For biographical information and details on the sporting
achievements of the inductees please click a picture below
or the link to the "Full Story".
ATHLETE
Valerie (Greenwall) Weldon
- Softball
Valerie started playing
softball at age five, developed into an exceptional
pitcher and during her playing career achieved some
incredible accomplishments and garnered many deserved
awards. Softball is still part of her life, as a
high school coach
she instils the love of her favourite sport in young
people.
At the age
of eleven he rode a horse in a race in Wetaskiwin and won. He
credits this win for his lifelong desire to race horses.
Tom last competed as a driver at the Calgary Stampede in
1981, retiring at the age of seventy.
Tom’s passion for his sport was passed on to his sons
and grandsons and to his pleasure,
he was able to compete with and against his sons.
In 1947 Ralph Pocock became the driving force behind the
formation of the Boys' Minor Hockey Association in Wetaskiwin and
District and the system organized in those three years continues to this
day. Ralph’s life during those years was consumed with
hockey and during that three year period participation in Wetaskiwin
hockey almost quadrupled.
Throughout
his career as an athlete and builder he has strived to
create opportunities for youth to improve their self
esteem and realize their potential through sport. One of
Willie’s greatest achievements
is co-founding the North American Indigenous Games.
Besides athletic recognition worldwide, Willie has
been awarded the Order of Canada, the American Medal of
Honour and been named one of the 2000 outstanding
intellectuals of the 21st Century.
Vern’s philosophy about
coaching was simple “teach them the game so they can enjoy it, they will
decide if they want to win or lose”. For Vern it was all about the
kids and it was about having fun.
Vern
used to say, “If they didn’t have fun they wouldn’t stay, and then what
would be the point of that?” Vern wasn’t just a coach. He
cared about each and every one of his players and their personal well
being.
Organized
in 1943 this group of young fellows from the Brightview
area west of Wetaskiwin played fastball, for the fun of it, against
other country teams in the area. The team practiced and played
their home games on a diamond on local farmland Willie Kaiser’s farm
and eventually became the dominant men’s fastball team in
Central Alberta during the late 1940’s. The Huskies continued to win almost
all the games they played. One memorable game was played at Clover Lawn
were Walter struck out 24 of the 27 batters. The score was 27-0.