Johnny Hopp – Hastings
Athlete. A 1934 graduate of Hastings High School, this legendary professional baseball player began his climb to the majors on the playgrounds of Adams County, Nebraska. He was such a standout in baseball (and motivated to be better) that his talents in other sports were not adequately documented. Signing a pro baseball contract at age […]
Tom Hallstrom – Omaha
Contributor. Tom Hallstrom’s passion for track and field didn’t go unnoticed. “If a Heisman Trophy was awarded for contributions to track and field, Tom Hallstrom would certainly be this year’s winner,” President Richard Nixon said while honoring Hallstrom in 1972. A physical education teacher and administrator in Omaha Public Schools for 40 years, he coordinated […]
Jack Hallstrom – Avoca
Athlete. During the last years of World War II, a young man at Avoca High School in Cass County was stirring up sportswriters and basketball fans with his high-scoring basketball talents. This was Jack Hallstrom, a 1946 graduate, who had a remarkable record during high school of 1,840 points scored on the hardwood. All-state from […]
Barb Harris Bruce – Lincoln High
Athlete. Class of 1977. Barb Harris ruled the pool in her high school years, never losing a race. She completed her high school career with six individual state meet gold medals. A school rule barred her from competition as a freshman, but she made up for it as an upperclassman with dominating performances, including a […]
Dave Hoppen – Omaha Benson
Athlete. This 1982 graduate of Omaha Benson High School ranks near the top of any all-time list of great Nebraska high school basketball players. He led the Benson Bunnies to the state tournament twice, to a state runner-up his senior year. He amassed over 1,200 high school points, understandable in view of his accuracy. Averaged […]
Ted Harvey – Lexington
Athlete. Class of 1974. When the Lexington Minutemen made a run at state championships, they put the ball in Ted Harvey’s hands. A 5-foot-9, 140-pound leader, Harvey played quarterback and running back on Lexington’s state championship football teams of 1972 and 1973. He started for three years at point guard, leading Lexington to a runner-up […]
Barney Hill – Boys Town
Athlete. A 1973 graduate of Boys Town High School, this sturdy, exciting athlete set the standards for high school track & field in an era when more multiple-races were permitted by high school authorities. Barney Hill became the first back-to-back Class A cross country champion in 1971 and 1972. Perhaps his cross country exploits showed what […]
Angee Henry – Bellevue West
Class of 1993 Few people have ever run faster or jumped farther than Bellevue West’s Angee Henry. A winning sprinter on the international circuit and a successful distance runner in masters competition, Henry made her high school mark in the 200, 400 and long jump, sweeping all three all-class gold medals as a junior. A […]
