HOOD RIVER — Nine former local student athletes and two girls’ basketball teams will be inducted into the Hood River Valley High School Hall of Fame at a ceremonial dinner on Sat., September 21 at Divots Pavilion.
This year the Hall’s committee has selected a unique group of former students that span seven decades from Hood River Valley, Hood River, Wy’East, and the first inductee from Odell high school. The student bodies from Odell and Parkdale high schools were merged in 1951 to attend the new school at Wy’East.
“We had a really diverse group of nominees to choose from this year and we’re happy also to be honoring two men posthumously who competed after high school in the 1940s and 1950s,” said Committee Chair, Phil Hukari. “Two accomplished Eagle’s girls’ teams from the mid-1990s will also be honored.”
The Class of 2024 inductees include Claude Buckley, Odell High School (1945); Kayla Byers, HRVHS (2014); Timothy Copper, Wy’East High School (1968); Brian Grenfell, HRVHS (1981); Todde Greenough, HRVHS (1984); Travis Haase, HRVHS (1992); Kay Kiyokawa, Hood River High School (1939); Curtis Peters, HRVHS (1996); and Annette Wells, HRVHS (1973). The 1993 and 1994 HRVHS Girls Basketball teams will also be inducted.
The Hall’s weekend will kick off with introductions of the Class of 2024 inductees during halftime of the Eagle’s home football game on Friday, September 20.
The public is invited to attend the 15th Hall of Fame Honors Buffet Dinner and Induction at 5 p.m. Saturday at Divots Pavilion, located at the Indian Creek Golf Course, 3605 Brookside Drive. Tickets, including a donation, are $35 and can be purchased at the door.
Longtime KIHR radio sports director and hall of fame member Mark Bailey will be master of ceremonies. There also will be guest presenters for several inductees.
Founded in 2009, the Hall’s popularity has grown with more than 150 alumni and teams enshrined. Hukari said with more nominations of alumni from different schools, especially those recent nominees, from the pre-1970s eras, it’s made for an interesting new class of inductees.
2024 Hood River Valley High School Hall of Fame Inductees
-CLASS OF 2024-
Claude Buckley - [1926-1995] - Odell High School (1945)
A two-year starter, team’s leading scorer and team captain for the Odell Cougars basketball team (1943-45)
One of the top two pitchers on the OHS baseball team.
He attended Oregon College of Education (1945-49) where he was an all-Conference basketball player, baseball pitcher and outfielder. He later played minor league baseball in the Western International Baseball League in 1949-52. He led the league in hitting in 1951 with a .341 average and was one of the WIBL’s better outfielders and pitchers.
When not playing, Claude also was an educator in the Gresham School District. He retired after 34 years of service in 1984 as principal at Powell Valley Grade School. He had four sons and a daughter. His sons John and Jerry Buckley, and Kim Horn will accept on his behalf.
Kayla Byers - HRVHS (2014)
4-year HRV softball pitcher. 837 career strikeouts (2nd most school history), 61-43 career win/loss record, a .366 career batting average, and school leader in Home Runs (19).
4-time Columbia River League Pitcher; (2014 Pitcher of the Year)
3-time 5A All State Pitcher; 2014 5A Pitcher of the Year and 1st Team All State.
Played collegiate softball at Eastern Florida State College and later at Mt. Hood Community College Saints. MHCC were the 2016 NWAC Champions earning a 21-3 conference record. Byers had a conference best 1.62 ERA and 191 strikeouts.
Timothy Copper - Wy’East High School (1968)
A three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball and track and field.
A four-year letterman, in 1967 Tim was 1st Team All-Wilco League in football and member of the 1968 Shrine Football team. That year Tim was one of the Wilco League’s leading defensive backs, rushers and scorers averaging two touchdowns a game. He once scored five TDs against Estacada.
Tim was a floor leader on the Eagles’ 1967-68 Wilco League Championship and State Tournament Basketball team and earned 1st team all-Wilco honors.
He played college football for four years at Dartmouth University (N.H.), where he was an all-Ivy League defensive back and punt returner. Since 1970, Tim has held the Dartmouth record for punt return yardage in a season (457), including 3 returns for TDs.
A retired business administrator and pastor, Tim and wife Marybeth reside in Ridgefield, Wash. A family member will accept the honor on Tim’s behalf as he is unable to attend.
Brian Grenfell - HRVHS (1981)
In 1981 Brian was selected to the 2nd Team all-Wilco League basketball team after becoming the second leading scorer in the state (554 points) and averaged 26.4 points per game -- both HRV team bests. He’s the all-time career HRVHS scoring leader with 930 points in two seasons, most points scored in a game (43 in 1980) and best free throw percentage in a season (87.6%).
Brian was also an outstanding HRV tennis player, qualifying for State his senior year. He continued his career in those sports on a scholarship at Mt. Hood Community College.
Following his two years at MHCC, Brian transferred to Oregon State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration. He embarked on a rewarding 33-year career in sales and marketing and general manager roles with three organizations.
Brian and wife Laura have two adult children (McKenzie, 30, Jared, 28). He’s retired and living in Los Angeles.
Todde Greenough - HRVHS (1984)
An outstanding three-sport athlete, Todde was the quarterback of HRV’s first State Playoff football team (1983). Member of the 1984 State basketball (Consolation Champs) and playoff baseball team. He was selected to the 1984 Shrine Game and played in the State Baseball All-Star series.
Todde later attended Willamette University where he became a record setting quarterback and three-year Bearcat team captain. At WU he earned All-NW Conference honors all four years. The NCAA Division III leader in total offense in 1987, he held 16 team records when he graduated and still holds the marks for completions in a game (38) and a career (571), passing attempts (1,024), passing yards (7,872), and total plays (1,260).
He was named WU’s Outstanding Male Athlete in 1989.
As operations manager at Promax in Portland, Todde helped bring NFL and NBA players together annually to play golf for charity. He and the Promax team rebranded the former Shriner’s Football all-star game into the Les Schwab Bowl and they created the Les Invitational Basketball Tournament.
He’s also a former OSAA and Division I college basketball official and an assistant coach with Tigard High School’s football team for 17 years. He and his wife Lisa live in Tigard; they have 2 adult children, JT and Kyra.
Travis Haase - HRVHS (1992)
1991- 1st Team All Tri-Valley League Defensive Line
1991- 1st Team All Tri-Valley League Offensive Line
1991- 1st Team All State Defensive Line
1991- 2nd Team All State Offensive Line
Member of the 1990 and 1991 state playoff teams.
Travis currently resides in Dallesport, Wash.
Kay Kiyokawa - [1921-2016] - Hood River High School (1939)
A lifelong resident of Hood River, Kay excelled in three sports for the Blue Dragons. He was a top running back and talented pitcher/outfielder in baseball. He attended Oregon State University for two years, where he played football and baseball, but his college education was interrupted in his sophomore year by the outbreak of World War II. Kay and his family were relocated in 1942 to an internment camp at Tule Lake, Calif. By 1943, with help from a Quaker church organization Kay was able to continue his college career at the University of Connecticut where he would earn a degree in agriculture and horticulture.
During his time at UConn, he played football and baseball. Kay excelled as a star pitcher and co-captain of the Husky’s baseball team and was a starting running back for two football seasons. He was the first Japanese American to become a starting pitcher at UConn in 1943.
After college, Kay returned to the family farm in Dee where he farmed well into his 80s. He became a well-known and respected farmer and was a volunteer Little League and Babe Ruth baseball coach. Also, he was a very competitive bowler and golfer.
Kay’s sons Gerry and Don will accept on his behalf.
Curtis Peters - HRVHS (1996)
He competed for 4 years in Football, Basketball and Track 4 Years. In 1996 he was named Mt. Hood Conference Honorable Mention Basketball, HRV Basketball MVP in 1995 and 1996, Holds the team record for second most rebounds in a game (19), HRV Senior Athlete of the Year. Played basketball for 4 years at Eastern Oregon University; helped lead the team to a 28-25 record and back-to-back conference playoff berths.
A dentist in Baker City, Curtis and his wife Ruthie reside in LaGrande; they have twin boys, Avery and Brennan.
Annette (Annie) Wells - HRVHS (1973)
Annie was one of the first gifted female athletes to compete in sports at HRVHS. She set school records in the shot put and javelin and was a member of the record-breaking Eagle’s 440- relay team. She still has the third best marks at HRV in the Shot Put (39-1.5) and fifth in the javelin (116-4). Annie was a 3-year starter on the girls’ basketball team and a member of the HRV Cheerleading teams. She continued her athletic career at Oregon College of Education and twice qualified for the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Track and Field national meet. In 1975 Annie placed 15th nationally in the Shot Put as OCE finished 6th overall ahead of Oregon and OSU.
Annie resides in Salem and has 4 very athletic sons and 8 grandchildren.
TEAMS
1993 (17-3) and 1994 (20-7) HRVHS Girls Basketball Teams:
Both teams took 4th Place in consecutive years at the 3A State Tournament and combined for 3-1 tourney records.
1992-93: 4th Place at 3A State Earned Tournament Sportsmanship Award
Jandy Abbas, Hillary Axford, Vanessa Benjamin, Karen Berg, Jennifer Dykstra, Julie Dykstra, Tonya Hill, Tia Jubitz, Stephanie Kadell, Shelly Kuhnhausen, Bridi Mehigan, Jennifer Sollman and Kristi Ybarra.
Coaches: Tom Greenough, Bob Kadell
1993-94: 4th Place at 3A State
Hillary Axford, Megan Bell, Vanessa Benjamin, Merridy Bickford, Katie Donahue, Julie Dykstra, Tonya Hill, Kelly Hukari, Shelby Madsen, Courtney Patterson, Kerry Perkins, Kara Sheppard, Jonquil Vann, Kristi Ybarra and Michelle Zorza.
Coaches: Head Coach, Tom Greenough; Bob Kadell, Phil Hukari
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