HOF Friends

Name: James "Skip" Proctor

Year Inducted: 1986

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Warrensburg-Latham High School

Biography:  James “Skip” Proctor has contributed greatly, not only to the Warrensburg-Latham Basketball Program, but to all athletic programs. For 31 years, Proctor served as timer or scorekeeper for both high school and junior high school basketball. For 29 years, Proctor was the bus driver for high school and middle school basketball teams as well as the football team. He was also the official starter for both boy’s and girl’s track meets for the high school and middle school. Former principal and football coach, Art Jacoby said of Proctor, “In all the years I have known Skip, I can never recall him being late or failing to show for anything when he was expected. Furthermore, I can never recall his declining any activity with which he was asked to help. I doubt very few communities in the state of Illinois are so fortunate to have someone as unselfish with their life and personal time as “Skip”.  Skip Proctor died on September 22, 2015 at the age of 77.

Name: Dave Burrell

Year Inducted: 2020

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Teutopolis Junior High School
Teutopolis High School

Biography:  Dave  personified dedication, volunteerism and support in regard to Teutopolis boys'/girls' basketball. Beginning in 1994, he kept the boys junior varsity scorebook and operated the foul panels for varsity games. He kept the scorebook for all Wooden Shoes girls' games beginning in 1995.  Dave served as a bus driver for girls' games and for many junior high boys'/girls' games. He drove at least 20 Teutopolis boys' and girls' basketball teams to state tournaments.

Name: Fred Ploegman

Year Inducted: 1986

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
(Berwyn/Cicero) Morton High School
(Palos Heights) Chicago Christian High School

Biography:  Fred Ploegman scored but one point in the championship games of the 1941 State Basketball Tournament, but it was a free throw with seven seconds remaining in the game. Ploegman and his Morton of Berwyn/Cicero team defeated Urbana, 32-31. The following year, Ploegman and Morton were back in Huff Gymnasium, this time losing a third-place game to Freeport 31-30. After high school, Fred was a member of the US Army, serving valiantly during WW II.  His bravery earned two Purple Heart Awards.  Upon his return from the war, Ploegman served as a varsity basketball coach from 1947-1952 at (Palos Heights) Chicago Christian High School. From 1945-1982, Ploegman officiated basketball for IHSA member schools. While director of recreation for the City of Berwyn, 1952-1967, Ploegman promoted a basketball program for boys first grade through high school. In 1967, he became Superintendent of Parks and Recreation for the LaGrange Park District and helped develop basketball programs for boys and girls in grades one through twelve. Ploegman attended the state tournaments for 25+ years.  Fred Ploegman died during July of 2010.

Name: Gaylord Peterson

Year Inducted: 1986

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Varna High School
(Varna) Mid-County High School

Biography:  Gaylord “Doug” Peterson attended Varna High School where he was a four-year letterman in baseball and track. Peterson was a two-year basketball letterman and, as a senior in 1927, played in the first Tri-County Conference Basketball Tournament. Varna and Peterson made the IHSA Peoria Sectional Tournament in that senior year and were eliminated by (Peoria) Manual High School 24-18. An avid horseshoe player, Peterson was the Illinois State Champion in 1928 and 1932. He is a member of the Horseshoe Hall of Fame. Peterson entered the bowling business in 1963 and is a member of the Greater Peoria Bowling Association Hall of Fame. Peterson has been an avid booster of (Varna) Mid-County High School basketball since it opened in 1952, as well as all other Bulldog athletic teams.  Doug Peterson died on March 3, 1998 at the age of 89.