Finding a place to call home

Steve Addy

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 10:34 a.m.

Here are the current members of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, with year of induction:

1997 -- David Humm

1998 -- 1976-77 UNLV basketball team, Angelo Collis, Bill "Wildcat" Morris, Jerry Tarkanian, Sheila Tarr-Smith, Lee White

1999 -- The Cashman family, Marty Barrett, Bill Ireland, Davey Pearl

2000 -- Jim Colbert, Randall Cunningham, Lionel Hollins, Johnny Tocco, Tom Wiesner

2001 -- 1989-90 UNLV basketball team, Cliff Findlay, Frank Hawkins, Dr. Donald Romeo, Dr. Brad Rothermel

The Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame has found a home. But it's no fixer-upper's special, it's bright and shiny and brand new.

Four years after the hall was founded, its first permanent site opened Wednesday on the mezzanine level of Findlay Toyota in the Valley Auto Mall in Henderson.

Separate display cases for the 16 previous inductees were unveiled, featuring plaques, news clippings, photos and memorabilia from their careers. Five inductees will be added June 22 in a ceremony at the Cox Pavilion at UNLV.

The hall is open to the public during business hours and there is no admission fee.

"I can't believe how nicely this turned out," said retired boxing referee Davey Pearl, a 1999 inductee. "This is exactly what was needed. I'm thrilled to be in the hall of fame."

Former UNLV athletic director Dr. Brad Rothermel, set to be inducted next month, said, "It's an honor to be part of it. The committee did an outstanding job putting this together. A lot of people worked hard to make it a reality."

Since 1997, when former Bishop Gorman and Nebraska All-America quarterback David Humm became the first inductee, hall supporters had been seeking a site to better commemorate the honorees and raise the hall's local profile.

Former UNLV basketball player Cliff Findlay, owner of Findlay Automotive, came to the rescue by donating the space in his Toyota dealership. The hall of fame overlooks his sales floor.

"I'm a sixth-generation Nevadan, and we don't have a lot of history and culture to bring our community together. I think the hall of fame does that," said Findlay, who will be inducted next month for his longtime support of local athletics.

"We have a lot of great athletes from Las Vegas. This (hall of fame) could be really big."

Hall trustee Steve Stallworth gazed proudly around the room at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"I've always believed the hall of fame was not about a location or a place, but about being a part of something," he said. "But now that we have this room, it's about that, too."

Hall curator Bill Purcell has been stockpiling memorabilia for years, and now it's finally on display.

"We're going to add more," Purcell said. "It's going to get bigger and better."

This summer, displays will be added for this year's inductees: UNLV's national championship basketball team of 1989-90, former Western High and Raiders running back Frank Hawkins, boxing physician Dr. Donald "Doc" Romeo, Rothermel and Findlay.

Tickets for the June 22 banquet at the Cox Pavilion are $150 each ($1,000 per eight-person table) and available by calling 386-7200.

Proceeds benefit the UNLV athletic department, the UNLV boxing team, Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas and Henderson, and the Andre Agassi Charter School.