2008 Woodie Awards
Six inducted into hall of fame
By: Jacob Lougheed
Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Leonard Drake never will forget his role on the men's basketball team during the 1970s.
His numbers still rank among some of the best of those ever to wear a Chippewa uniform.
And on Friday, he was awarded for it as one of six new members inducted into the Central Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame.
"I am truly overwhelmed," Drake said. "I truly never expected it."
Drake (basketball), Brock Gutierrez (football), Angie (Henderson) Montroy (volleyball), Dick Kirchner (wrestling coach), Bill Taylor (track) and Betsy Yonkman (basketball) became part of the 144-member class with an induction at Mount Pleasant's Comfort Inn. They also were honored at the CMU-Army football game.
Drake played an important role in CMU's first two Mid-American Conference championships during the 1970s. He ranks seventh in CMU history in both points (1,338) and free throw percentage (.807, 226-for-280). His 126 career steals rank eighth in school history.
Drake also made two free throws with no time remaining in 1975 to lead CMU to its first NCAA Tournament first-round victory against Georgetown, 77-75.
Taylor stressed the importance of friends and family during his successful career.
"It's all about the journey, the people who got me here," he said.
Taylor holds the school record for the 5,000-meter run with a time of 13 minutes, 48.5 seconds. He also led the 1988 men's cross country team to a MAC title. At one time he was ranked in the top five cross country runners nationally, and in the top 50 in the world.
Gutierrez was a member of CMU's 1994 MAC championship football team. He blocked for All-American running back Brian Pruitt, who ranked second in the nation in rushing in 1994.
Pruitt also set the single-season rushing yardage record running behind Gutierrez's fierce blocking. He eventually went on to the NFL, where he played for 10 years with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
Gutierrez said he felt honored by his induction.
"It is awesome to receive this honor," he said. "Not too many offensive lineman get this privilege."
sports@cm-life.com
His numbers still rank among some of the best of those ever to wear a Chippewa uniform.
And on Friday, he was awarded for it as one of six new members inducted into the Central Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame.
"I am truly overwhelmed," Drake said. "I truly never expected it."
Drake (basketball), Brock Gutierrez (football), Angie (Henderson) Montroy (volleyball), Dick Kirchner (wrestling coach), Bill Taylor (track) and Betsy Yonkman (basketball) became part of the 144-member class with an induction at Mount Pleasant's Comfort Inn. They also were honored at the CMU-Army football game.
Drake played an important role in CMU's first two Mid-American Conference championships during the 1970s. He ranks seventh in CMU history in both points (1,338) and free throw percentage (.807, 226-for-280). His 126 career steals rank eighth in school history.
Drake also made two free throws with no time remaining in 1975 to lead CMU to its first NCAA Tournament first-round victory against Georgetown, 77-75.
Taylor stressed the importance of friends and family during his successful career.
"It's all about the journey, the people who got me here," he said.
Taylor holds the school record for the 5,000-meter run with a time of 13 minutes, 48.5 seconds. He also led the 1988 men's cross country team to a MAC title. At one time he was ranked in the top five cross country runners nationally, and in the top 50 in the world.
Gutierrez was a member of CMU's 1994 MAC championship football team. He blocked for All-American running back Brian Pruitt, who ranked second in the nation in rushing in 1994.
Pruitt also set the single-season rushing yardage record running behind Gutierrez's fierce blocking. He eventually went on to the NFL, where he played for 10 years with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
Gutierrez said he felt honored by his induction.
"It is awesome to receive this honor," he said. "Not too many offensive lineman get this privilege."
sports@cm-life.com
Be the first to comment on this story