Service Awards Presented Each August

Thomas John Fricke– Service Award

· Blinded in an accident at the age of 17, this tragedy gave him a perspective which led to a life dedicated to the service of others.

· Despite the challenges, Tom went on to graduate from Holy Cross High School, earn an undergraduate degree from Thomas More College, master’s degrees from Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati and continued on to doctoral studies at University of San Francisco and University of Cincinnati.

· He was a tireless advocate for those with disabilities, serving in both professional and volunteer capacities in many organizations. Among these were director of home care services at Riverside Good Counsel School, special education instructor at Northern Kentucky University, counselor for children with special needs at Camp Marydale, the Inclusion Network of Cincinnati and Covington School Board member.

· After passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Tom founded a company, Comprehensive Education Services, which assisted school districts and other agencies throughout the Commonwealth in becoming accessible to all and compliant with the new law. In addition to these professional pursuits, Tom volunteered his talents as a board member at Civitan, Citizens Advocacy and the Behringer Crawford Museum.

· In recognition of early efforts, Tom was named a Kentucky Colonel by the Governor Julian Carroll.

· His more recent pursuits included enlightening a new generation as part of the Everbody Counts program and visiting primary school classrooms to talk about the challenges and rewarding aspects of being blind. In short, his efforts have benefitted and touched the lives of countless people in Northern Kentucky and beyond. Many of these people were by his side during his long battle with prostate, liver and bone cancer. His graciousness extended to the end, without a word of complaint, always thanking his caregivers and friends. He will forever be remembered by these friends, and his large family, as someone who lived life to the fullest with humor, class and an incredibly giving spirit.

Patricia “Pat” Scott– Lifetime Achievement Award

· Was a pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for parts of four seasons spanning 1948–1953. Listed at 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), 155 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.[2]A solid finesse pitcher, Scott had one of the best overhand deliveries during the last six years of the league. She guided the Fort Wayne Daisies to three consecutive pennants from 1951 to 1953, averaging 16 wins in each of them, while recording career best numbers in ERA (2.46), WHIP (0.87) and SO/BB (1.07).[3]Born in Covington, Kentucky, Scott was raised in a family farm located in the nearby town of Burlington. Scott is part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display based at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, which was unveiled in 1988 to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Joe Brennan– Leadership Award

When Joe ended his 23-year tenure Wednesday, Dec. 20,2024 as president of the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, it’s not going to be easy to look back and simply say: “Joe did that

· On the night he graduated from Holmes, at 17, he reported for his first shift of a 36-year career with the New York Central Railroad. Joe said he would with two conditions: No prejudice against minorities of any kind and lowering the age of induction from 62, that has gradually worked its way down to the current 36.

· But about the time as he was finishing up, Joe got involved as a member with the Hall of Fame through its legendary inspiration, Bill Cappel, who would years later ask him to help carry things on.

· That beautiful mural on the Covington floodwall honoring the 1939 Nick Carr Boosters World Champions softball team? Inducting the first woman – Walton baseball/softball legend Pat Scott – and the first minority – Covington Grant basketball great Tom Thacker – that was Joe.

· All those Behringer-Crawford Museum exhibitions focusing on the special sports history of Northern Kentucky like “Reach for the Stars” and “Batters Up” and “From the Mound to the Hill, the Jim Bunning Story” about the Northern Kentuckian who is only person ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the U.S. Senate?

· Joe, in his time as a Covington City commissioner, who helped save the museum from demolition, transferring it to a Board of Trustees for that purpose

· It’s hard to find much around here that Joe hasn’t been a part of. Main Strasse Village, now one of America’s top tourist attractions? Joe was the deciding vote to approve it.

· A Holmes High grad who played and then coached Knothole baseball for years here, Joe has been there, done that and then kept doing it

· Like those 85-half-hour interview shows co-hosted with Charlie Coleman that allow Northern Kentucky sports legends to tell their stories, preserving them for history.

Jim Claypool– Pioneer Award

· James graduated from Centre with a Bachelor’s of Arts in History. At Commencement, he received the Ormond Beatty Alumni Prize for graduating with the second highest academic average in the men’s division. Then Jim set a course for what became decades of involvement in academic life and education in Kentucky. The highlight of Jim’s career in higher education was serving as the first employee of Northern Kentucky University in February of 1970 after Northern Kentucky State College, a two-year institution, received legislative support and funding to become the first four-year college in the greater Cincinnati metropolitan region.

· Armed with a doctorate in history from the University of Kentucky and 3 ½ half years of teaching experience at Murray State, Jim was hired as Dean of Admissions and Students at the start of a remarkable period of growth for NKU. He outcompeted Kentucky’s regional institutions for students, coaxing transfers and high school graduates away from the University of Kentucky, Thomas More College, Xavier, UC and even a few from Centre so that by the start of the second semester, more than 3,000 students were enrolled.

· Significantly, Jim also started NKU’s athletics program for men and women, and at his insistence Northern was the first school in the Commonwealth, and one of the first three schools nationally, to ensure an equal number of scholarships.

James E. Steffen “Tiny” — Humanitarian Award

· James was raised in Covington and was a daily visitor to Goebel Park where he participated in baseball, softball and other activities

· Attended St. Aloysius School and played on the baseball land basketball teams

· Tiny was a first baseman of Oelsner’s Tavern and a pitcher for Knobs Social Club in the Kenton County Knothole Leagues

· He later graduated from Covington Catholic High School and was an outstanding pitcher on the baseball team

lettering in basketball during the years 1958-1959-1960.

· In 1957 Tiny was the starting pitcher for the Latonia American Legion baseball that finished in 2nd place in the state of Kentucky.

· Tiny also played semipro baseball in the Buckeye League and later played on many of the major teams in softball leagues in Northern Kentucky.

· He was inducted into the Covington Catholic Hall of Fame in 1994 and to the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in October 1994.

· He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the NKSHOF in May 2005.

· Tiny was a major factor in acquiring sponsors, door prizes, speakers, and players for our Jack Aynes Annual Golf Outing that provides scholarships assistance to deserving students graduating from high school to continue education through college.

· He was retired from Sears Roebuck and Co. after 27 years of service and managed Indiana Monument Company.

· A humanitarian is a person who expresses concern for others while promoting human welfare.

· A humanitarian has concern for helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.

· Tiny Steffen fits every definition of Humanitarian you can find.

· His motive for helping people was these definitions

· Most people have no idea of how many people Tiny helped in his Life.

Derrick Rhoden– Perseverance Award

· A Brossart Mustang who played varsity basketball from 2000-01 through 2003-04, scoring 854 Career Points while battling an unpublicized battle with being bi-polar and schizophrenic.

· He had physical and mental issues associated with the disorder, which did not allow him to reach his full potential. Tom Fricke, for whom this award is named was blinded in an accident at 17 years of age, and learned to overcome his disability and become a productive contributing member of society.

· Derrick was awarded the Tom Fricke Award by the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame last year.

· As a result of an, Derrick, who passed away in December of 2023 at the age of 38, is being remembered through his brother Nick’s establishing a GoFundMe account to raise money for CIT NKY an organization that functions to train police officers on how to properly handle mentally ill subjects in crisis, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness NKY who raises awareness and supports loved ones of those effected by serious mental illnesses.

Bill Cappel Community Contribution Award

· Bill was born on November 12, 1912 in Covington, Ky at 822 Perry Street where he lived his entire life.

· He was a devout Catholic and the humblest man you could meet

· Accomplishments:

· He was one of the members of the first class of Covington Latin school in 1927

· Chosesen as 1 of 5 graduates of Covington Latin school as a Distinguished Alumni

· Captain and 2nd baseman on 1939 World Softball Champion Nick Carr Boosters

· Served in WW II 1942-1945-promoted to Sergeant April 5, 1943.

· Was awarded the Bronze Start, Legion of Merit and 5 other medals

· 1945 Returned to his Job and General Manager of Railroad Warehouse

· 1948-1958 was General Manager of Covington Ballpark as a volunteer

· Worked 5:30-12:00 am 7 days a week

· Co-founder of the N Ky Umpires Assn& No Ky Sports Hall of Fame

· Selected to Cincinnati Hudepohl Hall of Fame and on Board of Directors

· Started the Covington Major Girls Soft ball League (Won 3 National Championships) Worked as umpire, Manager, League Director for 60 years (never missed a day)

· Sports Complex in Latonia named the Bill Cappel Sports Complex

· Sports Mural on Covington Flood Wall

· Behringer Crawford has exhibited the Life of Bill Cappel

· Jim Bunning had Bill’s Accomplishments entered into the Congressional Record on his 90th Birthday

· Bill Cappel died on December 16, 2003