Former students who have brought distinction to Orion High School were brought into the Hall of Fame on Friday, Jan. 29.
Athletic director and dean of students Nathan DeBaillie served as master of ceremonies.
Robert Gustafson, Class of 1966
He received the award for Distinguished Achievement since graduation.
After receiving his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from Michigan State, Gustafson taught at the University of Minnesota. He is now the Honda Professor of Engineering Education and the director of the Engineering Education Innovation Center at The Ohio State University.
He has authored a textbook and more than 100 articles, and he has received numerous honors and awards.
Sam Shaw
Shaw was inducted as a Friend of Orion High School. He has been an Orion Knights and Orion Middle School wrestling coach, as well as a coach in cross country, wrestling and track.
Shaw led the fundraising efforts for the multi-purpose room and practice gym at OHS. During the ceremony, he thanked the team that make the project happen, including Louie Johnson, Steve Jones, Bob Mitton, Dan Diamond, Tim Clark, Val Jones, DeWayne Taets and Neil Miller.
He also thanked his wife Ann for allowing him to spend hours on the project.
Everett Manning, Class of 1951
Manning lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. As a junior, he played on an undefeated six-man football team, and on a basketball team that gave Moline all it could handle in districts at a time when both large and small schools were in one class. During his senior year, he was All-Conference in football and basketball, and he set the school record for discus and shot put.
Jerry Raisbeck, 1970
As a senior, he played on a football team that won the conference championship. He was voted MVP, All-Conference, All-Western Illinois and All-State. In basketball, he led the team in scoring, steals, assists and other categories. He was voted MVP and All-Conference.
Sean Hickerson, 1989
He was a two-time All-Conference heavyweight wrestler, and he finished second at state during his senior season. He also played football and wrestled at Illinois College.
Kyle Erdmann, 1993
He was the first Orion wrestler to be a regional champion and All-Conference four times. He was a two-time state qualifier and two-time MVP.
Justin Welborn, 1995
He was a leader of the 1994-95 Sweet Sixteen team during his senior season. He was All-Conference, All-Western Illinois, honorable mention All-State and Dispatch-Argus Player of the Year. He set school career records for points and rebounds.
1940 Football Team
On the undefeated six-man team, which was named the mythical state champion, were coach Lloyd Mercer, players Bert Johnson, Robert Peterson, Sterling Nelson, Robert Chelstrom, Jack Jones, Daniel Swanson, Jim King, Wayne Humphrey, Don Riggs, Jack Chivers, Eugene Carlson, Albert Grchan, Rolland Richardson, Wendell “Wendy” Raisbeck, Earl Phillis, Julian “Juke” Jacobson, Floy Calkins and Robert Coulter, and managers John Bergstrom and Irvin Calkins.
Jacobson, Carlson and Raisbeck were All-State.
1964 Football Team
The school’s first undefeated 11-man team included head coach Ron North, assistant coaches Larry McMullin and Les Trautvetter, players Doug Anderson, Les Anderson, Dale Andrae, Dave Blankenship, Steve Briggs, Mike Carlile, Roger Catlett, Jon Corrice, Stan Erdmann, Jeff Hamarstrom, Don Larson, Joe Larson, Paul Lindsey, Larry Love, Mike Lundberg, Duane Marshall, Doug Norcross, Bob Olson, William Painter, Dave Peterson, Ron Pettifer, Ron Russell, Alan Samuelson, Leo Skladany, Don Slater, Jim Stamp, Mike Stromquist, Randy Swanson, Don Tholl, and Ben Woolley, and managers Dan Bergstrom and Brad Norton.
