About

© 2025 BCSHOF
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© 2025 BCSHOF
Designed by Elemental Marketing

About

History of the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame

With a gathering of friends at the Green Hut tavern, a grand idea was born.

Green Hut owner Denny Hayes, a Minnesota native and English teacher at Bay City Central during the early 1970s, was captivated by the enthusiasm and rich tradition for sports he found in Bay County. In 1979, he commissioned artist Dave Goss to produce almost life-sized murals of Olympic gold medalist Terry McDermott, NFL legend Bill Hewitt and baseball’s most celebrated pinch-hitter Jerry Lynch on the walls inside his Columbus Avenue tavern.

With the likenesses of those local legends gazing down upon them, Hayes, Bay City Times editorial writer Dave Rogers and local sports enthusiast Jerry Spencer hatched a plan that would become the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame.

In the fall of 1989, that trio teamed with Tom Fallon, Frank Walsh, Herman Wolf, Barney Glowicki and Lee DeLorge to form the first Board of Directors. Soon after, police officer Pete Kaczmarek, Bay County recreation director Don Felske, Community Foundation executive Glenda Kraft, longtime coach Art Nixon, former Sports Page publisher O.J. Cunningham and businessman Harold Rupp joined the board.

Hayes became the first president of the Hall of Fame, according to the Articles of Incorporation filed in 1990 with the State of Michigan, but soon passed the mantle to Walsh to oversee the 501c(3) non-profit organization.

On the third Saturday of October in 1991, the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame held its first induction banquet at the Broadway House in Bay City. Bill Hewitt, Johnny Tews, Nancy Kiesel, Terry McDermott, Jerry Lynch, Art Bakeraitis, Al Baker and Elmer Engel formed the inaugural class. Each inductee received a plaque and a duplicate was placed in the Hall of Fame display case in the Bay County Community Center on John F. Kennedy Drive, a tradition that was followed for 25 years.

Lee DeLorge succeeded Walsh as President of the Hall of Fame in 1992, followed by Art Nixon in 1993 and 1994. O.J. Cunningham took the helm in 1995 and steered the ship for 22 years, leading the organization through an era of growth and change.

Following the 2016 banquet, Jennifer Thunberg was introduced as president and a new home for the Hall of Fame was debuted at the Dow Bay Area Family YMCA on Washington Avenue.

Over the years, the Hall of Fame pursued several new ventures. In 1992, Bay County historian Les Arndt was commissioned to produce a 100 Year History of Sports in Bay County. The book was used as a fundraiser for the Hall of Fame.

In 1994, the Hall of Fame initiated a scholarship program to benefit local scholar-athletes. Each year, the Scholarship Committee reviews applications and presents a monetary award to one recipient from each sports-playing Bay County high school of Bay City Central, Bay City Western, Bangor John Glenn, Essexville Garber, Pinconning and Bay City All Saints. What began as a $500 scholarship has since blossomed to $1,000, with the Hall of Fame awarding $6,000 each year.

In 1996, the Hall of Fame added to its format by inducting the 1974 and 1975 Bay City All Saints boys basketball teams for their back-to-back state championships. Team inductees have followed each year since, giving entire squads their chance at legendary status and saluting them for their impact on the Bay County sports scene.

In 2004, the Hall of Fame honored one of its own, president O.J. Cunningham, with the first President’s Award. Each year since, an individual is lauded for going above and beyond, giving of time and enthusiasm to benefit the local sports community, often in behind-the-scenes roles.

In 2017 and 2025, the Hall of Fame upgraded its digital footprint with website makeovers, making the rich history and many offerings of the Hall of Fame accessible to all.

As of January 2025, the Hall of Fame has inducted 263 individuals and 70 teams and has awarded $149,000 in scholarships.

Nomination Timeline

How it All Works

Nominations can come in at any time but, to be considered for the current year, nominations must have been received by December 31 of the previous year. Forms are available in the program book, may be obtained from Board Members, can be found at the annual induction banquet or on our website.

January - February

The HOF Screening Committee spends the first two months of the year reviewing existing nominations and new nominations. The Board of Directors meets in February in order to get the ballot set to send to Lifetime Members.

March

In early March, ballots are mailed along with an informational document to all voting members. Voting members include all current and past Board of Directors, past inductees and all Life Members of the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame.

April

In a special meeting in April, Board members gather returned ballots mailed in by the voters and count them to determine who will be inducted.

May

In the middle of May, there is an Announcement Party in order to introduce the new inductees to the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame to the public.

June / July / August

Ticket sales begin. The Hall of Fame Board of Directors meets with the Sports Editor or representative of the Bay City Times and sets a schedule for photographs and weekly Sunday profiles of all elected inductees.

September / October - Banquet Preparation

Master of Ceremonies, Music, Ticket Sales, Program Advertising Sales, Plaques and Banquet Room Preparation are all organized during this time frame.

November - The Induction Banquet

The HOF Induction banquet is held each year on the second Sunday in November.