Northbrook Park District Set To Honor 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

NORTHBROOK, IL — Four more people — two athletes and two volunteers — are set to be inducted into the Northbrook Park District's Hall of Fame. On Oct. 17, the ceremony will be held at the Brook Room of Heritage Oaks Golf Club, starting at 6 p.m.

According to NPD, the event will include a presentation featuring individual recognition of each new Hall of Fame member, light refreshments and a cash bar. The public is invited to attend the ceremony.

This year's inductees into the Sports Hall of Fame are Doug Rader (baseball player) and Dee Dee Scadron (cyclist). Oscar Dahl (community and park district volunteer) and Samuel Einhorn (baseball coach and volunteer) will be inducted into the Volunteer Hall of Fame.

"We are so glad to have the chance to honor these outstanding athletes and volunteers, whose achievements and dedication serve as an example to us all," said Michael Schyman, Park District Hall of Fame Committee Chairman and Board Commissioner.

Officials said the 2024 inductees "have distinguished themselves over the years for their personal and professional accomplishments in a variety of ways."

• Rader, a native of Northbrook and graduate of Glenbrook North High School and Illinois Wesleyan University, played professionally as a Major League Baseball third baseman with the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays from 1967 to 1977. He won five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974. Later in his career, he managed the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and California Angels from 1983 to 1991.
• Scadron, a resident of Northbrook since 1993, competed in road and track cycling events across the United States, England, Italy and Austria from 1973 to 2003. She is a three-time gold medalist in the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Masters World Championships, where she set three records, and earned first place in USAC National Championships and USAC Illinois State Championships. She served as a USA Cycling official from 2006 to 2018, and helped give back to the sport by helping riders develop their skills and being active with the Northbrook Bicycle Club and the Northbrook Cycle Committee.
• Dahl, a native of Northbrook since 1964, served on the Northbrook Park District board of commissioners for 20 years from 1987 through 2007, including two years as president. He coached youth hockey and baseball for many years, and started the park district's Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. He was also president of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, on whose board he served from 1994 to 2001. In 1999, he started the "2,000 trees by 2000" tree planting program in Illinois that has since yielded 500,000 new trees. In 2006, he received the IAPD Chairman’s Citation for Steadfast Leadership in Parks and Recreation.
• Einhorn, who has lived in Northbrook since 1979, served as head coach for Northbrook Junior League baseball from 1979 to 1994. For 12 of those years, he also served as commissioner for the organization and established some of the group’s first fundraising programs. He actively helped raise funds by increasing business sponsorships and selling baseball jackets alongside his wife. His efforts helped ensure the continuation of all-star facilities at Village Green Park and travel to games at Thillens Stadium in Chicago.

To date, the Northbrook Park District's Hall of Fame has recognized about 70 volunteers and athletes over the last four decades. The effort started in 1978 by honoring volunteers who significantly improved the quality of park district programs or facilities. It was expanded in 1995 to include athletes who are from Northbrook or who have used park district facilities as their primary training location.

To attend the event, RSVP at wpeterson@nbparks.org with the number of people attending by Monday, Oct. 14 or call 847-291-2960. The induction ceremony will be streamed live at nbparks.org/events/2024-hall-of-fame- ceremony.