2008 Hall of Fame Inductees

OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY inducted 11 former Battling Bishop standouts — including 5 All-Americans — and bestowed the inaugural George Gauthier Award upon Art Belt '34 during ceremonies during the 2008 Homecoming Weekend.

The Hall of Fame inductees were:

• Ali Albrecht ’98, a 4-time All-American in the shot put and a 6-time North Coast Athletic Conference champion and a 12-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference performer in the shot put and discus;
• Steve Alexander ’93, an All-America tight end and a 2-year starter during most the successful 4-year period in Bishop football history;
• Jason Chiero ’96, an All-America defender in men's soccer;
• Bob Croft ’94, a 3-time All-NCAC selection in men's basketball;
• Amy Evans ’92, a 3-time All-NCAC selection in women's basketball who set Ohio Wesleyan's career assists record;
• Kevin Finneran ’90, named the Division III Midfielder of the Year in his only season at Ohio Wesleyan;
• James "Red" Glancy ’29, an All-Ohio selection and a 3-year letterman in football;
• Ryan Missler ’98, an NCAC Player of the Year selection in baseball who tied Ohio Wesleyan's career home run record;
• Tom Peyton '72, an all-conference selection in football and men's lacrosse;
• Phil Roos '60, a United Press International All-Ohio pick in football who was one of the Ohio Wesleyan student-athletes to be honored for academic in addition to athletic success;
• Tracy Scott ’97, an All-America goalkeeper in lacrosse and an all-conference wing player in basketball.

The George Gauthier Award honors graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University for exemplary, widely recognized and sustained contributions to the Ohio Wesleyan athletics department, as an undergraduate on the playing fields, in the classroom, and as an alumnus providing lifelong support, interest and leadership. The award also honors those who, through their acts of unselfish involvement, personify "Service Above Self." Gauthier served as Ohio Wesleyan's athletics director from 1921-55. He was the Battling Bishops' football coach from 1921-46, the Bishops' men's track & field coach from 1922-55, and the men's cross country coach from 1955-58.

For 2008, the award was presented to Art Belt '34.

Belt was a 3-year letterman in football who finished his career by receiving second-team All-Buckeye honors from the Associated Press. He scored on a blocked punt against Heidelberg during his senior year, was recognized for his defensive efforts in a Bishop win over Marshall, and was named honorary game captain twice by coach Gauthier that season. Belt was a strong, quiet leader by example, remembers Frazier Shipps '37, an Ohio Wesleyan trustee since 1966. Shipps remembers Belt as the "guy who was always on the bottom of the pile (on the field)," whose leadership carried over to his fraternity and general campus life. Belt served as a mentor to many as they entered Ohio Wesleyan, including Shipps himself. Belt, his daughter, Patsy Belt Conrades '63, and her husband, George Conrades '61, have been longtime supporters of Ohio Wesleyan athletics. Another daughter, Nancy Belt Muldoon, also attended Ohio Wesleyan.