Cushinberry, Dodson, Slaughter earn Hall of Fame

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Apr 11, 2008 by Rick Peterson

By Rick Peterson

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The Topeka Shawnee County Sports Council announced its 2008 Hall of Fame class Thursday - Dale Cushinberry, Lee Dodson and Fred Slaughter.

The trio makes up the third Topeka Shawnee County Hall of Fame class and will be inducted at a June 25 banquet on the Washburn campus.

Cushinberry, Dodson and Slaughter join 2006 inductees Lon Kruger, Ken Berry, Mike Torrez, Melvin Douglas and Billie Moore and last year's class of Preston Carrington, Tom Dinkel and Willie Nicklin.

"I think if you look at the list that we have I think anybody would say, 'Wow,'\u2009" said Vince Frye, vice president of the Hall of Fame committee.

Cushinberry, a 1965 Highland Park graduate, went on to become an NAIA All-American in basketball at Emporia State, where he is in the school's Hall of Honor. He is the principal at Highland Park and is included on the school's Wall of Honor.

Dodson, a 1942 Topeka High grad, went on to pitch for several minor league baseball teams. After his playing career, Dodson managed teams at the American Legion and semi-pro levels and created the Walter Johnson League, the Topeka Over-30 League and the Fireball League. Dodson earned degrees from both Washburn and Kansas.

"Anytime anybody says anything nice about you, it's humbling," said Dodson, who will turn 84 later this month. "Of course I'm very appreciative of it.

"I haven't done any of the things that I've done or do is not for some kind of an award but for the self-satisfaction. But I'm very impressed and very pleased with it."

Slaughter, a 1960 High graduate, was a basketball standout for the Trojans and also state 100-yard dash champion. Slaughter went on to start three seasons for UCLA, which advanced to two Final Fours and won the school's first national championship in 1964 (30-0 record). Slaughter, a sports attorney, is a member of UCLA's Athletics Hall of Fame.

"We're pleased to add these three outstanding individuals," Frye said. "Not only did they perform in the field of athletics, but I think it's important to point out what they've done with their careers.

"We're very pleased to announce these three individuals for induction on June 25th into the Hall of Fame and even more pleased to announce that all three will be here that night."

Also June 25, the council will honor the county's top high school athletes from the 2007-08 school year. The finalists for those honors will be announced at a later date.

Rick Peterson can be reachedat (785) 295-1129or rick.peterson@cjonline.com.