Twelve new members to be inducted into CU Athletic Hall of Fame

Six former All-Americans head the list of 12 new members who will be inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame at the 25th annual ceremonies Nov. 8 on campus. After this year's class is inducted, the membership in the hall will total 429.

The All-Americans include men's squash player Richard Chin '91, women's cross country and track distance runner Jennifer Cobb '92, wrestler Don New '67, men's soccer forward Sid Nolan '78, men's freestyle swimmer Robinson Ord '55 and football linebacker Mike Scully '84.

In addition, Becky Merchant '90, a four-time All-Ivy volleyball selection; Dave Merritt '85, a three-time All-Eastern Intercollegiate Tennis Association first-team singles player; Kim Ratushny '92, a four-time All-Ivy first-team women's hockey forward; and Pat Pennucci '62, a first-team All-Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League second baseman, also will be inducted.

Also enshrined in November will be Bill Fuerst '39, whose love for sports and concern for the players led him to take an active role in Cornell athletics, and the late Jack Musick, who was the Big Red's head football coach from 1966 until 1974.

In addition to the formal induction ceremonies, the honorees or their representatives will be recognized at halftime of the Cornell-Dartmouth football game Nov. 9.

The Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame was initiated in 1978. It became a reality through the generosity of the late Ellis H. Robison '18, whose gift to the university resulted in the construction of the Robison Hall of Fame Room in Schoellkopf Hall.

Here are brief biographies of each of the 12 inductees:

Richard Chin '91, men's squash: Considered the best squash player ever to play at Cornell, he was a four-time National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association All-America selection, earning first-team honors in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and second-team honors in 1989. He helped the Cornell men's squash team into the upper echelon of the nation during his four-year career, with the 1988 team compiling the best mark in Cornell history, with a 17-7 record and a No. 9 ranking.

Jennifer Cobb '92, women's cross country and track: She was a four-time All-American on the basis of her performance at the NCAA track and cross country championships. Cobb won five individual Heptagonal titles and seven as a member of Heps-winning relays, while placing second at the Heps cross country championships in 1990 and 1991 to earn All-Ivy first-team honors. She set Cornell records in the frosh indoor 800 and the 500 meters, and as a member of the 3,200 relay and distance medley relay. Cobb was a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award as a senior and was a two-time GTE Academic All-America first-team selection.

Bill Fuerst '39, special contributor: A follower of Cornell athletics since his undergraduate days, he has attended thousands of athletic contests over the years. In addition to the many gifts of financial support that he provides, he has made innumerable gifts of his time and energy to various programs. In 1996, the William F. Fuerst Jr. '39 Rehabilitation Room was dedicated in Schoellkopf Memorial Hall. He is a life member of the University Council and a foremost benefactor of Cornell, and he was a recipient of one of the 2000 Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Awards.

Becky Merchant '90, volleyball: She was a four-time All-Ivy volleyball selection, earning first-team honors three times (1987, 1988 and 1989) and honorable mention as a freshman in 1986. Co-captain in 1989, she led the team to the New York state championship in 1988 and 1989 and was selected to the all-tournament team. Merchant set several Cornell records and helped her team to 20 or more wins each of her four seasons with the varsity team.

Dave Merritt '85, men's tennis: He was a three-time All-Eastern Intercollegiate Tennis Association first-team singles selection and was a first-team All-EITA doubles pick as a freshman in 1982. Over his four-year career, he compiled an overall dual match record of 56-18 in singles play. His consistency helped the Big Red put together winning seasons in three of his four seasons with the varsity team. Merritt received a bid to compete in the NCAA singles championships in 1984 and served as captain of the team as a junior and senior.

Jack Musick, football coach: He was head football coach at Cornell from 1966 until 1974, compiling a nine-year record of 45-33-3, with five winning seasons. His 1971 team compiled an overall record of 8-1 and tied with Dartmouth for the Ivy League championship, with a 6-1 mark. It was the first time Cornell had captured a share of the Ivy League football title since the league was formalized in 1956. He was named District I Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association in 1971.

Don New '67, wrestling: He won the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association 137-pound championship as a senior and went on to finish fifth at the NCAA championships to earn All-America honors. He was the recipient of the Peter J. Floros Memorial Award as the team's most valuable wrestler in 1967. New compiled a three-year dual match record of 28-6, going 10-1 as a senior, 9-4 as a junior and 9-1 as a sophomore. He competed in an East-West all-star meet in 1967.

Sid Nolan '78, men's soccer: He won All-America honorable mention honors as a forward on the men's soccer team in 1977, when Cornell compiled an overall record of 12-3-1, won the Ivy League title and participated in the NCAA playoffs. Nolan was a two-time All-Ivy first-team selection and an All-New York state pick. At the end of his three years with the varsity team, he ranked fourth on Cornell's all-time career points list and third in career assists. He led the team in scoring in 1976 and was the recipient of the team's Clive Beckford Memorial Most Valuable Player Award in 1976 and 1977.

Robinson Ord '55, men's swimming: He was a three-time All-American, earning the honor in the 50 freestyle at the NCAA championships in 1954 and 1955 and as a member of the 400 free relay in 1954. As a sophomore, he went 4-0 in the 50 free in dual meets, 6-2 as a junior and 10-1 as a senior. He also competed in the 100 free, going 6-1 in dual meets as a senior. He placed fifth in the 50 free and swam a leg of the sixth-place 440 relay at the 1955 Eastern championships. He swam the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay that placed third at the Easterns in 1954.

Pat Pennucci '62, baseball, football: He was named to the All-Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League first team as a second baseman in 1962. Captain of the 1962 baseball team, he was a two-time recipient of the Dr. Albert H. Sharpe Award as the team's most valuable player, earning the honor as a sophomore, when he led the Big Red in batting, with a .365 average, and as a senior, when he topped the squad with a .404 average. He was a halfback on the football team in 1959 and 1960, earning a letter in 1960. In nine games, he led the '60 team in rushing and receiving.

Kim Ratushny '92, women's ice hockey: She is one of only eight Ivy League women's hockey players to be named to the All-Ivy first team four times. She led the team in scoring four straight seasons, including her freshman year, when she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year. She was instrumental in helping Cornell win the Ivy title with a perfect 10-0 record in league competition in 1989-90. At the end of her four years at Cornell, she ranked seventh in career scoring. As a senior, she was voted the team's most valuable player. In 1999 Ratushny was one of Cornell's hockey selections to the Women's Ivy League Silver Anniversary Honor Roll. She was a member of the Team Canada that won the 1990 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships.

Mike Scully '84, football: A three-year starter on the football team, he ranks among the best three linebackers at Cornell over the past two decades. Co-captain of the 1983 team, he was named to the All-Ivy first team in 1983, after receiving All-Ivy second-team honors the previous season and honorable mention in 1981. He was an All-America honorable mention pick by the Associated Press in 1983. The team leader in tackles from 1981 to 1983, he set the all-time Cornell record for career tackles with 349.