2002 Inductees

Water polo standout Brad Jackson remembers watching talented gymnast Jim Turpin when they were student-athletes at San Jose State in the 1970’s.

"That guy was awesome," said Jackson. "You know how when gymnasts do their dismounts, they raise both arms and smile? Well, this one time, (Turpin) screwed up his routine. When he finished, he put his arms up in the air and smiled.

"He was saying, ‘There!’ It wasn’t his best routine, but he had done his best. He exuded being an athlete. It gives me goose bumps even now talking about it."

Jackson, Turpin and seven others make up the San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2002. Their induction will take place Friday, November 8, at the Barrett Ballroom in the Student Union.

Bob Bronzan and Walt McPherson, already are hall of fame members, but will be inducted as "legends" with the new class that includes Kevin Asano, judo; Jeff Fishback, track and field/cross country; Jeannie Gilbert, field hockey; Dan Kida, wrestling; and Noleana Woodard, softball.

KEVIN ASANO
Kevin Asano was a national collegiate judo champion in 1987 and 1988, an Olympic silver medalist in 1988 and a world championship bronze medalist in 1987.

"I’m a little surprised," he said modestly of his selection. "Usually, it’s those who are older, who have greater accomplishments, who are inducted.

"San Jose State gave me a great education. They had the No. 1 judo program in the country. To honor me, they’re giving again. That’s what it is all about, giving."

Asano is a financial advisor in Mililani, Oahu, in Hawaii. But he has given, too, as a minister at his church. He credits longtime San Jose State judo coach Yosh Uchida with providing him inspiration.

"It all boils down to leadership," said Asano. "(Uchida) has been involved with judo for over 50 years. With him, it’s not a business. It’s a passion."

It’s that same passion Asano uses to coach judo in the islands.

BOB BRONZAN
A legend award?

"That means you’re old," said Bob Bronzan, 83. "I was at San Jose State 34.5 years. I’m pleased to be nominated and doubly pleased that Walt (McPherson) and I are going in hand-in-hand. He’s one of my closest friends."
Bronzan was a Spartan football lineman in the 1930s, San Jose State’s head football coach from 1950 to 1956, and its athletics director from 1960 to 1972. He then spent eight more years as an SJSU professor before becoming an international sports facilities consultant, planner and designer.

"It’s a great life," said Bronzan, now retired and living in Lincoln, near Auburn. "I had chances to leave San Jose State...but we had a wonderful cadre of coaches who loved to coach and teach. It was almost like a fraternity. I could hardly wait to go to work."

Bronzan previously was inducted in the San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame as a player and administrator. The third time will have extra meaning for him as there will be a reunion of his Spartan football players in conjunction with the November 8 banquet.

JEFF FISHBACK
When Jeff Fishback was a distance runner at San Jose State, he passed by photographs of great Spartan athletes in the school’s gymnasium.

"I remember reading their accomplishments," he said. "I guess I’m in that spot."
Guess so. Fishback holds the SJSU steeplechase record, finishing second and third in that event in the 1962 and ’63 NCAA Championships. He made the 1964 United States Olympic team as a steeplechaser, and was a two-time All-America in cross country on two NCAA title squads at San Jose State.

"Our low-score record wasn’t broken until the 1980s, by Oregon," he said. "I recall the five hills we had to run over every Monday. We’d run through a cemetery. It was cool, but I wonder why nobody broke a leg."

Fishback coached track and taught mathematics at Lynbrook and Cupertino high schools. Now 60 and retired, he has won some national age-group championships in badminton, a game he learned at San Jose State.

JEANNIE GILBERT
Jeannie Gilbert is the all-time leading scorer in field hockey at San Jose State, a two-time All-American in 1983 and 1984, and was a member of the United States field hockey team in ’84.

But success didn’t come easy. Within an eight-month period, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in both knees. With a tremendous work ethic, she reached greater heights in her sport after the two surgeries.
"It’s great," she said of her hall of fame selection. "A lot of time and dedication paid off."

Gilbert grew up in the Midwest and had scholarship offers from Michigan, Michigan State and Old Dominion. She chose San Jose State because "I was looking to support my athletic habit with a comfortable climate."
She hasn’t used a snow shovel sine. Now a Salinas resident, she works as a paramedic, and, at 40, competes in basketball, softball and golf.

BRAD JACKSON
Brad Jackson is 50, but there is no slowing down for him as an athlete. Well, OK, he no longer plays water polo. And after 20 years as a triathlete, he gave that up. But he still enjoys running and rock climbing.

"It kind of sparks my thoughts," Jackson said, "on how did athletics change my life."

He then answered his own question.

"The human race puts limits on itself," he said. "People in sports don’t put limits on themselves. And, they commit to something."

Jackson commits to every activity he pursues. He was a three-time All-American at San Jose State between 1971 and 1973, as well as a scholar-athlete, and a member of the United States national water polo team in ’73.

He competed in the World Triathlon Championships four times, and finished the New Zealand Longest Day event – running, cycling and kayaking from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean – in 13 hours.

In order to relax from his duties as a captain in the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, he fishes.

DAN KIDA
Dan Kida has something in common with Jeannie Gilbert and Jeff Fishback. They are San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame members from sports no longer played at the university.

Kida left a legacy as the first two-time All-American at the school, in 1973 and ’74, placing fourth and fifth at 118 pounds in the NCAA Championships.

Then, while representing the United States, he finished second in Greco-Roman competition at the 1977 Pan American Games in Mexico.

"Don’t ask me if I weigh 118 now," he said. "I’m bigger-boned."

Kida lives in Spring Valley, near San Diego and makes his living in computers.

"It’s a privilege. I’m honored," he said of being chosen to the hall of fame. "I still have my hand in wrestling, coaching at Steel Canyon High School."

WALT McPHERSON

"I’ve never been a legend before," said Walt McPherson, chuckling.

McPherson is 85 and active, which is legendary in itself. But this latest honor from San Jose State can’t overshadow what he treasures from his 35-year union with the school.

"The most important thing was the opportunity to work with so many people, and the friends we made," he said. "The wins and losses are important, but not as important as the friends."
McPherson competed in football, basketball and baseball between 1934 and 1938.

"When I played basketball, after every basket, we had a center jump," he said. "In football, we played offense and defense."

He became a head coach for the Spartans in three sports: golf, baseball and, most notably, basketball, where he had a 264-208 record. He then was athletic director and physical education department head before becoming commissioner of the West Coast Athletic Conference.

McPherson already is a member of SJSU’s hall of fame as an athlete and coach.

JIM TURPIN
Jim Turpin might qualify as "Mr. Gymnastics."
He was a 1971 All-American in the long horse at San Jose State, and a world champion in the double mini-trampoline in 1974.

He attained even greater success in coaching, at Oregon State, as a four-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year honoree. In Corvallis, he coached the women’s gymnastics team from 1985 to 1997, producing four individual national champions and winning four Pac-10 titles with a 100 percent graduation rate.

Turpin also coached the United States in the 1991 World University Games. He has coached four national U.S. gymnastics teams at international events, and has served on various gymnastics boards.

NOLEANA WOODARD
Noleana Woodard dominated as a San Jose State University softball player in the early 1990s, She set seven single-season and eight career records, was a two-time all-conference selection and a third team All-American in 1992.

So although she is "overwhelmed" at making the hall of fame at her old school, she isn’t exactly surprised.

"Looking back on my career," she said, "not to be big-headed, but I must have been pretty good. When I played we were in the top 20 every year."

Woodard played professionally for the Tampa Bay Firesticks, and then was a San Jose State assistant coach from 1997 to 2000. She now works in North Carolina, but her heart remains in San Jose.

"I still bleed blue and gold."

TICKET INFORMATION
$75.00 per person; $750 per table of 10; $1,000 per sponsored table of 10. Sponsored tables include preferred seating, event recognition, invitation for two to a private reception with the inductees.
All seating is assigned. If you wish to sit with someone, please include reservation together.
Call (408) 924-1692 for more information. Reservation deadline is October 30.

2002 HALL OF FAME SCHEDULE ON NOVEMBER 8
6:00 p.m. – reception
7:15 p.m. – dinner
8:15 p.m. – induction ceremony