2004 UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SPORTS
HALL OF FAME
INDUCTION CEREMONY
Hosted by
General William L. Nyland
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
August 6, 2004
The Clubs at Quantico
Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA
General William L. Nyland
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
General William L. Nyland
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
General William L. "Spider" Nyland is currently serving as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine
Corps, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington D.C.
Gen. Nyland was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps under the NROTC program upon
graduation from the University of New Mexico in 1968. In addition to attaining an M.S. degree from the
University of Southern California, his formal military education includes The Basic School (1968), Naval
Aviation Flight Training (NFO) (1969), Amphibious Warfare School (1975), Navy Fighter Weapons
School (TopGun) (1977), College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College (1981), and Air War
College (1988).
After being assigned to VMFA-531, General Nyland was ordered to Vietnam where he flew 122 combat
missions with VMFA-314 and VMFA-115. General Nyland's other tours included Instructor RIO,
VMFAT-101; Squadron Assistant Operations Officer and Operations Officer, VMFA-115; and Brigade
FORSTAT and Electronic Warfare Officer, 1st Marine Brigade. He also served as Operations Officer and
Director of Safety and Standardization, VMFA-212; Aviation Safety Officer and Congressional
Liaison/Budget Officer, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.; and Operations Officer,
Marine Aircraft Group-24, 1st Marine Amphibious Brigade. He commanded VMFA-232, the Marine
Corps' oldest and most decorated fighter squadron, from July 1985 to July 1987.
General Nyland subsequently served as section chief for the Central Command section, European
Command/Central Command Branch, Joint Operations Division, Directorate of Operations (J-3), Joint
Staff, Washington, D.C. In July 1990, he assumed command of Marine Aviation Training Support Group,
Pensacola. Following his command of MATSG he assumed duties as Chief of Staff, 2nd Marine Aircraft
Wing on July 5, 1992, and assumed additional duties as Assistant Wing Commander on November 10,
1992. He was promoted to Brigadier General on September 1, 1994 and was assigned as Assistant Wing
Commander, 2nd MAW serving in that billet until December 1, 1995.
He served next on the Joint Staff, J-8, as the Deputy Director for Force Structure and Resources,
completing that tour on June 30, 1997. He was advanced to Major General on July 2, 1997, and assumed
duties as the Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He served
next as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina from
July 1998 to June 2000. He was advanced to Lieutenant General on 30 June 2000 and assumed duties as the
Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. He next assumed
duties as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation on 3 August 2001. He was advanced to General on 4
September 2002 and assumed his current duties on 10 September 2002.
His personal decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense
Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with eight Strike/Flight awards, and
Joint Service Commendation Medal
PROGRAM
National Anthem
Invocation
Lunch
Video
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
First Lieutenant Richard Vincent Guerin
United States Marine Corps
Basketball
Corporal Kenneth Howard Norton
United States Marine Corps
Boxing
Private First Class Arthur James Donovan Jr.
United States Marine Corps
Football
Recognition of
2003 United States Marine Corps Athletes of the Year
First Lieutenant Kristin Kavanaugh
United States Marine Corps
Basketball
Master Sergeant Michael Kidd
United States Marine Corps
Power Lifting
There are few great basketball players who can become great coaches,
however one man who made the successful transition was Richie Guerin.
Richard Vincent Guerin was born May 29, 1932 in New York, NY. The
6'4" Guerin was a machine-like scorer, gifted passer, and smart playmaker.
Guerin was known as one of the best rebounding and driving guards of his
era and would eventually go on to be a winning basketball coach. Guerin
enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and served from 1947 to 1954. While
a reservist, Guerin attended Iona University from 1950 to 1954. At Iona,
Guerin scored 1,375 points in 67 games leading the Gaels to a 44-23 record
and lettered three times from 1952 to 1954. After graduation, Guerin served
on active duty with the Training and Test Regiment, at Marine Corps
Schools, Quantico, VA as an infantry officer until his discharge as a First
Lieutenant in June 1956.
The Knicks drafted Guerin in 1954 while still on active duty. After
leaving the Marine Corps, Guerin would begin his professional basketball
career in 1956. In his seven seasons with the Knicks, he led the team in
assists for five consecutive years and in scoring for three years. In 1958, the
explosive Guerin scored a game high 57 points becoming the first Knicks
player to score over 50 points in a single game.
A fan and media favorite, Guerin played in six NBA All-Star games.
Traded to the St Louis Hawks midway through the 1963-64 season, Guerin
spent the next eight years with the Hawks in a dual role as a player/coach
and was ultimately named the head coach. Guerin led the Hawks to nine
consecutive playoff appearances and was named NBA Coach of the Year for
the 1967-68 season. When Guerin retired from coaching in 1971 he had
compiled a winning record of 327 wins and 291 loses.
During a time when the heavyweight division was dominated by such
names as Ali, Foreman, and Frazier, Ken Norton would distinguish himself
as a contender among these boxing greats. Born August 9, 1943, in
Jacksonville, Illinois, Norton would serve in the Marine Corps from 1963 to
1967, stationed at Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune.
Norton possessed a unique and powerful style, and never failed to enter
the ring in peak physical condition. He was a tremendous all-around athlete
as a youth and earned a football scholarship to Northeast Missouri State.
While serving as a radioman in the Marine Corps, Norton compiled a 24-2
record, and won three All-Marine Heavyweight titles.
After his discharge, Norton turned pro in 1967 and had become a
household name by 1973, when he won the North American Boxing
Federation Heavyweight title with a 12-round split decision over
Muhammad Ali. During the first round, Norton fractured Ali’s jaw,
eventually leading to Ali’s second defeat.
In 1976, Norton would face Ali once again for the heavyweight
championship in their third and final fight in front of 30,000 boxing fans.
Although Ali won by unanimous decision, many felt that Norton carried the
day and actually won the fight.
In 1977, Norton knocked out Duane Bobick in one round and won by
decision over Jimmy Young in a WBC title-elimination fight. Norton was
awarded the WBC title by virtue of his win over Young. For his
accomplishments, the Boxing Writers Association of America named him
Fighter of the Year. Ken Norton was inducted into the International Boxing
Hall of Fame in 1992. Norton finished his career with 42 wins, 7 losses, 1
draw and 33 Knockouts.
Many World War two era athletes interrupted their athletic careers to
serve our nation in time of crisis. One such man was Arthur "Art" Donovan
Jr. a fan favorite and community icon from the Bronx, in New York City.
Born June 5, 1925, Donovan answered his country’s call and enlisted in the
Marine Corps on June 28, 1943, only one year after arriving at Notre Dame
on a football scholarship. During World War II, Donovan served on active
duty from 1943 to 1945, and participated in significant combat operations in
the Pacific. He served as an antiaircraft gun crewman aboard the USS San
Jacinto seeing action at Caroline Islands, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa,
and Luzon. After the war, Donovan finished his final three years at Boston
College, starting as a two-way tackle the entire time.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive tackle was smart and quick. He was
able to both rush the passer and move laterally to stop the run. Donovan
joined the Baltimore Colts in 1950 and by 1960 he was selected as an all-pro
defensive tackle five times. In the team’s 1958 championship appearance,
Donovan anchored the Baltimore defense for the team’s first championship
with a 23-17 win over the New York Giants.
The Colts retired his jersey, Number 70, in 1962, when he departed
professional football and was paid the greatest tribute by being inducted into
the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Mr. Donovan still resides in
Baltimore as the owner of the Valley Country Club.
2003 Athletes of the Year
First Lieutenant Kristen Kavanaugh
United States Marine Corps
Basketball
First Lieutenant Kristen Kavanaugh distinguished
herself as a member of the 2003 All-Marine Women’s
Basketball Team. Her deadly accurate three-point shots
and court leadership earned her a spot on the 2003
Armed Forces Women’s Basketball Team. First
Lieutenant Kavanaugh is assigned to AC/S
comptroller’s office for Marine Wing Headquarters
Squadron 3, 3D Marine Aircraft Wing. She is currently
forward deployed to Iraq and has been recently
promoted to First Lieutenant. During her collegiate
career, First Lieutenant Kavanaugh was a four-year member of the United States Naval
Academy Women’s Basketball team, lettering three times. She served as team captain in her
final season of 2001-02. Towards the end of the 2000-01 season, she tore the ACL in her left
knee, but rehabbed and was ready to go at the start of the following season. She is ranked
15th in Navy history for career three-point field goal percentage with a mark of 30.5%.
Master Sergeant Michael Kidd
United States Marine Corps
Power Lifting
Master Sergeant Michael W. Kidd distinguished
himself as a world champion power lifter while
representing the United States Marine Corps at the
Amateur Athletic Union National (AAU) Power
Lifting championships held 7-8 June 2003, in
Richmond, VA. He competed in the 198 lb. weight
class and won first place in all six divisions, which
includes the open, military and masters divisions.
Master Sergeant Kidd also set a new American record
at the AAU National Bench Press and Dead Lift
Championships held 21-22 June 2003, in Visa, CA.
Both national championships qualified him to become
a member of Team USA at the World Power Lifting
Championships held 31 October-2 November 2003, in Richmond, VA. With teams and
competitors from 14 different countries represented, he won first place gold medals in four
divisions and set a new world record in the military division. Master Sergeant Kidd is also a
three-time and current Athlete of the Year for MCAS Miramar. Master Sergeant Kidd was
also the Fire Officer of the Year for the Marine Corps in 2001, and has been nominated for
the same honor in 2003.
2004 Marine Corps Athlete Medalists
Wrestling
Capt Daniel Hicks – Bronze Medal US Olympic Trials 96 KG
SSgt Marcel Cooper-Bronze Medal US Olympic Trials 66 KG
SSgt James Shillow – Bronze Medal US Olympic Trials 60 KG
Cpl Jacob Clark – Silver Medal US Olympic Trials 84 KG
Cpl Justin Cannon – Gold Medal Armed Forces Freestyle 55 KG
Cpl Timothy Taylor – Gold Medal University National Championships 120 KG
Boxing
Sgt Roberto Castillo- Armed Forces Gold Medal 106 lbs
Sgt Johnnie Edwards – Armed Forces Gold Medal 125 lbs
Sgt Michael Martinez – Armed Forces Silver Medal 165 lbs
Cpl Jacob Garretson – Armed Forces Silver Medal 178 lbs
Cpl Roderick Prevost – Armed Forces Silver Medal 201 lbs
Regional Running Program Half-Marathon Team
“Warriors Across the Sea” Challenge Cup
Men’s Basketball Team
Gold Medal Armed Forces
Men’s Bowling
Gold Medal Armed Forces
Men’s Softball
Silver Medal Armed Forces
Past Inductees
2001
Frank B. Goettge – Football
Theodore S. “Ted” Williams – Baseball
William M. “Billy” Mills – Track and Field
Lee Buck Trevino – Golf
James Joseph "Gene" Tunney - Boxing
2002
Robert Bruce Mathias – Decathlon
Carmen Basilio – Boxing
Rodney Cline Carew – Baseball
2003
Patty Berg – Golf
Tom Seaver – Baseball
Roberto Clemente – Baseball
National Museum
of the
United States Marine Corps
at the
Heritage Center