Executive Board
Jim Harrington
President
Jim Harrington
Jim Harrington has been serving the ESHOF Since 1995. He’s been on the board for 28 years, Vice President twice and President twice. Jim has chaired numerous committees over the years. He is still actively involved with several committees, including Chair of the Banquet Committee. Jim’s Goals & aspirations for the ESHOF are to:
- Increase membership to 300 members on an annual basis
- Make scholarship program self-sufficient
- Keep it growing with more scholarships worth more money
- Update the Wall at the Rec Centre to make it attractive to the Elgin Community
- Recruit people as Board members to continue this organization and rich tradition
- Continue to grow and support the golf outing so it remains a solid fundraiser
- Make sure our website and Touch Pro are user friendly
Jim’s greatest achievement is to continue the annual banquet (300 people) that honors inductees, shows off scholarship winners, announces outstanding achievement recipients, and other special awards given out that makes the Elgin community proud – highlight of the year for the organization!! His favorite ESHOF memories are being Inducted into the ESHOFF 2002, the opportunity to be President of this organization twice, and watching this organization continue to prosper with the help of so many great Board members!
- Jim has quite the local athletic resume Coaching, playing, service in local leagues:
- Inducted into the IBCA Hall of Fame 2001
- Inducted into the ESHOFF 2002
- Inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame 2018
- 15 seasons as Head Basketball Coach at Elgin High School (290-139 won/loss record at school; second-best winning percentage all-time at EHS 68%)
- 6 Upstate Eight Championships – 10 Regional Championships – 3 Sectional Championships – 3 Supersectionals Championships – appeared in Elite 8 3 times
- Career record of 402-211 over 22 seasons, including 7 years at Weber High School
“It is a pleasure to be a small part of this great organization. It is the best organization in the state of Illinois. It is amazing how much can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit!”- Jim Harrington
Scott Mason
Vice-President
Scott Mason
Scott Mason, Vice President, has been volunteering with the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame for 7 Years. His role In the absence of the President or in the event of his/her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President. The Vice President shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or Board of Directors.
Scott’s aspirations for the HOF are to Continue to recognize and reward current student athletes with scholarships to advance their education.
Recognize our great athletes of the past as role models for our athletes of today. Scott has been involved in Elgin youth sports for years:
- Board of Directors and Coach Elgin Classic Little League – 16 years
- Basketball and Soccer Coach Elgin Recreation Center and YMCA – 10 years
- Booster Club President Westminster Christian High School – 2 years
- Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Member – 7 years
Every year Scott most looks forward to the banquet saying, “I enjoy every banquet where we recognize our athletes of the present and past. It a great event that bring the past and the present together.”
Rachel Clark
Secretary
Rachel Clark
Rachel has been involved with the ESHOF since 2021 as a board member and recently took on the role of Secretary in 2023. Rachel is responsible for Organizing and distributing minutes of monthly meetings, helping with compiling the yearly banquet program as well as digitizing and archiving Elgin sports related film and video.
Rachel’s goals for the HOF are to continue honoring and preserving the legacies of Elgin athletes as well as increase the impact and contributions the organization can make to its scholarship efforts. In line, one of her proudest achievements while serving has been redesigning this mobile friendly website, creating a more consistent social media reach, and adding email newsletters as part of our communications.
Rachel is active in local sports, playing softball for Larkin High School, and Elgin Community College.
When we asked Rachel what her favorite ESHOFF memory is she answered, “My favorite memories come from the annual banquet. I love to see the pride and admiration of our award and scholarship recipients. It’s such a special night!” – Rachel Clark
Mike Wahl
Treasurer
Mike Wahl
Mike Wahl has served on the board for 14 years. During Mike’s time, he has been President, Vice President, and currently serving as Treasurer.
Mike has a passion for Elgin area athletics as well as a want to serve his community as a volunteer. Some of his favorite memories come from the annual golf outing, watching the community rally around its student-athletes during the silent-auction!
Ron Lange
Executive Board Past President
Ron Lange
Ron Lange has been volunteering at the ESHOF for 22 years. As the past president, he remains on the executive board to provide input and information on the history, activities and functions of the organization. He also helps set the agenda for board meetings and discuss issues that the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors will be making decisions on.
Rons greatest achievements while serving are building community awareness. During the past 15-16 years, the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame has grown in many ways. From an organization that was not widely known in the community, strategies were developed and implemented so the foundation has stature inside and outside the Elgin area. Individuals are aware of the activities of the organization and want to become associated with it, especially with the outstanding displays at the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin. In addition, the golf outing, fathered by Dick Fitchie, has been unbelievably successful in growing our scholarship program. Personal outreach to past inductees, team members and schools has fostered growth and participation.
Ron loves Elgin athletics and has been very involved throughout the years:
- American Little League board member and treasurer
- Coach/manager in American League Senior Division
- Co-founder and manager in Fox Valley Senior Babe Ruth League
- Co-organizer and manager in Thorobred Baseball League (19-21)
- Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation
- Board of Directors since 2000
- President – nine years
- Vice President – five years
Ron’s fondest memories come during the membership and inductee banquets- “Each banquet and program leave special memories. However, I fondly remember banquet speeches by Ryan McKenna and Sherick Simpson, the lifetime achievement comments of Rick Sund, the wonderful salute to inductee Bob Pleticha by his Elgin Sharks team members, and the wonderful occasion as president that I presented our oldest living inductee, Bob Thoren, with his Hall of Fame medallion.”
“I am extremely proud of the growth and development of the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation through the years. It has been gratifying that so many individuals became connected and engaged with the organization. In addition, I am so fortunate to have played a part in the foundation’s development and view the opportunity to serve as a privilege. I look forward to the foundation continuing to increase its involvement in the community and further enhancing its stature in Elgin and the surrounding area.”- Ron Lange
Board Members
Ken Barnhart
Pat Barnhart
Deryn Carter
Frank Celarek
Ben Erickson
Jennifer Haley
Steve Laird
Mike Strasser
Ron Lange
Craig Lamp
Mark Sharf
Kerry O’Connor
Dave St. John
Mike Sitter
Gus Vaughan
Kerry Sund
Anne Vogt
Corey Toppel
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