Three to be added to Wall of Fame

By Sean Rooney on November 14, 2018.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney

One was at a loss for words. Another popped a bottle of champagne.

But all three legendary individuals destined for the Medicine Hat Sports Wall of Fame were happy to hear the good news.

Dan Federkeil, Eva Paniti-Meyer and Kelly Risling were all recommended to be added to the 26-person Wall during Tuesday’s public services committee meeting at city hall, making it a mere formality that council will approve the motion as soon as its next meeting on Monday.

“I’m quite taken aback by that whole thing, I’m very honoured,” said Risling, a 62-year-old golfer who has a laundry list of accomplishments to his name. “That’s pretty esteemed company.

“I’m excited, I’m going to crack a bottle of bubbly here.”

Risling’s won dozens of tournaments in the Gas City, was the Alberta mid-amateur champion in 1996 and its runner-up in 2009. Fittingly, he was nominated by Ryan Werre, among the crop of men who have taken his proverbial torch and run with it in recent years.

Federkeil, 35, is arguably the city’s most lauded football player ever. He won a Super Bowl with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts in 2006, a Grey Cup with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2014 and even began a scholarship in his late mom Judy’s name at Hat High a few years ago.

Reached at his home in Calgary, the now-retired offensive lineman needed a few seconds to compose himself upon hearing the news.

“It’s… It’s pretty good,” said Federkeil. “I don’t reminisce too much. I’m happy it happened, but it doesn’t necessarily affect my current life that much.”

Paniti-Meyer was easy to find, as she has been for the last 30 years, presiding over dozens of young athletes at Salta Gymnastics Club. She came to Canada from Romania in 1987 having competed for that country in the Olympics. She didn’t know English but was soon handed the role of coach at a local club and has since taught thousands of Hatters, some to national success.

“I feel very honoured to have this club nominate me for this, and to be accepted on that wall,” said Paniti-Meyer.

It’s expected the induction ceremony will take place sometime in the spring, though council has to make the additions official first. Paniti-Meyer will be the fifth female inducted after skating coach Gay Dubeau and hockey player Jenna Cunningham made up last year’s induction group.

While Paniti-Meyer admits she hasn’t looked at the Wall, which is located inside the Family Leisure Centre, Risling works out there every day and noticed his picture is already on it —as a placeholder for future inductees. It’s a generic photo meant to showcase the sport of golf, and doesn’t have his name on it like a future photo eventually will.

“I work out every morning at the Leisure Centre, I walk by and I’ve read them all and I’ve said it would really be something to be on there, because there’s not a whole bunch of people on there,” said Risling. “It is kind of a stamp on a person’s career too, you know.”

Federkeil also hasn’t seen the Wall, but knows he’s in good company. Stampeders executive vice-president Stan Schwartz was inducted in 2010 and Medicine Hat News football columnist Graham Kelly was a 2016 addition.

Urban Environment and Recreation Advisory Board chair Simon Parker said all three were easy decisions at the board level, which reviewed four submissions. The other was a well-known teacher who the board recommended for other recognition instead.

“It was very straightforward because the candidates were all very strong candidates,” said Parker. “I think it’s absolutely marvelous.

“They really appreciate the recognition that they get.”

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