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2019 Hall of Fame

General Iain Dexter, EOU Sports Information Director

EOU Athletics Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2019

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Mountaineers will induct five new members into the EOU Athletics Hall of Fame including four Eastern Oregon alums during Homecoming Weekend, Director of Athletics Anji Weissenfluh announced Tuesday.

The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Oct. 11 in the Gilbert Center with a social at 6:30 p.m. followed by the induction at 7 p.m. No tickets are needed to attend. This year's Hall of Fame selections will also be honored at half time of the Homecoming football game, which begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Grace Deboodt Bliss - Volleyball (2006-2010)
A 2012 graduate of EOU, Deboodt is one of the all-time greats in Eastern Oregon volleyball history.  She was named the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Player of the Year in 2009 and was a three-time NAIA All-American selection. Deboodt was a two-time team captain and garnered the EOU Female Athlete of the Year award in 2010. She was a three-time First Team All-CCC honoree and a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region selection. She still holds EOU records for total points and service aces.
 
Also a multi-sport athlete, Deboodt competed in basketball in 2007-08, and track and field from 2007-10. As a member of the track and field team, she qualified for nationals three times.
 
Deboodt received her bachelor's degree in agricultural business management in 2010, her MBA in 2012, and she currently resides in Elmira, Oregon, where she works as a credit analyst at Northwest Farm Credit Services (NWFCS).
 
Rick Ward - Football (1980-1983)
A member of the 1986 class, Ward was a player on the Blue and Gold football team from 1980-1983.  During his time playing under Hall of Fame coach Don Turner, Ward reaped All-EVCO, All-Northwest kicker (1980-83), and All-Northwest Punter (1981-83) awards. Ward was team captain for the Mounties and the Eastern Oregon Male Athlete of the Year in 1983.
 
Ward is still listed in the top-10 in numerous Eastern game, season, and career records including most field goals in a game, most field goals in a season, and most field goals in a career. He was top-5 in kick scoring nationally in each of his four seasons while ranking second in the nation with an average punt of 42.9 yards in 1983. Ward, a team captain in 1983, had a career long punt of 82 yards.
 
Ward signed with three NFL teams, Washington in 1984, the Chicago Bears in 1985, and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1986 and 1987. After graduating, he taught physical education and health at the high school level. Ward currently lives in Woodburn, Oregon.
 
Alan Peterson - Football (1980 & 1981)
A decorated athlete, Alan Peterson played for EOU in 1980 and 1981. In just two years, he made an impact in the conference, region, and on the national level.  He was named All-American, First Team All-EVCO, All-District, and All-West Coast.  Peterson also received EOU's Hatchet Hitter of the Year honors.  At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Peterson was invited to attend camps for the Houston Oilers and Denver Broncos.  Peterson currently works in the freight industry and lives in Mentone, CA. 
 
Don Turner – Football (1978-83)
Don Turner led the Mountie football team from 1978-1983.  In his six years, his teams compiled a .500 or better winning percentage five times.  His 33-24 record still stands as the highest winning percentage (.579) of any EOU football coach who coached more than one year. During this span, football competed in the Evergreen Conference and then was an NAIA Division I independent.  His 1980 team is celebrated for having the best season in EOU football program history with a 8-1 record while sharing the Evergreen Conference regular season title.  Turner coached several All-Conference selections.
 
His 1980 team was inducted into the EOU Hall of Fame in 2015, and four members of that 1980 team (not including this year's inductees) have been inducted into the Hall of Fame as individuals: Bicker Therien, Bob Warsaw, Wayne Herron, and Havan Jones.  Many of Coach Turner's athletes went on to sign professional contracts after playing at EOU.
 
Merle Comfort - Meritorious Service 
Merle Comfort has been an integral part of the EOU community since 1979. From 1979-1983 Merle served as a volunteer athletic trainer with the Mountie football and basketball teams working under Hall of Fame coaches Don Turner and Lee Insko.  He started running the game clock for EOU football in 1986 and 30 years later still volunteers his time at every EOU football game. 
 
Merle resides in La Grande and is an extremely active member of the community. He has filled in as an announcer and statistician for EOU basketball games. Merle serves on the La Grande School Board, has served on the La Grande Church of The Nazarene Board of Directors for over 35 years, is an active Tiger Booster Club board member and is on the Intermountain Educational Service District Board of Directors since 2010. In 1997, he became a certified dental technician in ceramics.
 
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Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu
 
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