September 12, 1997 FOR RELEASE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 USM HUSKY HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT SIX GORHAM, Maine -- Five former standout student-athletes and a former head coach comprise the University of Southern Maine's Husky Hall of Fame Class of 1997 that will be recognized with a banquet next Friday (September 19) at the Kenneth Brooks Student Center on the Gorham campus. The six new Hall of Fame inductees will increase the number of enshired to 81. The evening's festivities begin with a social hour at 6 p.m. with dinner and induction ceremonies to follow at 7 p.m. Tickets for the event are $20. For tickets or more information, please call the USM Department of Athletics at 207-780-5430. The Department of Athletics also is using the occasion to present three special departmental awards. This year's Husky Hall of Fame inductees include three-sport star Reta Brown, Class of 1975; all-district baseball pitcher Chuck Chadbourne, Class of 1984; two-sport standout Richard Emerson, Class of 1967; two-time all-district women's basketball player Patti Joyce, Class of 1980; men's basketball standout Jay Wakefield, Class of 1979; and former coach Dick Sturgeon. The Department of Athletics is presenting the 1997 Richard A. Costello Special Achievement Award to Leonard Emmons, a 1966 graduate and the outstanding boys soccer coach at Masconomet High School in Topsfield, Mass., for the past 25 years. The award, named for the retired USM Director of Athletics, is given annually to a USM graduate who has distinguished themself through their commitment to student-athletes and athletics. The Clifford O.T. Weiden Award for 1997 will be presented to Pat Carlista, a former administrative assistant who served the department of athletics for over 20 years. The Weiden Award, named for the retired university coach and administrator, is presented to individuals in the community who contribute special talents and time to the university. This year's recipient of the David F. Drew Service Award is Greg Jordon, a USM graduate who has served the department of athletics in numerous volunteer roles, including public address announcer for baseball and basketball and statistician-official scorer for baseball. The Drew Award, named for the longtime coach, instructor, trainer and equipment manager, is given to someone who distinguishes themselves with volunteer service to the athletic department. Reta Brown played three sports during her two years at USM after transferring from University of New Hampshire. She excelled in lacrosse, a sport she had never played before coming to USM, and twice leading the team in scoring. She found the net 15 times during her two seasons. She also played two seasons of basketball and was the team's second leading scorer as a junior. A high school teacher at South Portland High School, Brown continues to be one of the region's finer women's basketball and soccer officials. She has worked the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer finals three of the past five years. She earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics at USM and a master's degree in education from the University of Maine. She resides in Portland. Chuck Chadbourne was a record-setting left-handed pitcher for coach "Dusty" Drew's baseball team. Chadbourne still holds the career (183) and single game (16) strikeout records, and is ranked among the program's career and single season pitching leaders. He twice received NAIA District Five honors during his career, and pitched in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star Game at Fenway Park in 1981. At the time of his graduation in 1984, he was the school's all-time wins leader. Chadbourne is the president and owner of New England Benefits, an employee benefits firm. He and his wife, Linda, have two children and live in Wells, Maine. He has been actively involved with the Wells Recreation as a t-ball coach. Richard Emerson was a four-year standout in basketball and baseball at then the University of Maine Portland. He played basketball for head coach Dick Sturgeon and was the school record holder for assists. He served as co-captain of the baseball team for two years. He received UMP's outstanding male student award for 1964-65. The award was based upon a combination of academic performance and extracirricular activites and was voted upon by the students An attorney with the firm of Childs, Emerson, Rundlett, Fifield and Childs, Emerson is on the executive committee of the National Drug Defense Lawyers and a legislative liaison from Maine for the National Criminal Defense Lawyers. He resides in Cape Elizabeth and has three children. Patti (Boulter) Joyce played three sports during her time at USM, but made her mark in basketball. Twice an All-District Five honoree, Joyce still ranks among the career leaders in eight statistical categories including most points (989-11th), rebounds (812-3rd), assists (349-8th) and steals (213-8th). Over her four years, the team won 91 games and began the Huskies' NCAA record 17 straight 20-win seasons. Her career was cut short 11 points shy of the 1,000 point plateau by a senior year injury. Joyce has a degree in education and is a school teacher in the Gorham school system. She and her husband, Kevin, live in Standish. Jay Wakefield was an All-District Five basketball player who was a major contributor to the Huskies 1978 and 1979 NAIA tournament teams that advanced to the national tournament in Kansas City, Mo. The school's eighth all-time leading scorer (1368 points), he also is among the men's basketball career leaders in assists (382-8th), steals (160-8th) and rebounds (682-7th). His single game best was 32 points against Plymouth State College in February 1977. Wakefield is a customer service manager with UNUM. He has been involved with Yarmouth Little League and Cumberland Recreation Youth basketball and travel teams. He has a degree in elementary education. He and his wife, Christina, have two daughters and reside in Cumberland. Dick Sturgeon continues to make his mark upon the university as a coach, educator and administrator during a distinguished career that has spanned more than 30 years. He coached men's basketball, baseball and sailing teams at then the University of Maine Portland, then guided the men's basketball program for three seasons after the merger. He compiled an 82-118 record during his 11 seasons as men's basketball coach. He taught physical education at UMP and has continued teaching math. He has also served as Director of Advising, Executive Director of Alumni and Development, and Executive Director of University Advancement. More recently he directed the Gorham Task Force and the Gorham Initiative to revitalize the Gorham campus.