Greg Sutton finally had his day in court.

The former ORU basketball guard returned to the Mabee Center hardwood Jan. 22 and officially entered the ORU Athletic Hall of Fame. It was the same floor on which Sutton suited up two decades earlier as a Titan, from 1988-1991, and set virtually every school offensive record for men’s basketball.

No ORU player has scored as many career points (3,070), recorded a better per-game scoring average for a career (29.5) or tallied more points in a single season (1,256) than Sutton. The Oklahoma City native, who transferred from Langston to ORU as a sophomore, scored 40 points or more 13 times and 50 or more points twice in his career.

Sutton was selected to join ORU’s Hall of Fame in 2010 but could not be present for the ceremony. ORU invited him back this year to be recognized with four other new inductees. This new class brings to 50 the total number of athletes, coaches or trainers who have been enshrined in ORU athletics history.

About a dozen previous honorees returned for this year’s ceremony Jan. 22 during halftime of the men’s basketball game against conference foe Centenary. Among them was Hall of Famer Ken Trickey, who served as men’s basketball head coach twice (1969-74 and 1987-93).

“This guy here can really play. Really play,” Trickey said of Sutton, his former star. “I taught him all he knows.”

Sutton wasn’t the only inductee who was a year late to the Hall of Fame recognition. Women’s basketball star Kim Ogden also was selected for Hall of Fame honors in 2010 but could not attend that event. She was on hand Jan. 22 with Sutton.

Ogden lettered in basketball for four seasons, from 1984 to 1988. The North Dakota native is the only player in ORU women’s basketball history to accumulate 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals in her career. She holds school records for career assists (518) and steals (372). She scored in double figures in 96 of her 113 games.

In addition to Sutton and Ogden, ORU inducted three other members to the Hall of Fame on Jan. 22: a golf coach, volleyball player and baseball pitcher.

Bill Brogden coached the ORU golf team from 1976 to 1986, leading the team to seven NCAA post-season appearances, four national Top 10 finishes and six Midwestern Collegiate Conference titles.

During his tenure, the Titans finished third at the 1980 NCAA Championships and national runner-up in 1981. He was named national coach of the year in 1980 and coached nine All-Americans at ORU, four of whom went on to play on the Professional Golf Association tour. Brogden is currently head golf coach at the University of Tulsa.

Becky Dreher is the fourth volleyball player to be named to the ORU Athletic Hall of Fame. She played four seasons for the Golden Eagles, from 2001 to 2004, finishing her career as ORU’s all-time leader in digs (2,246) and digs per game (5.22).

Dreher was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and 2004. She led ORU to Summit League titles in 2001 and 2002. She was a three-time all-conference player, earning first-team honors in 2003 and 2004.

Michael Rogers’ induction Jan. 22 brought to 12 the number of ORU baseball players named to the university’s Hall of Fame – the most of any sport.
Rogers suited up for the Golden Eagles from 1998-2002. The pitcher still holds records for the most wins (34) and strikeouts (334) in a career. He posted a 14-1 record in 2001 with a 2.37 earned run average and 137 strikeouts, earning Summit League Pitcher of the Year and second-team All-America honors that season.

He led the Golden Eagles to four Summit League championships and four NCAA Regional appearances. Rogers was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round in 2001. He spent one season in the minor leagues before injuries ended his professional career.

Rogers said he was excited to return to ORU for the Hall of Fame ceremony.

“It’s great being back seeing a lot of friends that I haven’t seen in a while,” he said afterward while signing autographs.

Sutton, too, was glad to be back at ORU, where he earned the attention of professional scouts during his playing days in the Mabee Center.

Sutton was selected in the second round of the National Basketball Association’s 1991 draft. He played three seasons with three different teams – the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia.

Sutton said his favorite sports memory at ORU was the Dec. 5, 1990, game against Oklahoma City University. He scored 68 points that night, establishing yet another school record.

Sutton said the Mabee Center still feels familiar to him, with one noticeable difference.

“It used to be a packed house,” he said, looking at the empty seats at the Centenary game. “Other than that, it’s the same.”

ORU Athletics Hall of Fame Members
Mark Acres, Men’s Basketball (1980-85)
Dave Barr, Men’s Golf (1970-73)
Dennis Bigley, Baseball (2002-05)
George Bjorkman, Baseball (1976-78)
Kisa Bradley, Women’s Basketball (1995-97)
Bill Brogden, Men’s Golf (1976-86)
Bob Brooks, Administrator (1969-72, 1976-83, 1991-93)
Todd Burns, Baseball (1982-84)
Jeff Combe, Men’s Golf (1981-85)
Greg Davis, Baseball / Men’s Basketball (1969-73)
Becky Dreher, Volleyball (2001-04)
Arnold Dugger, Men’s Basketball (1974-77)
Bernis Duke, Tennis Coach (1967-69)
Richard Fuqua, Basketball (1969-73)
Bill Glasson, Men’s Golf (1978-82)
Mike Hairston, Men’s Cross-Country (1978-81)
Vivian Herron, Women’s Basketball (1985-89)
Haywood Hill, Men’s Basketball (1969-71)
Gary “Cat” Johnson, Men’s Basketball (1978-82)
Jim Kane, Men’s Golf (1978-81)
Jodi Kirkhuff, Women’s Soccer (1999-2002)
Ksenjia Kugler, Volleyball (1993-95)
Madeline Manning-Mims, Women’s Track (1979-81)
Angela Manuel, Track & Field (1994-98)
Ron Meredith, Baseball (1976-78)
Mike Moore, Baseball (1979-81)
Juliana Moser, Volleyball (1996-99)
Tom Nieto, Baseball (1981)
Bryan Norton, Men’s Golf (1978-81)
Kim Ogden, Women’s Basketball (1984-88)
Rhonda Penquite, Women’s Basketball (1977-78)
Krista Ragan, Women’s Basketball (1998-2002)
Joe Rassett, Men’s Golf (1978-81)
Anthony Roberts, Men’s Basketball (1973-77)
Garth Robinson, Track & Field (1993-95)
Michael Rogers, Baseball (1998-2002)
Pekka Saila, Men’s Tennis (1968-70)
Alvin Scott, Men’s Basketball (1973-77)
Sheera Sirola, Volleyball (1994-95)
Glenn Smith, Athletic Trainer (1972-2010)
Bill Springman, Baseball (1976-78)
Greg Sutton, Men’s Basketball (1988-91)
Kelvin Torve, Baseball (1979-81)
Ken Trickey, Men’s Basketball (1969-74, 1987-93)
Sharon Tucker, Women’s Basketball (1978-81)
Peter Van Lingen, Men’s Tennis (1967-71)
Trey Vaut, Men’s Soccer (1999-2004)
Bob Volk, Baseball (1976-78)
Haywoode Workman, Men’s Basketball (1986-89)
Bob Zupcic, Baseball (1985-87)

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