Seven new members will be inducted into the Brewer High School Athletic Hall of Fame this fall.
Robert “Bobby” Bower, Lura Hoit, Barrington Ivers, Kris (Littlefield) Jordan, Thomas “Tom” Kelly III, Ralph Payne and Peter Phelan were chosen by the selection committee to represent the hall’s second class.
Hoit and Ivers will be inducted posthumously.
The induction banquet is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Brewer High School cafeteria.
Bower (Class of 1955) was a four-sport athlete who lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. Known most notably for his performances on the football field, Bower was an All-American football player for the Witches who was nicknamed “Mr. Touchdown” by the Bangor Daily News for his ability to find the end zone. Bower went on to the University of Maine and played football for the Black Bears for two seasons before serving in the Army for 16 years.
Hoit (contributor/coach) taught girls physical education at Brewer High from 1940 to 1968 and was instrumental in the expansion of the school’s girls athletic program. Hoit coached and taught softball as that was the only recognized girls activity at the time, but she began to introduce girls to other activities through intramurals such as archery, volleyball, tennis, badminton, gymnastics, bowling and track and field. Along with Clara Swan (Class of 2014 inductee), Hoit helped transform women’s athletics across the region and state.
Kelly (Class of 1955) was a three-sport athlete who quarterbacked the Witches during their 1954 state championship football season, but it was on the baseball diamond where he gained the most attention. Kelly led the Witches to back-to-back Penobscot Valley Conference championships in 1954 and 1955, and over those two seasons he maintained a batting average in excess of .450. Kelly went to Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield for a postgraduate year, then continued his baseball and football careers at Maine Maritime Academy. He went on to a 30-year career in the Navy.
Ivers (Class of 1929) was one of the finest runners in the state of Maine. He ran track and field for Brewer during the late 1920s, winning state championships in the 100, 220 and broad jump. Ivers also played football for the Witches, but he continued to compete as a runner long after his time at BHS. He went on to establish at least eight American and-or world sprinting records at the World Masters Championships. Ivers also served as a Brewer city councilor for 13 years, including three terms as mayor.
Littlefield (Class of 1985) starred on Brewer’s field hockey, basketball and softball teams during the early and mid-1980s. She was recognized as an all-state field hockey player during her junior and senior years and was recruited heavily by the University of Maine and Plymouth State. In basketball, she excelled as point guard for the Witches and was recruited by the University of Maine. In softball, Littlefield was selected to the All-PVC team after each of her four seasons. She was named the school’s Ohmart-Hinkley Senior Athlete of the Year during her senior year. Littlefield went on to play basketball at Springfield College and the University of Southern Maine, helping USM reach the NCAA Division III Final Four. She was inducted into the USM Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Payne (Class of 1971) is arguably one of the greatest football players to ever play in Maine and was recognized nationally for his abilities on the gridiron. In 1970, Payne was on Letterman Magazine’s “Top 100 Players” list, among other accolades he received after leading the state in scoring with 112 points as a senior for the Witches. Payne was named all-state in both 1969 and 1970 as he shredded opposing defenses for coach Ken Perrone (Class of 2014 inductee). Payne was a stalwart on Brewer’s Class A undefeated state championship football teams in 1968 and 1970. In addition to his football abilities, Payne was also an excellent track performer.
Phelan (Class of 1996) excelled in indoor and outdoor track and field for coach Dave Jeffrey’s (Class of 2014 inductee) squads. Phelan was a Class A indoor state champion in the triple jump and still holds the state record in that event with the only 47-foot-plus triple jump in Maine high school indoor track history. Phelan also held three school records indoors and as a senior helped the Witches win the 1996 indoor track state championship. In outdoor track, he was a two-time state champion in the triple jump while also winning state titles in the long jump and 300 hurdles. Phelan won six Eastern Maine crowns and six PVC championships outdoors.
Banquet RSVP forms are available on the athletic department website, www.gobrewerwitches.com, under the “Hall of Fame” tab. Banquet forms also may be secured at the office of the Superintendent of Schools at 261 Center St. or the Brewer High School main office at 79 Parkway South.