It's time to make your nominations for new members of the Saint Mary's College Athletic Hall of Fame. A nomination form is now available on the athletic website, www.SMCGaels.com. Or you can arrange to obtain nomination forms by calling my office at (925) 631-4399.

A recently assembled Hall of Fame Honors Court will soon begin the process of looking over nominee applications. To ensure that your candidates are considered for the next induction ceremony on Sunday, May 1, 2005, you must submit nominee information no later than October 10, 2004.

Candidates for Hall of Fame membership must be out of school a minimum of five years; have a Saint Mary's College degree; and be evaluated first on his/her athletics achievements and, secondly, on his/her service to the College and to his/her community. In extraordinary circumstances, the 15-member Honors Court can waive any of the above requirements by a two-thirds vote.

Nominations for individual candidates remain under consideration for 10 years. The Honors Court is entrusted with conferring membership in the Hall of Fame. Election requires a two-thirds majority vote of the Honors Court, PLUS one vote.

The Hall of Fame has become a collaborative effort of Alumni, the Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports, and the Alumni Office to recognize excellence at the College and to preserve important history of the institution.

It is my privilege to chair the Honors Court. I have an experienced, able-bodied assistant chair in Tom Bruce '67. The membership of the Court, diversified and knowledgeable, makes me confident of a sound, successful selection process.

The last Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in the year 2000. A maximum of seven individuals can be inducted at any one ceremony.

According to the operating principles for the Hall of Fame, which was approved in February 2004, the Hall induction ceremony will become an annual event beginning this spring.

Gael teams cannot be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but may be honored at induction ceremonies. To be so honored, a team must have completed competition more than 10 years prior and have won a major championship or competed for an NCAA or NAIA championship or in a bowl game.

I encourage you to make your nominations now for future Hall of Fame members. Persons making nominations are expected to furnish as complete information as possible to the Honors Court. Additional information about the process is available on the website.

Go Gaels!

-Carl R. Clapp, Director of Athletics