Four former Illinois State athletes, including the late Glen Honsbruch, the first basketball player in school history to record 1,000 career points, will be inducted into the schools athletics hall of fame at ceremonies on the ISU campus, Oct. 7.
Joining Honsbruch are Harold Sam Samorian, one of the states top wrestling officials and a long-time high school coach in Illinois; Tracy Stroyan-Maynard, a former volleyball standout, and Tom Wieghaus, a Redbird baseball player, who went on to a major league career.
Former athletics director Milt Weisbecker will be recognized at the same ceremony as the recipient of the Campbell Stretch Miller Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has offered noteworthy service to the athletics department.
This class represents a wide cross section of talented individuals who distinguished themselves during their days on our campus, but have also been bright reflections on the university since leaving, said senior associate athletics director Linda Herman, the chair of the hall of fame committee.
Milt is so unique for his dedication. Its well-known that he pioneered the move to
Division I for Illinois State, but this recognition is aimed more at what he has continued to do for many years in helping the department in the areas of fund-raising and public relations, and in always being there to provide consultation and guidance. His visibility and expertise continued to be important to ISU Athletics even after he left the athletics directors chair.
The induction ceremony begins at 9 a.m., and will be held in the Bone Student Center Ballroom. Tickets, which sell for $5 each, are on sale now from The Redbird Ticket office (309/438-8000) and must be purchased in advance.
2000 Illinois State Hall of Fame Inductees
Campbell Stretch Miller Award Winner
Glen Honsbruch was the first 1,000-point basketball scorer in school history. Just thirty-three other Redbirds have crossed that coveted scoring plateau, but none did it before Honsbruch. His point total of 1,258, which he accumulated from 1948-52, still ranks No. 21 on the schools all-time scoring list. But Honsbruch was far more than a basketball sensation. He also was the most valuable player on ISUs 1951 baseball team and was later offered a contract to pitch for the St. Louis Browns. Following his graduation, Honsbruch joined the Army and served in the Korean War. Upon his return, he began a successful career as a teacher, coach and administrator, including 20 years as the principal at Bryant School in Harvey, Ill. Honsbruch, a native of Peotone, who lived for 32 years in Homewood, was retired when passed away in 1998. He was the father of two daughters.
Harold Sam Samorian is the only ISU graduate who holds memberships in both the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association and the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Halls of Fame. He taught and coached at three high schools in Illinois and led Glenbrook North to the 5A state football championship in 1974, but he coached in the state finals in four different sports. He also is well known for his involvement with wrestling. He officiated the IHSA state individual wrestling for 21 years, which is more than any other official. Samorian graduated from Illinois State in 1955 and he participated in football, basketball and baseball. Today he is retired and residing in Northbrook. He and his wife, Sylvia, have four children: Harold, Micahel, Patrick and Thomas.
Tracy Stroyan-Maynard lettered from 1982-85 and still ranks among the schools top five in three career statistical categories. She is No. 4 in kills (1,484), No. 5 in attack attempts (3,715) and No. 5 in service aces with 189. Her mark of 36 kills against Wisconsin in 1985 still stands as the most ever logged in one match by a Redbird. A two-time all-conference honoree, Stroyan knew nothing but excessive winning while at ISU. Each of her four teams won Gateway Conference titles and advanced to NCAA Tournament competition. During her stay, the Redbirds were 125-49, including a 25-2 mark in league play. She now resides in Paxton, Ill., with her husband, Larry. They have two daughters, Jori, 4, and Kellyn, 2.
Tom Wieghaus was drafted in the 10th round by the Montreal Expos following his ISU career, which spanned 1976-78. He was a double-A all-star in 1980 and a triple-A all-star in 1982 and 1983. He spent part of the 1981-83 seasons with the major league club, mostly as a back-up to Gary Carter. In 1984, he was traded to Houston, where he caught Nolan Ryan. At Illinois State, Wieghaus topped the Redbirds in runs batted in in 1977 and 1978. In 1976 he played on the first ISU team in any sport to qualify for post-season play on the NCAA Division I level. Originally from Park Forest, he now resides in Grant Park, Ill. Wieghaus now works in sales. He nad his wife Sheryl are the parents of two sons, Kyle, age 16, and Emily, age 13.
Milt Weisbecker was Illinois States Athletics Director from 1966-74 and was inducted into the schools atheltics hall of fame in 1980. He receives the Campbell Stretch Miller Award for his previous and ongoing efforts in assisting the athletics department. During the 1990s, he was instrumental in organizing fund-raising events that endowed a full mens basketball scholarship in his name and was and is a driving force behind events that endowed scholarships in the name of former basketball all-American Doug Collins and former head basketball coach Will Robinson. A minimum of $100,000 is required to endow a scholarship. Weisbecker, who also served as ISUs Director of Alumni Services before his retirement, resides in Bloomington. He and his wife, Joan, are the parents of one daughter, Leslie.
Pronunciations: Honsbruch (HAWNZ-brook), Samorian (suh-MOR-ee-un), Weisbecker (WISE-beck-ur), Wieghaus (WIG-house).
