Southeast Hall of Fame inducts six

~Football, soccer, softball and baseball athletic programs represented by new inductees

The Southeast Missouri State University Athletics Department Hall of Fame recognizes the greatest student-athletes, coaches, teams and other individuals of Southeast sports, and it gained six new members at this year's induction ceremony.

Defensive lineman David Means, Friend of the Redhawks Jane Stacy, pitcher Trae Hastings, soccer and softball player Lindsay Pickering, wide receiver Willie Ponder and baseball coach Mark Hogan were inducted into the Hall of Fame Friday night.

With the 2015 class now enshrined, the Hall of Fame consists of 92 individuals and 17 teams.

Many of the inductees praised the Athletics Department as well as the city of Cape Girardeau during their acceptance speeches.

"The easiest thing for me when I came back as head coach of Southeast Missouri State is I knew this town was going to be here for us," Hogan said. "I knew it so deeply that I was without any doubt, I knew we were gonna be successful."

Hogan has a deep connection to the university, being a Cape Girardeau native and a past player for Southeast, so making the decision to come back as a coach was easy for him.

Hogan was coaching for West Alabama, with the hope of someday coaching for a Southeast Conference school, when his mother called and informed him of the head baseball coach position opening at Southeast.

Hogan said once he got the job he decided he was done moving. He stuck with that decision, and he spent 18 seasons as the team's coach and became the winningest coach in the university's baseball team's history.

Ponder also spoke highly of Cape Girardeau and the university, expressing thanks for the support he received from the staff and community after transferring in 2001. Ponder also came back to Southeast as a coach in 2014 and to finish complete his education.

"It's family here at Southeast," Ponder said. "I just wanted to get it out there to the people of this community and let them know that I'm truly honored of how they supported me and the things they've allowed me to do. I'm giddy about it right now just talking about it."

The ceremony was hosted by former sports information director and color commentator, Ron Hines, who was a member of the 2012 Hall of Fame class.

While Hines was impressed by all of the members of the 2015 class, Ponder stuck out to him above the rest.

"They're all outstanding, but Willie Ponder was the greatest football player I ever saw at Southeast, and I saw all of them when I was here," Hines said. "I never thought a wide receiver could really have an impact like a quarterback or a great running back or a great defensive lineman."

Immediately after transferring to Southeast, Ponder had an immediate effect on the team's performance.

"He made things happen," Hines said. "He was great, he turned that season around. It didn't seem like it was gonna be much of a year, but with Willie there it was outstanding and he was the reason."

Ponder left Southeast as the school's career leader in receptions per game (6.8), receiving yards (2,543) and receiving touchdowns (27). He went on to be drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the New York Giants and played in the NFL for five seasons.

Pickering is the 18th multisport athlete and first member of the soccer team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She hopes to not be alone for long.

"It's a young program, so it's certainly a privilege to be the first one," Pickering said. "I think there are many other athletes that could certainly join me in this honor though."

Pickering ended her career as Southeast's career leader in shutouts (28), wins (34) and minutes played (5,233).

Stacy is the third member of the Friends of the Redhawks wing, joining the Rust and Kohlfeld families, and is the first individual member of the wing.

She helped raise the money to create the Hall of Fame, and also wrote a book titled "The Athletic Hall of Fame of Southeast Missouri State University."

Hastings was a left-handed starting pitcher at Southeast who was known for his competitive spirit and big-game attitude. He still holds the career records at Southeast for the most shutouts (5), strikeouts (239) and complete games (24).

Means was a defensive lineman at Southeast from 1970 to 1973 and sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times in 1972. After leaving Southeast, Means was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 12th round of the NFL Draft. He also played for the Calvary Stampedes of the Canadian Football League. Means was the only inductee who was not present at the event.

The Hall of Fame plaques of all of the classes are on display in the Show Me Center on the second level.