Eleven individuals and two teams to be inducted into HOF

This year marks the inaugural year for the Avondale Sports Hall of Fame with the induction of eleven individuals and two teams. The list of honorees includes athletes, coaches, administrators and community members dating back to the Avondale High School graduating class of 1958. A Hall of Fame Committee comprised of alumni, former and current district leaders and community members was established to create qualifications, a nominating process and a nominating application. In addition, because the Hall of Fame is self-funded, the group was also responsible for soliciting donations to fund award plaques for each inductee and other incidentals. The committee also purchased a second plaque for individual and team honorees that will be on display at Avondale High School near the school’s Field House.

Avondale School District has plans to add two additional halls to honor alumni, former staff and supportive community members in other areas of notable achievement. The Avondale Visual and Performing Arts Hall is set to launch this school year followed by The Avondale Lifetime Achievement Hall. Community members and staff members (former and current) interested in being part of either Hall are asked to email Avondale School District Communications Director, Annette McAvoy at annette.mcavoy@avondale.k12.mi.us.

Being inducted into the Avondale Sports Hall of Fame this year on September 14th at 5:30 PM in the Avondale School District Auditorium:

• The 1981 Avondale High School Girl’s Track Team: At the NOAC League Tournament Championship in 1981, the team took League Championships in 13 different events. In addition, five members of the team, Kassandra Buckhaulter, Paula Buckhaulter, Kathy Kaehler, Sandi Rohe and Jean Tingley were named All-State. The team also holds three individual school records and three school relay records set in 1981 that still stand today.
• The 1972 Avondale High School Boy’s Cross Country Team: With a record of 22 – 0, the team captured the first State Championship in Avondale High School history when they were crowned 1972 Cross Country State Champions. The team had four All-State athletes (Jon Call, Jay Graham, Devon Hind and Tony Luttrell).
• Devon Hind: Hind graduated from Avondale High School in 1973, having been a member of the cross country team, track team and basketball team. He earned numerous cross country titles in high school and college including 5-time ALL SEC as a student at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Hind was also named Indoor National Coach of the Year in 2013.
• Dan Avery: A 1972 graduate of Avondale High School, Avery was a three-year Varsity football, basketball and baseball athlete. He was named All-Conference, All-County, and All-State multiple times and went on to play Varsity football at Western Michigan University.
• Dick Fisher: Fisher served as President of the Avondale Booster Club for 8 years and was a founding member of the Avondale Education Foundation.
• Dick Smith: Smith graduated from Avondale High School in 1960. A four-sport Varsity athlete, he earned multiple All-League, All South Oakland County, All-County, All-State and MVP awards for football, basketball, baseball and track.
• Dennis Acker: Graduating from Avondale High School in 1964, Acker played Varsity football, basketball and baseball. Named All-County and MVP, he was also captain of the football and basketball teams. He was president of his senior class and president of the school’s “A” Club. Acker went on to play football at Western Michigan University after graduation.
• Jim McDonald: McDonald graduated from Avondale High School in 1961. He was a four-sport Varsity player named All-League, All-County, All-Oakland “A” MVP and Team MVP. McDonald served on the Auburn Hills City Council for 24 years and served as Mayor for 12 years.
• Duane McLaughlin: As a 1968 graduate of Avondale High School, McLaughlin played for three years on the Varsity football team as a 2-way starter. He was named All-State 1st Team and Defensive Player of the Year in the State of Michigan. After graduation McLaughlin played for Michigan State University as a starting defensive tackle.
• Dick Reddaway: Reddaway graduated from Avondale High School in 1965. He was a three-year starter on the Varsity football team and baseball team and named All-State, All-County and All-Oakland “A” Conference. Reddaway received a baseball scholarship to the University of Southern Colorado.
• Rick Brewer: As Head Coach of the Avondale High School football team for 18 years, Brewer had an unmatched record of 128 victories and 41 defeats, taking four teams to the State playoffs. He was honored as Coach of the Year Five times; The Detroit News Metro North Coach of the Year two times; and the Michigan High School Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year four times.
• Dick Bye: Bye came to Avondale in 1955 to coach basketball, football and track. He led his basketball teams to four Conference Championships and was named Oakland County Basketball Coach of the Year in 1956. Bye was the Avondale Athletic Director in 1964 until his untimely passing in 1975. In 2011, the Avondale School District named the newly-built athletic complex in his honor (The Dick Bye Field). He was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Northern Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
• Chuck Nurek: Nurek graduated from Avondale High School in 1958, having played Varsity basketball and football and receiving an All-State Honorable Mention in football. He was a teacher and then Assistant Athletic Director for Avondale until he was appointed Athletic Administrator in 1978 – he served until 1999. Nurek was named MIAAA Region 8 Athletic Director of the Year (1991); Oakland County Athletic Directors Association, Athletic Director of the Year (1996); and Michigan Athletic Director of the Year (1999). He also received an MIAAA State Award of Merit and recently, the MHSAA Forsythe Award (2017). In 2012, the Avondale School District named the indoor sports facility the “Chuck Nurek Field House” in his honor.

The public is welcome to join the celebration on September 14th at 5:30 PM (Meet and Greet at 5:00 PM) in the Avondale High School Auditorium (2800 Waukegan Street, Auburn Hills, MI, 48326). Following the ceremony, join us for an Afterglow in the Field House lobby, enjoy looking at yearbooks and scrapbooks from the past 78 years with old friends. The inductees will also be honored at half-time during the Varsity football game beginning at 7:00 PM.