AREA BASEBALL HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT 8 MEMBERS

The 19th annual Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held Saturday at the Sikeston High School cafeteria.

A reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the banquet at 7 p.m.

The guest speaker will be former St. Louis Cardinals' catcher Darrell Porter, the MVP of both the 1982 National League Championship Series 1982 World Series.

Porter will be available during the reception and following the banquet and program for autographs and pictures.

Inductees this year are Willard W. Middleton of Cape Girardeau; Terry Glenzy of Chaffee; Loman Garner of Sikeston; James "Noonie" Bruce of East Prairie; Thomas McGowan of Puxico; and Garion M. "Gary" Tanner of Catron.

To be inducted posthumously are Dr. Harvey T. Miles Jr. of Cape Girardeau and Austin Oliver "Jack" Harty of Puxico.

Entertainment during the reception will be provided by the All-Star Band and the banquet will be catered by Bo's Bar-B-Q.

Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door or may be purchased prior to the banquet from any of the following board members:

Homer Dickmann of Cape Girardeau; Bob Wachter of Chaffee; Jack Whiteside of Charleston; Charles Gardner, Charlie Miller, Arthur Bruce, Lynn Hasty and Shirley Miller, all of Sikeston; Gary Tanner of Catron; Churn Williams of Bloomfield; and Bob Owens of Campbell.

Following is a look at the this year's eight inductees into the Hall of Fame:

Dr. Harvey T. Miles Jr.

A former player, coach and manager for the Cape Girardeau Capahas, Miles -- along with other Kiwanis members -- was instrumental in getting the lights installed at the Capaha Park baseball diamond.

Miles began his playing career in southern Illinois in 1933. He later starred as a catcher for Illinois College and the Mt. Vernon summer league team. He played with the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Dodgers farm teams in 1939 and 1940.

Willard W. Middleton

Middleton was elected for his umpiring career. He umpired at almost every level in local baseball circles, including Little League, Connie Mack and Babe Ruth.

Also an active fundraiser for youth baseball, Middleton spent some time umpiring in the minor leagues and he umpired Cape Capahas games for many years.

Terry Glenzy

Currently the athletic director and a coach at Chaffee High School, Glenzy began his playing days in 1957 for the Chaffee High School team.

A first baseman and outfielder, Glenzy played for the Chaffee Red Wings from 1960-67 and he also played for Altenburg and the Cape American Legion team through the late 1950s and 1960s. He was on the Bi-State All-Star team.

Glenzy later managed Little League and Babe Ruth teams and was the president of the Babe Ruth League. He also served several years as an umpire.

Loman Garner

Garner, active in baseball from 1957-1982, served as an umpire, coach, sponsor and district, state and regional officer for various leagues in the Sikeston area, including Babe Ruth, American Legion, Bi-State and Little League.

He was state commissioner for the Babe Ruth League and was umpire-in-chief for state and regional Babe Ruth tournaments and for the Midwest Plains Regional Tournament held in Sikeston.

James "Noonie" Bruce

Bruce, a third baseman, began his playing career for various teams in the East Prairie area in 1947.

After his playing days ended, Bruce managed various teams in the East Prairie area from 1955-60. After managing, he served as commissioner of the East Prairie Little League, an organization he helped found.

Thomas McGowan

McGowan's playing career spanned from the 1930s to the 1950s. He pitched and also played shortstop and first base for various teams in the Puxico area.

After his playing days, McGowan devoted considerable time to coaching Little League teams and also umpiring.

Garion M. "Gary" Tanner

A playing career that began in 1959 in the New Madrid Pony League later saw the middle infielder play on three championship teams in the Navy.

After returning to Southeast Missouri, Tanner coached in various youth leagues and serves as a board member for the Southeast Missouri Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

Austin Oliver "Jack" Harty

Harty played for Puxico-area teams in the 1930s to the 1950s. Mainly a catcher, he helped lead the Puxico Vets to two league championships.

Following his playing days, Harty used his own money to build a lighted Little League playing field in Puxico.