The Eastern Illinois University athletic office announces its Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
The ceremony will take place at Eastern's October 7th football game against Tennessee Tech.
Entering the Hall of Fame for the Class of 2017 are former athletes Zye Boey, Cara LeMaster and J.R. Taylor, former EIU athletic administrator Dave Kidwell and friend of athletics Joe Strohm.
ZYE BOEY (Men’s Track & Field / Decatur, Ill. / MacArthur HS)… Former Eastern Illinois track and field star Zye Boey holds the distinction of the fastest person in school history. From 2009-12, Boey shattered the EIU record books as he set school records in the indoor 60 meter dash, indoor 200 meter dash, outdoor 100 meter dash and outdoor 200 meter dash. He was a member of seven OVC championship teams being named the OVC Track Championship MVP five times (three for outdoor championships and two for indoor championships). He was named the OVC Track Athlete of the Year five times along with collecting OVC Freshman of the Year honors. On a national level Boey advanced to the NCAA National Championships seven times between indoor and outdoor track. He was a five time All-American earning first team honors with a seventh place finish in the 200 meter dash at the 2011 Indoor National Championships. He wrapped up his collegiate career in 2012 competing at the US Olympic Trails in both the 100 meter and 200 meter events.
CARA LeMASTER (Women’s Soccer / Collinsville, Ill. / Collinsville HS)… Cara LeMaster played women’s soccer during one of the most successful stints in program history taking to the pitch from 1999-2002. She earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors all four seasons with three first team All-OVC accolades. She was twice named to the All-Great Lakes Region team earning both All-Freshmen team honors and third team honors. She helped EIU make its first two appearance in the NCAA Women’s College Cup in 2001 and 2002. LeMaster was a part of two regular season OVC Championship teams and three OVC Tournament Championship squads. She ranks in the EIU career top ten in four offensive categories – points (66, 4th), assists (22, 5th), game winning goals (8, 5th) and goals (22, 6th).
J.R. TAYLOR (Football / Decatur, Ill. / Mt. Zion HS)… J.R. Taylor was one of the most dominant running backs in Eastern Illinois football history during a success time in Panther football history. Playing from 1999-2002, Taylor was part of three straight FCS playoff teams as he finished his career with 3,705 yards which ranks as the fourth highest total in school history. As a senior in 2002 he led the OVC in rushing with 1,522 yards earning consensus first team All-American honors by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sports Network and Football Gazette. Taylor holds the school record for rushing yards in a game with 308 yards against Florida Atlantic in 2002. A two-time first team All-OVC selection, he ended his career as the school’s career leader in rushing touchdowns with 51, a total that ranks third all-time in the Ohio Valley Conference.
DAVE KIDWELL (Athletic Administrator)… Dave Kidwell was one of the longest tenured athletic employees in the history of the Panthers athletic department. Kidwell began working as the school’s sport information director and later assistant athletic director from 1972 until 2006. During that time he served as the media contact for numerous post-season appearances for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball. He was a vital information source for the Panthers department as they won the 1978 NCAA Division II National Championship in football. Under his direction he guided the department as they won several publication awards through CoSIDA. Following his first retirement from Eastern Illinois, Kidwell returned to serve as the assistant athletic director for special projects from 2006-16. He served as the long time administrator for the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame and helped run the IHSA State Track Meet for more than 40 years.
JOE STROHM (Friend of Athletics)… Strohm first began his association with the athletic department as a student employee at Eastern Illinois. Since his graduation he has continued to support both the University and the athletic department in a variety of ways. He currently works as the Vice President for Ticket Sales for the St. Louis Cardinals. In that role he is responsible for all aspects of the team’s ticket sales and manages the club’s advertising and marketing. He has helped oversee a unit that has helped the Cardinals exceed 3 million tickets sold for 13 consecutive seasons. Strohm has been generous in his support of the athletic department donating a VIP suite for the athletic department’s Spring Fling annual fund raising auction in addition to tickets and memorabilia for special occasions. He was awarded the Louis V. Hencken Alumni Service Award by EIU in 2001. He has served as a member of the EIU Director of Athletics Advisory Committee and is a Board Member with the St. Louis Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
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