Michigan Announces First HOF Class Since 2012
9/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Sept. 10, 2015
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's track and field head coach Jerry Clayton announced the program's 10-man induction class to the Michigan Men's Track and Field Hall of Fame on Thursday (Sept. 10). The program's highest honor will be given for the first time since 2012, and the inductees include: Nathan Brannen (2002-05), Van Bruner (1951-53), John Carroll (1952-54), Omar Davidson (1985-87, 1989), Scott Eriksson (1981-84), Peter Gray (1954-56), Roy Pella (1952-54), Ernst Soudek (1962-64), Nick Willis (2003-05) and Coach Ron Warhurst (1974-2009).
The induction class of 2015 will be the ninth in program history since the inaugural class of 2006, with this year's group of inductees joining 67 former athletes and coaches already in the Hall of Fame. For Clayton, inducting a new group of Hall of Famers had been a priority since he came to Ann Arbor in July 2013.
"I am very glad that we are now in a position as a staff to turn some of our attention and time to continuing this great tradition of adding to this program's Hall of Fame," said Clayton.
"It is important that we celebrate the careers of our greatest student-athletes and induct them into the Hall of Fame. The first class was inducted in 2006, and we are excited to continue honoring the rich history and tradition that already exists among that group."
Of the nine athletes of the Class of 2015, five earned All-America honors at least once during their careers, five have represented their countries in the Olympic Games at least once, and four have competed under the guidance of a fellow inductee, Coach Ron Warhurst. Such a talented and accomplished class illustrates the difficulty of the selection process.
"Because Michigan has such a rich tradition in those areas, it can be a challenge," said Clayton.
"We have so many people that should receive this honor. As a result, we have a really good group of inductees. I hope that our fans and alumni will be patient with us throughout this process so that we can sure the proper recognition for all those who helped build this excellent tradition and history here at Michigan."
 | Nate Brannen 2005, Mid-Distance Cambridge, Ontario, Canada |
During his time as a Wolverine from 2002-2005, Brannen enjoyed one of the best middle distance careers in Michigan history. An 11-time All-American, Brannen still holds school records in the indoor and outdoor 800-meter races, as well as the indoor mile run. He has held three NCAA records in his career (mile, 4xmile relay, distance medley relay).
The two-time Canadian Olympian (2008, 2012) at 1,500 meters won consecutive NCAA titles at 800 meters during the indoor seasons of 2003-04. He totaled eight individual All-America honors in his career, tied for second most in program history, and also captured consecutive NCAA titles as a member of U-M's storied 2004-05 distance medley relay teams.
Brannen was honored as U-M's Athlete of the Year in 2003 and served as a team captain during the 2004 cross country season and 2005 track season. After pursuing a professional career as a Saucony athlete in 2005, Brannen blossomed on the international stage for Team Canada. He represented his country at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games, and he recently earned a silver medal in the 1,500m run at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. Brannen holds the following Canadian Track and Field records: indoor 1,000-meter run, outdoor 1,000-meter run, outdoor 2,000-meter run and indoor mile run.
Brannen resides in Avon, Ohio, with his wife, Theresa, and their two children. A former Wolverine herself (2001-06), Theresa (Feldkamp) was a two-time All-American (2004-05), earning one individual conference title at 800 meters in 2005. As a member of the distance medley relay, she was also a national champion during in 2005. When Brannen is not competing for Saucony, he coaches at a nearby high school.
 | Van Bruner 1953, Hurdles Washington, D.C. |
Bruner had a successful career as a hurdler for Michigan in the early 1950s. He went on to earn NCAA All-America honors twice, in 1952 and 1953, breaking a then 25-year-old Michigan hurdles record in the process. Bruner's best finish came in 1952, when he took fourth at the NCAA Championships in the 110-meter hurdles. He followed that up with a fifth-place showing in the 1953 championships, this time in the 120-yard high hurdles race. He was a three-year letter winner from 1951-53.
After his track career, Bruner graduated with a degree in design and married his wife, Lillian. He then joined the United States Air Force in 1954, when he trained and served as a pilot until 1957.
Bruner began studying architecture at Drexel Institute after his years in the Air Force and went on to open his own practice, The Bruner Firm, while serving as department chairman of the Building Construction Engineering Technology of the Spring Garden Institute of Philadelphia. In 1975, he was presented the Whitney Young Award for his Civil Rights work from 1960-70 as well as the designation of Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Bruner resides in Haddonfield, New Jersey.
 | John Carroll 1954, Mid-Distance Washington, D.C. |
A three-year letter winner from 1952-54, Carroll was a Big Ten champion in the following races: 1952 indoor 440-yard run, 1953 indoor 440-yard run and the 1953 outdoor 440-yard run. He was named captain in 1953 and represented Team Canada in the 1952 Olympic Games, where he earned a fourth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay.
 | Omar Davidson 1989, Sprints/Middle Distance Mount Clemens, Mich. |
A letterman from 1985-1987, and again in 1989, Davidson still holds three University of Michigan records as a member of the indoor 4x400-meter relay, indoor 4x 800-meter relay and outdoor 4x800-meter relay teams. It was only this past season that his indoor 400-meter record of 46.59 seconds fell to Ali Arastu's time of 46.53 after 28 years as the program best.
He became an NCAA All-American in his first season in Maize and Blue, finishing sixth in the 400-meter run in 1985. Davidson went on to win Big Ten championships in the indoor 400m dash in 1986 and again during his final season in 1989. In addition, Davidson was named Big Ten Athlete of the indoor championships in 1986.
Davidson graduated from U-M's School of Arts in 1989 with a degree in graphic design. Since 1995, he has worked as a member of the Detroit Fire Department as Lieutenant Fire Investigator, Canine Handler and Law Enforcement Officer. He is a special deputized federal marshal serving as arson and explosives task force officer with the ATF.
His track career continued past his time at U-M, as Davidson has competed in the United States and in Europe in the World Police & Fire Games, winning one title at 400 meters.
Davidson resides in Belleville, Michigan, with his wife of 27 years, Dana, who was also an accomplished Wolverine on the track. She competed from 1985-89, earning all-conference recognition in the 100m dash, 4x100m relay, pentathlon and heptathlon.
 | Scott Eriksson 1984, Discus Clarkston, Mich. |
Eriksson was the Big Ten champion in the discus on three occasions in his Wolverine career, claiming the title in 1981, 1983 and 1984. He still holds program discus record of 195-5 feet, set in 1984, and his 1986 throw of 199-10 feet stands as a Ferry Field record to this day. He once held the Big Ten record in the discus and was named team captain in 1984 alongside classmate Derek Harper, the same year he was recognized as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Upon finishing his career in a Wolverine uniform, Eriksson was a graduate assistant under head coach Jack Harvey, and with his guidance, U-M thrower Mike Krauss won a conference title in the discus.
Eriksson graduated U-M in 1984 with a degree in industrial and operations engineering. For the past 30 years, he has worked as an entrepreneur, software developer and public speaker. He currently resides in Plano, Texas, with his wife Brenda, a former NAIA national champion in the hurdles, and their three children.
 | Pete Gray 1956, Mid-Distance St. Petersburg, Fla. |
Over the course of his career, Gray won three indoor Big Ten titles and two outdoor Big Ten titles as a middle-distance competitor for Michigan. In 1955, Gray won the 880-yard run during both the indoor and outdoor seasons while adding a title in the 1,000-yard run to his indoor résumé.
Gray went on to defend his 1,000-yard title at the 1956 Big Ten meet and was an NCAA All-American for the Maize and Blue in 1954 and 1955, when he placed third and second, respectively, in the 880-yard run.
After graduating from U-M in 1956 with a degree in education, Gray taught for 30 years before retiring to his home in North Carolina. Gray resides in Waynesville, North Carolina, with his wife of nearly 40 years, Margaret. Together they have four children and nine grandchildren.
 | Roy Pella 1954, Discus Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
As a three-year letter winner from 1952-54, Pella was a Canadian Olympian before he even left U-M. He competed in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, where he was teammates with fellow inductee John Carroll representing Team Canada.
Pella shattered the Canadian discus record with throw of 157-3.75 feet at the Olympic Trials in Hamilton leading up to the 1952 games. In Helsinki, he finished 14th in the competition. Two years later, he again set the Canadian record at 162-6 feet.
As a Wolverine, Pella was a Big Ten champion in the discus in 1954. His international career did not end after the 1952 games either, as he won a silver medal in discus at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. The year between his Olympic run and Commonwealth Games medal, Pella captured the Rowell Trophy as Canada's Outstanding Amateur Field Athlete.
Pella resides in Falconbridge, Ontario, with his wife Debbie. Together they have three children.
 | Ernst Soudek 1965, Discus Vienna, Austria |
Soudek was a member of U-M's three consecutive Big Ten championship teams from 1962-64. As a senior, his 185-5-foot throw in the discus stood not only as a U-M record but a Big Ten Conference record as well.
He went on to compete at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, throwing discus for his native Austria. As a Wolverine, Soudek collected multiple discus titles at the Kentucky and Ohio State Relays, but his highlight likely came as Penn Relays champion in 1964.
Soudek earned B.A., M.A. and P.H.D. degrees from the University of Michigan and was a long-time university professor from 1967-2006. He currently resides in Guerengasse, Austria, with his wife of 25 years, Martina. He has two children.
 | Nick Willis 2005, Mid-Distance Lower Hutt, New Zealand |
Another one of U-M's most accomplished middle-distance athletes, Willis, a letterman from 2003-2005, collected five All-America honors as a Wolverine, including one as a member of the 2004 DMR NCAA championship team, of which fellow inductee Nate Brannen was also a part.
Willis started off his career by being named 2003 Big Ten Freshman of the Year in both indoor and outdoor competition, and he collected six conference titles in all, including a stretch of three straight Big Ten championships in the indoor 3,000-meter run from 2003-05. He collected an individual NCAA championship with his 2005 title in the indoor mile.
Internationally, Willis has competed in three Olympic Games for the Kiwis (2004, 2008, 2012), and he continues to run professionally for adidas running. His Olympic career peaked with a 2008 silver medal at 1,500 meters, and recently, Willis took sixth place at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, where current women's team senior Cindy Ofili and several U-M alumnae were also competing.
He still owns the mile record at the U-M Indoor Track Building and owns program records at indoor 3,000 meters and outdoor 5,000 meters as well as being a member of the record-holding 4xmile relay team. To this day, Willis ranks among the top five in program history in the indoor 800-meter run, 3,000-meter run, mile run and DMR, as well as the outdoor 1,500-meter run and 5,000-meter run.
Willis still lives in Ann Arbor with his wife and son, training under his fellow Hall of Fame inductee Ron Warhurst.
 | Ron Warhurst 1974-2008, Head Coach Men's Cross Country 2000-08, Head Coach Men's Track and Field |
Ron Warhurst became the 10th head coach in program history in the year 2000 after serving as the head coach of the cross country program and as a track and field assistant coach from 1974 until that point. In all, Warhurst totaled 36 years of service to the University of Michigan track and field and cross country programs, producing 11 individual NCAA champions.
As head coach, Warhurst maintained the standard of excellence that he and Harvey had worked to achieve at Michigan, as his tenure at the helm of the program oversaw the careers of some of U-M's most accomplished student-athletes, including two of his fellow inductees in Brannen and Willis. He also had tremendous influence over the career of current U-M head cross country and assistant track coach Kevin Sullivan, among others.
Warhurst's cross country teams tallied seven Big Ten championships during his tenure (1974, '75, '76, '80, '93, '98), and he was recognized as the conference's Coach of the Year on four occasions for his role in guiding the U-M program to such sustained success. He produced a dozen top-10 teams and was also recognized on the national level, earning three NCAA Regional Coach of the Year honors in that span. When the Maize and Blue won the Big Ten title in 1974 during his first season, it was the program's first in 20 years.
In his final season leading the track and field program, Warhurst took the Wolverine men to their most-recent conference crown as they captured the 2008 Big Ten outdoor championship. He stayed attached to the program as an associate head coach before his retirement in 2009.
Over his career, Warhurst has coached seven Olympians (including Silver and Bronze Medalists) and 77 athletes who have combined for 102 NCAA All-America awards. Forty individual athletes, eight relay teams and 38 cross country athletes earned All-America honors under Warhurst's guidance, and two of his relay teams set national records.
Before coaching, Warhurst was an athlete at Western Michigan until 1965 where he was a part of two NCAA national championship-winning teams. After spending two seasons as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University, Warhurst served in the Marines from 1968-70. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Navy Commendation Medal for his service in Vietnam. Warhurst resides in Ann Arbor with his wife and still works with athletes, including fellow inductee Nick Willis.
About the Class of 2015
The Class of 2015 is the first under Clayton's tenure at U-M, and he has worked with women's head coach James Henry and associate head coach Mike McGuire to develop a plan of alternating years for men's and women's Hall of Fame classes.
"We are going to go to a format that will alternate each year," Clayton explained, "They inducted their ninth class last winter, so this year became our year, and we plan to alternate from here on out."
Clayton and his staff relied on the expertise of a selection committee, including several former U-M coaches to narrow down a wide selection of qualified nominees.
"I was very glad to have the help and assistance from former coaches Dave (Martin; 1969-71), Jack (Harvey; 1975-99) and Ron (Warhurst; 2000-08)," Clayton said, "To have their input was invaluable. Now that we have them as a nomination committee, the process is smoother, and we can ensure that we induct all the rightful athletes that have earned this honor."
The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 9, with a Hall of Fame Dinner at Kensington Court in Ann Arbor. The celebration will continue on Saturday, Oct. 10, with an Alumni Reunion Breakfast at the same location, which will precede the U-M Homecoming football game against the Northwestern Wildcats, set for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard
