Hall of Fame Inductees

2015 Tiger Booster Hall of Fame Inductees

Outstanding Male Athlete: Eric Trice

Eric was born in 1972, in La Grande, to Arthur and Shirley Trice. Eric was one of three very energetic and athletic boys. He was competitive since day one, in both sports and academics. Winning the La Grande Little League Baseball Title (El Rancho Grande) just wasn’t enough, he was eventually selected in the MLB draft by the Cleveland Indians in 1990 and by the NY Yankees in 1992. He received a full track scholarship to the University of Oregon where he was also an academic scholar He ultimately graduated from U of O’s School of Law and practiced law for several years before starting his sports marketing and athletic training career. Today, Eric lives in Portland, OR, where he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, while reminiscing about his days in La Grande.

When asked what his most memorable moments at LHS were Eric added that there were too many to describe, but that winning two triple jump state championship titles in track would be near the top of the list. But that his best memories were the thousands of hours spent practicing sports with my LHS coaches and teammates in track, basketball, and football. Celebrating the highs, dealing with the lows, and learning how to succeed as a team are just a few of many life skills that I have developed from LHS sports.

Eric’s shared proudest accomplishments were his two State Championship Titles in the Triple Jump in 1989 at 46’10” and 1990 at 47’11”, being drafted to the Cleveland Indians and NY Yankees, and being awarded a full track scholarship to the University of Oregon.

Eric still holds the LHS records in the Long Jump (23’8.5”) and Triple Jump (50’2.25”)

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Outstanding Female Athlete: Jenny Brogdon

Jenny is the daughter of Joe and Dee Brogdon of La Grande. She attended La Grande Schools and graduated from La Grande High School in 1999 after a very successful academic and athletic career at La Grande High School. As a sophomore she placed 8th in state in the high jump before becoming the 4A state title winner two years in a row in the event, junior year clearing 5-5 and as a senior clearing 5-6). Jenny also played volleyball for La Grande at middle blocker and one year of basketball at forward. She graduated a member of Honors Society and with honors in 1999.

Jenny’s athletic career took her to the University of Oregon where she placed 2nd in the 2002 PAC 10 high jump championships, and became the 6th on the U of O high jump records board at a height of 5-9.5. She went on to train for 5 years for the Olympic Trials with an all-time best of 5’10 ¼” (she could clear me). In 2011, she placed 2nd at the US Club Nationals.

Jenny has continued to support the sport by coaching two years at Evergreen State College where she coached A.J. Green to others to success, was on contract for two years as a speed coach for the Mariners Baseball Team, and is featured in three Coaches Choice instructional DVD’s. In addition, Jenny spent eight years speaking at coaches clinics and local colleges.

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Outstanding Alumni: Don Gray

Don was born in 1948 in La Grande, OR, and, according to him, had a pretty typical childhood. He attended Greenwood Grade School, and played sandlot baseball with the neighbor kids to pass the time. He grew up a lover of the outdoors with much of his time hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping in the high lakes. He recalled that he started drawing and painting at a very young age, and just never stopped. In high school he loved art class with Mr. Wilson and was an active member of the ski club. After high school he attended Eastern Oregon College and worked various summer jobs to make it through school (haying, service station attendant, railroad section crew, truck driving, etc.).

Don’s artistic career has been busy since the early 80’s with 11 single person exhibits around the Western United States, participating in 13 joint exhibits across the country, 14 public projects and murals across the country, and 15 book or articles that have included his work.

Don has received numerous awards for his passion of art including but not limited to: Award of Merit, Sunriver Invitational, the Distinguished Alumnus in the Arts Award, Eastern Oregon State College in 1982, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Eastern Oregon State College in 1981.

Don’s proudest accomplishment is his 45 years of marriage to his lovely wife Brenda, who is with him tonight, and their three wonderful children they have raised together.

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Outstanding Community Supporter: Legacy Automotive

Since 1996, Legacy Ford has striven to provide quality automotive products and services to La Grande residence. Additionally, they have supported the high school with vehicles for teams and groups where busing was not an option or the best fit for the event. The Drive For Your School Events have provided schools in our county a great way to fundraise. To date tens of thousands of dollars have been donated to La Grande School District to a wide range of groups from FFA to Band to Baseball. This last year during Homecoming Week, students wanted to do their own tailgate party before the game. Student Leadership contacted Legacy, and they donated the food, trailer and staff that allowed the event to occur, and provided an additional Drive For Your School to support the Football Team at the event. On an individual level they work with schools to identify deserving students and pay it forward by providing skiing trips.

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Outstanding Team: 2001-04 Boy’s State Swim Team

2001-04 Boy’s State Swim Team includes: Dylan Botham, Brenton Dowdy, Micheal Esser, Matt Hibbert, Justin Howland, Owne Kenton, Josef Mielke, Jeremy Younggren, and David Butler.

The stats of the 2001 – 04 boy’s State Swim Team are the following:

Overall State Swimming Titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

La Grande Swimmers won the 200-yard medley in 2001 – 04 with a fastest time of 1:41.94 in 2004 (a five second improvement from 2001-04.

Brenton Dowdy won the 50 – yard freestyle in 2003 and 2004 with a fastest time of 21.37

Matt Hibbert and Brenton Dowdy won the 100 – yard buttefly from 2001 – 2003 with best times of 53.24 by Brenton in 2002 and 53.89 by Hibbert in 2003.

Brenton Dowdy also won the 100 – yard freestyle in 2003 and 2004 with a fastest time of 46.84.

Matt Hibbert won the 100 – yard backstroke in 2003 and 2004 with a fastest time of 54.66.

David Butler won the 100 – yard breaststroke in 2001 with a time of 1:03.9.

Additionally, These swimmers won the 400 – yard freestyle relay in 2003 and 2004 with a fastest time of 3.16.46.

The La Grande High School Boy’s Swim Team represents the most dominant team in La Grande Athletics in memory.

Since graduating:

Many went on to swim at high levels in college and universities. Brenton Dowdy became captain of the University of Washington Men’s Swim Team his senior year, place in Top 16 in PAC 10, and qualified for the Olympic Trials. Like Brenton, Jeremy Younggren competed at the NAIA Nationals all four years of his college career. While others, like Justin Howland, joined the military and went straight into the next phase of their lives. Currently, the team is spread as far away as China (David Butler), Florida (Justin Howland), California (Dowdy and Mielke), and Europe (Owen Kenton).

Their proudest moments include but are not limited to completing college/university, their marriages and subsequent children, becoming officers in military service, and continuing to achieve in their individual pursuits.

Tonight we are lucky to have Michael Esser, Jeremy Younggren to accept their inductions.

We would also welcome Teresa Dowdy (Mother of Brenton Dowdy), Pam Howland (Mother of Justin Howland), Sally Mielke (Mother of Josef Mielke), Bonnie Hibbert (Mother of Matt Hibbert), and Sandy Kenton (Mother of Owen Kenton) to accept for their sons. Fathers we all know they spent the most time watching, prepping, and worrying about how their boys would perform.

LHS Wall of Fame Inductee: Verl Miller

Our last induction tonight is not in the Hall of Fame. In the past, deserving teams and staff would become members of the La Grande Wall of Fame. In creating the Hall of Fame we now use the Wall of Fame to only recognize staff “For a lifetime of service and commitment to the Tiger Spirit.” Past staff inductees to the Wall of Fame Bob Gregory, Dale Wyatt, Betty Ragsdale, Erros Osterloh, Betty Faulkner, Roland Bevell, Buzz Fulton, Randy Dotvan, Zach Cochran, Guy Hafer and John Sprenger. The 1996 State Wrestling Team, 1974 State Championship Football Team, and 1978 State Wrestling Team will remain in the Wall of Fame as inducted, but in the future there will be a clear delineation between those that have given exemplary service to La Grande High School as staff, and those that have either achieved as student or alumni or have supported La Grande High School as an institution.

Hall of Fame or Wall of Fame this individual is deserving of all the recognition we can throw at him. Verl Miller attended Burns Union High School and started making waves in the wrestling. He was the OSAA, 115lb runner-up and the OSAA 141lb state champion (the first state champion ever at Burns High School). He graduated in 1962 and moved to Klamath Falls to attend Oregon Technical Institute where he earned a degree in Diesel Technology in 1964. He later attended Brigham Young University were he continued to wrestle. He earned a Bachelors in PE and Psychology. In 1969, Verl got his first start in education at the Majove School District as the PE Coordinator.

In 1973, Verl landed in La Grande, OR as a PE and Industrial Arts teacher and coached football wrestling and track. From 1973 – 1997 (24 years) Verl continued to teach and coach students to success. He was the assistant coach to the 1974 state championship football team, finalist for the “national wrestling coach of the year”, and had teams that placed at state seven times in the top three, and won the large school team championship twice. In 1998, Verl became La Grande High School Vice-Principal and Athletic Director. In 1999, Verl was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2000, Verl was awarded the Union County Educator of the Year honors. In 2003, Verl Miller officially retried from La Grande School District, but never really stopped working. He has continued to offer support to the wrestling program, referee in the sport, and continues to substitute as an administrator when we have to attend meetings away from the building. In total, Verl has given 42 years to La Grande High School and the La Grande community.

Most importantly, Verl as a administrator, teacher, coach, and person never let a kid not participate in sports because of a financial or other resource-based barrier.

During all this, Verl married his wife Marilyn Ann Miller. Together they raised two sons (Thad and Verl Jr.), and have worked through the years to support their 9 grandchildren. While Verl’s wife has since past away, according to all accounts (and they are many) Verle has been a tremendous husband, father, and grandfather to his family while being involved in everything. Beyond his own family, many students that were touched by his love and passion as a coach and educator still refer to him simply as “dad.”