Ralph A. Ferguson, Class of 1952, has been inducted posthumously into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a player.
During his athletic career at Franklin, Ferguson earned four varsity basketball letters. A four-year starter, he set many records, including total field goals, total free throws and total points, scoring 1,458 during his varsity games played, missing only two games in four years.
Ferguson was a member of the all-conference basketball team for two years. During his senior year, he was team captain, a member of the Indiana College All-Star Basketball Team, Indiana’s college basketball scoring champion and was the recipient of the Wil B. Nelp Award as the college’s outstanding senior athlete.
While at Franklin, Ferguson also participated in baseball and football. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity serving as house manager and vice president. Ferguson was also vice president of the F-Men’s Club, a member of the Science Club, Interfraternity Council and the Blue Key Honor Society.
After graduating with a B.A. degree in physical education and a minor in biology, he married Jean Kelham and began teaching history at McCullough Junior High School. He went on to teach and coach basketball at Marion High School and later served in the U.S. Army. In 1960 Ferguson earned his master’s degree in education from Ball State University, and in 1973 he earned his doctorate of education, also from Ball State. In 1974 Ferguson accepted the position of assistant superintendent of business for Elkhart Community Schools and remained in this position until his death in November of 1979.
Thomas P. Mengelt, Class of 1968, has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a player.
During his athletic career at Franklin College, Mengelt earned four football letters and three track and field letters. He was twice named all-conference and was twice selected for the NAIA District Four team. He also received an NAIA All-America honorable mention.
Mengelt’s senior year in football was his best. A co-captain in the 1967 season, he rushed for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns and kicked 26 extra points. He still ranks fifth among all-time rushers at FC with 1,883 yards.
His collegiate athletic career culminated with his being chosen as the 1968 recipient of the Wil B. Nelp Award as the college’s outstanding senior athlete.
Mengelt also was a member of the Blue Key Honor Society and was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
Following graduation from Franklin College, Mengelt went on to attened the Indiana University School of Medicine from 1968-72. He currently has a private family medical practice in Muncie and resides in Yorktown with his wife LeeAnn and their children Cheryl, Gregory, Michael, John, and his two step children, Robert and Cara.
Hal Doy Sampson, Class of 1965, has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic hall of Fame as a Player.
Sampson came to the Franklin campus to study and play basketball. But he also took up football under Coach Stewart “Red” Faught, playing in the seventh game he ever saw. A fierce pass rusher, opponents soon directed plays away from his side. On offense, he caught 35 passes for 587 yards and 10 touchdowns and earned All-NAIA and All-Hoosier College Conference honors in his career.
In basketball, he was equally effective using either his right or left hand. Sampson ranks 13th among career rebounders with 545. He lettered three times each in football, basketball, and track and field at Franklin.
After graduating from Franklin, Sampson went to Ball State University to earn his master’s degree. He then began a career of teaching and coaching athletics at Greencastle High School, where he coached football, basketball, and track.
Sampson later became head football coach and assistant basketball coach at the Southwood High School of Wabash. After two years there he began teaching in Louisville, Ky. For nine years Sampson was the assistant football and basketball coach and head track and field coach for Westport High School. He then spent seven years at Waggoner High School and 10 years at Jeffersontown High School.
He has been honored as AAA Coach of the Year for football, basketball, and track and field. Sampson has also coached several All-State players in all of these sports in both Indiana and Kentucky.
James W. Miller, Class of 1958, has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach.
His outstanding coaching record boasts many championships: 18 sectional titles, five regional championships, two semi-state titles; 16 conference crowns and many holiday tourney championships at Huntington, Highland, and Notre Dame. In 1966 his team earned the most victories in Indiana with a record of 27-2. Overall, his coaching brought him 607 wins and 251 losses.
Miller has been a featured speaker at many basketball clinics booth across the Midwest and abroad. In Indiana he has spoken at the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and at many high schools and colleges throughout the Midwest, plus Sidney, Australia, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, and the Central African Republic in Africa.
He has received numerous honors, including IBCA District V Coach of the Year for 1992 and 1994, Hoosier Hills Conference Coach of the Year for 1992 and 1994 and Co-Coach of the Year in 1989-90 and Hoosier Basketball Coach of the Year for 1992 and 1994. Miller has also received recognition as Avon High Schools Alumnus of the Year and recipient of the Franklin College Athletic Achievement Award.
Miller has represented the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and Coaching Exchange in Australia and the IBCA and State Department in Africa. He has been nominated for National Coach of the Year, served as assistant coach for the Indiana All-Stars and was an all-star coach under the National High School Coaches Association.
During his athletic career at Franklin College, Miller earned eight varsity letters. He was also president of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity and the Interfraternity Council. Miller retired from coaching last year. He resides in New Albany with his wife, Sue.
Edward A Siegel, Class of 1954 has been inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach.
During his athletic career at Franklin, Siegel earned four varsity letters in basketball. A three-year starter, he was selected as team captain and named all-conference. Siegel also earned three letters as captain of the cross country team, and three letters as captain of the track team. He was a recipient of the Wil B. Nelp Award as the college’s outstanding senior athlete in 1954.
In 1960, Siegel earned his master’s degree from Indiana University. He began a career of teaching and coaching at Stillwell High School in 1956, and later went on to teach and coach for Southwestern High School and Boonville High School.
He began a 28-year career of teaching and coaching at Pike High School in 1967. During the 1970’2 Siegel led Pike High School to its first sectional, regional, Marion County and CSAC Conference basketball championships. Throughout the years, Siegel led Pike High School to may victories, including its first Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Classic during the 1989-90 season.
Over the years, Siegel has earned many honors: eight times named CSAC Coach of the Year; four times name Marion County Coach of the Year; selected at the 1980 District III Coach of the Year by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association; and in 1989, selected an assistant coach of the Indiana All-Star Team.
He retired from coaching and teaching in June of 1995. Siegel currently resides in Zionsville with his wife, Carmen.
