Seven Will Receive Awards Wednesday at Banquet
Oct 30, 2006 | General
Seven individuals will be honored as a part of the 31st annual UNO Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet Wednesday at the DoubleTree Downtown. The list includes the male and female athletes of the year, the Maverick Club's man of the year, the distinguished person of the year, corporate citizen of the year and two outstanding service awards.
Three former Maverick athletes who made their mark nationally will be inducted into the Hall of Fame that night. Two-time football All-American Chris Bober, career baseball games-played leader Greg Geary and track All-American Sheila Brown Geil will be the featured honorees at the banquet. Also, the 1996 University of Nebraska at Omaha volleyball team that won the NCAA Division II championship, will be honored as one of the school's greatest teams.
Wrestler Les Sigman, who captured his fourth straight NCAA II heavyweight title last year and soccer All-American Beth McGill are the athletes of the year. Both helped lead their teams to national championships.
The Maverick Club Man of the Year is former UNO athletic director Don Leahy, who officially retired in June, 2005. The Women's Executive Board Distinguished Person of the Year is Linda Mills, who is the president of the women's basketball booster club and a former Maverick assistant coach.
Mutual of Omaha will receive the Corporate Citizen of the Year award, with the firm's John Hildenbiddle, senior vice president for brand management and public relations, accepting. Mutual of Omaha is the title sponsor for UNO's season-opening hockey tournament and a swimming and diving meet as well as being active in other areas of support.
Two longtime fixtures at the banquet and the school will receive Outstanding Service Awards. Jim Leslie, the UNO Alumni Association director for 32 years, helped start the Athletic Hall of Fame in the mid-1970s. Under his leadership the Association's Century Club has raised more than $10 million and added over 50,000 graduates. Jack Payne, who has served as the emcee for all 31 Athletic Hall of Fame Banquets, will also receive the award. Payne was the public address announcer for the College World Series for 37 years.
Three former Maverick athletes who made their mark nationally will be inducted into the Hall of Fame that night. Two-time football All-American Chris Bober, career baseball games-played leader Greg Geary and track All-American Sheila Brown Geil will be the featured honorees at the banquet. Also, the 1996 University of Nebraska at Omaha volleyball team that won the NCAA Division II championship, will be honored as one of the school's greatest teams.
Wrestler Les Sigman, who captured his fourth straight NCAA II heavyweight title last year and soccer All-American Beth McGill are the athletes of the year. Both helped lead their teams to national championships.
The Maverick Club Man of the Year is former UNO athletic director Don Leahy, who officially retired in June, 2005. The Women's Executive Board Distinguished Person of the Year is Linda Mills, who is the president of the women's basketball booster club and a former Maverick assistant coach.
Mutual of Omaha will receive the Corporate Citizen of the Year award, with the firm's John Hildenbiddle, senior vice president for brand management and public relations, accepting. Mutual of Omaha is the title sponsor for UNO's season-opening hockey tournament and a swimming and diving meet as well as being active in other areas of support.
Two longtime fixtures at the banquet and the school will receive Outstanding Service Awards. Jim Leslie, the UNO Alumni Association director for 32 years, helped start the Athletic Hall of Fame in the mid-1970s. Under his leadership the Association's Century Club has raised more than $10 million and added over 50,000 graduates. Jack Payne, who has served as the emcee for all 31 Athletic Hall of Fame Banquets, will also receive the award. Payne was the public address announcer for the College World Series for 37 years.
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
