The 2007 Westman Inductees:
- Shirley BRAY Curling Builder
- John CARSON Basketball Athlete
- Beth COCHRAN Basketball Athlete
- Bill FAIRBAIRN Hockey Athlete
- *Terrance FOWLER Boxing Builder
- Dan HALLDORSON Golf Athlete
- Jerry HEMMINGS Basketball Builder
- Vailla HOGGAN Water Ski Athlete
- Dallas SMITH Hockey Athlete
- Bryan WOOD Curling Athlete
- 1978-79 Brandon Wheat Kings Hockey Team
- 1983 Mabel Mitchell Team Curling Team
- Mabel Mitchell (Skip)
- Mary Adams (Third)
- Mildred Murray (Second)
- June Clark (Lead)
* - posthumous
Hall of Fame President Jeoff Chipman extended his congratulations to the Inductees. He expressed thanks to Morris Mott and his Selection Committee for doing an outstanding job in selecting those to be honoured for their sporting achievements. He welcomed our friends in the media to the pilot project of the Rural Regional Induction Program Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum.
Nomination forms and criteria (see aforementioned in this media package) are available at the Hall of Fame Offices at 200 Main Street, Winnipeg or by phoning (204) 925-5735 or on-line at halloffame@sport.mb.ca .
Ron Helwer, Chair of the Hall of Fame Westman Dinner Committee, announced that Dinner tickets are on sale to the general public at $60.00 each, a portion of which is tax deductible, and available at . In addition to honouring this year’s Inductees through appearance presentations and video show, the Dinner will feature fabulous auctions and the chance for the public to meet their sporting heroes. He welcomed Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change as the Title Sponsor of the gala event, recognized Bob McCracken, and thanked them for their support. It was stated that the honoured membership would stand at 198 athletes, 102 builders and 68 teams in the Hall of Fame’s twenty-eighth year of operation. We urge all sports enthusiasts interested in honouring and preserving Manitoba’s rich tradition of sport heritage to support the Hall of Fame’s inaugural event and attend its 1st Annual Regional Induction Dinner.
BASKETBALL INDUCTEE PROFILES
JOHN CARSON
Athlete / Basketball
BRANDON UNIVERSITY
1982 – 87 - One of the most popular players ever to play at Brandon University, John Carson was also one of the Bobcats' most outstanding players. During his five years as a Bobcat, John was a CIAU First Team All-Canadian in each of those five years (1982-83 thru 1987). In addition, he was GPAC Player-of-the-Year for four successive years (1982-83 thru 1986). As a Bobcat, Carson was a tournament All-Star 21 times and a tournament MVP 11 times. During the 1985-86 season, he was the leading scorer in the CIAU with a game average of 27.2 points and the CIS / CIAU (Canadian University) Player of The Year (Mike Moser Trophy). The following year he was the top scorer in GPAC, averaging 23.3 points a game. Carson balanced his prodigious scoring (a career total of 4,259 points) with an equally impressive rebounding career total of 1,719.
OTHER INFORMATION
1986 - Brandon University retires his number.
1996 - Inducted into the Brandon University Hall of Fame
2001 - Inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame
BETH COCHRAN
Athlete / Basketball
PERSONAL
Born in Hamiota.
HIGH SCHOOL
1981-83 - Hamiota
UNIVERSITY
1983-87 - Beth Cochran began her basketball career in the town of Hamiota, Manitoba. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Winnipeg from 1983 - 1987. Cochran's list of accomplishments, as a university athlete, are astounding. Along with countless tournament all-stars throughout her 5 years, Cochran was a GPAC All-Star, CIAU All-Canadian, and a CIAU Tournament All-Star in all 5 of her years of university eligibility. She was also the GPAC Player of the Year in all 5 of her years of university eligibility. She was also the GPAC Player of the Year in 1984, 86 & 87 and the University of Winnipeg team captain from 1985 - 1987.
OTHER
1996 - Inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame
JERRY HEMMINGS
Builder/ Basketball
PERSONAL
Born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, USA on Feb. 17th, 1948. Hemmings played one season at Brandon University as a player and was named a GPAC All-Star and BU Player of the Year. His coaching legacy has made him the winningest coach in CIS/CIAU history.
GENERAL
Jerry Hemmings led the Brandon University Bobcats to four CIAU/CIS National Titles (1987-89 and 1996) and 13 GPAC Championships (1980-83, 1987-89, 1991, 1993, 1995-98) with over 700 career coaching wins.
1980 – GPAC and CIAU Coach of the Year Award (1st receipent of the Stu Aberdeen Award).
1981 – GPAC Coach of the Year
1982 – GPAC Coach of the Year and Brandon Sun “Sportsman of the Year”.
1983 – GPAC Coach of the Year
1986 – CIAU All-Star Game Coach
1988 – GPAC Coach of the Year
1989 – Awarded Order of the Buffalo by the province of Manitoba
1992 – GPAC Coach of the Year
1998&99 – GPAC Coach of the Year
2000 – GPAC Coach of the Year
2001 – GPAC Coach of the Year and Brandon Sun “Sportsman of the Year”.
2002 – GPAC Coach of the Year
2005 – Inducted with 1986-89 Brandon University Bobcats in the team category into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame.