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69th
AASBD Hall of Fame Awards
The All-American Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame will induct four new members during the awards ceremonies Saturday evening at E.J. Thomas Hall. To be inducted are: Bob Campbell was a member of the Summit County Sheriff's Department for more than three decades, including serving as Sheriff from 1961 through 1975. During his 14-year tenure, Sheriff Campbell established a formal group of deputies dedicated to support of All-American Soap Box Derby activities, to make certain that participants, their families, race officials, program sponsors, and visiting celebrities had a memorable experience in Akron. Tony DeLuca - After 28 years as a Summit County deputy sheriff, Tony joined the All-American Soap Box Derby staff as executive director in 1989. He has worked tirelessly to expand the program and to enhance the Derby Downs facilities. Under his leadership, numerous sponsorship relationships were established, the Stock and Super Stock divisions were added, a new headquarters administrative building opened in 1992, followed by new grandstands in 1999, a finish line bridge in 2000 and multi-purpose building at Topside in 2001. Herman "Tex" Finsterwald a Soap Box Derby competitor in the Fifties, was local race director in Flint, MI for two decades beginning in the mid-Sixties. He currently serves as a member of the Rally Commission and is an Assistant Regional Director. Tex maintains a sizable collections of Soap Box Derby memorabilia. Bruce Hunsicker raced in the Sixties and has worked with local Soap Box Derby programs in Norfolk, VA, Jacksonville, FL, and Akron. Bruces also has served for 26 years as an All-American Soap Box Derby volunteer car handler and on the car transport crew. He was a board member and race director of the Akron Area Super Kids Classic and was instrumental in establishing the National Super Kids Classic. Jeff Iula personifies the spirit of the Soap Box Derby through his honorary title of "Mr. Derby". As the son of long-time Akron local program director Ralph Iula, Jeff literally grew up around the Soap Box Derby. He joined the All-American staff in 1975, and has served as general manager since 1989. Jeff Iula is recognized in race communities worldwide for his decades of dedicated efforts to the betterment of the Soap Box Derby program and its participants. Past Inductees 1997 - Myron E. Scott; Bain E. "Shorty" Fulton; Jim Schlemmer; Jimmy Stewart; Wilbur Shaw 1998 - John S. Knight; Mason Bell; George W. Brittain; Jim Ott; Howard Flood 1999 - Marie Wright; Ralph Barnes; Ralph Iula; Loris C. Troyer; Frank A. 'Whitey" Wahl 2000 - Bruce Bucholzer; Bob Gravett; Ron Baker 2001 - Don Lenox; Don Meech; Tom Kilroy; Ray Schieb 2002 - Bill Ford; Jack Morran; Bob Turner 2003 - Jim Underwood; Bob Troyer; Bill Kuntz 2004 - Don Adams; David J. Holly; Ira C. Sapozink; Ronald Reagan 2005 - Shirley Foster, Paul Arnsmeyer, Roy Hartz
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