Former Buchanan standout Gerald Busby to be honored

Published 5:38 pm Friday, June 10, 2011

BIG RAPIDS — Five former standout student-athletes and a former university president comprise the Ferris State University Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2011, which will be enshrined during the 11th annual Induction Banquet Friday, Sept. 30 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Big Rapids.

Former Buchanan standout Gerald Busby will be inducted into the Ferris State University Hall of Fame on Sept. 30 in Big Rapids. (Daily Star photo/Provided)

The 2011 class consists of student-athletes representing six different sports spanning four decades.

Representing the Class of 2011 are: Anne Bentley of Wyoming, softball and women’s tennis (1997-2000); Gerald Busby of Lansing, men’s basketball (1980-83); Clarence Coleman of Miami, Fla., football (1998-2001); Dr. Robert Ewigleben of Albion and Elizabethtown, Ky., administrator (1971-84); Martin Krbec of Fort Collins, Colo., men’s tennis (1997-2001); and Wendy McCann of East Lansing, women’s volleyball (1984-87). The Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee also selected longtime supporter and track official Bruce Jacobs as a recipient of an Athletics Special Service Award.

A 15-member Selection Committee comprised of faculty, staff, alumni and community members selected the 2011 inductees in a voting process from among 57 nominees. The six individuals will become the newest members of a current 95 Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame member group.

“Ferris State is poised to honor a very distinguished, decorated and diverse group of men and women,” said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. “We wish to congratulate each inductee and honoree . . . and anxiously look forward to welcoming them back to campus for a Hall of Fame weekend that will be without question a special time for these individuals, their families, teammates and Bulldogs everywhere.”

Inductees of the 2011 Hall of Fame class will also be recognized the following day (Oct. 1) during halftime activities of the Bulldog football game against Lake Erie.

Opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Top Taggart Field. Specific information regarding when and how to purchase Hall of Fame banquet tickets and sponsorship opportunities will be available after July 1 by going to FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

The Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame, which inducted its Charter Class in 2000, was established to honor those student-athletes and coaches who have distinguished themselves in their sport or honorary members who made truly exceptional contributions to athletics.

Those who are inducted must first meet the following nomination criteria – Nominees must be departed from Ferris State University for at least 10 years; Nominees must have earned at least one varsity letter and must have distinguished themselves by exemplary performance in the field of athletics; Secondary consideration is given for the performance of meritorious service in behalf of Ferris State Athletics after leaving FSU, or a singluar contribution to FSU’s Athletics program, and Nominees must have demonstrated good citizenship and conducted exemplary professional/occupational careers which reflect credit on the individual and Ferris State University.

Gerald Busby (Men’s Basketball, 1980-83)

The 1982-83 GLIAC Player of the Year, Busby scored 1,004 points and grabbed 318 rebounds during his three-year (1980-83) Ferris State career under legendary coach and Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame member Jim Wink. Busby earned GLIAC All-Defensive Team recognition in both the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons. A transfer from Michigan State, Busby was named FSU’s Most Valuable Player following the 1982-83 campaign after averaging a team-leading 17.9 points per game with 518 total points in leading the Bulldogs to a 20-9 overall record, a NCAA North Central Regional Tournament berth and a GLIAC Championship title. A graduate of Buchanan High School, Busby is presently a resident of Lansing.