After getting to the podium, Dean DeKok paused and looked out at the crowd gathered on Saturday night at the Padua Pub for the first Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Hall of Fame banquet.

"I got a call about two months ago from Wes Von Eschen talking about the Hall of Fame you guys have put together. Right away I think of all the other people who should be considered for something like this. What a privilege it is to be up here with you."

DeKok, a 1962 graduate of Brooten high school, was one of eight inductees honored at the banquet.

"As we think of Brooten and Belgrade and all the competitions we've had through the years, I just have countless wonderful memories as I think back.

I enjoyed football, basketball and track.

I appreciate the relationships we had throughout the years. It wasn't like we were enemies. It was just good, hard-fought competition.

I remember my classmates and teammates. Larry Sagedahl, Julius Evenson, Wes Von Eschen and a whole long list of other people. And of course, my twin brother, Dennis.

You think of the different era today in athletics, like what goes on in the summer. I remember playing Legion baseball and things of that nature, but there was no such thing as a camp.

As you look at the benefits of athletics, look at the championship basketball teams you've had here. Look at the time and dedication they had to the game. They competed day in and day out in the backyard and the local gyms."

DeKok continued, "I remember my classmates and teammates. Larry Sagedahl, Julius Evenson, Wes Von Eschen and a whole long list of other people. And of course, my twin brother, Dennis.

You think of the different era today in athletics, like what goes on in the summer. I remember playing Legion baseball and things of that nature, but there was no such thing as a camp.

As you look at the benefits of athletics, look at the championship basketball teams you've had here. Look at the time and dedication they had to the game. They competed day in and day out in the backyard and the local gyms."

DeKok was joined in the Brooten Hall of Fame class by Michele (Marthaler) Perkins, 1986 graduate; Dick Nelson, 1957 graduate; and Sherwood Sagedahl, also a 1957 graduate.

Also speaking were Eloise (Mohs) Kahn, sister of the late Gregory Mohs of Belgrade. Gregory was a member of the Belgrade Class of 1966 who died on Jan. 2, 1966 in an automobile accident.

Joining the B-B-E Hall of Fame on the Belgrade side were George Borgerding (Class of 1946), Ralph Halvorson (Class of 1976) and Dennis Weimerskirch (Class of 1958).

More coverage will appear in next week's issue.