Southwestern Oregon Community College’s (SWOCC) Laker Alumni Association honors former athletes, teams, coaches, and those that have had a large impact on the school and its athletic program during the annual Homecoming celebrations. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2016 in Prosper Hall during the Women’s and Men’s home basketball games (2 and 4 p.m.). A special recognition is planned for half-time of the Men’s game, followed by a banquet. This year, the Laker Alumni Association will be inducting the First Men’s Basketball Team (1961-62) and four individuals – Sara (Ekfield) Price, Greg Barreto, Steve Puckett, and Dr. Stephen Kridelbaugh. The College’s inaugural Men’s Basketball Team (1961-62) was coached by the late Bill Homes. Members of the first team were: Richard Calbo, Vernon Conn, Bill Cottell, Larry Dornath, Jim Doty, Lance Galloway, John Gassman, John Gaunt, Bruce Glazier, Bill Lownsberry, Rockne Luckman, Stu Merchant, Mark Osborn, Robert Payne, Len Payton, Stephen Thorwald, Steve Warr, and Jerry Weekly. Sara (Ekfield) Price was a Marshfield graduate (’90) that played at SWOCC for one year before walking on at Oregon State. She was the top player on the Lakers 1992 volleyball team, which placed fourth in the NWAC Tournament. That season, she was a first team Southern Region all-star, a second team all-NWAC selection and an AVCA All-American. She was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame in 2008 and currently lives in Texas with her husband and three children. Greg Barreto was a two-year letterman in wrestling at SWOCC. In 1975, he won OCCAA and NJCAA Region 18 wrestling titles at 177 pounds after placing third on both levels the previous year and was named Region 18 Outstanding Wrestler in 1975. He participated in the NJCAA Nationals in Worthington, Minnesota both years, placing second in 1975. In 1982, Greg designed and built the industry’s first all-hydraulic tiller and founded Barreto Manufacturing in 1984 with his wife Chris. Today, Barreto equipment can be found worldwide. He was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame in 1993 and currently serves as an Oregon State Representative. Steve Puckett was also a Marshfield graduate who pole vaulted for the Lakers and helped SWOCC to a runner-up finish at the 1974 OCCAA (Oregon Community College Athletic Association) championships. He was an OCCAA and Region 18 pole vault champion in 1974 and took fourth in 1975, and placed fourth at the 1977 NJCAA championship meet. At Pacific University, he was a two-time conference pole vault champion before graduating in 1978. Steve retired after 31 years as a teacher and coach in the Coos Bay School District. Dr. Stephen Kridelbaugh was the College’s president for 15 years (1990 to 2005) and had a profound impact on our campus. His efforts to enhance the higher education opportunities on the South Coast will benefit future generations to come. He established nearly $400,000 per year of institutional scholarships to support dislocated workers, veterans, and outstanding students. His commitment to resource development resulted in a 600% increase in Foundation endowments, 1,000% increase in Foundation assets, and a twenty-fold increase in annual Foundation gifts during his tenure. Steve was instrumental in the development of the Southwestern Oregon University Center, committing space and resources to deliver upper division courses to the South Coast. Additionally, he led the development of on-campus student housing and associated student activities that transformed the culture of our campus. Through his vision and leadership, the College developed the Newmark Center, a collaborative partnership with local, regional, and state government, educational, non-profit, and social service organizations. With a passion for increasing educational opportunities and co-curricular activities for students to enhance their educational experience, the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute was created along with the completion or initiation of numerous other facilities (Stensland Hall, the Student Recreation Center, track, soccer field, athletic field house, and the Curry Campus). Spending several years travelling abroad while serving in the U.S. Army and the State Department Foreign Service, Steve believed that cultural experiences were important for students, faculty and our community. He was instrumental in developing faculty and student exchanges and summer programs with Hyejeon Junior College, Southwestern’s sister college in Korea. In cooperation with the College’s Foundation, he established an art program that consists of numerous sculptures scattered throughout the Coos Campus today. Co-curricular activities were also important to Steve. He believed that such activities could enhance a student’s college experience while also augmenting the College’s resources. During his 15-year tenure, Kridelbaugh started or restarted baseball and softball (1995), men’s and women’s soccer (1996), wrestling (1997), men’s and women’s golf in (2003), and men’s and women’s cross country (2004). He served on the NWAC Executive Board and was inducted into the NWAC Hall of Fame in 2005. Those interested in attending this year’s Hall of Fame banquet should contact the Hall of Fame Committee at hof@socc.edu or 541-297-4205 for more information.
