WATERLOO - Lew Montgomery's family lineage left little doubt he would someday star for the Waterloo East Trojans.

His grandfather, William "Big Sun" Flowers, was a three-time all-stater. He also had talented brothers who starred for the school. And, oh yeah, his cousin, Jerry Moses, once spurred East to 56 straight wins.

So, when Montgomery tore Northeast Iowa asunder in the late 1980s, no one was shocked.

And now, no one is the slightest bit shocked Montgomery will be inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame tonight at the UNI-Dome.

"There's a long lineage of success at East High with my family, (so) it was probably fairly inevitable," Montgomery said Thursday with a laugh. "It just kinda filters into your blood."

The bruising running back churned up more than 2,000 total yards to go with 37 touchdowns in his final two seasons at East. His exploits helped produce a pair of playoff berths and, in 1987, he earned USA Today all-America honors.

Eventually, Montgomery ventured south to Iowa City, where he started for three years and helped spur the 1990 Iowa Hawkeyes to the Rose Bowl. A year later, he was part of a 10-1-1 Hawkeye club that ESPN analyst Lee Corso once called "the best team ever not playing on New Year's Day." He ended his Iowa career with 17 total touchdowns.

"Being able to experience that whole process of winning through pee-wee league all the way through college - the experience was tremendous," said Montgomery, who currently resides in Cedar Rapids.

"I'll be the first to say I didn't do it all by myself. There was a lot of luck and a lot of folks who helped me along the way."

In Iowa City, he often inspired thousands of Kinnick Stadium patrons to shout "Leeew" in unison.

Now, Montgomery concentrates most of his motivational efforts on promoting awareness of a baffling genetic disorder that afflicts his young son, Lucas, called Sanfilippo Syndrome.

Two other Northeast Iowans will be inducted tonight during the halftime of the Class 4A state title game.

- Chris Hegg, Hudson (1982): With a rocket for a right arm, Hegg produced staggering numbers on both the stat sheet and in the win column.

As a starter, this former signal-caller passed for a total of 2,711 yards and 31 touchdowns - including 20 in his senior season alone. As a result, the Pirates racked up a 20-3 record in his two years as a starter and advanced to the state semifinals or further both seasons.

"I was always excited to throw - handing off the football to the running back was not real fun for me," joked Hegg, who will be joined in today's on-field ceremony by his family and his former Hudson coach, Denny Lenth, who is currently a Cedar Falls assistant.

Hegg starred collegiately at Truman State, where he earned Division II National Player of the Year honors and has since been inducted into that school's hall of fame. Also drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. Hegg and his family currently reside in Orland Park, Ill.

"It's quite an honor," Hegg said of his impending enshrinement. "I was totally taken off-guard when I got the call informing me. I thought maybe when I was in my 70s or so I might get the award!"

- George Asleson, Charles City (1952): In 1951, an all-state voter summed up Asleson's skills succinctly:

"He never left the field because of injuries or inferior play. … Opened holes virtually on demand. … Defensively, he has no peer."

That would explain how Asleson earned all-America honors to cap a prep career that helped produce two Northeast Iowa Conference titles for the Comets. During one campaign, his Comet club was ranked among the top two all season and averaged 37.5 points per game.

Later, Asleson played at Iowa and, after four years in the military, he finished his collegiate career in Cedar Falls. While with the Panthers in 1960, the offensive lineman was a co-captain of a club that went 9-1 and advanced to the Mineral Water Bowl.

He later coached, and for five years he served as an offensive line assistant for the Arena Football League's now-defunct Iowa Barnstormers before passing away in 2000.

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com