Maine Sports Hall of Fame inducts 8 members Sunday

Ten graduating senior scholar-athletes from Maine high schools will receive scholarships totaling $15,000 Sunday when the Maine Sports Hall of Fame holds its 33rd annual awards banquet.

Each scholar-athlete will receive $1,500, which represents an increase of $500 over previous years, according to Maine Sports Hall of Fame president Bob Pickett.

Earning scholarships from the Class of 2008 are Spencer Eusden of Oxford Hills of South Paris, Catherine Joseph of St. Dominic of Auburn, Emily Lambert of Cheverus of Portland, Ian Levinsky of Westbrook, Anna Makaretz of Yarmouth, Craig Millard of Thornton Academy of Saco, Kristin Rogers of Portland, Darren Smith of Scarborough, Jillian Smith of Winslow, and Justin Young of Sanford.

In addition to the scholarship awards, eight new members of the hall will be inducted, two posthumously, during ceremonies at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. Lucy Bogdanovich, a longtime coach at Deering High School in Portland and a pioneer in women’s athletics in the state, will receive the hall’s President’s Award.

The induction program will begin with a social hour at noon, followed by dinner at 1 p.m. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased by calling Bill Daviero at 899-0569.

Those slated for induction are the following:

. Joanne Palombo McCallie, head women’s basketball coach at Duke who formerly coached at the University of Maine and Michigan State. As a player, she was a Parade All-American while a senior at Brunswick High School, and went on to play at Northwestern.

. Charles Katsiaficas, who coached Ellsworth to two state championships in 1953 and 1954 and two trips to the New England championships. He guided the Eagles to a 92-15 record in five years before going on to become one of the state’s top high school and college basketball officials.

. Jerry Perkins, who coached varsity wrestling for 28 years at Rumford and Mountain Valley high schools, where he led his teams to 472 victories and five state championships. A starting offensive lineman for the University of Maine football team, he played for the Black Bears when they played in the 1965 Tangerine Bowl.

. Al Biondi (posthumous), who won every Maine Chapter New England Pro Golf Association tournament at every level. In 1991 he became the first Mainer to win the New England PGA golf professional of the year award.

. Richard “Sonny” Conley (posthumous), a basketball and baseball standout at Cheverus of Portland who won the state foul-shooting championship at the Boston Garden in 1947, a year he was named All-Maine and All-New England.

. Dick Desmarais, a four-sport standout at St. Ignatius and Biddeford high schools, where he earned 14 varsity letters. Desmarais was a track and football star at Boston University and was a starting halfback for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.

. Jack Flynn, a four-year starter for the Bates College football team who went on to coach at South Portland High School. He guided the Red Riots to eight regional titles and an overall record of 112-72-3. He later coached at Scarborough, where he led the Red Storm to the 2002 Class B state championship.

. Robert Hews, an All-Ivy League and honorable mention All-America football player at Princeton who was drafted as a defensive tackle by the Kansas City Chiefs. Hews also played for the Buffalo Bills. While at South Portland High School, he set a state record in the discus that lasted for more than 40 years.