Hammond Sports Hall of Fame - The Inductees Class of 2020

Hammond Sports Hall of Fame
The Class of 2020 Inductees

Richard Barnes	James (Chief) Brown	Jack Gabor
Brittany Piaseczny	Robert Prymuski	David R. Snedden

2020 Inductees:

Richard Barnes
Part of a proud era of athletic & academic excellence at Hammond High, this 1959 graduate starred on Wildcat track & field teams as a 100-, 220- and 440-yard sprinter, earning a 4-year scholarship to Drake (IA) University. Competing there, he contributed to a school record-setting relay, and in ’61 he was the Iowa AAU indoor & outdoor 440 champion.

James (Chief) Brown
After an outstanding career competing at Gary Edison High School and Grambling State (LA) University, he enjoyed a 36-year coaching career (1971-2007) in the School City of Hammond. Following 5 years of coaching 3 sports at Edison Middle School, he moved to Hammond High as freshman football coach (1977-2000) and also headed boys track & field for 30 years (1977-2007). His track teams won 10 conference and 4 sectional titles. Two of his 33 state qualifying athletes won championships. He also coached 7 regional, 83 sectional & 123 conference titlists.

Jack Gabor
Learning as a student manager & graduate asst. from Indiana U basketball legend Bob Knight, this inductee went on to achieve extensive high school coaching success in 2 varsity sports at Noll (1975-91) and beyond. He led Noll basketball (1988) & baseball (1984) teams to Final Four state finishes. Over 12 Noll baseball campaigns, his teams were 283-99, winning a semi-state, regional & 7 sectional titles. During his extensive basketball coaching career (1975-2016), his 334-177 varsity record (23 seasons) began notably at Noll, where he earned numerous honors.

Brittany Piaseczny
This Clark alumna (Class of 2009) was a versatile Pioneers standout in 3 sports—volleyball, basketball and softball. She then competed in volleyball for 4 seasons as an outside hitter and setter at the former Purdue University North Central (now Purdue University Northwest). Before graduating with a Purdue degree in 2014, she earned numerous athletic honors. >

Robert Prymuski
After competing in 3 sports (football, basketball and track & field) at Hammond High, this 1943 graduate continued his football career at the University of Illinois as a lineman (guard) in 1943 & 1946-48. He competed on the ‘46 Fighting Illini, Big Ten championship team and Rose Bowl qualifier. Subsequently, he was a National Football League draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams.

David R. Snedden
This 1989 Morton all-state baseball catcher also starred for the Governors in football, gaining all-state honorable mention recognition as a linebacker in 1988. He was team captain of baseball, football & basketball teams as a senior. He continued his successful baseball career at Indiana University, for which he earned All-Big Ten honors, was named team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year as a catcher in 1993.