HAMMOND | As the first-ever inductee into the Purdue Calumet Athletic Hall of Fame, former athletic director John Friend always will hold that special distinction.
However, he thinks there is a more deserving individual in Bob Hayes, another former athletic director and coach who was instrumental in helping launch PUC's baseball and basketball programs. In total, Hayes worked with PUC's athletics program in several different aspects for 37 years.
Along with Hayes, former PUC athletes Lee Ann DeYoung, Ed Blackmon and Ron Weingart and former coach Larry Liddle are the 2009 inductees into the Purdue Calumet Athletic Hall of Fame. The quintet will be inducted today during halftime of the men's basketball game against IU Northwest.
"It was a great honor for me, but to tell you the truth, I felt that Bob Hayes should have been and would have been the first inductee," said Friend, who now serves as PUC's athletic consultant. "Bob was out of touch and no one had his phone number, but we finally got a hold of him. Bob is very excited about it."
"I think (the hall of fame) is something that's long overdue," PUC athletic director Bob Bunnell said. "As we look to the future, it's important we look to the past at the people that have worked in anonymity for a number of years. We need to recognize the great work they did."
DeYoung was the only athlete -- male or female -- to break the 2,000-point plateau in her years as a Peregrine, scoring 2,592 career points. She also holds nearly every scoring and rebounding record at Purdue Cal.
Friend stressed the five individuals are all deserving of their enshrinement.
"That's a good group that's coming in, and I'm just glad to be a little part of it," he said. "It was a great honor for me, and I'm sure the people being inducted will feel the same way."
COLLEGE SPORTS
Purdue Calumet Athletic 2009-10 Hall of Fame Class
Bob Hayes (former athletic director and coach)
Ed Blackmon (men's basketball, 1981-83)
Lee Ann DeYoung (women's basketball, 1984-88)
Larry Liddle (men's basketball coach, 1981-2000)
Rod Weingart (soccer & baseball, 1969-72)
