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NEWS RELEASE

July 18, 2008

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Howard County “Community Sports Hall of Fame” Announces 2008 Induction Class

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County’s “Community Sports Hall of Fame,” sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks, is proud to announce its 2008 inductees: Tony Brudis, Jim Carlan, Don Disney, Karen Dye, Roger Hockey, Helen Moody, and Stanley Nedzel. The seven inductees include game officials, promoters, coaches and program administrators.

The Community Sports Hall of Fame honors outstanding individuals who have gained prominence and/or have made a substantial contribution to community recreation sports in Howard County. The inductees were selected by the 12-member Hall of Fame Committee.

Tony Brudis became involved with local sports in 1992 as a coach for softball, baseball and basketball with the Howard County Youth Program (HCYP). A year later he became league commissioner and eventually served two terms as President of the Board of Directors. Tony led the effort at Kiwanis-Wallis Park to improve the concession operations, utilities and lights and to add additional scoreboards and fields. He also chaired the Howard County Golf Advisory Board which helped establish golf as an official high school sport.

Jim Carlan has been an active volunteer with the Soccer Association of Columbia-Howard County for more than 35 years. He started out as assistant coach to his daughter’s team which led to his involvement as an administrator. Over the past 12 years, he has served as the organization’s President and/or Chief Operating Officer. His strong leadership was the driving force behind the development of Northrop Fields at Covenant Park.

Don Disney established the “Kangaroo Club” in 1978 while he was a physical education teacher in Howard County. Over the years, the “club” has acquired an international reputation as a premier precision jump roping team and this year will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Don went on to become the County-wide Athletics Coordinator for the Howard County School System. Today, Don is the Facilitator of Health and Physical Education for the El Paso Independent School District in Texas where he works with Dr. Kenneth Cooper to address childhood obesity.

Helen Moody began her sports officiating career in the early 70’s with field hockey, adding girl’s lacrosse in 1976. She helped co-found the Howard/Carroll Officials Association in 1978 and currently serves as lacrosse chairwoman for the group. In 2002, she was inducted into the Howard County Women’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Today, she is one of the most recognized names in women’s sports officiating and continues to officiate local field hockey and lacrosse games at all levels of play.

Karen Dye has also been one of the most recognized names in women’s sports officiating for the past 30 years. She also trains and mentors other officials and promotes “GoodSports” locally. In 2006, she was inducted into the Howard County Women’s Athletic Hall of Fame. She currently serves as the Howard/Carroll Officials Association field hockey chairwomen and continues to officiate local field hockey and lacrosse games at all levels of play locally and regionally.

Roger Hockey began recruiting and providing umpires for the Elkridge Adult Athletic Association (EAAA) softball league in 1978. When the program merged with Recreation and Parks in the 80’s, he established a formal USSSA Softball Officiating organization required to meet county contracting requirements. Thirty years later, he is still involved with the game of softball as an administrator, tournament director and official, and remains one of the best-known names and faces among softball players, coaches and officials in the community.

Stanley “Chick” Nedzel, along with other local sport enthusiasts, founded and organized the Elkridge Youth Organization (EYO) in 1956. Chick was the driving force in the early development of EYO and spent his evenings and weekends maintaining the fields. Throughout his years with EYO, Chick served as coach, manager, head umpire and commissioner, and will always be remembered for the way he ended arguments over umpire calls with his own call - “let’s play ball”! His award will be presented posthumously.

The induction ceremony will take place on Monday, October 20, 2008, at the 6th annual “Celebration of Sports” at Turf Valley Resort & Conference Center, 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City. Tickets for this event go on sale in early August and will be available at Recreation & Parks headquarters, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, online at www.howardcountymd.gov/RAP or by phone at 410-313-7275.