“People have asked me, ‘Why hasn't somebody done this before?' ” said Wetzel, who has established the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. “We just opened the gates for them.”
Wetzel, an All-American basketball player from the Blackfeet Reservation, will honor the first seven Native athletes as inductees to the Indian Hall of Fame during a 7 p.m. ceremony Friday at the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council office in Billings.
The Montana inductees now live throughout the United States.
Louie Longey grew up on the Fort Peck Reservation where Winona Winn Longey, his wife of 68 years, watched him play basketball in his prime.
“Louie was a wonderful athlete,” said Winona from the couple's home in Wapato, Wash. “He was so good. And he was tall. He could shoot from anywhere.”
The 87-year-old woman said their first date was at a basketball game. “What a handsome man he is,” she said. “He doesn't have a wrinkle in his face. And he's still tall. I was always so proud of him.”
Winona said her 91-year-old husband is ill and unable to attend Friday's ceremony. The couple's granddaughter will attend the event in Louie's honor.
The Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame plans to recognize college and high school athletes from all sports venues, including basketball, rodeo, football and track and field.
“Being one of the first is a great honor,” said Malia Kipp, a former University of Montana Lady Griz basketball player. “Saying thank you to those who nominated me and supported me just doesn't seem to be the right words or say enough.”
Kipp now lives in Ronan, where she's an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Salish Kootenai College.
Marvin Camel won two world boxing championships in the cruiserweight division, including the World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Federation in 1980 and 1983, respectively.
Camel, who lives in Tavares, Fla., said he was proud to represent the Flathead Reservation in the Hall of Fame. “I hope this goes on forever so when I pass on I'll still be remembered,” he said.
Wetzel said top-notch Native athletes in Montana have been largely overlooked by the state's athletic organizations, including the Montana High School Association Hall of Fame.
So far, of the nearly 70 MHSA inductees, only three high school Native athletes have been honored, including Willie Weeks, Pretty Weasel and Wetzel.
After graduating from Cut Bank High School, Wetzel was the first Native player to play Division I basketball in Montana.
“I'm a little frustrated by it,” said Wetzel. “After graduating from the University of Montana, I played maybe 100 Indian basketball tournaments. I played against some Indian players in Montana who went through the high school system who were as tough as some of the Division I players that I played against.”
Three different groups - representatives of MHSA member schools, members of the Athletes Hall of Fame committee and members of the general public - can make a pitch for their favorite athlete.
“There are quite a few opportunities for anyone to nominate any high school athlete they believe is deserving of MHSA Hall of Fame status,” said Mark Beckman, executive director of the MHSA.
Final candidates are selected by a committee of 25 anonymous members. Beckman said no Native person presently serves on the committee. Athletes can be nominated in one of two categories, including “modern era” and “old timer.”
“The Native people of Montana have to get out and start nominating,” said Wetzel. “Coaches need to nominate their good athletes through history. We just have to get out and do it. I don't think we've done that.”
Reporter Jodi Rave can be reached at 800-366-7186 or at jodi.rave@lee.net.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)