Oakland City, IN - It was a special day at the Johnson Center which saw the men's and women's basketball teams in action against Shawnee State. The women's team won by a score of 66-51 and at halftime of the game OCU recognized the men's and women's tennis teams for their 2023 River States Conference championships. At halftime of the men's 74-73 defeat, OCU homecoming festivities took place announcing its new homecoming king and queen.
In between games the 2024 Oakland City Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees were introduced honoring the nine new members, Gil Hodges 47'-48', Jim Fleming 71'-74', Gary Denbo 81'-83', Pat Arnold 61'-65', Bill Dickerson 77'-81', Jon Bruner 86'-90', Casey (Mills) LaGrange 96'-00', Schuyler Redpath 00'-04' and Emily (Gries) Maxberry 01'-05', 06'-09'. Congratulations to this year's inductees.
Gil Hodges ~ 1947-48
Gilbert Ray Hodges was born on April 4, 1924, in Princeton, Indiana, the son of Charles P. Hodges, a coal miner, and his wife Irene (Horstmeyer). He had two siblings, Robert and Marjorie. Hodges was a star four-sport athlete at Petersburg HS, earning a combined seven varsity letters in football, baseball, basketball and track. He declined a 1941 contract offer from the Detroit Tigers, instead attending Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, with the hope of eventually becoming a collegiate coach. Hodges spent two years at St Joseph's, competing in baseball and basketball, as well as a brief stint on the football team. He dropped out after his sophomore year and signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. At the age of 19, Hodges was called up by the Dodgers and made his debut against the Cincinnati Reds, in the last game of the 1943 season. Eleven days later, he enlisted in the Marines for service in World War II, serving 29 months in the Pacific, where he earned a bronze star and was discharged in 1946. Then he reported to the Dodgers' spring training as a catcher rather than his preview position in the outfield, making the team. During the winter term of 1947, Hodges was granted permission from the Dodgers to attend Oakland City College using the GI Bill, where he competed as a member of the Mighty Oaks basketball team. In the 1947 baseball season, he appeared in 28 games, hitting just .156, but struggled to find playing time behind the plate. He again enrolled at Oakland City College for the winter and spring terms in 1948, playing a key role in the success of the OCC basketball team as the team captain. With future Hall of Fame catcher Roy Campanella on the horizon, and Hodges already playing behind starter Bruce Edwards, Dodgers manager Leo Durocher moved the athletic Hodges to first base. He started 96 games during the 1948 season at his new position, compared to 38 as catcher that year. By 1949, Hodges was entrenched as the starting first baseman for the Dodgers after hitting 23 home runs and driving in 115 runs en route to the first of eight All-Star Game selections. Defensively, Hodges' huge hands made his transition to first base appear seamless. From 1949-57, Hodges averaged 32 home runs and 108 RBI per season. During those seasons, the Dodgers won five National League pennants and the 1955 World Series title. His peak as a power hitter came on Aug. 31, 1950, when Hodges became the second modern-era National League player to hit four home runs in one game. Hodges moved with the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958, and in 1959 he helped LA win its first National League pennant. Hodges hit .391 in the World Series against the White Sox, leading the Dodgers to their second Fall Classic title in five years. Hodges wound down his playing career with the Dodgers in 1960-61 and the Mets from 1962-63. In 1963, the Senators hired Hodges as their manager, and he stayed with Washington through the 1967 season. The next year, Hodges took over the Mets, who had never won more than 66 games in a season. By 1969, the Miracle Mets were World Champions. He remained the manager of the Mets through the 1971 season, finishing with a record as a manager of 660-753 in nine seasons, including 100 regular season wins and the World Series title with the 1969 Mets. As a player, Hodges finished with 370 homers, 1,274 RBI and a .273 batting average. He retired with the third-most home runs of any right-handed hitter, trailing only Jimmie Foxx and Willie Mays. He finished in the top 20 of the NL Most Valuable Player voting eight times and won three Gold Glove Awards at first base, despite the fact that the award was not created until 1957. Hodges and his wife, Joan (Lombardi), a native of Brooklyn, New York, had four children, Gil Jr., Irene, Cynthia, and Barbara. He died of a heart attack on April 2, 1972, as he left a Florida golf course two days short of his 48th birthday.
Jim Fleming ~ 1971-74
James Arthur Fleming was born on August 26, 1951, and had a standout basketball career at Michigan City High School, in Michigan City, Indiana. His height, standing at 6'6", and long reach made him a formidable opponent who played a pivotal role in his team's success at the high school level. This carried over to a basketball scholarship at Oakland City University. As a member of the Mighty Oaks men's basketball team from 1970 through 1974, James Fleming accumulated a total that no other Mighty Oak has equalled, as his 2,402 career points is a mark that stands above any other name in the OCU record book. His most recent challenge came from Andrew Scott, who graduated in 2019 as the only other men's player to eclipse 2,000 career points, finishing with 2,175. It took until the 2019-2020 season for his single-season scoring mark of 718 counters, set during Fleming's sophomore campaign, to be broken when then-senior Tyler Toopes surpassed Fleming's record by four. Fleming also holds the third highest single season scoring average of 25.6 points during his sophomore season, passed only by Toopes, who averaged 25.8 in 2019-2020, as well as Larry Harris, who set the record at 26.0 as a senior in 1970-71. He hauled in the single season record for rebounds during his junior year, nabbing 496, a record that still stands. However, his career total number was not saved from the 1986 fire that destroyed many of the records when Memorial Gymnasium burned to the ground. But his total surely stands in the top 10, if not top five, of all time. After completing his time at Oakland City, Fleming returned home to Michigan City, where he joined the Moose Lodge, playing in various basketball leagues in and around the city. George Fleming, Jim's younger brother, also was a standout basketball player for the Mighty Oaks, and was inducted into the OCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. Bowling became one of his favorite hobbies, one in which he excelled. He bowled in a number of leagues and tournaments, receiving a ring for bowling a perfect game. His work history consisted of working as a parole officer for more than a decade, followed by a job with the Michigan City Housing Authority as a master maintenance worker. He also served as a griever for his co-workers in the union. Fleming passed away on February 6, 2011, in Michigan City. He and his wife Bobbie had three daughters, Tasha, Tiffany, and Heather, as well as two sons, James II and Justin.
Gary Denbo ~ 1981-83
Gary Denbo, born December 9, 1960, is a former Major League Baseball front office executive. He was the director of player development and scouting for the Miami Marlins. Previously, he served as a hitting coach for the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays and for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He also worked in the Yankees' front office. Denbo attended Princeton Community High School in Princeton, Indiana, where he was a standout baseball player for the Tigers. His performance earned him a scholarship to play baseball at Oakland City University, where he again was highly successful. He was drafted as an infielder by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft, leaving school to pursue a career in baseball. Denbo played in Minor League Baseball for four years. His first season was played with Billings of the Rookie League, followed by two seasons with single-A Cedar Rapids, then a season with double-A Vermont. After retiring as a player, Denbo became a minor league coach and manager, taking his first coaching position in 1986 as a player-coach for the Cincinnati Reds Double-A club in Vermont. He remained with the Reds organization through 1989. In 1990, Denbo joined the Yankees organization. He served as a hitting coach and manager for minor league teams in the Yankees organization through 1996. In 1997, he took over as the hitting coordinator for the entire Yankees organization, and in 2000 was also the Assistant Minor League Director. In 2001, Denbo was promoted to the major league hitting coach for the New York Yankees. He also served as the hitting coach for the American League All-Star team in the 2001 MLB All-Star Game in Seattle. Denbo was a scout for the Cleveland Indians in 2002, then was a hitting coach for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Pacific League in Nippon Professional Baseball from 2003 through 2005. He rejoined the Yankees organization in 2006 as the organization's hitting coordinator. Toronto Blue Jays. Then, in 2009, Denbo returned to the Yankees as a player development consultant and continued in that position, working in scouting and player development. While in a slump during the 2011 season, Derek Jeter worked on his swing with Denbo, which Jeter attributed to his improvement later in the season. In June 2014, Denbo was named as the hitting consultant for the 2014 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. The Yankees named Denbo Vice President of Player Development in June of 2014. Denbo began the "Captain's Camp", an opportunity for the team's best prospects to interact with former players. In October 2017, Denbo was named the Vice President of Scouting and Player Development for the Miami Marlins, working with the organization until June 2022, months after Jeter had divested from the team's ownership group.
Pat Arnold ~ 1961-65
Born in Mariah Hill in 1943, Patrick Arnold enjoyed a standout high school career at Dale High School, earning a basketball scholarship to play at Oakland City College in 1961, graduating in the class of 1965. He spent time competing on the baseball team as well as being a standout basketball player during his time with the Mighty Oaks, but his senior season was cut short when he broke his foot during a basketball game. He led the Oaks in scoring as a junior, and was the leading scorer again as a senior when we went down with injury. Arnold taught business and coached basketball and other sports at Holland High School for two seasons before returning to his alma mater to teach and coach at Dale HS from 1969-72 and at Heritage Hills High School from 1972-77. He also continued his education by earning a Master's in Pat Arnold ~ 1961-65 Business Administration from the University of Evansville in 1971, then in 1977 founded his real estate and development office, Key Associates, in Santa Claus, Indiana, which he ran until 2008. From 2008, he has worked in the hospitality industry, founding Santa's Cottages, one of the top-rated resorts in the state of Indiana. He served on the North Spencer School Board as the elected vice president and president from 1982-90, as well as serving on the Dale Cabinet Company board of directors. His journey has been characterized by a commitment to education, community, and entrepreneurship. He has been a model for success with a dedication to leave a positive mark on the world. "It sure is a great honor," Arnold said when informed he had been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame. "Oakland City has been a big part of my life, and I am honored to receive this recognition."
Bill Dickerson ~ 1977-81
Bill Dickerson graduated from Cannelton High School in 1975, where he set numerous athletic records as a member of the basketball, baseball, track, and cross country teams, including holding the scoring record for basketball with 1,544 career points. He then attended Sullivan Business College in Louisville, Kentucky, where he majored in accounting and business administration. As a member of the basketball team at SBC, he was given the honor of being named to the Kentucky Junior College All-Conference team in 1977. He then transferred to Oakland City College where he played for head coach Charlie Trafton, graduating in 1979. "No one compares to Bill in heart and desire that I have ever coached," stated Trafton. "I have never had anyone with as much heart as he has and I don't think I ever will." The team earned a third place finish in the NLCAA at the conclusion of the 1978 season. He was named to the NAIA All-Conference team in 1979, while also being awarded OCU's inaugural Onis B. Chapman award. Because of his outstanding play, he was awarded the 1979 OCC MVP award, having averaged double figures both years as a Mighty Oak. Following his graduation, he was an assistant basketball coach for the Oaks from 1979-1982, while also serving as the head baseball coach from 1979-1983. He was named the Mighty Oaks head men's basketball coach for the 1983-84 and 1984- 85 seasons, compiling an overall record as the head coach of 24-26, as well as a NAIA State Finalist appearance in 1984. He also coached the OCU baseball squad again from 1984-1985, guiding the team to an NAIA third place finish. He then became a teacher and coach at Perry Central High School, where he spent the next thirty years teaching business and coaching boys basketball, girls basketball, cross country, and golf, as well as serving as the assistant principal before retiring in 2015. From 1985-1990, he was the head boys basketball coach. He coached the cross country team from 1989-2001, winning the PLAC championship each year from 1996-2001. He coached the girls basketball team from 2003-2014, winning the PLAC in 2011, as well as earning a sectional runner-up in 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2013. He also coached the golf team from 2004-2015, finishing as a regional finalist in 2008. Dickerson also earned his Master's degree in 1987 from Indiana University.
Jon Bruner ~ 1986-90
Prior to his time at Oakland City University, Jon Bruner went to Boonville High School where he played basketball and baseball. His high school basketball team was ranked as one of the top in the state throughout his senior year, finishing 19-1. He led the team in points and assists, while helping his team win sectional championships in basketball and baseball. Jon attended OCU from 1986 to 1990, graduating with a BS in Accounting. He met his wife Cathy at OCU who also graduated in 1990 with a BA in Education. Statistically the top three-point shooter in Mighty Oaks history, Bruner made 189 outside shots during his four years, currently ninth all time. His career mark of 56.7% from beyond the arc is a school record, as is his total from the 1988-89 season, when he made 59-89 (66.3%), earning top NAIA national honors. He also earned the top percentage in the country in the 1987-88 season, when he made 46-76 (60.5%), good for fourth best in OCU lore. Bruner is also the leader in career assists, handing out 527 in his career, including the fourth best single season in team history when he dished out 182 during his senior campaign. His career scoring total was 1,231 points, ranking seventh when he graduated, now standing in 17th place. He also is tied with Robert Norris for the record for the most minutes played in a single game, as both men were on the floor for the entire game against Hanover College on February 28, 1989, which finished after five overtimes for a total of 65 minutes. During his time with the Mighty Oaks, Bruner also earned two letters as a member of the Oakland City University men's golf team. Jon currently is a Senior VP, Product Management based in Salt Lake City. Jon started his career with Dyno Nobel soon after finishing college in 1991 as a technical sales rep responsible for product sales into New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California mining and construction segments. He moved back across the country in 1997 to Simsbury, CT where he held several positions in Corporate Technical Services, Marketing and Global Product Management, working closely with the plants in Europe, South Africa, Asia, North America and South America. In 2007, Jon relocated to Salt Lake City where he has held several senior product roles, including the current position of leading the IS product teams and IS R&D teams. He also has served on various boards of joint venture companies in South Africa and Malaysia. Jon and Cathy have been married for 32 years and live in Salt Lake City. They have three daughters, Jordan, a lawyer, graduate of the University of Utah and Vanderbilt Law School, Bay, a graduate of the University of Oregon and Ball State University, working with autistic children. Jess, a graduate from Utah State University, working for the State of Utah. They also have one granddaughter Violet.
Casey (Mills) LaGrange ~ 1996-00
A native of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, Casey came to Oakland City University on a basketball scholarship after an outstanding high school career. At the high school level, she played basketball, softball, and ran cross country. "When coach recruited me and I came for my campus visit, I liked the campus atmosphere and the home-like feeling I had when I was here," stated Casey. "I am blessed to have been a part of a winning program, learn more about basketball, and have great teammates and coaches." A four-year starter for the Mighty Oaks, she set nearly every record for three-point shooting during her time in the blue and white. Her season total of 81 made threes in the 1996-97 season stood as the record until it was passed in 2005-06 by Chelsea Miller, and now sits in fourth place. Her career total of 216 made three pointers in now third all time, while her 1,444 points is fifth all time. At the time of her graduation, she was the third highest scorer in OCU women's basketball history. She was more than just a shooter, as is proven by the fact that she still is the career record holder in both assists and steals, handing out 462 assists while nabbing 265 steals. Following her graduation in 2000, when she earned a BS in biology, she returned to Dawson Springs High School as a science teacher, and then moved on to teach at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School, where she remains. Casey is married to her husband Greg LaGrange, a native of Evansville, Indiana, who won a state championship in soccer at Evansville Memorial High School. They were married in 2002, and have three children, Camryn, a 19-year old freshman at Western Kentucky University, Kirk, a 16-year old, and 10-year old Kenna. "I am excited about going into the Hall of Fame." Casey said when asked about what it means to be joining this prestigious group of former OCU greats. "It brings back a lot of memories and it is nice to be remembered."
Schuyler Redpath ~ 2000-04
Prior to coming to OCU, Schuyler Redpath was the leading scorer for Shades Valley High School, as well as earning All-State honors. He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and as a high school senior he led his team to their first ever state soccer championship game in 2000. He also played for the Alabama State Select soccer team. "I was drawn to OCU for the opportunity to help build a soccer program from the ground up while also pursuing an education in business," stated Redpath. "I am proud of what my teammates and I accomplished in those first four years, building a program that, by the time we left, was competitive with nationally ranked programs." At Oakland City University, Redpath captained the inaugural Mighty Oaks men's soccer team in 2000, contributing the first assist in school history and setting multiple scoring records over the course of his career. He became the first soccer All-American in program history in 2001 and finished as the all-time leading scorer with 41 career goals and 20 assists for a total of 102 points. After graduating from Oakland City with a degree in Business Management in 2004, Schuyler has been a partner in a successful construction company, Birmingham Stone, based in Alabama. He has also served as a gaming expert for Major League Soccer (mlssoccer.com) for over 10 years. "I am incredibly honored to be the first men's soccer player inducted into the Hall of Fame," Redpatch continued. "While I didn't play professionally after my time as a Mighty Oak, I did apply my experience from OCU in working with Major League Soccer for the last decade. It feels like everything has come full circle after having a hand in the first goal, the first win, and it is great to see soccer getting recognition across the board. The program is in good hands and the future is bright." Redpath currently resides in Madisonville, Kentucky, with his wife Katie and five children.
Emily (Gries) Maxberry ~ 2001-05, 2006-09
Emily was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, where she grew up with her parents Gary and Cindy and siblings Sally and Russell. She started her spiritual and sports journey at St. Joseph Catholic School, also playing travel ball. She continued to play soccer, basketball, and softball at Reitz High School, where she graduated in 2001. She joined OCU to pursue her teaching degree where she began working with individuals with special needs, competing as one of the founding members of the women's soccer team and also joined the softball team. Upon graduating, she traveled to Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), to teach First Grade in the fall of 2006. While there, Emily was involved in the school and church community as part of the church choir, coaching soccer, and was a founding member of the CNMI Women's National Soccer Team. In the summer of 2008, she returned to OCU to pursue her Master's Degree and acted as Interim Coach for the women's soccer team for one season. She returned to Saipan in the fall of 2009 to teach Special Education for one year and married Kurt Maxberry. Emily was a behavior therapist for four years before she started to grow her family. She pursued a certification from Ball State University in Applied Behavior Analysis and then taught special education kindergarten for the North Gibson School Corporation for two years. For six years, she has taught special education at IDEA Ewing Halsell, earning the Teacher of the Year in 2019, and now teaches for Legacy Traditional School and serves at her local church as a "buddy" for children with special needs and is an assistant Den Leader for her children who are in Cub Scouts. Kurt and Emily live in San Antonio, Texas, with their three children, nine-year old Wyatt, seven-year old Valoree, and seven-year old Wesley, and have an open adoption relationship with their fourth child, nine-year old Brooks.
