Biography: RUSSELL, Ernestine

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RUSSELL, Ernestine Inducted: 1986 Born: Windsor, Ontario-Canada Ernestine Russell is one of the most successful gymnasts and coaches in the annals of gymnastic history. In addition, even though it has been many years since I watched her perform and was able to meet her in Moscow and later in Rome, I have never forgotten the … Read more

Biography: RAY, Mary Elise

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RAY, Mary Elise Inducted: 2011 Born: Tallahassee, FL Usually it is injuries that spell the difference between champions and also-rans. However in the case of Elise Ray it was a vaulting horse that was set too low.   Half-way through the 2000 Sydney Olympics it was discovered that the vaulting horse was too low; Ray and … Read more

Biography: PREISS, Emil

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PREISS, Emil Inducted: 1964 Born: Germany Deutsche Turnfest-Cologne, Germany AA [T]Karl Reuter (Lft.) Emil Preiss (Rt.) FRIENDS FOR LIFE Emil Preiss is another individual who made important contributions to the development of American gymnastics. He learned as a competitor and took his championship skills into the gym to help college and junior gymnasts to learn … Read more

Biography: HUGHES, Eric

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HUGHES, Eric Inducted: 1973 Born: Victoria, British Columbia Eric Hughes is another of many in the gymnastic world who has served our sport well.  His efforts and contributions have helped bring U.S. Gymnastics to the winner’s podium, but few, I suspect, in today’s gymnasiums know about his contributions. Few of today’s gymnasts realize that the … Read more

Biography: HENNIG, Edward “Ed”  (1880-1960)

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HENNIG, Edward “Ed”  (1880-1960) Inducted: 1989 Born: Cleveland, OH Edward Hennig has been a called a gymnastic geriatric marvel. Without a doubt, he had the longest competitive career of any gymnast to date. He was the oldest candidate ever for the Sullivan Award as the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete. He finished third in the voting.  … Read more

Biography: GAGNIER, Edward “Ed”

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GAGNIER, Edward “Ed” Inducted: 1982 Born: Windsor, Canada Ed Gagnier is another of the many unsung athletes and coaches who devoted a career to help our sport progress. If he wasn’t in the gym, he was contributing in all the administrative ways he could. One of the great pleasures that come to coaches who produce … Read more

Biography: EKLUND, Egnar “EA”

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EKLUND, Egnar  “EA” Inducted: 1963 Dr. E. A. Eklund, was an outstanding contributor to the sport of gymnastics. Best of all, he was a visionary without which no entity can progress. His vision was a Hall of Fame for gymnastics, and he acted on it. He was in favor of progress and not afraid of … Read more

Biography: BURCH, Ed

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BURCH, Ed Inducted:  2001 Born: January 29, 1951 Las Vegan, New Mexico Coaching: Burch has coached for 30+ years as of this writing and led three gymnasts to the Olympic Games, (Lance Ringnald, 1988, Lance Ringnald & Trent Dimas, 1992, & Mihai Bagiu, 1996). He has coached national champions in every age group and at … Read more

Biography: BEYER, E. F.

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BEYER, E. F. “BUD” (1917-2001) Inducted: 1968 Bud Beyer was considered to be one of the finest AA gymnasts of his era.  He would have been a serious contender for the 1940 Olympic Team had not WWII interfered.  In 2002, he was named an Honorary Member of the 1940 U.S. Olympic Team by a select … Read more

Biography: WILDEROTER, Don

WILDEROTER, Don Inducted: 1992 We know that Inductee Wilderoter was a gymnast, a coach, an administrator, and a judge; however, to date, we have not been able to document his contributions more thoroughly. It appears that he is best remembered as being a strong supporter of the development of women’s gymnastics and probably knew some … Read more