Kelso Hilander Hall of Fame — Honoring Legends of Kelso, Washington
The Kelso Hilander Hall of Fame (KPSF HHoF) is a community-powered initiative celebrating extraordinary individuals who have made lasting contributions to Kelso, Washington — in athletics, academics, community service, and beyond. Powered by Hilander Democracy and presented by the Kelso Public Schools Foundation (KPSF), the Hall of Fame honors the legends that Kelso has produced across generations.
2025 Hilander Hall of Fame — Second Class of Inductees
The 2025 induction ceremony takes place on February 7–8, 2026 at Kelso High School and Ashtown Brewing Company. The second class of inductees was selected through Hilander Democracy by the Kelso community.
2025 Academics Inductees
- Tom Kaneko — Section Chief of Nephrology and Hypertension, Medical Director of Lebanon Fresenius Dialysis Unit
- Chad Zandi — Attorney practicing in Kelso/Longview with degrees in psychology and law from WSU and University of Tulsa
2025 Athletics Inductees
- Jeff Bailey — Baseball catching legend, 1995 State Champion, 2nd round MLB draft pick in 1997
- Serena Settlemier — State champion pitcher, Big 12 MVP, All-American at Kansas, pro career in U.S. and abroad, 2007 NPF All-Star
2025 Community Hero Inductees
- Larry Hembree — Started Kelso's Fire Science Program, former school board member, 20+ year firefighter, current Emergency Management Services Director
- Les Nelson — Three-term Cowlitz County Sheriff who led the county through the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption, saving countless lives
2025 Team/Group Inductees
- 1983 Football Team — AA state champions defeating Sedro Woolley 11-2, coined "The truck stops here" for their toughness and physicality
- 2000 Girls Softball Team — 4A state runner-up with future D1 athletes who grew up playing together in Kelso
2025 Distinguished Alumni Inductees
- Cal Miller — Co-Founder of Pacific Tech Construction, top local sponsor and philanthropist, local coach building youth programs
- Terry Anshutz — Lexington Chevron owner, decades of coaching, financial contributions, and mentorship
2025 Distinguished Service Inductees
- Gary Kinch — 36 years teaching and coaching, 22 years as VP and athletic director, instrumental in Kelso High School remodel
- Tim Wines — Local businessman and cross country coach focused on life skills, supportive team environments, and athlete personal growth
2024 Hilander Hall of Fame — Inaugural Class of Inductees
The inaugural 2024 class was the first to be selected through Hilander Democracy, setting the standard for community-driven recognition of excellence in Kelso.
2024 Academics
- Josh Cracraft — Hilander valedictorian turned Harvard graduate whose brilliance inspired excellence
- Darcy Wishard — Visionary librarian who transformed Huntington's library into a modern learning hub
2024 Athletics
- Michelle Mury — Hilander javelin champion and volleyball coach who brought home Kelso's first state trophy
- Kiana Davis — Three-time Hilander track and field record holder and two-time Olympic trials competitor
2024 Team/Group
- 1995 Baseball Team — Legendary Hilander state champions who brought the crown home to Kelso
- 1984 Track & Field Team — Historic team that set the gold standard for excellence
2024 Distinguished Alumni
- Tommy Lloyd — Hilander point guard turned Arizona Basketball Head Coach and National Coach of the Year
- Jake Stewart — Hilander distance running champion building Gonzaga's national powerhouse
2024 Distinguished Service
- Rick Ames — 40-year educator who transformed Kelso's running culture
- Carl Wingate — Notre Dame graduate who made Latin come alive for decades of Hilanders
Legacy Inductees — Members of National, State & Regional Halls of Fame
On July 9, 2024, Hilander Hall of Fame Trustees established that members of National, State, and Regional Halls of Fame are automatically inducted as Legacy members. This provision passed with 88.9% approval.
- Leroy Faling — Legendary coach, teacher, and athletic director at Kelso High School
- Pat Hymes — Washington State Football Coaches Hall of Fame inductee, KHS head coach for 17 years with a 103-64 record
- Ron Joslin — 32 years teaching music in Kelso, helped establish the Southwest Washington Youth Symphony
- Jason Schmidt — Hilander pitcher turned MLB All-Star and San Francisco Giants legend
- Tommy Lloyd — Arizona Basketball Head Coach and National Coach of the Year
- Joe Stewart — Hilander cross country icon with 339 wins who launched 57 collegiate careers
- Ed Walstead — Twenty-time All-American swimmer who built Kelso's aquatics dynasty
- Bob Freund — Hilander wrestling legend who forged 20 state champions across three decades
- Gerry Malella — Six-time NAIA champion who transformed Kelso swimming
- Ed Laulainen — Legendary Hilander football coach with 182 wins and a state championship
- Mike McMahon — Hilander softball architect of 330 wins and three state championships
- Gerry Austin — Hilander quarterback legend who led UW in the 1944 Rose Bowl
Hall of Fame Categories
- Distinguished Alumni — Kelso High School graduates who have distinguished themselves exceptionally, at least 10 years post-graduation
- Distinguished Service — Former or current teachers, staff, administrators, coaches, or community members who provided extraordinary service to Kelso schools
- Athletics (Individual) — Kelso High School graduates who performed with excellence in high school sports or post-graduation athletics, at least 10 years post-graduation
- Team, Group, or Collective — Kelso High School teams or groups who performed with excellence during their school years, at least 10 years post-graduation
- Academic (Individual) — Kelso graduates who performed with excellence in academics and extracurriculars, at least 10 years post-graduation
- Community Hero — County-level servants and community members who provided exceptional leadership and lasting impact to the broader Kelso community, regardless of graduation status
About Hilander Democracy — How Inductees Are Chosen
Hilander Democracy is an innovative, rules-based, supermajority digital governance system powering the Kelso Hilander Hall of Fame. Developed by Kelso native Chris McCoy alongside Kelso Schools Superintendent Mary Beth Tack and KPSF Executive Director Rick Davis, and ratified in July 2024, it ensures transparent and fair community-driven recognition of excellence.
How It Works — Three Steps
- Donate & Nominate (August–October): Support the cause with a tax-deductible donation. $1 per nomination for individuals, $10 for families, $50 for companies. Each nominee must reach 10% of all nominations in their category (the Soft-Consensus Rule) to advance to the final vote.
- Vote (November–December): $5 per vote for individuals, $50 for families, $100 for companies. Every voter has only one vote regardless of donation size.
- Induction: The top two vote-getters per category are inducted, plus any nominee receiving a simple majority (51%+) of votes. Nominees remain on yearly ballots for 20 years.
Hall of Fame Trustees & Advisors
Trustees are authorized to protect the sanctity and validity of the Hilander Hall of Fame on behalf of the community. Current trustees include Chris McCoy, Rick Davis, Mary Beth Tack, Lacey DeWeert, Marin Fox, Sue Lantz, Makaio Mobbs, Kirc Roland, and Jake Stewart.
About the Kelso Public Schools Foundation (KPSF)
The Kelso Public Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working hand-in-hand with the Kelso School District to help students succeed. All Hilander Hall of Fame donations are tax-deductible and go directly to the Foundation to fund scholarships and programs for Kelso's youth.
Contact: 360-501-1835 | rick@hilanders.org | P.O. Box 344 Kelso WA 98626
Explore More
View 2024 Inductees | 2025 Event Schedule | Hilander Democracy | Hall of Fame Trustees | Nominate for 2026 | RSVP Free — February 7, 2026 | About KPSF | 2025 Scholarships
