Born in 1931 in Bozeman, Montana, Charles “Chuck” Kane grew up in Riverside, where he nurtured his love for and skill in basketball as a student and star player at Riverside Polytechnic High School. Following his graduation from Poly in 1949, Kane attended and played ball for Riverside Community College and Pepperdine University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. After finishing his undergraduate education, Kane served in the Army and completed his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in education administration and counseling at the University of Southern California.

Kane began his career teaching and sharing his love for basketball as a coach at Compton Dominguez High School, and in 1964, he joined Long Beach City College as basketball coach and quickly turned the Vikings into a winning team. It was at LBCC that he also began his work in the field of school administration, serving as dean of students, vice president of student personnel services and executive vice president. After fourteen years at Long Beach, Kane returned “home” to Riverside to join the staff at RCC. He served as superintendent and president of the college for thirteen years, from 1989 until 1992, then took on the task of joining Seattle’s three community colleges and successfully raising more than $20 million in scholarships as chancellor of the institution. Kane retired to Riverside and served as interim superintendent of Rio Hondo College in Whittier until 2002. He was a primary inspiration behind and key founder of The Riverside Sport Hall of Fame.

In recognition of his achievements and contributions to the communities he served, Kane was inducted into the Riverside Community College Hall of Fame in 1992, the California Community Colleges Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and posthumously into the Long Beach City College Athletics Hall of Fame. This year, on its tenth anniversary, The Riverside Sport Hall of Fame is proud to induct Dr. Charles “Chuck” Kane as its Contributor.

Kane passed away on February 9, 2004. He is survived by his wife, Marie; a son, Russell; four daughters, Karen Kane, Carol Bracey, Kathy Bonelli and Kristy Mapes; a stepson, Dan Hays; a brother, Clark; 13 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren.

Sam D. Knight, Sr. was born in Pensacola, Florida on October 25, 1942. He was an All-City First Team Basketball Player in Cleveland, Ohio where he graduated from John Adams High School in 1961.

After his graduation, Knight was recruited by Coach Jerry Tarkanian to play basketball for Riverside City College. During the two years that Knight played for RCC, the team went to the State Championships both years. In 1963-64, Sam helped the team to a 35-0 record, crowning their season with the California State Championship, ushering in an era of unequaled basketball success at RCC. That year, Knight was named as the “Most Inspirational” player. Knight went on to graduate from the University of Laverne with a BS in Public Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice, and successfully completed the Managing in a Changing Environment Program at UCLA.

For thirty-three years, Knight worked as a counselor for the California School for the Deaf and was a key administrator at the Herman G. Stark Youth Authority Facility in Chino. He served on the Jurupa Unified School District Board from 1993-2006. He has been involved in Ministry for the Homeless at Fairmount Park, Singing Ministry at Plymouth Towers, and Director of Education and Vacation Bible School at Church of Christ in Riverside. Knight’s education and life experiences have kept him actively involved in Riverside community affairs. He has been a positive influence in the lives of countless young men throughout his life.

It was at RCC where Sam met his wife, Blanche. They have been married for 47 years and are extremely proud of their talented family. Their five children – Tina, Ryan, Sammy, Darryl and Greg – all have completed their college education. Tina works in the field of education and all four sons have received football scholarships to Division I programs. The core values that Sam and Blanch emphasized in the home were, “God first, family and then community.” They still make Riverside their home.

Bruce Wilson was born on June 13, 1924. At the young age of 87, he is the oldest living athlete to be inducted into the Riverside sport Hall of Fame. Wilson grew up with his older brother Jim on Hoover Street in Riverside, and attended Palm Elementary School, Central Middle School and Poly High School. His father owned Brick Wilson’s Automotive Service on Market Street. Wilson got his start in athletics in junior high school playing softball in a Park and Recreation Department Night Ball League, at a time when there were no youth baseball leagues.

In high school, Wilson was the first Riverside Poly student to letter in all four major sports – football, basketball, track and field, and baseball. While at Poly, he earned eight varsity letters and was the school’s athlete of the year in 1943.

Upon graduation in 1943, he immediately joined the United States Army, where he volunteered for parachute training and joined the 517th Parachute Regiment made famous in Band of Brothers. During WWII, he fought in five major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded a Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge.

After the war, Bruce lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Riverside City College, where he graduated in 1947. He later briefly played baseball while at USC. He returned to Riverside to teach and coach at Central Junior High (1951-57), Poly High (1957-66) and RCC (1967-89). During that time he was a positive role model and mentor to hundreds of young people.

During Bruce’s 39-year teaching career, he never missed one day of work. Bruce and his wife Doris have been married for 62 years. They have a son Tom, a daughter Gail, and three grandchildren.

Billy York was born on September 11, 1950, and grew up in the small farming community of Cochranville, Pennsylvania. As a child, York was the smallest person in his class and spent most of his time reading and sitting out of sports. In the sixth grade, however, he took inspiration from a story he read about Glenn Cunningham, the greatest American miler of his time, and refused to let what some at the time viewed as a limitation hold him back. He never looked back. In high school, York earned twelve varsity letters in Cross Country, Wrestling and Track and followed his father’s footsteps into the Navy, with which he served in Vietnam. Upon completion of his military service, he returned to his family in Pennsylvania, and in 1974, he and his family moved to Riverside.

In 1984, York started the Harvest Christian School cross country team, which, under the guidance of York and his predecessors, soon won the National AAU Championships in Birmingham, Alabama in 1987. York began coaching at Woodcrest Christian in 1986 and has molded the Woodcrest Christian cross country team into one of the most powerful programs in the State of California, leading the team to five straight CIF State Championships in Cross Country – the only CIF High School to achieve this in any sport. He also created the Middle School Cross Country League, in which more than twenty teams now compete, and developed the “cluster meet” format for Inland Empire schools, a format now used throughout California.

For over 30 years, York has been a quiet mentor to the Boys and Girls Track and Field and Cross Country teams, bringing much honor and fame for his school, his teams and for his City. His coaching achievements are almost too numerous to mention: 60 High School League Championships, 37 Coach of the Year Awards in Cross Country and Track and Field, 3 State CIF Coach of the Year Awards, 3 CIF Academic Team Championships and 20 straight League Championships. In addition, York was named the Press-Enterprise Coach of the Year in 2008 and was inducted into the prestigious Mt. Sac Hall of Fame in 2009. His most important achievement, however, has been his impact on countless young lives through his strong faith, belief in young people and the positive way in which he conducts himself on the field and in everyday life.

Billy is blessed with a wonderful wife, Bonnie who has worked side-by-side with him in the Harvest Children’s Ministry program. They have been married for 43 years and have three grown children – Vince, age 42, Mark, age 38 and Alecia “Bunky” Rothermune, age 36.

A native of Riverside, Nesbitt has been in the water practically since birth. She was a key member of the Riverside AQuettes from 1964 to 1972, and swam for Riverside Poly High School, winners of three league championships during her time there. She attended San Jose State in 1977, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation. She swam for the Santa Clara Aquamaids for five years, winning fourteen international titles and eighteen national titles with them during that time. She was a finalist for the 1977 Sullivan Award.

Nesbitt successfully coached the Canadian National Synchronized Swim Team for ten years. She also coached the Australian National Team in the 1984 Olympics. In 1991, she returned to Riverside as head coach of the AQuettes, her goal being to build a strong program in Riverside that would allow swimmers to stay close to home to achieve their goals. Nesbitt fostered a powerhouse program that has won two Junior National overall championships and sent four athletes, so far, to the Olympics. In 2004, two of her athletes (including her daughter Stephanie) were chosen to represent the United States in Olympic Synchronized Swimming competition. The team proudly took home a Bronze medal.

Nesbitt has recently retired from active coaching, but continues to teach and consult with clubs and swimmers across the country. Some of her many other awards and achievements include: two-time Developmental Coach of the Year in Nova Scotia, Canada; Coach of the Year in Canada; two Citizens Savings Hall of Fame Awards; and Women’s Sports Hall of Fame induction. Nesbitt still resides and mentors youth in Riverside. Nesbitt and her two daughters, Barbara and Stephanie, make up what Ohio State’s The Lantern referred to as “one of the sport’s rare family dynasties, one that is as important to synchro as the Mannings are to football.” Her goal over the years has been to produce good people and strong citizens, and she has gone above and beyond in achieving this goal.

Troy Percival grew up in the Inland Empire, after his father accepted a position with the City of Riverside Fire Department in 1965. As a child he tried about every activity from karate, to bike racing, basketball, wrestling, football, bowling and guitar. The one constant was always baseball. He attended Midland Elementary School, Alessandro Junior High School and Moreno Valley High School. At Moreno Valley High School, Percival was a four-sport athlete in basketball, football, wrestling and baseball. He lettered in wrestling for two years and baseball for three years.

Upon graduation in 1987, Percival had opportunities to attend Cal-State, Fullerton, Washington State and the University of California at Riverside. Having grown up watching UCR baseball as well as attending the classic Riverside Baseball Invitational, Percival decided to attend UCR. From 1986 to 1990, Percival spent three years as the starting catcher for the UCR baseball team, and his outstanding play caught the attention of major league baseball teams.

In 1990, Percival signed a professional contract as a catcher with the California Angels. Because his throws back to the pitcher were so powerful, the Angels coaching staff converted him to a pitcher. In 1995, Percival made his major league debut as a relief pitcher. In 1996, he became a regular closer for the Angels and had 36 saves with 100 strikeouts in 74 innings. In 1998, he recorded a career high of 42 saves. Percival was a four-time All-Star in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2001. In 2002, he had his best season with a 4-1 record, 40 saves, 68 strikeouts and a 1.92 ERA. He was pivotal in helping the Angels to their first World Series Championship, closing out 7 playoff games during their run to the championship. During his career, Percival became one of the Major League’s most dominant closers with 358 career saves and a 3.17 ERA in 703 games as a pitcher for California/Anaheim, Detroit, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.

Percival’s dad is Richard and his mom is Barbara. He has a son Cole, age 13, and a daughter Avery, age 9. Percival is currently an assistant coach with the Riverside Poly Baseball Team and coach for both his son’s Pony League travel baseball team and his daughter’s softball team. He obtained his pilot’s license in 2011 and has a great love for outdoor activities. His future goals include completing his degree and continuing to coach at increasingly higher levels of competition.

Sammy Knight, Jr. was born on September 10, 1975, in Fontana, California. He attended West Riverside School and Mission Middle School. It was at Rubidoux High School where he first made his mark nationally as a prep All-American. He played linebacker and safety for John Robinson at USC.

As a USC sophomore in 1994, Knight made All-Pac 10 Honorable Mention. In his junior year, he won the Bob Chandler Award, took home the Jack Oakie “Rise and Shine” Award, and was All-Pac 10 Second Team. In his senior year, he made All-Pac 10 First Team, leading USC in tackles (121), interceptions (5 including 1 for a TD), and fumble recoveries (3). He was named MVP and Most Inspirational Player and Team Captain in 1996. Knight amassed 290 tackles and 5 interceptions in his stellar college football career.

After college, Knight was drafted by the New Orleans Saints, where he played from 1997 to 2002. He was named to the 2001 NFL Pro-Bowl squad, and played for the Miami Dolphins from 2003-2004, Kansas City Chiefs from 2005-2006, Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007, and New York Giants in 2008. His career stats as a pro include 42 interceptions (4 of which he returned for touchdowns), 786 tackles, 38 deflections, 13 fumble recoveries and 12 forced fumbles. He started in 168 of the 183 regular season games in which he played and also appeared in 5 playoff games. Knight was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2011.

In 2009, Knight served as an analyst on the Compass Media Network’s college and pro football radio broadcasts. He is currently working on his Masters Degree at USC and serves on the football coaching staff as the safeties coach and graduate assistant.

Knight and his wife, Freda, have five children – Anelia, Shianne, Sammone, Savannah and Sasha Grace. They still have family in Riverside, and still feel this is “home”.