AURORA — A pair of the state’s top athletes highlights the 13th class of the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Hall of Fame.

Aurora Central’s Pat Manson and Wray’s Brenda House-Underhill make up the participants in this year’s class. They are joined by legendary Limon coach Warren Mitchell, former Creede administrator Lonnie Rogers, and former Fort Morgan orchestra director and music judge Larry Overton.

"The class of 2001 is representative of all facets of high school activities," CHSAA Commissioner Bob Ottewill said. "It recognizes coaches, athletes, officials, and administrators. This is an outstanding class, rich in the Hall’s tradition of excellence and character."

The class of 2001 will be inducted during a banquet on Jan. 23 at the Radisson Hotel Denver Southeast (I-225 and Parker). Individual tickets are $32.50 each and can be purchase by phoning the CHSAA Ticket Office at (303) 344-5050.

The selection of House-Underhill and Manson as student participants to the Hall of Fame puts the total number of participants to 29. There are now 24 coaches, 16 administrators, six officials, and three significant contributors enshrined in the Hall of Fame that began in 1989.

House-Underhill was part of Wray’s early dynasties in girls basketball. She was chosen all-conference four times and all-state for the Eagles. She also lettered four times in track and three in volleyball. She earned all-state honors in volleyball twice and qualified for the State Track Meet three times.

She helped lead the Eagles to the first sanctioned Class AA State Basketball title. Wray won the title again and two years after she graduated in 1977.

House-Underhill works in business operations for Boeing in Wichita, Kan.

Manson still holds the State Track Meet pole vault record of 17 feet, 3 inches since 1986. He still is one of only four high school boys ever to clear 18-0 in the United States. He starred in track and field for Aurora Central for four years. He also was a top sprinter, helping the 400 relay team to a state title in Class AAA.

He went on to compete in track for the University of Kansas where he was a seven-time All-American in pole vault and two-time NCAA Track and Field Meet record holder. He has competed three times in the Pan American Games and has been ranked no. 1 in the country twice. He continues to compete on the International Grand Prix Tour.

Mitchell is a coaching icon. He has coached for 50 years, the past 48 in Limon. He coached the school to four state boys basketball titles. He still is the Badgers’ track coach, having coached 75 individual champions, and 17 relay titles. His runners have set 13 state records and his relays another seven. He also is a member of the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame. He has been Coach of the Year in football three times in Class A. He earned the National High School Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award.

"Two things keep me in coaching," he said. "First and foremost is the enjoyment I get working with young people. Secondly, I love competition and the satisfaction I get from coaching young people in athletic events. I believe the skills and discipline young people receive from competing in all kinds of activities are essential in life."

Overton for 35 years until his retirement in 1999, taught and conducted the instrumental music programs at Fort Morgan High School. For those years, his programs were among the finest in the state. His groups routinely received highest ratings in the CHSAA’s Large Group and Solo and Ensemble festivals. He has been a large group festival judge for the past three years and solo and ensemble for 23 years. In 1995 he was a judge at the respected Colorado West Music Festival in Grand Junction. His currently is secretary-treasurer of the newly-formed Colorado Music Adjudicators Association. He has been a guest conductor for several orchestra festivals and at Adams State College at Western Nebraska College. He has earned numerous awards for his service to music and education.

Rogers for 33 years was a teacher, coach, and administrator with Creede schools. Rogers is said to have devoted his life to children. He was a two-time member of the CHSAA’s Executive Committee and helped the organization through some tough times. He was successful as a boys basketball coach, finishing second one season at State. Currently he is a Mineral County Commissioner.

An effort is under way to nominate Eulalia Skinner of Cortez. She was recently inducted into the Colorado Volleyball Officials Association’s Hall of Fame.