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Monday, September 26, 2016

Wall of Fame Inductees Honored by Large Crowd

South Bend School District held its latest induction to the Wall of Fame on Saturday, September 24, 2016.  The evening was memorable, where 100+ people joined together in recognizing the 1950 Football team, 1976 Boys Basketball team, Scott Taylor, Tim Taylor, and Brent Koplitz.

Retired South Bend superintendent Mike Morris facilitated the evening while joined by Andy Mullen as the keynote speaker, and Steve Koplitz and Mike Rogers introducing Brent Koplitz and Scott Taylor.  Board chair Chuck Spoor and superintendent Jon Tienhaara assisted with the awards.

The first Wall of Fame induction since 2002, the speakers and inductees all shared stories and pastimes as each team and individual were recognized.  Listening to each individual brings recognition to how South Bend Schools have impacted generations of students.  Team and individual bios are included below the ceremony videos.

Welcome & Introduction: Mike Morris 


Keynote Address: Andy Mullen



1950 Football Team Honors



1976 Boys Basketball Team Honors


Tim Taylor, Class of '77, Introduced by Mike Morris


Brent Koplitz, Class of '76, Introduced by Steve Koplitz



Scott Taylor, Class of '69, Introduced by Mike Rogers



Closing Remarks, Mike Morris


After Video & Team Pictures




1950 Football Team, 2016 inductee to the "Wall of Fame" in the Koplitz Fieldhouse, was led by head coach Frank DiNapoli and assistant Dick Mason.  The Indians finished the season with a 9-0 record and as the highest rated B team in the final state Associated Press rankings.  It also won the school’s first league championship in football in five years, as well as its first undefeated season since 1932.
The team was led on the field by all-everything senior captain Stewart Crook.  Crook, who eventually went on to become a three-year letterman at the University of Washington, set the state scoring record in 1950 with 167 points.  His 45-point effort in a 51-6 win against Naselle still stands as a school record.  He was also selected to play in the All-State game in Spokane in the summer of 1951. 
The Indians did not surrender a point in their first three games – a 13-0 win over Valley, 37-0 victory over Naselle, and a 26-0 win over O’Dea (when Crook scored all of the points despite having three touchdowns nullified by penalty).  After defeating Ilwaco 20-7, three close wins over Elma, Ilwaco, and Valley (surrounding the lopsided victory over Naselle) set the stage for the season finale with arch-rival Raymond.  Raymond led for most of the contest before an Indian touchdown in the final minute gave South Bend the victory and secured the undefeated season.
Players on the 1950 team were:  Doug Allen, Don Bailey, Larry Beck, Bob Bishop, Tom Coma, Stewart Crook, Al Davis, Fred Dracobly, Franklin Duty, David Frank, John Gabriel, Gary Gibbons, Mel Gibbons, John Gill, Fred Gray, Dick Green, Leo Hads, Clark Hamer, Phillip Hawks, Lawrence Hicks, James Major, Mike McNamara, Charles Mills, Howard Moe, Kenneth Mullins, Melvin Padgett, Evan Prior, Bill Raschkow, Edgar Rhoades, Allan Robinson, Buzzy Russell, Herby Slingerland, Chuck Smith, Jerry Sowers, Herschel Standifer, Ron Taylor, Dale Walthers, Tom Wolleson, Ernest Woodfield.

1976 Boys Basketball Team, 2016 inductee to the "Wall of Fame" in the Koplitz Fieldhouse, was guided by head coach Don Koplitz and assistant Dick McGovern.  The Indians finished the season with a 27-1 record and placed 3rd in the state A basketball tournament at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.  It also won the Far West League championship and the Southwest Washington District championship.
Returning four starters from a team that won the Far West League and placed 7th at state in 1975, the Indians figured to be tough to beat.  While getting contributions from the entirety of the squad, Brent Koplitz, Chuck Getchell, Dan Lee, Robbin Rhoades, Tim Taylor provided consistent, excellent play.  Tight wins early in the season over Naselle, Montesano and Willapa Valley propelled the Tribe to enter into the Seaside Holiday Tournament rolling, and they won the tournament handily.  Two wins over rival Raymond and a key late season victory at Ilwaco allowed the Indians finished the league slate and regular season unbeaten. 
Entering district tournament play, the Tribe defeated North Mason, Castle Rock, and Orting, before beating Woodland 56-46 to capture their first district title since 1956.  At the state tournament, South Bend beat Cashmere 54-43 and defeated Lynden 57-44 before falling to Royal 43-42, ending the unbeaten run.  The Tribe then beat Lake Roosevelt 66-64 to cop the 3rd place trophy.
Players on the 1976 team were:  Jim Anderson, Brian Ashley, Keith Brown, Stuart Corcoran, Chuck Getchell, Brent Koplitz, Dan Lee, Mick Pine, Robbin Rhoades, Larry Spoor, Tim Taylor.

Tim Taylor, a 2016 Wall of Fame nominee, graduated from SBHS in 1977.   He was born in South Bend to the late Dick and Irene Taylor. 

Tim had an illustrious athletic career at South Bend, earning 12 athletic letters in football, basketball, track and baseball.   A two time 1st team All-State basketball performer, Tim helped lead the Indians to 4 consecutive state trophies under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Don Koplitz.  In 1976, the Indians finished 27-1, winning the District IV ‘A’ Championship and losing by a single point in the semi-final game of the state tournament.   He set a single game scoring record of 45 points in a district tournament game in 1977, while averaging 27 points a game.  Tim scored 1,645 points in his four years at South Bend, while he and his teammates won an amazing 91 games over his four years.  Tim was honored his senior year by being selected to play in the All Classification All State game.

Following graduation from SBHS, Tim went on to be a 4 year letter winner at the University of Puget Sound where he was a two year starter for the nationally ranked Loggers and Hall of Fame coach Don Zech. 

After college, Tim moved to Brewster WA, where he and his wife Sonya raised their family, Michael, Martha, Stockton, Becky Mae, Timbo and Joe while working in the apple, cherry and pear industry.  Tim’s oldest son Michael was the 2011 National Division 3 Player of the Year while playing for Whitworth College.

In 1997 Tim became the head coach of the Brewster Bear’s basketball team that he still coaches today.  Over his 16 years, he has lead Brewster to 14 straight state tournament appearances, 12 tournament trophies, including 5 straight championship games, winning three State A titles.   Additionally, his teams have won 11 league titles and 10 district titles.  His current record is 374-80 and counting.

Tim was selected as the State A coach of the year 3 times in addition to being selected league coach of the year 5 times.  He has also served 5 years as a coach for the Washington – Oregon Game coaching staff, including one year as the head coach.

Brent “Boot” Koplitz, 2016 inductee to the “Wall of Fame,” was born in Seattle on July 28, 1958.  He attended South Bend Schools from kindergarten through high school and graduated in 1976.  At South Bend, Brent lettered 14 times in basketball, baseball, track and field, and cross country while representing the school at the state level on eight different occasions, at least once in every sport.  He won individual league titles in cross country as well as sprinting, but is most proud of his team’s achievements in basketball, including only one loss in this building during a three-year span where the combined regular season record was 55 wins and 5 losses.

Brent went on to Willamette University where he earned a B.A. degree in chemistry and mathematics.  Subsequently, he received a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Princeton University.  After postdoctoral work at the University of Southern California, he joined the faculty at Tulane University in New Orleans where he is a professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry.  His wife, Lynn, and two children, Shannon and Trevor, have enjoyed many trips to South Bend over the past 30 years.

Athletic endeavors for Brent in New Orleans have included 20 years of coaching elite fastpitch softball and baseball teams.  Over 50 of his former players have earned college scholarships, and their accolades include all Pac-12, Big12, and SEC honors as well as All-American and national team selections.

Scott Taylor, a 2016 Wall of Fame inductee, started kindergarten in South Bend in 1956 and graduated with the class of 1969.  During high school, Scott was active in band, Letter Club, Boys Club, and was a member of the National Honor Society. 

As an athlete, Scott earned ten letter awards in football, basketball, and track.  As a senior, he captained the football team, the basketball team, and was presented with the Merle Millam Award, given to the year’s outstanding track athlete.

As a track athlete Scott helped continue the tradition of excellent South Bend distance runners under legendary coach Don Weisel.  In 1968 he won the state championship in the mile run after an undefeated season and was selected as the Twin Harbors’ outstanding track athlete by the Aberdeen Daily World.  In his final race as a high schooler, Scott established a school record or 4:18.1 in the mile run, which still stands.

Scott attended Western Washington State College where he won the Evergreen Conference Championship and the WIAA District title in the mile run.  He continued running after graduation as a road runner, winning numerous races in Washington and Oregon.

Scott retired in 2005 after working for the state of Washington and the Washington Public Ports Association.  In recognition of his service he was made a Life Member of the WPPA.

Scott has been married to his wife Charlotte since 1976.  They have two sons, Troy and Owen, and two grandsons, Cameron and Alex.





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