DAVID ANDERSON

(Kalamazoo, Mich. resident)
A 2-sport standout, he starred in basketball (forward) and baseball (pitcher/shortstop) at Hammond Tech. After graduating from Tech in 1961, he carved an impressive collegiate niche at Western Michigan University, where he earned All-Mid-America Conference basketball honors in ’65 as a guard, led the MAC in scoring and set several school scoring-related records. On the baseball field as a third baseman, he was named 2nd team All-MAC in ’65. Following graduation, he was drafted by the Houston Astros and played two seasons in their farm system before embarking on a career as a schoolteacher and coach in Paw Paw, Mich. Michigan. He is retired.

GERARDO “Jerry” De LUNA

(Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. resident)
A UPI all-state football running back in 1972 who also competed in wrestling and baseball at Hammond Clark, this ‘73 graduate earned 3 varsity letters and rushed for 1,000+ yards as a senior. He also earned all-Indiana Lake Shore Conference, Times all-region and team MVP honors. A 3-year wrestling and baseball letterman, he was a sectional wrestling champion his senior season, while compiling an 18-3 record at 138 pounds. On the baseball diamond, he played shortstop, batting .500 as a sophomore. He continued his football career at Rock Valley Community College, where he was a 2-year letterman, co-captain and team MVP in ’74. He is self-employed as owner of a lawn and landscaping business.

JOHN W. GRANACK

(Apex, NC resident)
As a basketball center for Hammond High, he led the regional champion Wildcats in scoring during his senior season in 1944-45, was named to the semi-state all-star team and was nominated for Indiana-Kentucky all-star team consideration. He also starred in golf for 4 years and served as captain. In ’45 and ’47, he won Lake County Junior and Indiana Junior championships, respectively. After graduating from Hammond High in ’45, he continued his basketball career at Michigan State University, where he was a starting forward his senior year. In an MSU upset victory over Big Ten favorite Iowa in ‘48, he was the leading scorer. He is retired.

TOM GRANACK

(Merrillville resident)
As his brother, John, did, he competed on the golf and basketball squads at Hammond High before graduating in 1954. In basketball, he played on the ’53 sectional and regional championship team. In golf, he was regional medalist in ’54 and team captain in ’53 & ’54. He continued to compete in both sports at Northwestern University. When an injury curtailed his basketball career as an NU freshman, he concentrated on golf, shooting a 65 in a tryout round as an 18-year-old freshman. He went on to serve as captain his senior season and placed among the top 5 in the Big Ten tournament finals in ‘58. While at Northwestern, he also once defeated Big Ten competitor and PGA great Jack Nicklaus. He is a retired attorney.

MARTY JAMROSE

(Crown Point resident)
He coached football, swimming and cross country teams at Hammond Tech and Gavit Middle and High School for 37 years (1963-99). After three years as a middle school and freshman coach at Gavit, he served as a freshman and assistant varsity football coach at Tech from ’67 through ’79. There, he also started the school’s boys swimming program, coaching the team for 12 years. For the next 20 years, he coached at Gavit. He was head varsity football coach for eight years, leading his final squad in ’86 to an 8-4 record and sectional title, which earned him Coach of the Year honors by The Times. As head swimming coach for 18 years, he directed Gladiator teams to six Indiana Lake Shore Conference titles, a 151-113 record and numerous coaching recognitions. As Gavit’s cross country coach for 8 years (’91-’99), he led teams to a 60-13 dual meet record, 4 conference titles and 7th place finish in the ’96 state meet. The Whiting High and Indiana State University graduate and multi-sport athlete is retired.

NICK KOLISZ

(Deceased)
This 1985 Morton graduate continued a tradition of outstanding, multi-sport athletes at the Hessville school. All-conference in 3 sports—football, basketball and baseball—he also earned all-state recognition in football as a speedy, sure-handed wide receiver while playing for coach and Hammond Sports Hall of Fame inductee George Hall. He went on to attend Butler University on a football scholarship, where he played wide receiver and defensive back until an injury prior to his senior season halted his career. As a Morton Governor basketball and baseball player, he played forward and center field, respectively.

DUANE McCLENDON

(Mesa, Ari. resident)
He starred in track & field at Hammond High and at The Ohio State University. As a 3-year letterman and all-state performer at Hammond High, this 1974 graduate as a senior won the 120-yard high hurdles, 180-yard low hurdles and 440-yard dash in back-to-back weeks at the Lake Shore Conference and sectional meets. As a 15-year-old sophomore, he set a United States age-group record in the 180-yard low hurdles with a hand-held time of 19.4. He went on to earn two varsity letters at Ohio State. Also at Hammond High, he was a 2-year basketball starter and 3-year letterman, leading the ’72-’73 squad in steals. He is employed as an accountant for a Phoenix, Ari. firm.

HARRY J. MUTA

(Warsaw, Ind. resident)
An all-conference standout in football and baseball at Morton, this 1972 graduate excelled on the gridiron as a running back, defensive back, punter and punt returner. On the baseball diamond, he starred as a pitcher and shortstop. He continued his 2-sport career at Butler University, earning all-Indiana Collegiate Conference honors in both sports. In football, he led the ICC in rushing in ’74, and then set a single season Butler and ICC rushing record in ’75 with 1,079 yards in 10 games. Another Butler record-setting effort was his 96-yard run from scrimmage vs. Valparaiso in ’75. He is employed as an insurance regional claim manager.

JOHN THOMAS

(Deceased)
This 1940 Hammond Tech graduate was an all-state performer on Tech’s legendary state championship basketball team in ‘40. He also competed in track & field for the Tigers and went on to attend North Carolina A&T on a basketball scholarship.

TOM ZASADA

(Frankfort, Ill. resident)
He coached football and boys basketball at Hammond High for 20 years, hired initially by Hammond Sports Hall of Famer Bernie Krueger in 1969. As head football coach for 8 years (‘81-‘88), he led the Wildcats to 3 Indiana Lake Shore Conference titles, 2 sectional championships and 1 regional crown. The regional championship was a stunning victory over defending state champion Hobart in ’88. He was named conference Coach of the Year 5 times and regional Coach of the Year At Large once. Also a football assistant, basketball assistant and head boys basketball coach for 1 season at Hammond High, he went on to become athletic director for the Hammond School System. He is retired.