CEDAR FALLS - Six individuals and one team will be inducted into the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame during Panther homecoming festivities the weekend of Oct. 11.

The newest Hall members are former football player Joe Fuller; former student-athlete, coach and athletics administrator Lynn King; former basketball player John Martin; former track and field athlete and football player Kenny Shedd; former baseball player Tom Simpson; and UNI's 1977 softball team. Also being inducted is long-time supporter of UNI athletics, Bob Beach, who will receive the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award.

Fuller was a standout at both defensive back and punt returner from 1982-85 on the gridiron. He was a three-time all-conference selection, and was a first-team All-American in 1985. He averaged nearly 12 yards per return for his career, and his 93-yard punt return for a score against Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1984 is still a UNI record.

King was UNI's head men's track and field and cross country coach from 1976-84, and during his tenure he coached 25 All-Americans and was named conference coach of the year 11 times. He was a four-year starting football player as well as a track and field athlete for the Panthers, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1969. After finishing his coaching career, he has gone on to a lengthy career as an athletics administrator, including serving as director of athletics at Drake University from 1990-2000, and his current role as director of athletics at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.

Martin played three years for the Panther basketball team (1967-70) under the direction of head coach Zeke Hogeland. He scored more than 1,000 points and grabbed more than 500 rebounds during his career, including averaging 19.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a senior, when he earned All-North Central Conference honors.

Shedd was a standout both as a football player and track athlete for the Panthers from 1989-92. He still ranks in UNI's top 10 all-time in receiving yards (2,462), touchdowns scored (33) and punt return average (12.15). He holds UNI's indoor record in the 55-meter dash, and has the school's fourth-best 200 meter time both indoors and outdoors. A first-team All-American in 1992, he went on to a career in the National Football League.

Simpson pitched for UNI from 1963-65. More than 40 years later, Simpson's name still appears numerous times in the Panthers' record book. He posted 14 wins and a career earned run average of 1.17, averaging 11.10 strikeouts per nine innings. He still holds UNI career records for consecutive wins (10) and consecutive scoreless innings (40.1).

The 1977 softball team claimed the AIAW (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) Women's College World Series championship. The 1977 season marked the third straight WCWS appearance for the Panthers, with the program just in its fourth year of existence. Under the direction of head coach Jane Mertesdorf, the Panthers finished 30-2 in 1977, defeating Arizona in the national championship game.

Beach has been a long-time Panthers supporter in the Cedar Valley community. He is the former president of University Book and Supply, as well as a former president and member of the UNI Foundation Board of Trustees.

The inductees will be honored during a luncheon Oct. 11, prior to UNI's football game against Illinois State, as well as at halftime ceremonies. For luncheon ticket information, contact Sheri Bishop at 273-2470.