Two To Be Inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame

The Manhattan Athletic Hall of Fame will welcome eight outstanding athletes and two men’s basketball teams for their record-setting seasons. The inductees are Gerard Houlihan ’79, crew; Eric (Ricky) Marsh ’77, basketball; John Ogle ’51, track and field; Wallace Pina ’53, track; Peter Runge ’90, basketball; Kathy Solano, basketball coach; Gina Somma ’96, basketball; Joseph (Jo Jo) Walters ’79, basketball; and the men’s basketball teams of 1956-57 and 1994-95. The annual Hall of Fame dinner will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 in Smith Auditorium. Tickets are $75. Reservations are necessary. For the convenience of guests, Mass (Sunday liturgy) will be celebrated in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers at 4 p.m.

Gerard J. Houlihan ’79 was known for his spirit as much as his strength inside the crew shell. He led the Jaspers to some of their strongest finishes in crew throughout his four years and continued to win in competitions outside of the College. Houlihan inspired his team with the courage to continue competition even after a fire destroyed their boathouse. The following spring, he had many victories, including the prestigious Grimaldi Cup Regatta and the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Rowing Championships (MIRA). His victories as a competitor for the New York Athletic Conference (NYAC) contributed to five consecutive U.S. National Team titles, nearly half of the NYAC victories in its 90-year history.

Eric (Ricky) Marsh ’77 transferred to Manhattan College from the University of Nebraska. Jack Powers, his basketball coach, called him “one of the nation’s best point guards” after Marsh helped lead the team out of a losing streak to take eight of the next nine games. One of the sweetest victories came against archrival Fordham with Marsh adding 22 points to the 82-49 win. In just two years, he scored 829 points and became a 1978 NBA draft pick for the Golden State Warriors. He currently holds the record for games a Jasper has played in the NBA (60 games and 851 minutes). Some of his College athletic honors are being named to the All-Metropolitan University Division All-Star Team and three-time ECAC All-Star selection.