Publications & Sites 
Bucha, Moran, Buddig answer call to the Hall
Joe Goddard
Article Extras
Updated: June 29, 2012 8:32AM
The Hinsdale Central Foundation selected five accomplished graduates for induction into its Hall of Fame this fall at Homecoming weekend.
Sandra Bucha Karscher (Class of 1972), a lawyer and champion marathon swimmer whose father Army Col. Paul (Bud) Bucha of World War II fame played a lead role 40 years ago in helping females gain equal opportunities with boys in high-school athletics under Title IX.
Dr. Brian Moran (’78), noted cancer radiation research oncologist who has lectured around the world and owns the Chicago Prostate Center in Westmont. The former Central swimmer is a cancer survivor himself.
Mary Ryan Buddig (’77), a lawyer who tirelessly has held numerous school and hospital boards as a volunteer.
Bob Dudley (’73), chief executive officer of BP who took over responsibility for helping reach a financial resolution from the disastrous 2010 Gulf of Mexico off-rig oil explosion that killed 11 workers and cost an estimated $20 billion in damages.
Paul Chapman (’66), nationally recognized educator and administrator who was unable to attend last year’s induction.
The selection of Bucha, who had to train with boys at Central because Title IX didn’t exist yet, was warmly — and humorously — greeted by former Hinsdale coach Don Watson and his perfect swarm of swimmers who have gone on to admirable careers of their own.
“Thank you for your support and kind words,” Sandy told them in an e-mail. “The best part is this is a great excuse for a reunion. However, does this mean I’ll be the only girl again? I hope not. Four years with you guys was enough.”
That brought this hilarious answer from John Kinsella, who was inducted into Central’s Hall in 2000 for winning three swim medals in two Olympic Games (1968-1972) and teamed with Bucha to finish 1-2 in the 24 Heures La Tuque event in 1976 in 52-degree water:
“Oh, c’mon, Sandy, you know you love it. After all, with you as the only girl again is the only option we’ll have to dote on you — not that we wouldn’t do it otherwise. Congrats on the well-deserved honor. It’s gonna be so much fun to get together. It’s indeed serendipitous and you’ll just have to put up with us for the time being.”
Swimmer Russ Meyer went right to work on making faux reunion assignments of graphics, promotions, advertising, real estate, sound and lighting fixtures, consulting, free government handout money, bar reservations and legal defense and bail.
Havin’ fun
Let’s see. What can Hinsdale South baseball coach Paul Hoel do next to make things fun for his Hornets after telling them he had scheduled a four-mile jog in the rain to celebrate their clinching the West Suburban Conference Gold Division championship?
“They had to wonder what kind of a celebration is this?” Hoel said, laughing.
They did.
Instead, assistant coach Dave Isaacson stopped the players a few blocks away and said, “We’re going to the Patio Restaurant. Dinner’s on us.”
It certainly surprised catcher-pitcher Emmanuel Morris, who will play baseball at Villanova University.
“I wondered the first day of practice if we were going to have the kind of team chemistry we had last year,” Morris said of the Hornets having finished second under then-coach Kraig Conyer. “Now we know.”
Hoel will take one of the state’s deepest pitching staffs into next week’s regionals with Sean Beesley, PJ Schuster, Mike Marrera, Kyle Nelson and Morris himself battling to keep their earned-run averages under 3.00.
