Inductees

2007 Class
2006 Class
2005 Class

Marie Curry- In the 1960s, when youth athletic programs were segregated, Marie started a baseball team for the young black men, including her sons, Paul and Mark, in the Guilford community. She soon joined with leaders in black communities in Baltimore City and Howard, Baltimore and Prince George’s counties to start the Jackie Robinson League. She was the only female manager and coach. Ma Curry, as her players called her, did whatever was necessary to ensure the boys’ success in sports and life – she organized practices, arranged transportation, kept the gray and red uniforms neat and clean, and emphasized good manners, respect for others and sportsmanship. Her teams won four championships in the league, which existed until athletic programs were integrated. Marie, who died in 2005, also founded a Cub Scout troop in Guilford.

Paul J. Donovan- For more than 25 years, Paul has devoted his time to helping the young men of Howard County to be better baseball players and better men. He began coaching in the Columbia Youth Baseball Association in 1982 and also served as vice president and as a commissioner (1985-2004). In 1988, he joined with John Lopez and Don Van Deusen to form the Columbia Reds, an elite team of high school and college-aged players that is recognized nationally. Many of the Reds have gone on to play college ball, several have been drafted by professional teams, and others are coaching. Paul always encourages his players to work hard, play the game the right way, respect opponents, have fun and, when the opportunity arises, to give back to others in any way they can.

James McCauley- Jim has been a tireless advocate for girls recreational sports programs since 1979 when he learned that the Columbia Basketball Association had no instructional clinics for his 6-year-old daughter. Jim soon formed one and served as commissioner. The clinic – for both boys and girls -- continues to be a key program in CBA. In 1981, he fought for equality in the girls leagues, such as appropriate age divisions, more gym time and better equipment. As commissioner, he initiated changes that had a dramatic impact on the quality of play, the girls’ skills, their confidence and their opportunities. Later, he organized the first CBA girls travel team, the Columbia Challenge. The team was the first Howard County to participate in – and win -- a Maryland AAU tournament and qualify for the national AAU tournament.

Bill McCormack Jr.- In 1974 Bill thought that Тin the sports world, girls were treated as second class citizensУ so he volunteered to coach in the Soccer Association of Columbia. Since then, during 67 seasons (34 years), he’s coached more than 500 girls and his Green Machine team has won 11 league championships. But Bill always stresses that it’s not the number of wins that should measure success, but how his players play the game. To provide more opportunities for girls, Bill created a clinic to focus on skill development. He also reorganized the recreational league into a tiered structure. In 1996 he was the recipient of the Jack and Ellie Boussy Award for outstanding service to youth soccer. Bill has also coached boys teams in the Columbia Basketball Association for 23 years.

Joseph Wall- Joe was a leader in developing and promoting youth and high school wrestling programs for more than 25 years. He filled many roles, from coach and commissioner of youth programs to the behind-the-scenes guy who made high school clinics and tournaments run smoothly. In 1971, Joe started the Columbia Optimist Junior Wrestling Program, which soon became a feeder program for high school teams. Two years later, he organized wrestling clinics in the county’s high schools, which led to the first Howard County Junior Wrestling Tournament (1975). He served as a volunteer coach at three high schools. Joe also coached in the Columbia Optimist Junior Football Program for 14 years. In 1982, Joe and Ray Page coached a Columbia Optimist team that won the Mid-Atlantic Pop Warner Football Tournament in the 11-13 age group.

James Yedlicka Jr.- As the recreation director for the Columbia Association during its infancy, Jim helped lay the foundation for many of Howard County’s most successful recreational programs. He contributed to baseball, softball and basketball leagues for youth and adults, and started a youth soccer clinic which eventually grew into the Soccer Association of Columbia. Those who remember Jim say he put his heart and soul into making Columbia’s recreation programs a role model for other communities. After his position as recreation director was phased out in 1977, he moved to Wilmington, N.C, where he was involved in other recreational programs. Jim, who died in 1992, was the recipient of numerous community service awards here and served on the Maryland Commission on Physical Fitness.

2006 Inductees
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Robert J. Baker- Bob has been an ardent supporter of Special Olympics since 1995 when, as a parent he began pitching in wherever he was needed. Since then, he has served Special Olympics Howard County as a coach, program coordinator, assistant director and director. Through his leadership, SOHC now has more participants, offers more sports and has a stronger financial base than ever before. Bob’s involvement has earned him numerous Howard County and Maryland honors, including Special Olympics Maryland Director of the Year (2001, 2002). The local chapter of Special Olympics has been named Outstanding Volunteer Community Group in Howard County (2002) and Special Olympics Maryland County Program of the Year (2000, 2001, 2002).

Peter Finck- Peter and tennis are a life-long match. He grew up on the courts, taught his sons to play the game he loved and then turned his attention to the local tennis community. For 15 years he was director of two popular events for youth, the Columbia Junior Open and The Columbia Flier tournament. Peter also ran the county’s high school championships (1985-2004) and was director of the Maryland State Outdoor Junior Championships for six years. Peter was president of the Maryland Tennis Association, an officer in the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Association, served on US Tennis Association national committees and helped found the Howard County Tennis Association. Twice he was honored by MTA as tournament director of the year (1992, 2002).

Russ Flowers- Russ began his officiating career with recreational programs sponsored by the Columbia Association in the early 1970s. Because of his officiating skills and his engaging personality, he quickly established himself as the first great all-around sports official in the county. In the late 1970s he helped found the Howard County Officials Association and served as commissioner of officials in adult softball, basketball and football programs. Russ has officiated all levels of recreational sports, including two national softball tournaments. Though his skills eventually led to high school and collegiate officiating, Russ continued to be involved as an official, administrator, rules clinician, recruiter and trainer at the recreational level for both adult and youth sports. Because of the groundwork Russ laid, the county has a strong officiating association that responds to the needs of today’s recreational athlete.

Carol and Philip Hearn- For more than two decades, Carol and Woody worked tirelessly to provide athletic opportunities for girls in the Howard County Youth Program. When they began coaching an HCYP softball team in 1971, they found that the organization offered only one other program for girls – cheerleading. They expanded the offerings by starting basketball and volleyball leagues and an instructional softball program, and all the programs quickly grew. Carol and Woody served as coaches, officials and commissioners and they worked to update uniforms and playing fields. In 1984, they received outstanding achievement awards for Тunselfish supportУ from HCYP. As officials, coaches and sponsors, Carol and Woody have contributed to adult women’s softball and basketball programs as well.

P.J. Kesmodel- P.J.’s name is synonymous with lacrosse in Howard County, but he first became involved in local sports in 1968 as a coach for the Forest Hill swim team. Under his direction, the program became the largest and one of the most competitive summer swim leagues in the state. P.J. later helped found the Central Maryland Swim League by merging three large summer leagues. In the 1970s, he founded a boys lacrosse summer league that eventually affiliated with Hero’s, Inc. P.J. has served either as league director, president or chairman of the board of directors every year since then. After the league added girls teams, P.J. spearheaded the effort to add girls lacrosse to the county’s high school sports program in the late 1980s. P.J. was inducted into the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame (Baltimore Chapter) in 2004. Thanks to P.J.’s early efforts, Howard County is known in the region for its Lacrosse Programs.

Adelaine Stocks- In the early 1980s, Addie recognized the need for additional recreational programs for youngsters in the western part of Howard County. She was the sole impetus, founder and administrator of the Western Howard Soccer League, which now serves thousands of youngsters at the recreational level. Addie was involved in all aspects of building the fledgling league, from developing public relations materials, recruiting and training coaches and officials, writing its rules and bylaws, ordering equipment, and coaching. She also served as the league’s first commissioner. From the very beginning, Addie established a policy that required all coaches be certified by the American Coaching Effectiveness Program (now known as American Sport Education Program) which stresses an Тathlete firstУ philosophy. The foundation Addie built has ensured the continued development of the league.

Robert Vigorito- Rob’s passion for triathlons has earned him international acclaim and has solidified Howard County’s reputation for hosting one of the nation’s top events. When he became race director of the Columbia Triathlon in its third year (1986), it was mostly a small, regional event. Rob soon turned it into a Тmust-doУ race that fills to capacity (1,700 triathletes) every year. Rob established the Columbia Triathlon Association to manage 700 volunteers and to facilitate the race, which is based at Centennial Park. The community has benefited from Rob’s leadership: CTA has donated more than a half million dollars to local organizations. He also served on the board of USA Triathlon, as the Mid-Atlantic regional director.

2005 Inductees
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Anton Aardrup- When his children joined the Savage Boys and Girls Club in the 1970s, Tony became an active volunteer and continued to work for the club and the children in the community until his retirement to Florida in 1992. He worked tirelessly to promote fair play and discourage drug use by giving children a well-run sports program. Tony served as president of the club (1980-86), and as commissioner of the baseball (1980-86) and basketball (1980-92) programs. He was a coach, an umpire and a referee, and was instrumental in starting the club's programs for cheerleading (1990) and soccer (1988). Tony also promoted many family activities and fundraisers for the club. In 1982, Tony organized the first 13-15 Babe Ruth baseball league in the county, and opening day was dedicated in his honor.