COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Athletics inducted six Tiger standouts into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame during Friday's ceremony at the EquipmentShare Club 1926 in the North End Zone of Memorial Stadium.
Emceed by longtime Mizzou radio voice Mike Kelly, the ceremony honored five inductees who attended the event in person - football's Nick Bolton and Andy Hill, softball's Ashley Fleming, wrestling's Daniel Lewis and track and field's Nicki (Webber) Moore - as well as former Tigers quarterback Drew Lock, who joined the event live from Seattle via Zoom for his Q&A with Kelly and induction speech. Lock is the backup quarterback for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, who play host to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Each inductee was surprised with a video tribute from a former coach or teammate, who also formally presented them for induction into the Hall of Fame. Each inductee then received their official Hall of Fame blazer from another presenter.
Bolton: younger brother and Mizzou wide receiver Jayden Bolton (video) and Kansas City Chiefs assistant head coach Dave Toub (blazer).
Fleming: Mizzou Hall of Fame outfielder Rhea Taylor (video) and Mizzou Hall of Fame pitcher and wife Chelsea Thomas (blazer).
Lewis: Mizzou Hall of Fame wrestler J'den Cox (video) and Mizzou wrestling coach Brian Smith (blazer.)
Moore: Mizzou Hall of Fame track and field coach Dr. Rick McGuire (video) and Mizzou track and field coach Brett Halter (blazer).
Lock: Former Mizzou football coach Barry Odom (video).
Hill: Mizzou Hall of Fame players Danario Alexander, Chase Coffman, Jeremy Maclin, Martin Rucker (video) and Hall of Fame football coach Gary Pinkel (blazer.)
Kelly began the night honoring the four Mizzou Athletics Hall of Famers who died in the past year since the last ceremony: Football’s Ed Blaine (Class of 1991), Football’s Russ Sloan (2011), Track and Field’s Dan Lavitt (2000) and former gymnastics coach Charles “Jake” Jacobson (2007).
According to its original language, the Hall of Fame was created “to recognize and honor those individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of the University of Missouri in the field of athletics, and who have continued to demonstrate in their lives the values imparted by intercollegiate athletics.”
The tradition began in 1989, thanks to a $100,000 gift from the estate of A.C. “Ace” and Mary Stotler. One year later, in 1990, the first class was inducted as part of Mizzou’s celebration of its 100th football season.