CLASS OF 2026 INDUCTION CEREMONY
at
INAUGURAL LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENT
FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026
MARK DAVIS
TIM GRGURICH
RYAN MOORE
MARK WARKENTIEN
CLIFF FINDLAY
To our Legacy Partners
Thank you for your ongoing generosity
Abajian Family
Boyd Gaming
Fertitta Family
Findlay Family
Gaughan Family
Terrible Herbst
UFC
Your support allows us to honor our inductees and give back to the Las Vegas community through our youth and scholarship programs.
Agassi Foundation
S c a n o r v i s i t 4 WA L L . C O M
ON BEHALF OF the Board of Directors, it is my honor to welcome you and to share the continued story of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.
Since its formation in 1997, the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame has celebrated the individuals whose dedication, talent, and leadership have helped shape the rich sports culture of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Our mission is twofold: to recognize those who have made a significant impact on our community through sports and to raise funds that benefit local youth by supporting opportunities to participate and grow through athletics.
Our Hall of Fame will proudly include 137 inductees—remarkable athletes, coaches, administrators, organizations, events and community leaders whose contributions have left a lasting mark on Southern Nevada. Each inductee represents not only excellence in sport, but also the spirit of community that makes Las Vegas such a special place.
We are especially grateful to our founders, Cliff Findlay and Rich Abajian, whose vision and commitment established the foundation for what the Hall of Fame has become today. Their leadership ensured that the achievements of our community’s sports pioneers and champions would be preserved and celebrated for generations.
The Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame is proudly located inside Lee’s Family Forum, where visitors can explore the stories and accomplishments of our inductees. Beyond the Hall itself, our organization hosts several events each year that bring the community together while supporting our mission.
Our headline event is the annual Induction Ceremony and Gala, a memorable evening that honors the newest class of inductees. Throughout the year, we also host a variety of fundraising events, including our Bowling Tournament, Pickleball Tournament, and Golf Tournament. These events help us continue our commitment to raising funds that support scholarships and youth sports programs across Southern Nevada.
We are deeply grateful to the community, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who make this work possible. Together, we celebrate the past, honor the present, and invest in the future of sports in Southern Nevada.
Thank you for being part of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.
Sincerely,
Chairman – Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame
SECURE YOUR SPOT
OUR MISSION Executive Leadership
The Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization committed to recognizing the outstanding achievements by Southern Nevada athletes, both in the world of sports and the local community. Proceeds from the event will
be donated to organizations committed to the support and enhancement of Southern Nevada youth through active participation in programs designed to promote leadership, values and character through sports.
OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mike Lubbe, Board Chair
Tom Wagner, Vice Chair
Thom Blinkinsop, Treasurer
Dan Abdalla
Jeremy Anderson
Jennifer Bennett
Damian Costa
Dale Eeles
Chris Engler
Robby Findlay
Michael Macleod, Secretary
John Saccenti, Past Chair
Stephanie Bernas, Member At-Large
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shaun Gogna
Melissa Meacham-Grossman
Kylie Higgins
Christian Howard
Jim Lambright
Michael Mack
Chaz Morton
ADVISORY / LEGACY BOARD
Dick Calvert
Tyler Corder
Terry Cottle
Dan Dolby
Rick Glenn
Kevin Higgins
Tom Humm
Simon Keith
Joe Kelly
Don Logan
Bill Purcell
Marc Ratner
Steve Stallworth
Jeff Motley
Beau Orth
Savannah Orth
Dan Rush
Dave Russo
Julie Samuelson
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Tyler Baldwin
EJ Cutliff
Jesse Leeds
Deacon Nauslar
Steve Spatafore
Dean White
List of Inductees
Here is the prestigious list of all honored Southern Nevada Sports Inductees with year and class.
2026
Mark Davis
Tim Grgurich
Ryan Moore
Mark Warkentien
RECIPIENT OF THE INAUGURAL
LEGACY AWARD
Cliff Findlay
2025
Ron Aitken
Reneé Brown
Deryk Engelland
T.J. Lavin
Horrace Smith & Rick Traasdahl
2024
Kenny Bayless
Tony Bonnici & Jesse Leeds
Brady Exber
C.J. Watson
2023
Connor Fields
Kenny Guinn
Kevin Higgins
Lon Kruger
Las Vegas Motor
Speedway
Karen Weitz
2022
Larry Brown
Shawn Davis
Glen Gondrezick
Ryan Ludwick
DeMarco Murray
Amy Purdy
2019
Steve Carp
Hunkie Cooper
Manny Guerra
Mike Martin
Steve Stallworth
Vegas Golden Knights
2018
Al Bernstein
Armon Gilliam
Forrest Griffin
Rossi Ralenkotter
Jim Reitz
Las Vegas Thunder
2017
Overton Curtis
Butch Harmon
Las Vegas Bowl
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Sam Schmidt
2016 97-98 UNLV Golf Team
Marty Cordova
Frank Mir
Sig Rogich
2015
Kurt Busch
Glenn Carano
Ric Griffith
Joe Kelly
Mike Tyson
2014
Ken Black
Tim Chambers
Carey Hart
Chris Riley
The Herbst Family
2013
Andre Agassi
Bill Bobier
Pat Christenson
Stephanie Louden
Chris Powell
Dana White
2012
Stacey Augmon
Elbert John “Duke” Durden
Simon Keith
Las Vegas Founders
Frank Nails
2011
1944 Las Vegas High
School Football Team
Christina M. Hixson
Steven Jackson
Don Logan
Tasha Schwikert
2010
Freddie Banks
James “Bruce” Bayne
Dick Calvert
Fred Darling
Ralph Meder
The Fertitta Family
2009
Michael Gaughan
Jimmy May
National Finals Rodeo
Frank Plasso
Robert Smith
2008
Rich Abajian
Fred Dallimore
Larry Johnson
Mel Larson
Wendy Macpherson
2007
1983 Las Vegas Stars
Bob Blum
Tina Kunzer-Murphy
Mike Pritchard
The Boyd Family
2006
Greg Anthony
Royce Feour
Dr. Gerald Higgins
George MacCall
Richard Steele
2005
Robert Gamez
Keith Kleven
Lou Pisani
Marc Ratner
Matt Williams
2004
Jack Cason
Richie Clyne
Tony Knap
Dwaine Knight
Gerald Riggs
2002
Rodger Fairless
Lori Harrigan
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
Greg Maddux
Mike Maddux
Mike Morgan
2001
1989-90 UNLV Basketball Team
Cliff Findlay
Frank Hawkins
Dr. Donald J. Romeo
Dr. Brad Rothermel
2000
Jim Colbert
Randall Cunningham
Lionel Hollins
Johnny Tocco
Tom Wiesner
1999
Marty Barrett
Bill Ireland
Davey Pearl
The Cashman Family
1998
1976-77 UNLV Men’s Basketball Team
Angelo Collis
Bill “Wildcat” Morris
Jerry Tarkanian
Sheila Tarr-Smith
Lee White
1997
David Humm
BY BRIAN HURLBURT
WHILE CLIFF FINDLAY is receiving the inaugural Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame Legacy Award as part of the 2026 induction event at Lee’s Family Forum, he was adamant about limiting the spotlight. His good deeds were never inspired by the attention, praise, and recognition that it sometimes garners. He did all of it only to make Southern Nevada – and the SNSHF – better.
“Cliff Findlay built a local juggernaut, and there may not be anyone in Southern Nevada who gives back more,” said Don Logan, President/COO, Las Vegas Aviators. “His support of sports, teams, charities, and the community is everywhere from us here at the Aviators, to UNLV athletics, CSN, the Aces, the Golden Knights, Raiders and more. Cliff always finds a way to say yes, and he gives back because he truly appreciates what Southern Nevada has given him. He’s not just a businessman, he is a true sportsman, a family man, and a cornerstone of this community.”
Findlay only agreed to accept the Legacy Award if it served a larger purpose and advanced a mission that he helped bring to life in 1997, when the first honoree, David Humm, was inducted. Findlay and a group that included Logan, Rich Abajian, Steve Stallworth, Tom Humm, and others had a vision. They also had the follow-through.
“A lot of people have ideas and vision, but sustaining them over the long term is the real challenge,” said Mike Lubbe, Chairperson, SNSHF. “Cliff has been there from the beginning with ideas and the investment needed to grow into what we are today, with
a million-dollar exhibit in a state-of-the-art arena and more than 130 inductees. He, his family, and the entire Findlay team have consistently helped sustain the Hall, including being among the first to step up as major donors when we wanted a permanent home.”
Tom Humm also remembered that Findlay was there from day one.
“The first Hall of Fame banquet was held in honor of my brother, David Humm,” Humm said. “We had 17 Raiders in attendance, with Al Davis as the keynote speaker alongside Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne. Because it was done with such class and care, much of that due to Cliff’s generosity, the event and the Hall itself took off from day one.”
The Findlay name is woven into the fabric of Las Vegas, dating back to when his father, Pete Findlay, brought the family from Panaca and saw something bigger in a growing desert town. Cliff carried that vision forward, helping transform a single dealership into what is now one of the largest privately held automotive groups in the country.
But even as the business grew across multiple states, the focus at home never shifted. Jobs were created. Families were supported. And the community grew alongside the company.
“I would like everybody to know that when you talk to Cliff, whether it was 30 years ago or today, he’s just a great, down-to-earth and generous guy,” Humm said. “I tell the story that I called him one day to once again thank him for everything he did for our family. I asked what he was doing, and he said, ‘I’m with my dog in my golf cart.’ That’s a perfect picture of Cliff. His impact is felt throughout Southern
Here’s how Cliff Findlay earned the inaugural Legacy Award and why he is so deserving
Nevada, in sports and beyond.”
Long before the dealerships expanded, Findlay was making an impact as a UNLV basketball player. That connection to sport never left him.
“His first impact came as a forward at UNLV, where he played a major role on the basketball team over a twoyear period,” Humm said. “Games were held at the original Las Vegas Convention Center, and he was a force under the basket and a strong scorer in the paint. He was also a good student and a great person, so his influence on the university extended beyond the court. His UNLV career has come full circle, as he is now a major donor to UNLV athletics.”
That commitment to Southern Nevada sports is perhaps most visible in the Hall of Fame itself. What started as an idea to honor athletes and give back to those who shaped the region has become a lasting institution. Findlay and Abajian first hatched the idea on a trip to San Francisco when they saw the San Francisco Sports Hall of Fame in the airport.
The Legacy Award was created to recognize key previous inductees who have made a deep impact on the SNSHF.
“We wanted to look back to the founders to make sure they understood our appreciation for all that they’ve done,” Lubbe said. “They had the vision and the perseverance to ensure its long-term sustainability. We also wanted to bestow this honor while they are here to enjoy it with their family and friends.”
Logan had the final word when it comes to Findlay’s impact on the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.
“There is no Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame without Cliff Findlay; he made it happen,” Logan said. “Someone with his vision, leadership, and financial wherewithal had to grab the bull by the horns and get it done.”
With family, with former coach Jerry Tarkanian, with Michael Jordan, playing days and torch bearer in the Oylimpics.
MARK DAVIS
MARK DAVIS IS quite simply one of the pillars of the Las Vegas sports landscape. As the owner and managing partner of the Raiders, he has carried on the legacy of his late, great father and his unwavering “Commitment to Excellence.”
He navigated the move from Oakland to Las Vegas, oversaw the development of Allegiant Stadium and ushered in a new era for the Silver and Black.
Following the move to Las Vegas, Mark paid tribute to Al Davis by stating, “My father always said, ‘the greatness of the Raiders is in its future,’ and the opportunity to build a world-class stadium in the entertainment capital of the world is a significant step toward achieving that greatness.”
Prior to inheriting ownership of the team,
THE DAVIS FILE
BORN: May 18, 1955
Davis was involved in the retail part of the Raiders’ business where you helped develop their Raider Image stores and spent time in the Raiders equipment department.
In 2021, Davis purchased the Las Vegas Aces from MGM Resorts International under the belief that the WNBA players should be paid more. During his tenure, the Aces have become the WNBA’s dominant team, claiming championships in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Under his leadership, the Raiders have opened the Las Vegas Raiders’ Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada and the accompanying Las Vegas Aces Headquarters, the first facility of its kind exclusively for a WNBA team.
Davis continues to be a pioneer, innovator and leader in business in Las Vegas.
CLAIM TO FAME: As the controlling owner and managing general partner of the Las Vegas Raiders he navigated the move from Oakland to Las Vegas and ushered in a new era for the Silver and Black.
CONGRATULATIONS
THE
NEVADA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
CLASS OF 2026
MARK DAVIS
TIM GRGURICH
INAUGURAL
TIM GRGURICH
A NATIVE OF Pittsburgh, Tim Grgurich dedicated more than 50 years to the sport of basketball and developing players on both the collegiate and professional level, serving as both a head coach and longtime assistant coach.
He served as the head coach twice in his career, first at the University of Pittsburgh prior to heading to UNLV as an assistant and later returning to the Runnin’ Rebels for a short stint in 1994.
After moving to Las Vegas in August of 1980, Grgurich served as an assistant to Jerry Tarkanian from 1981 to 1992. He helped usher in the golden age of the aforementioned Runnin’ Rebel basketball program, including the 1990 National Championship.
Grgurich later joined the Seattle SuperSonics in 1992, bringing his work ethic, no-nonsense approach and wealth of coaching techniques to the NBA. Among the many players and coaches he helped during his career – men who still swear by his knowhow and approach – include Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Scottie Pippen, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chauncey Billups, Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, Bill Cartwright, Terry Stotts, Steve Kerr and Bob Weiss, among others.
Former long-time head coach George Karl hired Grgurich as a member of his staff multiple times, including twice in Seattle and later in Denver and Milwaukee. Karl once wrote that “The workaholic GRG always preferred to be working out a player or working out himself. His intensity made players trust him and they confided in him, too. A great assistant coach.”
In 2018, Grgurich was the recipient of the Tex Winter Assistant Lifetime Impact
Award, which recognizes the body of work as a coach who has impacted the chemistry, culture and competitive capability of their respective teams.
Grgurich is a member of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame and the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame.
He operated under the mantra of “If you can’t teach, you can’t coach.” With that philosophy, Grgurich will be forever known as one of the greatest and most impactful assistant coaches in the history of NBA basketball.
THE GRGURICH FILE
BORN: June 11, 1941
CLAIM TO FAME: Grgurich dedicated more than 50 years to the sport of basketball, while supporting and developing players on both the collegiate and professional level.
RYAN MOORE
RYAN MOORE is one of the most accomplished amateur and professional golfers to ever represent Southern Nevada and UNLV Athletics. Moore was an All-American at UNLV, and widely regarded as the most heralded player in the storied history of UNLV men’s golf. He is also one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of any Rebel sport.
THE MOORE FILE
BORN: December 5, 1982
CLAIM TO FAME: Moore is one of the greatest UNLV golfers in history, and one of the most decorated UNLV athletes in history.
Moore is one of only two UNLV golfers to win an NCAA individual title. He won the title in 2004, while Warren Schutte won his title in 1991.
His 2004 amateur golf season is arguably the best in golf history, besting Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones. He captured the U.S. Amateur, the NCAA, the U.S. Amateur Public Links, the Western Amateur and the Sahalee Players Championships to become the first golfer to ever win all five events in the same year.
As a UNLV senior, Moore competed in nine collegiate events, capturing three victories and recording three additional third-place finishes. That remarkable final season culminated in Moore sweeping every major national player of the year honor in collegiate golf. He claimed the Ben Hogan Award, the Nicklaus Award, and the Haskins Award. He ended the year with a top 5 finish at the NCAA Golf Championships.
Moore’s amateur résumé includes being a member of three prestigious international teams. He represented the United States in two Arnold Palmer Cups and one Walker Cup. As a professional, he played on the 2016 United States Ryder Cup team.
Turning professional in 2005, Moore has enjoyed a highly successful career on the PGA Tour since 2006. His professional achievements include five PGA Tour victories and more than 298 cuts made.
MARK WARKENTIEN
A NATIVE OF Huntington, Indiana, Mark Warkentien and his family moved to Riverside, Calif. in the mid-sixties where he graduated from Ramona High School. He went on to graduate with a degree in Physical Education, Teaching and Coaching from Cal State Fullerton in 1976.
Warkentien made a significant impact throughout his career, both as a coach and executive. His first coaching job was as an assistant to Bill Muligan at UC-Irvine. From there, he served as an assistant to Jerry Tarkanian with the Runnin’ Rebels from 1981-87, including the team that reached Final Four in 1987. From 1987-91, he left the bench to serve as assistant athletic director, which led to winning the program’s first and only National Championship in 1990.
During his tenure in the NBA (including stops in Seattle, Portland and Cleveland), Warkentien worked his way up from a scout and assistant general manager to eventually becoming the vice president of basketball operations of the Denver Nuggets, serving in that role from 2006-10. The Nuggets
reached the playoffs in each of the four seasons with him at the helm, advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2009. Following that season in Denver, he was named the NBA Executive of the Year.
Warkentien later served as the director of player personnel for the New York Knicks through the 2018 season and also served in consultant/special advisor roles for the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Affectionately referred to by other basketball executives as “the scout,” Warkentien was known as one of the best basketball evaluators in the world.
Throughout his career, he built strong relationships and always wanted to help others around him get better. One of his favorite quotes was from Theodore Roosevelt who said: “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” He was always committed to self improvement, service and education to draw people together. Indicative of this philosophy, he returned to school at the age of 60 to complete his master’s degree in Sports Leadership through the Sports Management World Wide program at Concordia University of Chicago.
Survived by his wife, Maureen, and their daughters, Kreigh and Aubrie, he passed away on December 23, 2022, but he will always be remembered as someone who excelled on and off the court, and in life as well.
THE WARKENTIEN FILE
BORN: April 16, 1953
CLAIM TO FAME: During his career, he served as an assistant coach to Jerry Tarkanian and transitioned to numerous roles in the NBA as one of the league’s best talent evaluators.
Rich Abajian Leadership Scholarships
ELIAS RAMOS
GRADUATING FROM:
Basic Academy of International Studies
WEIGHTED GPA: 4.9
SPORT PLAYED: Volleyball
ATTENDING WHAT COLLEGE: Vanderbilt University
MAJOR: Economics
CAYLEE SAMANTHA
ACEVEDO CASTRO
GRADUATING FROM:
College of Southern Nevada High School East
WEIGHTED GPA: 4.75
SPORT PLAYED: Soccer, Track
ATTENDING WHAT COLLEGE: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
MAJOR: Applied Health Science (Pre-Med), Minor in Communications
STALLWORTH STRONG FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
In conjunction with the Bill IrelandLas Vegas Chapter of the National Football Foundation, the Stallworth Strong Scholarships are being awarded tonight to deserving student athletes from Southern Nevada who wish to continue their college football career. The scholarship is in honor of Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Steve Stallworth, the UNLV quarterback from 198286 and current general manager of South Point Arena, Equestrian Center and Priefert Pavilion. He also has overcome cancer and the scholarship rewards perseverance and character.
DIANO SANTIAGO
GRADUATING FROM:
Clark High School
WEIGHTED GPA: 3.30
SPORT: Football
ATTENDING: Mayville State University
MAJOR: Kinesiology/Human Performance
BRYCE CLARK
GRADUATING FROM: Green Valley High School
WEIGHTED GPA: 3.02
SPORT: Football
ATTENDING:
Mayville State University
MAJOR: Sports Management
2 0 26 IN DU C TE E S
Thank you for all you contributed to the Las Vegas Sports Community.
ETHAN KURIAN
GRADUATING FROM: Clark High School
WEIGHTED GPA: 4.95
SPORT PLAYED: Volleyball
ATTENDING WHAT COLLEGE: Harvard University
MAJOR: Human Development and Regenerative Biology
GRADUATING FROM: West Career & Technical Academy
WEIGHTED GPA: 4.65
SPORT PLAYED: Intramural Sport for Kung Fu
ATTENDING WHAT COLLEGE: Seattle University
MAJOR: Business
THIS IS WHAT SPORTS CAN DO.
David Humm Scholarship Award for Courage
Simon Keith Heart of a Champion Award NATALIE SOLOMON
Erin Armstrong
Jake Keel 2000
Lindsay Appuglise
James O’Dea
Cody Helbert
Marisa Marconi
Patricia DeSimone
Kris Prado
Sondra Grigsby
Jason Maimes
Cortney Durand
Joshua Webster 2005
Mitchell Barlow
Brooke Paulson 2006
Kristina Kline
J. Ryan Whitesitt 2007
2013
JB Marek
Katie Palmer 2008
Jeremy Kadoich
Jordan Nitz 2009
Alex Bonczyk
Rebecca Revo
Paxton Fleming
Gregory Tucker
Amanda Boucher
Julia Garcia
Katherine Fischer
Nicole Vandersteldt
Zoe Galindo
Erika Hanuscin
Jessica Reed
Breanna Robinson
Cody Schuster
Alexander Blutman
Kaleileihua Cabanas
Avalan Frantz
Megan Purdy
Hannah Tatlock 2014
Katelyn Faulk
Meredith Hall
Michael Spada
Nicholas Werner
Trina Whiteside 2015
Courtney Lugo
Griffin Mallas
Gabriella Mitchel
Sterling Stalz 2016
Nathalie Martinez
Christian Montenegro
Christian Ong
Kasdyn Rafie
2017
Cortney Blumenthal
Jennifer Martinez
Jadyn Nogues
Emilia Piccininni
Jonathan Sosa 2018
Sadie Oakley
Makenna Curcuru
Liam Jones
Hannah Grossman
Haley Tyrell
Claire Binfield
Mandi Dallimore
Deanine Dilworth
Haley Morton
Kendall Nether
Abigail Zuhlke
Eunice Choi
Emma Foster
Taylor Gauthier
Reagan Parise
Olivia Pretner
Kennith Rose
Sariah Wilkinson
2023
Daphne Egelhoff
Logan Frazier-Smith
Joanne Lee
Marley Spielberg
Georgia Vigo
Cassandra Whitman
Marcus Young
2024
Sanjeev Chundu
Jace Hashimoto
Aaliyah Jaime
Monica Jean-Julien
Mackenzie Shepard
Tatum Thompson
Sophia Zagorski
2025
Viktoria Copatch
Ashish Dhillon
Angelina Harutyunyan
Samantha Loya Gandara
David Johnson
Addison Middleton
David Raiter
Bomani Satterfield
Jordyn Staggs
Ava Vece
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
Thrilling Concerts, Electric Sporting Events, and Spectacular Shows.
WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
The Las Vegas Aviators are proud to honor the 2026 Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
MARK DAVIS
TIM GRGURICH
CLIFF FINDLAY RYAN MOORE
MARK WARKENTIEN
Special congratulations to this year’s Legacy Award recipient, Cliff Findlay!
JOSH JONES
2026 SNSHF HUNKIE COOPER COMMITMENT TO YOUTH AWARDS
SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION: SECTA
SPORT/ ROLE: Soccer
Josh Jones has coached boys and girls soccer for more than 20 years and teaches at SECTA, helping elevate the school into one of the area’s top magnet programs. Beyond the field, Josh and his wife Beth have been strong advocates for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community as parents of two hard-of-hearing children. Their family traveled to Carson City multiple times to support the Nevada constitutional amendment that replaced outdated language with respectful, people-first terminology. Their daughter, Lexie, also plays for the U.S. Deaf Women’s National Team. Jones was named the 2025 NFHS Nevada State Coach of the Year for Girls Soccer.
KELLEN BUSH
SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION:
Las Vegas Blitz / Green Valley / Greenspun SPORT/ ROLE: Football, Flag Football
Kellen Bush has been a cornerstone of the Southern Nevada football community for well over a decade. He was an early advocate for girls flag football, helping push the sport forward before it gained broad recognition. He coaches girls flag football at Green Valley High School and Greenspun Middle School, contributes on the tackle football side, and leads the Las Vegas Blitz Football Club. Kellen is also widely respected for mentoring young officials, teaching the game, and building programs centered on accountability, teamwork, and character.
JILL MONTGOMERY
SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION:
Doral Academy Pebble SPORT/ ROLE: Boys Basketball, Flag Football
Jill Montgomery is the Boys Basketball and Flag Football Coach at Doral Academy Pebble. She was named the 2026-27 NCSAA Flag Football Coach of the Year and stands out as the only female coach in both boys basketball and flag football at her school. More importantly, she is known for going above and beyond for her student-athletes, helping them become better students and better people. At a small school with limited resources, Coach Montgomery consistently creates a positive and meaningful experience for her athletes through servant leadership, energy, and care.
SHANA STOTT
SCHOOL/ ORGANIZATION: Eldorado High School SPORT/ ROLE: Cheerleading, Soccer, Mentor, “Mom”
Shana Stott is a longtime Eldorado High School educator, mentor, and advocate for students, especially those who need extra support to stay on track toward graduation. An Eldorado alumna, she returned to the school to teach and became a central figure in student life as a teacher, cheer coach, supporter of athletics, adviser, and trusted mentor. She has led credit-retrieval efforts, provided food and basic support to students out of her own pocket, and is widely known for treating students like family. Her impact reaches far beyond the classroom, which is why so many students know her simply as ‘Mom.’
In Memory
HALL OF FAME LEGENDS LOST
We remember three Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Famers who passed away since our 2025 induction: Ken Black, Rossi Ralenkotter and Brad Rothermel.
BY BRIAN HURLBURT
BRAD ROTHERMEL
A UNLV legend was lost when former UNLV Athletic Director Brad Rothermel passed away at age 88 on March 30, 2026. Rothermel was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 along with the 1989-90 UNLV basketball team, Cliff Findlay, Dr. Donald J. Romeo, and Frank Hawkins.
A beloved figure in Rebel history, Rothermel served as the school’s director of athletics for 10 years from 1981-1990 and steered UNLV to unprecedented success in every sport, most notably the men’s basketball national championship won by legendary head coach and fellow Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Tarkanian in 1990.
“It’s hard to comprehend how good Brad was,” Tarkanian said in 2009. “He had no ego. He was a hard worker and all he cared about was helping people. So many (athletic directors) right away answer, ‘No, we can’t do that.’ When you’d talk to Brad, the first thing he’d say is, ‘We’ll see if we can make it work.’ You’d sit down and come up with different possibilities. Sometimes he’d say, ‘Jerry, I don’t
think this is feasible.’ But you’d understand it. You’d finish and know why it couldn’t work.”
During Rothermel’s tenure, 14 varsity programs reached NCAA postseason play and Rebel teams won a total of 33 conference championships. That list included the 1984 football team, which won its first league title and bowl game under head coach Harvey Hyde. Rothermel also orchestrated the Runnin’ Rebels’ move from the Las Vegas Convention Center into the Thomas & Mack Center, which opened in 1983.
He is credited with hiring two other Hall of Fame coaches who built powerhouse programs for the Scarlet & Gray — Dwaine Knight, who would go on to win the 1998 NCAA men’s golf championship, and Shan McDonald, who guided Rebel softball to three trips to the Women’s College World Series.
“Southern Nevada has lost a giant from its athletics history,” said UNLV Director of Athletics Erick Harper. “Brad Rothermel helped put the Rebels on the map in the world of sports and he was truly a gentleman in everything he did as a respected leader, educator and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Suzanne, and the entire Rothermel family.”
KEN BLACK
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Ken Black was a Drag Racing legend who passed away Aug. 25, 2025, at the age of 79. He was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
Black, a businessman, created a team that launched the career of 6-time NHRA World Champion Greg Anderson. Upon his passing, the team released a statement:
“Ken Black was a giant among men. Throughout his life and in ways that stretched beyond the dragstrip, he was an admired leader, an astute businessman, and a gentleman who saw the potential in others, encouraging them to rise to any challenge and reach for the biggest dreams. Wearing his signature cowboy hat and supporting the team that he and Anderson built together, Ken was the heart and soul of KB Racing and an integral part of NHRA Pro Stock. Across decades of dedication to drag racing, Ken made a positive impact on countless
lives. It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dear friend, our coach, and the man who built KB Racing. His legacy will live on through our racing program, but more importantly, through each of the lives he touched. We are who we are because of him.”
In Memory
As an 18-year high school student from Las Vegas’ Western High School, Black realized that his passion was in racing. At that young age, he entered his Chevy 2 Nova SS in a race at the now defunct Stardust Raceway and won that first race, receiving a trophy and jacket as a first-place prize. That was in 1964.
While many of the local tracks started to close in Las Vegas, Ken found a home at the newly opened Las Vegas Speedrome. This facility, which hosted drag races through 1999, sat on the spot now occupied by the grandstands of the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. During his successful run as one of the top local drag racers, Ken realized he needed to earn a living on his own. He borrowed $5,000 from his father to start a construction business.
In the mid-1990s, Black partnered with George Marnell to form Marnell-Black Racing with George as the driver. In 2000, Marnell and Black hired a crew chief named Greg Anderson, who also was interested in driving. In 2001 at Bristol, Tenn., Anderson – the driver – gave Marnell-Black Racing its first professional win.
Anderson would win once more in 2001 as he took top honors at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. George Marnell picked up his first win later that year in Memphis. By 2002, Black had formed a new team with his son Kenny and called it KB Racing. They hired Anderson as the driver and it became one of NHRA’s most successful race teams, regardless of class, ever.
ROSSI RALENKOTTER
Rossi Ralenkotter was one of the most accomplished executives in the history of Las Vegas and a 2018 Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He died Oct. 20, 2025, at age 78.
He was known worldwide as a researchobsessed destination marketer who analyzed
the details and attracted the world to Las Vegas.
“Rossi Ralenkotter changed the game,” said U.S. Travel CEO Geoff Freeman. “His audacious, data-driven marketing campaigns raised the bar for destinations around the globe.”
During his career at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Ralenkotter was responsible for marketing and branding Las Vegas and Southern Nevada as the world’s most desirable destination for leisure and business travel. Under Ralenkotter’s leadership, the LVCVA launched the most successful branding campaign in tourism history, which is best known for its oft-repeated tagline, “What happens here, stays here.” It was selected the No. 1 campaign by the voting public and was inducted into the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame in 2011.
Under Ralenkotter’s leadership, Las Vegas became the world’s trade show capital and hosted 50+ of the largest 250 trade shows. Ralenkotter was also instrumental in the development of Las Vegas as a major sports destination, helping attract major events like the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the NBA AllStar Game, the USA Sevens rugby tournament, two NASCAR race weekends, the Professional Bull Riders, and more.
He was also an accomplished athlete himself as a four-year letterman in baseball and a letterman in basketball at Bishop Gorman High School. Rossi earned baseball all-conference honors in 1964 and 1965 and led the conference in hitting with a batting average of .452 in 1964. He also served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was on the boards of many local nonprofits.
Your achievements inspire. Your impact is lasting. Your legacy is Southern Nevada.
From jump shots to jump starts, Cliff still knows how to drive.
Congratulations on the Legacy Award Boss.