FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2003
Contact: Greg Murphy, SID
Phone: (303) 273-3095

COLORADO MINES ANNOUNCES EIGHTH HALL OF FAME CLASS
Raul Varela, All-Time Leading Basketball Scorer, Among Those To Be Inducted

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines has announced the 8th class that will be inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held on campus on Fri., Sept. 12, 2003. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the Orediggers’ football game against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Sat., Sept. 13.

This year’s class includes Rob McKee ‘68, Dick Swerdfeger ‘59 and Raul Varela ‘96 as individuals, former Head Coach Bob Pearson, the 1958 Football Team, John and Erica Lockridge as Outstanding Supporters and the 1961-62 Men’s Basketball game at Black Hills State as a historic event.

McKee was a three-year letterwinner for both the football and baseball teams at Mines. As a senior, he was an All-RMAC selection in both sports, as well as an All-American pick in baseball. During his senior season, McKee captured the league scoring title as he produced 14 touchdowns, including all three in a 20-12 win over Chadron State on Nov. 11, 1967. In addition, he helped guide the baseball team to a second place league finish.

Swerdfeger lettered in both football and wrestling at Colorado Mines. He was the Oredigger quarterback from 1956-59 and helped lead the 1958 squad to a 7-3 mark and the co-RMAC title. At a wrestler, Swerdfeger competed at 167 pounds and placed second in the conference for three straight years.

Varela was one of the finest players to grace the Volk Gymnasium court as an Oredigger as he graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,551 points over his four years. A starter in all 106 games he appeared in, Varela averaged 24.1 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds over his career. He was a four-time All-RMAC selection, as well as a three-time All-America honoree.

Pearson will be honored for the his support and dedication to Mines athletics for more than 30 years. Pearson served as an assistant basketball coach from 1966-92, the tennis coach from 1966-77, the soccer coach from 1980-98 and the softball coach from 1992-95. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment came as a soccer coach from 1993-96 when he guided the team to a combined 39-26-2 mark. The teams captured four conference titles over the four-year span and finished the 1995 season ranked 24th nationally and sixth in the West Region.

The 1958 Oredigger Football Team, which was coached by Fritz Brennecke, will be honored as this year’s team inductee. The squad, which began the season at 1-3, finished with an overall record of 7-3 and earned a share of the conference championship.

The 1961-62 men’s basketball game at Black Hills State will be recognized as a historic event. The game went into four overtimes and Mines finished the third overtime with four men, but held matters to a 70-70 tie. In the fourth overtime, the officials whistled two more CSM players out of the game and Mines concluded the final two minutes of the fourth overtime with just two players. Mines ended up losing the game, 80-79.

Finally, John and Erica Lockridge will be recognized as the Outstanding Philanthropic Supporters of Colorado Mines Athletics.

-- orediggers --