By Daily Press staff
The Santa Monica College Foundation has announced the creation of the college’s first-ever Sports Hall of Fame, with a list of 2005 inductees that includes two SMC alumni who are Olympic medalists. The four inductees are alumnus Lenny Krayzelburg, alumnus Johnny Gray, John Joseph and the late Dr. Kay Teer Crawford, who established SMC’s accomplished drill team, the Coronettes, in the late 1950s.
Krayzelburg stroked his way to four Olympic gold medals, three in the 2000 Sydney Games and one in Athens in 2004. While attending SMC from 1992 to 1994, he won three California Junior College Conference Championships under the tutelage of swimming coach Stu Blumkin. Krayzelburg received his bachelor’s degree from USC.
Gray’s two-decade career as a competitive sprinter spans four Olympic games, earning him the bronze medal in 1992. He also twice won the gold at the Pan American Games. He still holds the American 800-meter indoor and outdoor records. Gray attended SMC from 1979 through 1980 and graduated from Arizona State University in 1982.
Joseph’s legendary career as head SMC swimming coach spanned the period from 1951 until his retirement in 1992. He produced more than 300 All-Americans, racked up 13 undefeated seasons, and coached 20 Conference Championship teams and one State Championship team. He was named Conference Coach of the Year 21 times.
Crawford not only established the Coronettes, she also was the first woman chair of the college’s health, physical education and dance department. Her tenure at the college lasted nearly 30 years, from 1955 to 1984, and she was a dance and drill director for more than 50 years, producing 10 Super Bowl half-time shows among other televised productions.
“The Sports Hall of Fame brings deserved attention to the outstanding programs and rich sports traditions of Santa Monica College,” said SMC Foundation Executive Director Dr. JoAnn McLin Ortiz.
“The Sports Hall of Fame brings deserved attention to the outstanding programs and rich sports traditions of Santa Monica College.” — DIRECTOR DR. JOANN MCLIN ORTIZ SMC Foundation Executive
The induction ceremony — which will include the unveiling of a Sports Hall of Fame display — will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 in the SMC Skybox at Corsair Field, 1900 Pico Blvd., two hours before the homecoming game against Compton College.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 10, 2005. Read the original PDF.