Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON, Mich. -- Michigan Tech will enshrine seven new members into its Sports Hall of Fame during induction ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7.

The induction class of 2009 includes former football player Don Boldt, former hockey player and coach Herb Boxer, former women’s basketball player D.J. Evans, former sports information director Dave Fischer, former cross country and track athlete Chris Klaes, major contributor John Opie and former football player and wrestler Ron Ray.

The seven inductees will join the 172 members already in the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame, which was started in 1985.

Below is a brief biography of each of the seven inductees.

DON BOLDT
Don Boldt was a four-year starter for the football program from 1954-57. He played right guard on the offensive line and nose guard on defense. Boldt earned both the Alan Bovard Award as the team’s most valuable player and the Fred Baird Memorial Award as the team’s top defensive player in 1957. Boldt went on to gain his degree in mechanical engineering from Tech in 1958 and stayed as a graduate assistant coach for the 1958 season. The Green Bay, Wis., resident has remained involved with Michigan Tech through the Football Advisory Council and as a member of the University’s Presidents Society.

HERB BOXER
Herb Boxer turned in a stellar career as a hockey player from 1967-70 and returned as the program’s head coach from 1985-90. The Hancock, Mich., native recorded 37 goals and 36 assists in 97 games, helping the Huskies to one Western Collegiate Hockey Association title and two NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1968, he became the first American-born player taken in the National Hockey League Draft. Boxer was named Tech’s head coach in 1985. His most successful season came in 1987-88, when the Huskies placed fourth in the WCHA and he was named WCHA Coach of the Year. Boxer currently works for Cook Systems International in Memphis, Tenn.

D.J. EVANS
D.J. Evans, who starred on the Tech basketball court between 1979-84, was one of the most prolific scorers in school history. Her career scoring average of 13.3 is third-best all-time in the Huskies’ record book. Evans earned Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Defensive Team accolades as a sophomore and was the team’s most valuable player as a senior. She was the school’s first player to accumulate 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds with 1,092 and 540, respectively. Evans’ season scoring average of 18.6 in 1983-84 stands as the second-highest in school history. A native of Honor, Mich., Evans now resides in Glens Falls, N.Y.

DAVE FISCHER
Dave Fischer was Michigan Tech’s sports information director for a 17-year span from 1987-2004. He had the added responsibilities of assistant athletic director for the final seven years of his tenure. During his time, Fischer served five years as the information director for the GLIAC. He was also on numerous committees with the College Sports Information Directors of America and had more than 40 publications cited for excellence by CoSIDA. Fischer, who now serves as the director of communications for USA Hockey in Colorado Springs, Colo., continues to be a tireless promoter of Michigan Tech and a regular contributor to the Huskies Club.

CHRIS KLAES
Chris Klaes, who participated in track and cross country from 1987-90, is arguably the most decorated runner in Michigan Tech history. The school record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase earned NCAA All-America honors in that event with a second-place finish at the national championship in 1990. Earlier that year, Klaes was named the GLIAC outdoor track MVP after he won both the 3,000 steeplechase and the 5,000 meter events. He was also a GLIAC indoor champion in the 3,000 meters in 1990. In cross country, Klaes best finish was a runner-up showing at the GLIAC Championship in 1989. Now a resident of Lexington, S.C., Klaes teaches high school math and science.

JOHN OPIE
John Opie, who graduated from Michigan Tech in 1961 and had a long and successful career with General Electric Company, has always been a passionate fan and financial supporter of Michigan Tech athletics—especially hockey. In 2004, he gave $250,000 to the Hockey Enrichment Campaign, which helped raised $2.6 million for the hockey program. In 2008, he committed a $1-million gift for the Hockey Arena Renovation Project. Opie is a lifetime member of the Huskies Club, which provides financial assistance to Michigan Tech athletic programs. In addition to supporting athletics, Ruanne and John Opie have donated $5.1 million to Michigan Tech, which includes gifts to the J. Robert Van Pelt and Opie Library, the Ruanne and John Opie Material Science and Engineering Endowment, and the Center for Integrated Learning and Information Technology. Opie, who retired in 2000 from GE, resides in Weston, Conn.

RON RAY
Ron Ray was a four-year letterman in both football and wrestling between 1966-70. On the gridiron, Ray served as team captain of a Northern Intercollegiate Conference championship team in 1969. He earned All-NIC First Team honors as a guard that year. Ray was a successful wrestler as well, finishing fourth at the NIC meet in 1969 at 190 pounds. The Minneapolis, Minn., native earned Michigan Tech’s Terry Wilson Award as the top freshman student-athlete in 1967 and later was given the Raymond L. Smith Award as the school’s top senior student-athlete in 1970. Ray currently serves as vice president for operations for Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, Minn.