Colusa Hall of Fame inducts six

Over 200 gathered at the Maxwell Inn on Saturday to induct a group of five former athletes and one team into the Colusa County Sports Hall of Fame.

The sixth annual awards dinner featured the induction of Frank Cloak of Williams, Mike Randleas of Colusa, Donald Traynham of Arbuckle, Steve Dennis of Maxwell, and Ben Wilkins of Princeton. The 1990 Colusa High School boys basketball team and coach Jim Vossler were also inducted.

The event also recognizes members of the community for their accomplishments with the director’s award. This year’s winners were Don Killian of Williams and Dave Dennis of Maxwell.

The evening began, however, with the recognition of the top senior boys and girls athletes from each county high school. Former Northern Section commissioner Tom Schroeder introduced all of the athletes and gave a brief description of their accomplishments.

Those honored included Katie Kittle and Matt Vedo of Colusa, Julia Virgen and Jose Camberos of Williams, Michael Barber and Patty Paiz of Pierce, Tyler Roach of Princeton and Jodi Perry and Mitchell Barsotti of Maxwell.

Bill Barrett of the Hall of Fame committee introduced the first director’s award winner of the night in Dave Dennis. An avid sailor, Dennis once sailed from San Francisco to Hawaii in a trans-oceanic race, finishing third in a time of 16 days and 10 hours.

“What mattered to me most was not the hours or the days it took me to complete the race,” said Dennis. “What mattered to me most was finding that little island in the middle of that big ocean.”

Hall of Fame chairman Vance Boyes presented the director’s award to longtime Williams community leader Don Killian for his many years of service to the youth.

“He is a World War II veteran who spent time in a concentration camp,” said Boyes. “And when he was released, he dedicated his life to helping young people. He coached everything at Williams.”

Killian noted that one of the most important things about coaching is the lessons that the children learn.

“We’re not just teaching them about the game,” said Killian. “We’re teaching them about life.”

Jim Vossler introduced his 1990 boys basketball team that defeated Christian of El Cajon in the Division 5 state championship. Team members in attendance included Derek Lee, Raji Gill, Chris Reyna, Dwain Park, Jesse Davis, Brian Bledsoe, Joe Garofalo, Mario Reveles, Scott Marvel, Chris Hoblit,

“We received a lot of support from the community, and not just Colusa,” said Vossler. “People from Arbuckle, Maxwell, Williams, the entire county came to watch us play in the finals.”

Barrett introduced his step-brother, Frank Cloak, who was regarded as one of the top all-around athletes at Williams during the 1950s.

“He also went to Menlo College and was all-conference in two sports,” said Barrett.

Like many of the inductees during the evening, Cloak recognized his many teammates for their  contributions in helping him reach the Hall of Fame. He also recognized the members of his own family, some of whom had come all the way from Oklahoma to help him celebrate the evening.

Ben Wilkins of Princeton earned his place in the Hall of Fame after setting section and state passing records at Princeton during the 1990s. His 45 touchdown passes  in 1993 led the entire nation.

Wilkins thanks his family for their contributions toward making him a better athlete, especially his brother Kurt.

“Thank you for always providing me the competition I needed to become a better player.”

Boyes presented the late Mike Randleas of Colusa, who was an outstanding football player in the early 1970s, earning All-Superior California MVP honors.

Accepting the award were Randleas’ daughter Lee and his sister Patty Mendenhall.

“My father was in an auto accident when I was two years so I grew up never knowing the person that all of you know,” said Lee. “This honor is very important to me because it helps me understand more about my father and how he once was.”

Former Maxwell teacher and coach Bob McMahon presented Steve Dennis for induction.

“I never had a player who worked harder or had a better attitude,” said McMahon. “Everything he did just seemed to be perfect.”

Like those before him, Dennis noted the help of past teammates.

“I was fortunate enough to play on 10 championship teams in my career,” said Dennis. “And the reason is because i was lucky enough to have some great teammates.”

Barrett presented the final award of the night to the late Don Traynham, a standout in the Sacramento Valley League baseball circuit during the 1930s and 40s and one of the top trapshooters of his time.

“Don always batted fourth because he was a great hitter,” said Barrett. “And it always seemed that whenever a team was close to winning a championship, Don somehow ended up on that team.”

Barrett presented the trophy to Traynham’s widow, Georgia, who will be 100 years old this year.

“When I saw all of those trophies on the table, I never imagined I would be getting one,” she said.