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Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner set for Oct. 16

by jmaloni

Submitted

Tue, Jul 1st 2014 11:30 pm

The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 12-member class of 2014, Thursday, Oct. 16, at its annual induction ceremony and dinner. The event will be held for the first time ever at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

The cash bar reception begins at 5 p.m. with a silent auction of sports memorabilia. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony. Proceeds from the dinner and the auction benefit the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame amateur sports development fund.

Tickets for the annual dinner are available through the order form at the Hall of Fame website (www.gbshof.com), and are $85 per ticket, or $750 for a table of 10. The order form also provides opportunity for patron advertising in the event program. Sponsorship of this premier event is also available by contacting Tom Koller at [email protected] or 716-878-6514.

"We are so excited to induct the Class of 2014," said Therese Forton-Barnes, president of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. "We hope to have another sold-out crowd, and our new venue of the Buffalo Convention Center will provide us with world-class opportunities to present this class of elite individuals."

This year's class joins a rich heritage of native Western New Yorkers, or those who starred in and around the Queen City during their playing days, who are enshrined in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

This year's class includes:

•E.J. "Skip" Doyle, a sailor and one of the winningest skippers on Lake Ontario and for the Youngstown Yacht Club

•Ed Kilgore, a veteran broadcaster for 40 years, and a community advocate who raised more than $40,000 for Kids Escaping Drugs.

•Vicki Mitchell, one of the most distinguished athletes and international competitors in the Western New York running community.

•Jim Ritcher, a Buffalo Bills first round draft pick (1980) who played in two Pro Bowl games and started four Super Bowls with the Bills.

•Eric Schlopy, a skier from Colden who is a three-time U.S. Olympian, and seven-time U.S. national champion.

•Robert "Rip" Simonick, the last original Sabres employee whose far-reaching impact has been felt both on and off the ice in Buffalo and throughout the NHL.

•Dale Tepas, a five-time All-Catholic, two-time All-Western New York and one of the greatest high school athletes in Western New York history.

The Pride of WNY inducted posthumously this year are:

•Howard Ehmke, a 15-year Major League Baseball veteran, who won 20 games for the Red Sox (1923), and pitched a no-hitter.

•Edith Johnson Miller, a five-time National Women's Bicycle Champion, and three-time national champion in speed-skating.

•Clint Small, a legendary football and baseball coach for the Tonawanda Warriors, he led the football team to a record of 108-69-15, including five league championships, and not a single losing season from 1956 to 1972.

•Ernie Warlick, who known for his gigantic hands and gentle personality. He caught 90 passes for more than 1,500 yards during his four-year professional football career and was an important member of the Bills' 1964 and '65 AFL Championship teams.

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