New members of Oak Ridge Hall of Fame to be inducted Oct. 29

This year is the 35th anniversary of the Oak Ridge Sports Hall of Fame and new members have been selected for induction.

The new members to the ORSHOF will be inducted on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, during halftime of the Oak Ridge High School homecoming football game, according to the ORSHOF website. The new inductees are Jason Altman, George Dykes, Steve Oliphant, and KeKe Stewart.

On the same day, at 5 p.m., the group behind the Hall of Fame will meet in the ORHS Arena lobby to introduce the new inductees and enjoy some fellowship and simple eats, according to the website.

The ORSHOF now has a 501C-3 status, so people may make tax-deductible donations to the Hall of Fame for its operating expenses, such as the induction, engraving, medals, etc., and to fund display cases in the Arena area. These cases would contain memorabilia and personal items from Hall of Fame members.

“Many of you have visited other arenas and have enjoyed viewing historical items pertaining to all sports, equipment, uniforms etc.,” said the website. “We would like to start this phase two of the arena displays as soon as possible.”

The ORSHOF would appreciate any help toward this project and look forward to another ribbon-cutting ceremony to usher in a new chapter of the ORSHOF, the website stated.

Send any donations to: Keys Fillauer, c/o ORSHOF, 103B Stonebridge Way, Oak Ridge, TN 37803

For PayPal, use this email address: [email protected].

Inductees

Jason Altman is a 1997 ORHS graduate.

Soccer

• Jason was a three-year letterman for the SoccerCats from 1995-1997. He scored 50 goals and had 24 assists in his three years at ORHS. He was selected to the All-State team (1996 and 1997), All-South team (1996) and All-America team (1996).
• He became just the second SoccerCat to be selected as an NSCAA/Umbro All-American, joining Alan Gove (1982). He led Oak Ridge to three district championships (1995-1997) and a region championship (1997).
• In his senior year (1997), he captained Oak Ridge as the team reached the state championship game, where the SoccerCats finished as state runner-up to Chattanooga Baylor. He extended his playing career with a soccer scholarship to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Football

• Jason was also a three-year letterman for the Wildcats in football team (1994-1996). He specialized in kicking, punting, and special teams in 1994 and 1995. His senior year, 1996, he was an All-State selection at cornerback, leading the Wildcats in interceptions and finishing second in tackles.
• During his three years, Oak Ridge won three region championships, reached the state semi-finals twice, and compiled a 36-4 record.

Other

• After playing soccer at Miami University, Jason began running competitively in 2005. He has won more than 50 road races, including five marathons. His personal best times include 15:40 (5K), 1:12:47 (half marathon), and 2:38:52 (marathon).
• Jason became Race Director of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon in 2006. He grew the event into the largest competitive road race in East Tennessee. Every spring, thousands of East Tennesseans, including Oak Ridge residents, participate in the event in an effort to lead a healthier lifestyle in our community.

George Dykes is a 1958 ORHS graduate.

• George was a three-year basketball starter and letterman, and a starter on both offense and defense his only year of football. He won a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

• After his freshman year he transferred to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). He set most receiving records as a three-year letterman. He was first team All-American and All-Ohio Valley Conference — both for three years. Some of his records at MTSU still stand as a wide receiver. He was the leading wide receiver all three years as a player and was the outstanding receiver in the 1961 Tangerine Bowl. That year, 1961, he averaged 27 yards per catch. Totally, he had 62 catches for 1,367 yards and 16 touchdowns. In 1961, he had 647 yards receiving. This was when passing the football did not have the emphasis that it has now. His senior year lost only two games all season. All of the basketball teams had outstanding records.
• He was later a head high school football coach in Tennessee, and a business owner in Johnson City, Tenn.

Steve Oliphant is a 1979 ORHS graduate.

Basketball

• He was a three-year varsity starter and captain, played for Coach Carroll Smith.
• His sophomore year, he was a starter with Oak Ridge sports legends Dean Nichols, Roger Wade, and Dwayne Horton. He played basketball against East Tennessee legends: Elston Turner, Bill Bates, Reggie White, Derrick Hord, and Bert Bertlecamp. He scored 1,000 points, third at ORHS at the time, behind Randy Poole and Otis Howard.
• He was a three-year letterman and twice was selected to the All-District and All-Region teams. He was a two-time team MVP and led the team to TSSAA AAA State Tournament berth in Murfeesboro his senior year (1979), where they defeated the No. 1 team in state — Tennessee High Bristol in a Sub-State game at Johnson City, Freedom Hall, March 1979.
• He held Kentucky signee and five-star prospect Derrick Hord scoreless in the last four minutes.

Baseball

• He was a three-year varsity starting pitcher, with a 90 mph fastball. He was awarded three letters.
• His senior year he made the All-District and All-Region teams, team captain and All-District first baseman.
• He batted clean up as both a pitcher and first basemen, with a .375 batting average in district and region playoffs for district winning team.

Robertsville Junior High 1973-1976

• He won School Outstanding Athlete award in 1976 and played football, basketball and track. He was also the captain and leading scorer for the City, District, and Region Championship Team.
• His 9th-grade team had 19-1 record, Coaches Keys Fillauer and Lynn Burkev’s team won best team All District and All Region honors.
• He was the starting defensive end and center on football team and held the high jump record for Coach Winston Russell.

Roane State Community College 1979-1981

• He played two years and started all games. Leading scorer and captain for Coach Carroll Smith.
• Two time first team All State Tennessee JUCO basketball player and won the School’s Outstanding Student Award 1981. He maintained a 3.97 GPA, as engineering major.

Oglethorpe University, Atlanta Georgia — 1981-1983

• He was the two-year captain and starter for Coach Jack Berkshire
• He was a two-time member of the Oglethorpe University Athletic Hall of Fame as a basketball player and a member of the 1982-1983 team.
• He was a NAIA Basketball Academic All-American in 1983, with a 3.8 GPA. He was All-District NAIA Region 32 (Georgia, Florida, Alabama) and team MVP in 1983.
• He earned a full scholarship as a dual degree student at Oglethorpe and Georgia Tech and scored 1300 points as a college basketball player at two schools.
• Earned three colleges degrees at Roane State, Oglethorpe, and Georgia Tech on Basketball Scholarship (only person in the country to accomplish such an honor). He earned a Georgia Tech Mechanical Engineer degree in 1984, a BA at Oglethorpe University in 1984 and an MBA in 1988 from the University of Texas.