|
BOOSTER CLUB HALL OF FAME 2001 INDUCTEES:
Judy Devine ’82
Judy Devine, a native of Cozad, Neb., competed as a dual-sport athlete
at Nebraska Wesleyan and earned a total of eight varsity letters.
On the volleyball court, Devine earned First Team
All-Conference honors as a junior and senior, while helping NWU
capture first and second place finishes in the Nebraska Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference.
On the softball field, she was voted the team’s
MVP after her senior year, when she set the school record for assists
in a season with 97. That record still stands today, nearly 20 years
later. She also ranks among the all-time leaders at NWU in career
assists (210), hits (78), RBI (52) and home runs (4).
Devine was also a top performer in the classroom.
As an education major, she earned spots on the Dean’s List,
was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honorary, named to
Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges and awarded
membership into the Cardinal Key Honorary.
Devine attained a California Beach Volleyball Association
AAA rating (doubles) in 1995 and won a California State AA Tournament
(doubles) in grass volleyball. She also placed third at the National
Federation of Outdoor Volleyball Association Tournament in 1992.
Debra Wright O’Malley ’89
Debra (Wright) O’Malley, of Ewing, Neb., competed in cross
country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track while attending Nebraska
Wesleyan.
In cross country, Deb qualified for the NAIA Championships
four times, placing 10th as a junior to earn All-America honors
for the first time in NWU women’s cross country history. She
finished first at four meets as a senior, and her time of 19:11
on the 5,000-meter course at Pioneers Park ranks fourth all-time
at NWU. Deb also earned NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition
in 1988 and 1989.
As a member of the outdoor track team, she broke
many school records and currently holds the top marks in NWU history
for the 5,000 (17:54.3); 3,000 (10:03.3); and 4x800 relay (9:37.9).
During her senior year, Deb placed fifth in the 3,000 at the NCAA
Division III Outdoor Championships to achieve All-America status.
Her track times also rank among the all-time Top
10 at Nebraska Wesleyan in three other outdoor events and five indoor
events. Deb also lettered in women’s basketball and was a
member of the Cardinal Key Honorary.
Patricia Wright O’Malley ’90
Patricia (Wright) O’Malley, of Ewing, Neb., competed in cross
country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track at Nebraska Wesleyan.
Pat was a member of the women’s basketball
team her first two years before deciding to run cross country her
final three years in college. She was also a four-year member of
the indoor and outdoor track teams.
In cross country, Pat qualified for the NAIA Championships
in 1988 and 1989, and owns the 12th fastest time among NWU runners
on the team’s home course. In track, she qualified for indoor
nationals three years, once earning a sixth-place finish in the
two-mile run. She also holds a school record as a member of the
4x800 relay (9:37.9), and ranks fourth on the all-time charts (indoor)
at NWU in the 3,000 and two-mile events.
Pat was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta History
Honorary, Kappa Delta Pi Education Honorary and Pi Gamma Mu Social
Science Honorary. She was also on the Dean’s List, named to
Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges and twice
received NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete awards.
Dennis Steen ’85
Dennis Steen, a native of Omaha, Neb., helped lead the men’s
basketball team at Nebraska Wesleyan to the NCAA Division III Playoffs
in 1984 and 1985, which started a string of seven straight tournament
appearances.
After suffering a broken foot and sitting out half
of his sophomore year, Steen returned to average 8.2 points per
game and shoot 47.5 percent from the field. As a junior and senior,
NWU achieved a combined record of 49-10, making it to the NCAA Div.
III Quarterfinals in 1984 and reaching the Final Four, where the
team finished third, in 1985.
As a guard, Steen’s quickness, versatility
and speed earned him a prominent role on the team and several spots
in the school’s record books. His 214 assists during the 1984-85
season rank second, while his 55 steals rank third. Steen finished
with 371 career assists, placing him ninth on the all-time charts
at NWU.
Lawrence D. “Dewey” Van Cleave
’57
Dewey Van Cleave competed as a dual-sport athlete at Nebraska Wesleyan,
earning a total of eight varsity letters.
On the football field, Van Cleave started every
game of his NWU career and played multiple positions, including
center, tackle, linebacker and kicker. As a tackle, he earned first
team All-Conference honors as a junior and senior. He was also the
team captain his junior year, and during his senior season, Van
Cleave kicked the game-winning field goal as Nebraska Wesleyan defeated
Midland College 3-2 in the 1955 homecoming game.
As a member of the track and field teams, Van Cleave
placed first in the shot put and second in the discus at the conference
level as a senior. He set a school record in the discus that was
later broken by an athlete Van Cleave worked with as an assistant
coach under Woody Greeno in 1957.
Van Cleave played basketball during his first year
at Nebraska Wesleyan and was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity
and NWU Letterman’s Club all four years. He also worked on
campus and assisted with construction of the Taylor Gymnasium.
Bill Weed ’89
Bill Weed, a native of Lincoln, Neb., played a leading role for
the men’s basketball teams that still rank among the best
ever at Nebraska Wesleyan. During Weed’s career, NWU qualified
for the NCAA Division III Playoffs four times, placing third in
the nation twice, and the squad earned 21 wins or more each of his
four seasons.
As a senior, he led the team in points, steals and
three-point field goals, making 50 of 98 attempts from beyond the
arc. His 51 percent accuracy that season ranks first in team history,
and following the team’s national tournament appearance, he
was named to the All-West Regional Team.
Weed scored 1,532 career points, which rank seventh
in team history. He is also second in career steals (149) and three-point
field goal percentage (.456), tied for sixth in career field goals
(593), ninth in career three-point field goals (93) and 10th in
career assists (318). Weed was named to the Kansas City Area Classic
All-Tournament Team two years in a row and earned MVP honors once.
He also belonged to the Blue Key Honorary and Tri Beta Biology Honorary.
Dick Hahn, Jr.
Spirit of the Plainsman Award
Dick Hahn came to Nebraska Wesleyan as the Director of
Planned Giving Programs in June of 1981. His duties included consulting
with Wesleyan constituents regarding the advantages of estate planning
and deferred giving. His success in this position has left an obvious
mark on the NWU campus, including renovations to Old Main, the completion
of the theatre building and the addition to and renovation of Lucas
Hall.
Hahn’s efforts have also involved the athletic
facilities. He made many of the trust arrangements for the construction
and additions involving the Weary Center, Snyder Arena, Abel Stadium,
the Woody Greeno Track and Field Facility, Sconyers Tennis Courts
and Nickerson Field. He also helped raise money for renovations
to the Knight Field House. Hahn’s next big project has been
finding the funds for the field turf and lights, which will most
likely be installed on the Abel Stadium field next summer.
Over the years, Hahn also volunteered his services
as an announcer for both football and basketball games and arranged
for fan buses to attend away basketball games. His deep love for
Nebraska Wesleyan keeps Hahn coming back for more. In January of
1995, he “retired” before returning in June to work
“part-time” (40 hours a week) because he missed it so
much. Hahn has greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet outstanding
people and make lifelong friends through his job.
|
