Jessica Davis and Wendy Hilliard

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—USA Gymnastics announced the 2008 class of inductees for the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame: the 2003 U.S. Women’s World Championships Team; Olympians Jessica Davis of San Anselmo, Calif. (rhythmic), Marie Walther Bilski of Tempe, Ariz. (women’s), and Wayne Young of Pleasant Grove, Utah (men’s); synchronized trampoline and double mini-trampoline world champion Stuart Ransom of Southaven, Miss.; two-time NCAA champion Brent Simmons of Columbus, Ind. (men’s); women’s artistic gymnastics coach Mary Lee Tracy of West Chester, Ohio; and contributor Wendy Hilliard of New York City. Kenneth Allen of Oshkosh, Wis., is the 2008 Lifetime Achievement recipient in recognition of his contributions to gymnastics.

“We are proud to recognize the 2008 inductees for their accomplishments and contributions to gymnastics,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “The Hall of Fame is a great opportunity for us to recognize the people who have been a part of gymnastics’ rich history. Congratulations to each and every one of our honorees.”

The 2008 USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame luncheon and induction ceremony are scheduled for Sunday, June 22, at 11:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia (Pa.) Marriott Downtown. Tickets are $45 per person or $400 for a table of 10 people. For more information, Click here.

2008 USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame inductees

  • The 2003 U.S. Women’s World Championships Team claimed the USA’s first team world title, as well as three individual event medals. The members of the team were: Terin Humphrey of Bates City, Mo.; Courtney Kupets of Gaithersburg, Md.; Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis.; Carly Patterson of Allen, Texas; Tasha Schwikert of Las Vegas, Nev.; Hollie Vise of Dallas, Texas; Annia Hatch of West Haven, Conn., and Ashley Postell of Burke, Va. Humphrey, Kupets, Patterson and Hatch went on to compete at the 2004 Olympic Games, where they won the team silver medal. Memmel currently is a member of the U.S. National Team and the 2005 all-around world champion.
  • Jessica Davis, a 1996 Olympian, won two U.S. rhythmic gymnastics all-around titles in 1995-96 and 10 individual event titles from 1993-96. At the 1995 Pan American Games, she won the team gold medal, claimed the silver medal in clubs and ribbon, and the bronze medal in the all-around. She represented the USA at three World Championships from 1993-95. She was coached by Jan Exner Heise, former rhythmic program director for USA Gymnastics. Davis received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She has lived all over the world and currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland, where she works for an organization that helps companies improve their policies and actions in developing countries.
  • Marie Walther Bilski was a member of the women’s 1964 U.S. Olympic Team and was the 1964 U.S. all-around champion. She also won the balance beam crown in 1965. Bilski competed in two Pan American Games, winning the team gold medal in 1963 and 1967, as well as the bronze medal on vault in 1967. She was a two-time All-American for Arizona State University and the 1969 uneven bars collegiate national champion. Bilski received a bachelor’s degree in education from ASU in 1970, a master’s degree in physical education from ASU in 1977 and an associate’s degree in art from Western Nevada Community College. Bilski currently resides in Tempe, Ariz., and is the mother of two sons.
  • Wayne Young was the captain of the U.S. Men’s Team at the 1976 Olympic Games, where he placed 12th in the all-around. He also was a member of the 1974 World Championships Team. He won the 1975 NCAA all-around title and earned All-American status in 1974-75 as a member of Brigham Young University’s men’s gymnastics team. He coached men’s gymnastics at BYU from 1979-87 and at Odessa Junior College from 1977-79. Young received a bachelor’s degree from BYU in 1975, a master’s degree in biomechanics from Penn State in 1977 and a medical degree from the University of Utah in 1991. He is a doctor in obstetrics and gynecology for Intermountain Healthcare. Young, who lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah, is married and has seven children. Young’s son, Guard, was a member of the 2004 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team that won the team silver medal.
  • Stuart Ransom competed in four World Championships for the United States, winning the double mini title in 1978 and the synchronized trampoline crown with Mark Calderon in 1982. He won four AAU national titles from 1975-78 and eight USAF national titles from 1979-82. Ransom currently lives in Southaven, Miss.
  • Brent Simmons was a member of the men’s U.S. World Championships Teams in 1970 and 1974, and won U.S. titles on the parallel bars in 1971 and on the horizontal bar in 1974. He competed in the 1971 Pan American Games and earned the team silver medal and the bronze medal on the horizontal bar. In 1971, Simmons led the Iowa State men’s team to the NCAA team title, as well as won the parallel bars and the horizontal bar titles. He was the 1971 recipient of the Nissen Award and was an All-American on four events. He has been a national or brevet judge for 25 years and served as the master scorer on men’s vault at the 1996 Olympic Games. Simmons earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State and a master’s degree in sport management from East Stroudsburg University. He currently works in regional sales for Midwest Gymnastics Supply, Inc., and resides in Columbus, Ind.
  • Mary Lee Tracy has coached numerous gymnasts to the U.S. National Team, including two members of the 1996 gold-medal Olympic team (Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps). Tracy was named USA Gymnastics’ Women’s Coach of the Year three consecutive years (1994-96), and is a seven-time Region 5 Coach of the Year. In addition to coaching, Tracy has served on regional and national committees for USA Gymnastics. Tracy, the president and head coach of Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, lives in West Chester, Ohio, and has one daughter, Rachael.
  • Wendy Hilliard became the first African-American to make the U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Senior National Team when she was named to the team in 1978, the first of nine years spent on the national team. Among the many positions Hilliard has held are chair of the Athletes’ Council of USA Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics’ vice president for rhythmic gymnastics and athlete representative to the U.S. Olympic Committee. From 1995-97, Hilliard served as the president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the first African-American and gymnast to hold that position. She formed the Wendy Hilliard Foundation in 1995 to provide funding for rhythmic gymnastics programs for inner city children. She was the personal coach of 1996 Olympian Aliane Baquerot and has served as an analyst, host and reporter for several television networks. Hilliard studied broadcasting and Russian at Wayne State University and graduated with honors from New York University. A native of Detroit, Mich., she currently lives in New York City.
  • Kenneth Allen has served on the NAIA Rules Committee (chair, 1972, 1976, 1979-82), the NAIA Coach Association (president, 1975-76), USA Gymnastics Board of Directors (1976-81), USA Gymnastics Foreign Relations Committee (1977-81) and the U.S. Elite Compulsory Committee (chair, 1984-88). A national and international judge, he was a U.S. delegate to the FIG Congress and a Men’s Program Committee delegate to the FIG. From 1969-92, Allen coached the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh gymnastics team, where he was the chair of the physical education department from 1996-2000. He received his bachelor’s degree from Montclair State College in 1966 and his master’s from the University of Wisconsin in 1968. Allen served as chair of USA Gymnastics Grievance Committee from 1996 to 2006. He lives in Oshkosh, Wis.