The Kofa High School Hall of Fame Committee will enshrine a dozen members as part of the inaugural class in the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

The group will be formally enshrined at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 with the unveiling of the “Hall of Fame Wall” inside Rillos Gym on the Kofa campus. ­

The class of 2019 includes: Robert Walters, who was Kofa’s first football coach and served as the athletic director eight seasons; Bonnie Watters, the school’s first golf and softball coach; Bud and Justin Lemke, who were affectionately known as the Kofa athletic program’s biggest fans; two-time Ultimate Fighting Champion title winner Cain Velasquez (Class of 2001), who won two state wrestling championships; Cary Lewis (Class of 1962), who was a high school All-American in football; Dave Mansfield (Class of 1964), who was a state champion in track and cross country; Dean Stout, who served as Kofa’s baseball coach for parts of four decades; Delfino “Gordie” Rivera (Class of 1963), who won state wrestling championships in multiple weight classes; Fred Feiler, Kofa’s first track and cross country coach; Jerry Headington, who won multiple state championships as Kofa’s first wrestling coach; Sandy “Bug” Gloria-Noujaim (Class of 1977), who played volleyball and softball and incredibly pitched every game for the first two years of the softball program; and the 1961-62 football team that won the state championship in the Class A North division.

The unveiling will conclude two days of celebration for the enshrinees, including a gathering at Lute’s Casino in downtown Yuma on Friday, introductions to the crowd between Friday night’s basketball games against Kofa’s crosstown rival Yuma High School, a tour of the Kofa campus, which includes a new science and research building, culinary arts building and auxiliary gym, and lunch on campus Saturday.

The Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of those individuals who are worthy of recognition and have set examples for others to emulate. Nominees for the Hall of Fame must exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct, and moral character. All candidates are judged on their significant and/or long-term contributions to athletic endeavors. 

The nomination packet is available on Kofa’s website as well as the Hall of Fame’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KHSHallofFame/