Bethany College Inducts Six New HoF Members During Annual Homecoming Tradition

Bethany College Inducts Six New HoF Members During Annual Homecoming Tradition

Hall of Fame Brunch Photos

Bethany, W.Va. – Bethany College athletics inducted six new members into the Bethany Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon, as part of the annual homecoming festivities. The 2019 inductees were also recognized before the start of the football game against Westminster as part of the annual tradition.

The 2019 inductees included Angela Ryder (Bado), class of 1977 (Women's Field Hockey); Alexander Ciocca III, class of 1976 (Football); Jean Newman (Goldring), class of 1975 (Women's Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, and Tennis); Michael Houck, class of 2001 (Baseball); John Kenneth McVay, class of 1969 (Football); and Robert Radakovich; class of 1974 (Football, Track & Field, Basketball).


Angela Ryder (Bado), class of 1977 (McKinney, Texas), was a four-year letter-winner on the women's field hockey team from 1973-76. The Bison won the conference championship in 1973, 1974, and 1976. Angie was a co-captain in 1975-76. In 1973 and 1974, the Bison went undefeated.  Angie graduated from Bethany with her bachelors in Physical Education.

Alexander Ciocca III, class of 1976 (Pittsburgh, Pa), was a four-year starter letterman at offensive guard and was a captain on the 1975 PAC Championship team. He was selected All-PAC 1975 and was a member of the 1970's All-Decade Team. Al holds a Master of Public Health degree (1979) in hospital administration from University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and a Juris Doctor degree (1983) from Duquesne University School of Law. He has had a long career of over 40 years in hospital administration and academic medical center law, and currently is part of UPMC Legal Department executive leadership as Senior Associate Counsel & Vice President.

Jean Newman (Goldring), class of 1975 (North Allegheny, Pa), was a four-year member of the women's basketball team where she averaged 22 points a game her senior season. She was a three-year member of the field hockey team where the Bison went undefeated in 1973 and 1974. After graduating from Bethany College, Jean became a teacher and a coach throughout the Midwest, where she earned several "Coach of the Year" awards.

Michael Houck, class of 2001 (Pittsburgh, Pa), was a four-year letterman and a member of the school's last two PAC Championship baseball teams in 1999 and 2000. Michael was a two time All-PAC First Team selection in 2000 and 2001. Michael currently ranks in the top five for career record holders in on-base percentage (.525), hits in a season (69), career batting average (.436) and he is fifth all-time in career slugging percentage (.584).  Michael has served as the assistant baseball coach at Seton Hill University (NCAA-DII) for the past 10 years.  He currently serves as the co-chair for the Allegheny County/City of Pittsburgh Transition Coordinating Council, leading 42 school districts on legal mandates and special education initiatives.

John Kenneth McVay, class of 1969 (Colliers, W.Va.), was a four-year letterman at linebacker for the Bethany College football team. Ken was a member of two firsts for the Bethany College football team, winning Bethany's first PAC Championship in 1965 and going undefeated in 1966 to win Bethany's second PAC Championship. Upon graduation from Bethany, John played a pre-season in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, until he was drafted into the U.S Military, where he served in the U.S Army in Vietnam. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. John retired as the First Vice President in 2017 from Wells Fargo Advisors.

Robert Radakovich, class of 1974 (Steubenville, Ohio), was a four-year letterman at offensive tackle in football and as a shot putter in track and field. Bob was a member of the basketball team until his senior year. While a member of the football team, Bob earned All-PAC honors in 1972 and 1973 and earned All Eastern District in 1973. In ­­­­1973, Robert won the PAC Championship in the Shot Put. He still holds the Bethany College Shot Put Record at a distance of 49'5. He is a retired biology teacher and coach from Big Red High School in Steubenville, Ohio, where he taught and coached for 30 years.

 

Bethany College inducted its first hall of fame class in 1977 and has added a class each year since, with the lone exception occurring in 1986, when no inductions occurred.