2018 Inductees

ALBERT JOHNSON – Horse Racing

A native of Milan in rural Spokane County, Albert Johnson became one of the country’s premier jockeys of the 1920s. He began his career in 1917 and, after heading east, won riding titles at Oaklawn Park, Pimlico, Bowie and Woodbine. By 1922, he led the nation’s riders in money earned. 

After guiding Morvich through an unbeaten 2-year-old season, Johnson rode him to victory in the 1922 Kentucky Derby. He also won the Derby astride Bubbling Over in 1926 and the Belmont Stakes on both American Flag (1925) and Crusade (1926). Johnson added to his fame with 15 victories aboard the great handicap champion Exterminator. 

After giving up the saddle in 1929, he became a trainer, primarily for Bing Crosby, and a track official. He was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1971. He is a charter member of the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame and a member of the Washington Racing Hall of Fame.

KELLY BLAIR LABOUNTY – Heptathlete

A Prosser High School graduate, Kelly was a three-sport standout and declared “arguably the best schoolgirl athlete ever in the state” by the Seattle Times. Kelly was an all-league volleyball player, three-time all-league basketball player, two-time all-state basketball player, basketball state tournament MVP while leading her team to the 1989 state championship, and winner of 10 individual Class A state track titles.

Blair LaBounty earned two letters at the University of Oregon in basketball before concentrating on track. In 1993, Kelly was Pac-10 and NCAA champion in the heptathlon and was a three-time NCAA All-American during her collegiate career.

A two-time Olympian, Kelly beat Jackie Joyner-Kersey at the 1996 Olympic Trials at the age of 25.  She won the event by three points, becoming the first woman to beat Joyner-Kersey in the heptathlon in 12 years. She earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for Atlanta, where she placed eighth in the heptathlon. She placed third at the 1998 Goodwill Games and was ranked #7 in the world.       

Kelly coached track at Seattle Pacific University and the University of Oregon. She is also a member of the U of O and State of Oregon sports halls of fame.

RUEBEN MAYES – Football

Rueben Mayes, the Canadian from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, was a star running back at WSU who rushed for a then-NCAA record 357 yards against Oregon in 1984. He was a two-time Pac-10 offensive player of the year and finished 10^th in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1984 after rushing for a then-WSU record of 1,637 yards. Mayes earned numerous All-America honors his final two seasons at WSU and in the process set more than a dozen records, including 3,519 rushing yards, 23 career touchdowns rushing and 26 in all, 13 games with more than 100 yards rushing, and 4,418 all-purpose yards.

Drafted in the third round by New Orleans, Mayes was voted the NFL offensive rookie of the year in 1986. Rueben was a two-time Pro Bowl selection during his seven-year pro career. His final two seasons were with the Seattle Seahawks. He was the 1994 recipient of the Harry Jerome Award, given annually to exceptional distinguished black leaders in Canada in recognition for their contribution in athletics, community service, academics and creative arts. Mayes is a member of the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

LOUISE MAZZUCA – Softball

Louise Mazzuca, a fastpitch softball pitcher with the windmill style, didn’t have a long career but it was stellar and landed her in the American Softball Association Hall of Fame in 2007, only the second female from the state of Washington to receive this honor. Louise never got to play for Stadium High School because she graduated in 1958 in the pre-Title IX era. She got her start locally playing for Hollywood Boat and Motor but competed mostly in Oregon and California. Mazzuca threw 35 career no-hitters, three of them in the 1960 ASA national tournament for Portland’s Erv Lind Florists. Louise also tossed nine perfect games in her career, struck out 26 batters in one game and one season she had an ERA of 0.10.

Her most impressive feat was in the 1964 regional tournament, when she pitched a seven-inning game that her team won, took a 20-minute rest, and then pitched against Joan Joyce and the Orange, California team. This epic classic between two of the greatest pitchers in the world lasted 29 innings before Orange won, 1-0. In the space of one night, Mazzuca pitched a total of 36 consecutive innings. 

Louise’s career was cut short by heart problems, but she lived until age 79 when she passed away in Oregon in 2018, shortly after learning of her selection into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame.

MIKE PRICE – Football (Coach)

Mike Price coached the Washington State football team to three 10-win seasons and Rose Bowl appearances after the 1997 and 2002 seasons. He compiled a record of 83-77 in 14 seasons as Cougar head coach and his teams went 3-2 in bowl games. During his coaching career, Price won four national coach of the year awards. 

The son of Everett Junior College coach Walt Price, Mike played high school football at Everett High. As a college player he started out at WSU and then transferred to the University of Puget Sound to finish his career.  

Mike’s first head coaching job was at Weber State where he was 46-44 in eight seasons. After leaving WSU, Price landed at Texas-El Paso in 2004 and turned around a downtrodden program to become only the second coach in school history to coach the Miners to three bowl games before retiring after 2012. UTEP liked him so much they called him back as interim coach for seven games in 2017.