AUBURN #- The Auburn High School Athletic Hall of Fame isn't just about athletes. Sure, it's an opportunity to honor some of the exceptional athletes who have passed through the hallowed halls, but it is also a time to recognize the important contributions of others in the community who have been integral to the support and development of athletics within the community.
This year Rick Hansinger will be entering the hall as an honorary member.
“It is certainly an honor,” said Hansinger, a native of Mt. Clemens, Mich. “I didn't expect this at all. I really feel honored to be recognized like this.”
Hansinger spent 10 years as a member of the Auburn Sports Boosters, Inc., serving six as president.
But perhaps his crowning moment cam five years ago. Budget problems during the 2001 school year put spring sports in danger of being canceled, but the boosters quickly stepped up to the task to raise the $112,000 needed in less than a month.
“We actually raised $196,000,” Hansinger said. “We got donations, we had dances, we went to local businesses for support. It was a real community effort. It was exciting to be able to do that in the limited time that we had and to be able to make it work.”
Hansinger also served on the board of directors for the YMCA for six years.
“I'm not on the board now,” Hansinger said. “But I'm still an active member. When winter gets here I know I'll be there walking and using the nautilus machines.”
It is this commitment to volunteer work that has garnered this attention for Hansinger.
“It is just something I like to do,” he said. “I don't do it to get recognition to get into the Hall of Fame, you do it because it is what you enjoy doing and you like to be able to help out.”
Hansinger grew up an avid athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball.
“We were always out there breaking windows and creating headaches for our parents, but we were always busy playing something,” he said.
During high school Hansinger played varsity football, basketball and baseball as well as lettering in track and field his senior year.
His skills on the gridiron were what really distinguished him, though.
He was recruited by Alfred University, where he played two years of JV basketball and four years of varsity football.
During his freshman year the team went undefeated and during his four seasons the team went 26-7.
“It was really rewarding,” Hansinger said. “It was great, a lot of fun to play for a Division III school.”
Overall Hansinger was very successful scoring approximately 15 touchdowns and going down in the history books scoring on an 82-yard pass reception, which at the time was the 10th longest in the university's history.
All of which drew even more attention to Hansinger.
“There was a pro scout that was interested in me,” Hansinger said. “He represented six or seven different teams. It was a real honor to be scouted and want to be seen by the NFL. I never heard anything back. I was fast, but I was too small to play with some of those big guys. But it was an amazing honor.”
But perhaps the most important moment of Hansinger's life while at Alfred was meeting his wife Mena, whom he married in 1974.
After graduation the Hansingers moved to Union Springs, where Hansinger taught business as well as taking on the assistant coach position for the football team.
“Those were some tough years for Union Springs,” Hansinger said. “But it was a lot of fun to coach.”
While he was teaching in Union Springs, the Hansingers bought a house and settled in Auburn.
They began to raise a family that would follow in Hansinger's athletic footsteps.
All three children of their children, Sarah, Paul and Adam, have been incredibly active athletes.
“It is great to see,” Hansinger said. “It is rewarding to watch them play and compete. The best thing is that they all made their own decisions and did it for themselves. They didn't play because of me, it was what they wanted to do.”
For the community and his peers to see him in this light is something Hansinger feels to be an outstanding honor.
“I don't know who elected me,” Hansinger said.
“But to be elected with all the other athletes is a real honor. A lot of hard work and commitment has gone into trying to raise awareness and help where I can. To get this recognition from others is just amazing.”
“It is certainly an honor,” said Hansinger, a native of Mt. Clemens, Mich. “I didn't expect this at all. I really feel honored to be recognized like this.”
Hansinger spent 10 years as a member of the Auburn Sports Boosters, Inc., serving six as president.
But perhaps his crowning moment cam five years ago. Budget problems during the 2001 school year put spring sports in danger of being canceled, but the boosters quickly stepped up to the task to raise the $112,000 needed in less than a month.
“We actually raised $196,000,” Hansinger said. “We got donations, we had dances, we went to local businesses for support. It was a real community effort. It was exciting to be able to do that in the limited time that we had and to be able to make it work.”
Hansinger also served on the board of directors for the YMCA for six years.
“I'm not on the board now,” Hansinger said. “But I'm still an active member. When winter gets here I know I'll be there walking and using the nautilus machines.”
It is this commitment to volunteer work that has garnered this attention for Hansinger.
“It is just something I like to do,” he said. “I don't do it to get recognition to get into the Hall of Fame, you do it because it is what you enjoy doing and you like to be able to help out.”
Hansinger grew up an avid athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball.
“We were always out there breaking windows and creating headaches for our parents, but we were always busy playing something,” he said.
During high school Hansinger played varsity football, basketball and baseball as well as lettering in track and field his senior year.
His skills on the gridiron were what really distinguished him, though.
He was recruited by Alfred University, where he played two years of JV basketball and four years of varsity football.
During his freshman year the team went undefeated and during his four seasons the team went 26-7.
“It was really rewarding,” Hansinger said. “It was great, a lot of fun to play for a Division III school.”
Overall Hansinger was very successful scoring approximately 15 touchdowns and going down in the history books scoring on an 82-yard pass reception, which at the time was the 10th longest in the university's history.
All of which drew even more attention to Hansinger.
“There was a pro scout that was interested in me,” Hansinger said. “He represented six or seven different teams. It was a real honor to be scouted and want to be seen by the NFL. I never heard anything back. I was fast, but I was too small to play with some of those big guys. But it was an amazing honor.”
But perhaps the most important moment of Hansinger's life while at Alfred was meeting his wife Mena, whom he married in 1974.
After graduation the Hansingers moved to Union Springs, where Hansinger taught business as well as taking on the assistant coach position for the football team.
“Those were some tough years for Union Springs,” Hansinger said. “But it was a lot of fun to coach.”
While he was teaching in Union Springs, the Hansingers bought a house and settled in Auburn.
They began to raise a family that would follow in Hansinger's athletic footsteps.
All three children of their children, Sarah, Paul and Adam, have been incredibly active athletes.
“It is great to see,” Hansinger said. “It is rewarding to watch them play and compete. The best thing is that they all made their own decisions and did it for themselves. They didn't play because of me, it was what they wanted to do.”
For the community and his peers to see him in this light is something Hansinger feels to be an outstanding honor.
“I don't know who elected me,” Hansinger said.
“But to be elected with all the other athletes is a real honor. A lot of hard work and commitment has gone into trying to raise awareness and help where I can. To get this recognition from others is just amazing.”
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Facts Only wrote on Sep 27, 2006 9:28 AM: