By Tim Simmons
Over the past two months, I have experienced life’s profound highs and lows. This Saturday brings a bittersweet punctuation mark to a whirlwind season of celebration, as I travel to Hermosa Beach, California, to present Dennis Wagner (bvbinfo.com) for induction into the California Beach Volleyball Association’s Hall of Fame.
Dennis’s induction is unique, especially in a group typically reserved for on-the-sand legends. You see, Dennis wasn’t a player—he is a contributor. He isn’t from California; he’s from Chesapeake, Virginia. Yet, his creation of the definitive website tracking the history of beach volleyball has left an indelible mark on the sport, resonating nationwide and across the globe.
This incredible stretch of honors for dear friends began back in October, and the momentum has been humbling.
A Season of Well-Deserved Honors
On Sunday, November 1, my wife and I attended the Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame ceremony at the South Point Resort in Las Vegas to witness Dominic Clark’s well-deserved induction. Dominic dedicated nearly 45 years to motorsports, laying his foundation in publicity, public relations, and sports information as a student at Nevada, Reno. He later became the sports information director at UNLV, where he famously gave the university’s basketball program its legendary moniker: the “Runnin’ Rebels.” READ MORE
Earlier in the season, October opened with a celebration in Fort Collins during Colorado State University’s homecoming weekend. On October 1, Gary and Joni Ozzello received the Jim and Nadine Henry Award. Gary was a student of mine at CSU in the mid-1970s and went on to dedicate over 40 years to athletics and university administration, eventually earning a spot in the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021. READ MORE
A week later, another dear friend, Jim Saccomano, was announced as an inductee into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027. Having served on the selection committee, I know firsthand that Jim’s recognition is long overdue; he stands tall as one of the finest public relations directors in professional football history. READ MORE
Just a week after Sacco’s announcement, I experienced a deeply personal milestone: on October 16, I was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at Colorado State University Pueblo. Being inducted is an overwhelming honor, made all the more meaningful because I now join my father, who was inducted alongside Jessie Banks as the school’s first honorees. READ MORE
Remembering Friends Who Shaped the Game
Yet, life’s ledger has carried a heavy sorrow alongside these celebrations, as I mourn the loss of four cherished friends: John Nillen, Phil Collin, Arnie Sgalio and Steve Saunders. I miss our conversations about these very inductions, especially because Arnie and Steve were such steadfast champions of those who never competed under the stadium lights, yet shaped sports behind the scenes—Arnie through his impactful work with the Big Sky Conference and ESPN, and Steve through his legacy at the Coors Brewing Company.
John, who passed away last December, became a trusted friend when I worked with the Denver Nuggets in the mid-1970s. He went on to become a professional basketball coach and scout and raised a remarkable family in the Denver area with his wife, Ana Carrin.
As for Phil, who left us last March, he was one of the most unique sportswriters I ever worked with. He covered all the major sports teams in Los Angeles, including USC and UCLA, but his passion was beach volleyball. When I met him in 2014 in Long Beach at an event, our friendship started and lasted through his passing as we traveled on the international beach volleyball circuit for years.
What I miss most is meeting for lunch with John, Arnie and Steve, with Dennis, Dominic, Gary, and/or Jim joining, along with other friends like David Plati, a titan of Colorado sports communication and a 2019 inductee into the College Sports Communicator Hall of Fame. And throw in additional attendees like Ron Richards, Mike Stratton, John Clagett, Doug Strauss, Tom Hohensee, Kent Fonda, and Todd Sandstedt, to name a few other collegues over the years. Or the attendees at the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out Society) in Boulder.
These luncheon stories would be legendary in everyone’s minds as we toast everyone who joined us on the road to sporting events across the United States and around the world.
I miss you, John, Arnie, and Steve, and congrats to Dennis, Dominic, Gary, Joni, and Jim on your honors.
