In our second year, we already feel like a tradition, thanks to the rich vein we tapped when we began this Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame.

The 10 new honorees at our second annual induction banquet July 20 at the Bloomington Convention Center go with last year’s 15 charter inductees to show how very deep and broad the athletic history is in Monroe County.

And we are just beginning.

That is the most exciting part of this instant institution, which was formally launched in June, 2011 and expected to be affixed to the county’s annual calendar.

We on this Hall’s board hoped we were reading the mood and pride of the county correctly. We underestimated. The packed house, and its enthusiasm, at the first induction banquet, the response and sincerity of the honorees – everything from that great first night overwhelmed us.

The census says we’re just Indiana’s 13th-largest county. We’d challenge any of the bigger 12, maybe all of them put together, to top what is now our seven Olympians enshrined, our eight different sports represented.

And we, maybe more than anyone at that first banquet though ours is a sports-savvy county, were aware that night and remain aware after our second sifting that we will have great induction classes for as long as we can see ahead – with every promise that the flow of worthy inductees will keep coming at a pace that assures terrific induction banquets … forever?

We invite you to be part of all this in any way you can – most vitally by circling that date, buying your tickets and joining us at our second banquet July 20. We look forward to seeing – and hearing – you there.

.