Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Hall of Fame Class OF 2000 Announced
May 9, 2000
MOUNT PLEASANT - Six former Central Michigan University standouts will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame as the Class of 2000.
New members will be: Herb Deromedi (1993), football coach, Jim Hasse (1962), football, Tim McDonald (1988), baseball, John Parfitt (1950), basketball and baseball, Rod Rapp (1965), wrestling, and Kris (Tipmore) Popp (1988), softball.
They will be inducted at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Comfort Inn and then honored at the halftime of the Central Michigan-Ball State football game on Saturday, Oct. 28.
This year's class will join the 101 members previously inducted into the Hall of Fame. The first CMU Athletics Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1984. Plaques honoring all the inductees will be on display at the Dan Rose Center.
"We'll be inducting another outstanding class into our Hall of Fame," said Bill Theunissen, chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. "They've all been fine representatives of Central Michigan and we're thrilled to have a class of this caliber.
"I watched John Parfitt, Jim Hasse, Tim McDonald, Rod Rapp and Kris Tipmore and they were tremendous. Herb Deromedi's record as Central's head football coach speaks for itself. They're excellent additions to our Hall of Fame."
To be eligible for induction, the following must hold true for athletes: one becomes eligible 10 years after leaving school, one must earn two letters in one sport or one or more in two sports, or brought recognition to the school by his or her athletic endeavors, and an outstanding career as an athlete must be continued in the individual's profession or occupation.
For induction as faculty/staff: a person becomes eligible five years after leaving his or her coaching position or athletic-related administrative position.
Following are thumbnail sketches of each new inductee:
HERB DEROMEDI- Still the winningest football coach in the history of the Mid-American Conference, Herb has been CMU's athletics director for the past six years and has been responsible for Central's incredible facilities growth. He spent 16 years as head coach for the Chippewas, posting an overall mark of 110-55-10 (.657) and a MAC mark of 90-39-9 (.685). Both are MAC records for wins. He was named MAC "Coach of the Year" in 1980 and '90, and led the Chippewas to three conference crowns in 1979, '80 and '90. Ranked 15th in the country among active coaches in winning percentage when he assumed his new duties, Deromedi coached CMU to back-to-back wins over Michigan State in 1991 and '92. A 1960 graduate of Michigan, the Royal Oak product came to CMU in 1967 as an assistant football coach under Roy Kramer.
JIM HASSE - A rugged two-way performer on the line for Chippewas from 1958-61, Jim was a four-year starter who earned first team Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) honors on both sides of the ball. He was named honorable mention Little All-American by the Associated Press in 1959 and was a first team Little All-American by Williamson in 1961. Jim was also CMU's MVP in 1961. Following graduation, Jim coached at Bay City Visitation, Flint Beecher, St. Charles, Saginaw Buena Vista and helped at Alma College before running a family business in West Palm Beach, Fla., for 15 years. A product of Owosso High, Jim lives in Gainesville where he works in management for Office Depot.
TIM McDONALD- One of the top pitchers ever to wear the Maroon and Gold, Tim was a member of four Chippewa baseball teams that won MAC championships and posted an impressive team record of 168-65-2. McDonald earned second team All-American laurels and second team academic All-American honors in 1988. He set MAC and school records for wins that season, going 16-1, and his ERA of 1.83 is still the lowest in 20 seasons at CMU. Tim set a record in '88 for innings pitched (108.0) and holds the career mark for wins (36) and innings pitched (311.1), and is third in strikeouts (228). He tossed a no-hitter at Ball State in '88 in an 11-0 win. A prep product of Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, he currently is teaching and coaching baseball at Bay City Western High.
JOHN PARFITT - A two-sport standout for Central Michigan from 1947-50, John excelled in basketball and baseball for the Chippewas. He led CMU to records of 17-6, 17-3, 15-1 and 11-5 in four years as a guard on the basketball team. John was captain for two seasons and high scorer twice whose strength was as a floor leader and passer. He was a three-year starter at short in baseball, leading Central to a 24-11 record. He earned CMU's prestigious Robert Carlson Memorial Award as the top scholar/athlete in 1950 and was one of four seniors to receive the Chippewa Award. A product of Fulton High, John was the superintendent of the Breckenridge Public Schools after leaving Central. Brother of former CMU basketball coach and Hall of Famer, Dick Parfitt, John is deceased.
ROD RAPP- A two-time All-American wrestler for the Chippewas, Rod continued his career in the sport as one of the top coaches in the history of Michigan during his 25 years as mentor at Mount Pleasant High. He finished third in the national finals in1963 and fifth in '65, and was Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) champion and its "Outstanding Wrestler" in 1964. A four-year letterwinner, Rod had 15 wins in 1963 including 12 straight wins and finished with 123 career points. He also earned two letters in track. A product of Lansing Eastern, he coached six state championship squads at Mount Pleasant and 41 individual state champions. Twice he was named Michigan's "Coach of the Year." He was also an assistant at CMU for three seasons. Rod currently teaches physical education at MPHS.
KRIS (TIPMORE) POPP- A second team All-American catcher in 1988, Kris helped guide the Chippewas to MAC championships in 1986 and '87, and a berth in the College World Series in '87. She earned a spot on the CWS all-tournament team after batting .400. Chippewas posted a record of 164-69 in her four years including a MAC tourney title in 1985. She was a first team All-MAC and All-Mideast Region in 1988 after batting .400 with a school and MAC-record 74 hits in 185 at-bats. She's still second in hits in a season (74 in 1988) and batting average (.400), and third in season runs (42 in '88). Kris teaches in the Bay City School system and coaches softball at Bay City Central.