Exhibit honors 10 county sports heroes

Long before he became Maryland's speaker of the House of Delegates, Busch was a standout football player at St. Mary's High School. He looked up to Pastrana and knew all about his exploits as the starting quarterback at Annapolis High School and the University of Maryland.

Now, County Executive John R. Leopold is hoping a new display at the Arundel Center will provide inspiration to young athletes the way Pastrana did for Busch back in the mid-1960s.

Leopold and Frank Marzucco, director of the Department of Recreation and Parks, celebrated National Sportsmanship Day by unveiling the "Sports Heroes of Anne Arundel County" exhibit last night during a ceremony in Annapolis.

Ten of the county's most notable sports figures were honored during the event that featured a brief speech by Busch along with presentations from Recreation Administrator Franklin Chaney and Erik Robey of the county executive's office.

An audience of family, friends and government officials packed the Arundel Center lobby to see the Sports Heroes display, which featured storyboards containing pictures and biographies of the 10 individuals. Hanging from the walls were 87 plaques on loan from the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame, which has been enshrining local athletes, coaches and administrators since 1991.

"Anne Arundel County is proud of its outstanding athletes," Leopold said in a statement. "Athletic competition teaches participants to win with dignity and lose with respect. The playing field provides youth with an excellent opportunity to learn life's lessons - teamwork, sportsmanship and discipline."

Pastrana is a lifelong county resident who played in the National Football League with the

Denver Broncos then became a career physical education teacher and coach at Anne Arundel Community College.

He attended the ceremony along with former football standouts: former NFL player Louis Carter, of Maryland City and Arundel High, and Dale Castro, of Harwood and Southern High, both of whom became All-Americans at the University of Maryland.

Two Olympians - gold medalist swimmer Theresa Andrews, of Annapolis and University of Florida, and silver medalist wrestler Lloyd Keaser, of Pumphrey and the Naval Academy - also were on hand.

Also partaking in last night's ceremony was sailing legend Gary Jobson of Annapolis, National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Brian Wood, of St. Mary's High and Johns Hopkins University fame, and women's sports pioneer Betty Hallmark of Severna Park.

Honored but unable to attend was Severna Park native Mark Teixeira, starting first baseman for the world champion New York Yankees. Teixeira, in the midst of spring training, represented baseball along with the late Gordon "Babe" Phelps of Odenton, who also played in the major leagues.

All the honorees, except Teixeira who is still in the prime of his career, have already been inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame.

"I think this display is a great tribute to the many great athletic figures that have come out of Anne Arundel County," Busch said. "I must give my compliments to the county executive and his staff for this initiative. I think the 10 people who were chosen to kick off this project are tremendous representatives. Not only are they great athletes, they are also great individuals."

The Hall of Famers, many of whom brought family and friends along, seemed truly touched by the public exhibit in one of the county's busiest office buildings. Carter, who played in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, marveled at the colorful storyboard displays that detailed his football career.

"This is really, really nice," he said. "I'm excited to be in the company of these other great athletes and thankful to the county executive for recognizing all of us in this way. I think this exhibit provides visual encouragement to young athletes to pursue their dreams."

Busch noted there were 60,000 youngsters participating in county recreation and parks programs. Almost all the individuals honored last night played youth sports in the county, saying they received a foundation in the values of sportsmanship and competition.

"I think this is the life cycle of athletics playing out," Marzucco said. "Many of these sports heroes got their start in our recreation programs and used that as a springboard to do great things. These 10 folks we honored tonight reached the pinnacle of their respective sports and became Hall of Famers. Now they serve as positive role models for younger athletes. I'm hoping this exhibit serves as a vehicle to unite our athletic community."

Jobson, a New Jersey native who settled in Annapolis and fashioned a successful career as a professional sailor, journalist, lecturer and television commentator, thought the ceremony and unveiling of the exhibit was a fitting way to celebrate National Sportsmanship Day.

"Sportsmanship is very important," he said. "You are only a true champion when your competitors respect you. I think it's great the county is honoring its distinguished sports figures in this way. Hopefully, this display will inspire some of those 60,000 kids involved with local youth sports to compete at the highest level while showing exemplary sportsmanship along the way."