, Ohio. During that time, he served as the director of physical education and had an enormous impact on a great number of students. Bill passed away on July 24, 1980.

Raymond A. Wauthier, '46

Ray was a two-time letterwinner in both football and basketball and was especially talented as a football halfback and kicker. His Albion career was interrupted by World War II and his service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

After graduation, Ray served for two years as the basketball and baseball coach at Iowa Wesleyan College. In 1949, Ray began a career with Kansas State University, serving as the baseball and golf coach until his retirement in 1986. In addition to his coaching, Ray has been an active football referee. The 1961 referee in the film, "Football Today," he also was the referee in the 1966 NCAA Football Championship.

In 1970, Ray received an Albion College Distinguished Alumni Award. He has also received Distinguished Service Awards from the National Federation of High Schools, Kansas Junior Colleges and the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

Ray is now retired and lives in McDonald, Pennsylvania.

George A. Martin, Jr., '52

As student manager for three different sports, George provided an invaluable service to the players and coaches. His impact and presence is reflected in the nine letters he earned: four in baseball, three in football, and two in indoor track. During his years as a student manager for the baseball team, the squad captured one MIAA Championship.

Since graduation, George has stayed involved with both Albion College and education. A former president of Albion College's Alumni Association, he also completed two terms as an Albion trustee. Prior to beginning his career in education, George served two years in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and earned a Soldier's Medal Award. Since 1964, George has served education in several capacities. As a coach, he won three football championships, and one each in basketball and baseball. He also has been a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and principal, and currently is the director of placement, O.T.C./S.E. for the Royal Oak Schools.

Teams

1961 Football Team

The Albion College football squad chalked up the MIAA title in the 1961 season with a 5-0 record by outscoring opponents 186-55 and was the only undefeated team (8-0) in the state.

In addition to the fine team performance, many honors were bestowed upon individual members. End Gary Methner, guard Joe Shurmur, quarterback Frank Gould, halfback Ray Hoag, and fullback J.B. Elzy all were selected as All-MIAA offensive team members. The All-MIAA defensive squad included Shurmur, guard Milt Moore, tackle Terry Methner and safety Bob Porritt.

The Michigan small college All-State Team also included Gould, Elzy, Hoag, Shurmur, and Gary Methner. Elzy was selected to the Methodist All-American team. Shurmur was voted Most Valuable Player in the MIAA and was named to the small college All-American second team. Dale Springer became the first small-college student ever to receive the Red Blaik Fellowship award.

The team was coached by Morley Fraser with assistant coaches Fritz Shurmur, David Jones and James Kareck. Co-captains for the team were Ray Hoag and Dale Springer. Other team member included Don Adamson, David Barrett, Bruce Blakeman, Jesse Bommarito, Bob Bostrum, Jerry Chandler, Darwin Christiansen, Frederick Clausen, Harold Clinger, Monte Clute, Dick Dana, Emilio DeGrazia, Larry Downs, Roger Dunn, George Elsener, Jim Elsener, Robert Esperti, Keith Galloway, Robert Gardner, John Gorton, Phillip Hora, Mike Hornus, Mike Kakowsky, Denton Kime, Lester Knickerbocker, Ronald Lapinski, James Livingston, Thomas Lutz, James Madill, John Madill, Bruce Martens, Edward Mignot, Kenneth Neal, Kenneth Osgood, Jon Peele, Steve Richards, Jon Rise, Thomas Sagendorf, Steve Salisbury, George Shafer, Jess Shick, Robert Smith, David Spencer, Robert Teeter, Richard Thompson, John Ulmanis, Russel Wallis, Paul Walton, Joe Wiethoff, Bruce Williams, Phil Willis, Thomas Worthy and Richard Yeager.

1978 Basketball Team

The 1977-78 season was the finest in Albion's basketball history. The Britons won their first MIAA Championship since 1957, and finished third in the nation in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Albion won the Marshall Optimist Tournament in December. Confident and favored to win the MIAA, Albion struggled through the regular season. Despite two losses to Hope, the Britons recovered to beat Adrian twice and Alma once to grab the title. Albion was 9-3 in the MIAA and 21-6 overall. The Britons outdistanced their opponents by more than 10 points a game.

Season highlights include the most wins ever by an Albion squad, and the highest any MIAA team has advanced in post-season play. Michael Williams finished with 1,323 career points, now third on the Briton scoring rolls. John Nibert, co-Most Valuable Player in the MIAA and a member of the All-Tournament Team in the NCAA Division III Championships, set an Albion single season scoring record with 511 points. His 1,355 career point total is second among Albion basketball players.

The team was coached by Mike Turner with assistant coach Tim Williams. Co-captains for the team were Michael Williams and Anthony Kern. John Nibert earned All-MIAA First Team honors. Other team members included Milton Barnes, Steve Bender, John Costa, Eric Harvey, Brian Jurasek, Gary Nichols, Dave Riewald and Tim Zeeman.