Henry Rybus devoted his career to education and athletics in Washington. He taught and coached in Cathlamet for five years and then became an assistant principal at R.A. Long High School and then a principal at Mark Morris High School before moving into statewide athletics administration. After two years as Assistant Executive Secretary of the WIAA, Rybus became the Association’s second Executive Director in 1963, a position he held until his retirement in 1982.

During his tenure, Rybus championed opportunities for girls in athletics, implementing regulations for girls’ sports in 1967 and establishing the position of assistant executive secretary for girls’ athletics in 1972. He also guided the WIAA through incorporation as a nonprofit association in 1980, strengthening its organizational foundation.

Beyond the WIAA, Rybus contributed to professional organizations including the Washington Education Association, the National Education Association, and the State Wrestling Committee, leaving a lasting impact on education and interscholastic athletics across the state.

Gary Smith devoted 34 years to education as a teacher, counselor, and coach, leaving a lasting mark on Washington high school athletics. His coaching career spanned from 1966 to 1991, including stops at Omak, Bridgeport, and Castle Rock, where he compiled an impressive record of 171-70-2. At Omak, he guided the football team to the Class 1A state championship in 1979 and was later inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.

Smith’s influence extended beyond the gridiron. He coached boys and girls track at Omak for 21 years, leading teams to 10 league titles, 10 district championships, and the girls’ state championship in 1983. During that time, he coached seven state champions and his athletes set five state-meet records. His contributions to track were recognized with his induction into the Washington State Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999. Gary also coached AAU track in Omak and surrounding towns from 1969 to 1988.

In addition, Smith coached girls basketball at Omak, earning two second-place finishes at the state tournament and five league coach of the year honors. Throughout his career, he served the state coaches’ community as an active member for more than 30 years, shaping the lives of countless athletes along the way.

Chic Sale dedicated more than five decades to officiating football and basketball in Washington. He officiated football from 1950 to 2002 and basketball from 1950 to 1985, while serving as the assigning secretary for football for over 25 years and for basketball for more than 13 years. His career included five state championship football games and numerous other playoff contests.

Chic also officiated at the collegiate level for 22 years, working games in the PAC-10 and Big Sky conferences, including the Rose Bowl, and served as an observer in both college football and basketball. Beyond officiating, he contributed as a long-time board member of the Washington Officials Association for more than 30 years.

Recognized for his extraordinary dedication as an official, administrator, and observer, Chic Sale was inducted into the Washington Officials Association Hall of Fame, leaving a lasting legacy on Washington sports.

Ed Pepple’s name became synonymous with high school basketball in Washington. Over the course of 44 seasons as a head coach, he built a legacy defined by consistency, excellence, and championships.

His career began at Fife High School in 1958, where he quickly turned the program into a contender, guiding the Trojans to a fourth-place state finish in 1962. After three years coaching the junior varsity at Meadowdale and a season leading the varsity at Mark Morris, Pepple found his long-term home at Mercer Island High School in 1968.

From the moment he arrived, success followed. He captured his first KingCo championship that year—one of 21 league titles his teams would ultimately win. Over 36 seasons at Mercer Island, Pepple guided the Islanders to four state championships, four additional runner-up finishes, and 26 state tournament appearances. His record of 872 wins against 262 losses stood as the most victories of any active head coach in the state, his 77 percent winning mark reflecting decades of sustained dominance.

Recognized far beyond his own community, Pepple was a seven-time Washington State Coach of the Year and was honored nationally by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as its 1997 Coach of the Year. In 2002, his achievements were further recognized with induction into the Puget Sound Sports Hall of Fame.

A lifelong educator, Pepple retired from teaching English and physical education in 1988, but his influence extended far beyond the classroom. Off the court, he enjoyed tennis and golf, yet his true legacy was written in the gymnasiums of Washington, where he shaped generations of athletes and set a standard for coaching excellence that few have matched.

Few programs in Washington high school athletics have matched the dominance of the Mercer Island girls tennis team. Over nearly four decades, the Islanders built a tradition of excellence, winning an astounding 35 KingCo championships—including a streak of 22 in a row—along with 23 district titles and 25 state championships. Along the way, 21 singles and doubles players captured individual state crowns.

The dynasty began in 1973, when Mercer Island claimed its first state championship. That title launched a string of eight consecutive state titles, followed soon after by another run of seven in a row. The Islanders carried that tradition of sustained excellence into the modern era, adding yet another streak of eight straight state championships from 1997 through 2004.

At the heart of the program’s success was Joyce Hedlund, who guided both the girls’ and boys’ tennis teams at Mercer Island. Hedlund served ten years as the boys’ coach and five years leading the girls, during which time she earned widespread recognition. In 2004, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer named her Girls Tennis Coach of the Year for the entire state. She was also honored multiple times as Coach of the Year by her peers, twice for her work with the girls’ program and three times with the boys’.

Mercer Island’s legacy on the courts is one of sustained dominance, individual brilliance, and extraordinary leadership, cementing its place among the most decorated programs in state history.

John Heinrick began his legendary coaching career in 1927 at Bellarmine High School before returning to his alma mater, Stadium High School, where he quickly established himself as one of the premier coaches of his era. His Stadium Tigers became a powerhouse, winning eleven straight Thanksgiving Day rivalry games against Lincoln, capturing nine all-city titles, two consecutive Cross State League crowns, and back-to-back state championships.

In 1945, Heinrick moved to the University of Puget Sound, where he coached both football and basketball while also serving as athletic director. Over 17 seasons, his football teams compiled an 88–46–11 record, winning or sharing five Evergreen Conference championships. On the basketball court, his teams tallied 187 victories and twice advanced to the NAIA Tournament. From 1947 to 1963, he guided the entire athletic program as director, leaving a lasting impact on the school’s legacy.

Heinrick’s passion for coaching extended into the summer months, when he often led baseball teams. His 1937 Tacoma semi-pro squad placed fifth nationally, featuring future major league star Fred Hutchinson on the mound.

His achievements earned him widespread recognition, with inductions into the Helms National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame, the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame, and the University of Puget Sound Athletic Hall of Fame.

Beyond his coaching career, Heinrick remained deeply connected to athletics and the Tacoma community. He served as president of the Tacoma Athletic Commission, worked as a Pacific Coast Conference official in football and basketball, and played a central role in high school sports as tournament director for WIAA basketball championships in Tacoma.

Coach Patricia “Hattie” Hatmaker was a pioneer in the sport of gymnastics, leaving her mark at the local, state, and national levels over a career spanning more than 35 years. A dedicated teacher, coach, and mentor, she served as a role model for countless students and athletes.

Hatmaker began her teaching career in 1963 at Issaquah Junior High as a physical education instructor, moving into gymnastics shortly thereafter. In 1967, she became the head girls’ gymnastics coach, and by 1975 she was leading the Issaquah High School program, where she also coached National Team members. Every year she served as head coach, Hatmaker guided either a team or individual athletes to the state championships. In addition to gymnastics, she also coached volleyball and track, further showcasing her versatility and commitment to student athletics.

Beyond coaching, Hatmaker helped shape the sport itself. She was a founding member of the Northwest Gymnastics Judges Association in 1972 and went on to receive some of the highest honors in her field. She was named Washington State Gymnastics Association Coach of the Year in 1996–97 and inducted into its Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002, she earned national recognition when she was inducted into the inaugural class of the United States Association of Gymnastics Coaches Hall of Fame.

Her influence extended well beyond athletics. At Issaquah High School, Hatmaker was actively involved with students as an ASB class advisor and as a mentor for student coaches. She was honored as the district’s Teacher of the Year in 1995–96, a testament to the impact she made both in and out of the gym.

Albert “Dick” Grabenhorst devoted his career to education and school leadership, serving as a teacher, coach, principal, and ultimately as superintendent of the Naselle School District for 27 years. Before his time as superintendent, he spent three years as a high school principal, where he began establishing the reputation for dedication and steady leadership that would define his career.

His commitment to student activities and athletics extended beyond his own district. Grabenhorst served District IV in many capacities, including six years on the WIAA Representative Assembly, eight years on the WIAA Executive Board—with one year as president—and ten years as the District IV Executive Secretary. He was also frequently called upon to serve as a WIAA Fact Finder, where his fairness and experience helped resolve difficult eligibility and governance issues.

For his decades of service, Grabenhorst was inducted into the Washington Secondary School Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame in 1999. A longtime member of both the Washington Association of School Administrators and the American Association of School Administrators, his influence was felt at both the state and national levels.

Outside of education, Grabenhorst gave generously of his time to Scouting, serving as a Scout Master and as a member of the Grays Harbor Scout Council Board of Directors. His legacy is one of leadership, service, and a lifelong commitment to young people.

For nearly three decades, Federal Way High School benefited from the dedication and expertise of Lois Gorne, who taught drama, competitive speech and debate, and leadership. Under her direction, Federal Way’s forensics program became one of the state’s finest. Her teams captured 13 Washington State Individual Events Championships and four Lincoln-Douglas Debate State titles, while more than 90 of her students earned the opportunity to compete at 18 National Tournaments.

Her impact extended well beyond her own program. Gorne was widely recognized by the National Forensics League, receiving the Leading Chapter Award three times, District Team Awards on five occasions, and the Distinguished Service Award in 2001. One of her most prestigious honors was being named an NFL Five Diamond Coach, a distinction held by fewer than three percent of coaches nationwide—only 48 individuals had earned the award since the organization’s founding in 1926.

Deeply committed to the profession, Gorne was active with the Washington Education Association beginning in 1972, became a member of the Washington State Forensics Association in 1974, and joined the National Forensics League in 1977. Through her teaching, coaching, and leadership, she left an enduring mark on countless students and helped elevate forensics across Washington State.

Few individuals have given as much of their time and leadership to education-based athletics in Washington as Clayton Dunn. A career educator and administrator, Dunn served as superintendent of the Medical Lake School District from 1976–1984 before moving on to lead the Pullman School District for five years until his retirement. Earlier in his career, he also made his mark on the sidelines, coaching both football and track, and on the hardwood as a basketball official.

During his time at Medical Lake, Dunn helped shape high school athletics in Eastern Washington as the first president of the Frontier League in 1974. His leadership extended to the statewide level, where he served on the WIAA Executive Board from 1974–1987, including a term as president in 1981. Twice named WIAA District VII Administrator of the Year, Dunn went on to serve as the WIAA’s statewide Eligibility Hearing Officer from 1991–1997. His service and contributions were recognized with both the WIAA Meritorious Service Award and the prestigious Gareth Giles Award. On the national level, he represented Washington as a member of the NFHS Executive Board from 1982–1984.

For more than two decades, Dunn was also a familiar presence at the State B Basketball Tournament, beginning in 1974 and later serving as tournament director from 1995–2000. His steady leadership, both in schools and in athletics, left a lasting impact on students, coaches, and administrators throughout the state.

A 1966 graduate of Mt. Tahoma High School, Ron Cey made his mark as a three-sport standout, earning varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He became the school’s first athlete to earn nine varsity letters—an achievement later matched by fellow Tacoma great Ahmad Rashad.

Cey went on to Washington State University, where his baseball talent shined. It was there that legendary Cougar coach Bobo Brayton gave him the nickname “Penguin,” a moniker that stuck throughout his career. After just two seasons, he was selected in the third round of the 1968 secondary draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cey made his Major League debut in 1971 and became a fixture at third base for the Dodgers over the next 11 seasons. He appeared in four World Series, winning the championship in 1981 and earning World Series Co-MVP honors. A six-time All-Star from 1974–79, he became one of the most consistent power hitters of his era, finishing with the fifth-most home runs in Dodgers history and playing a key role in the team’s famed quartet of sluggers, each of whom topped 30 homers in a season.

Cey later played with the Chicago Cubs (1983–86) and Oakland A’s (1987) before retiring with 316 career home runs—ranking among the top 100 in Major League Baseball history at the time.

Following his playing career, Cey remained connected to the game and the community. He rejoined the Dodgers in 1997, working in marketing and community affairs, and has long been a familiar face at Dodger Stadium, greeting suite guests and supporting numerous charitable initiatives. A Tacoma native who became a World Series hero, Cey’s legacy is one of both athletic excellence and lifelong dedication to the sport of baseball.

From 1981 to 2000, Auburn High School established itself as a powerhouse in the world of speech and debate, dominating state competition while sending dozens of students to the national stage. What began as a small team of just 12 students quickly grew into a program of 150, a number it maintained for nearly two decades.

During this remarkable span, Auburn captured 15 state championships across multiple events, including Cross-Examination Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Student Congress, and various speech categories. The program also claimed four district sweepstakes titles and was honored four times by the National Forensic League as a Leading Chapter. In all, 38 Auburn students qualified for the national tournament, with three placing in the top 10 in the nation.

The driving force behind Auburn’s success was longtime director Mike Burton. With more than 35 years of coaching experience, Burton became one of the most respected figures in forensics. His leadership and teaching excellence earned him a long list of honors, including four Distinguished Service Awards from the National Forensic League, Section 8 Outstanding Forensics Director from the WIAA, the Golden Apple Award from PEMCO and Channel 9, and recognition as Class Act Teacher from KSTW in 1993–94. He was also honored by Pacific Lutheran University as Outstanding Forensics Educator and by Clark College as both Outstanding Alumni and Graduation Speaker.

Auburn’s legacy under Burton’s leadership remains one of the most dominant eras in Washington high school forensics history.