The highlight of the awards banquet for Saturday’s 30th annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic was the addition of nine new members to the Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic’s Hall of Fame.

Six local runners and three people who played major roles behind the scenes of the world-class event formed the Class of 2006.

Five of the runners — Ron Calissie, Don Gayda, Steve Dawson, Tim Cogan and Dianna Vargo — hail from Wheeling while the sixth, Grant Marks, is a Glen Dale resident.

Two of the contributors — Nick Bedway and Bill Bryson — are also Wheeling residents while S. Mark Courtney is from Grove City, Pa.

Race director Howard Corcoran presided over the third annual induction ceremonies, which brings the total number of enshrinees to 30.

Cogan and Marks were inducted as this year’s representatives of the Ogden Ironmen Club, a group of 16 men who have participated in all 30 Ogden Newspapers 20K Classics.

Gayda and Dawson were very competitive runners in the race’s early days but had their careers cut short due to non-racing accidents.

Calissie ran in 17 Ogden races with a personal best time of 1:07:28 before being forced to give up the sport due to a chronic calf injury.

Vargo, now an assistant superintendent with Ohio County Schools, is a former track and cross country coach at Wheeling Park High School who competed in a number of 20K races and remains active in the 5K events.

Bedway has been part of the media coverage team for all 30 races. He served as media director for the race prior to his retirement as sports editor of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register.

Bryson served for 14 years as marketing director for the race and played a major role in helping the race committee earn recognition as the United States’ 20K Championship for many years.

Courtney has been the race’s official timer for nearly two decades and introduced the ChampionChip Timing system to the event.

Each member of the Ogden Ironmen Club also received special commemorative plaques.

Along with Cogan and Marks, the other “Ironmen” are: Larry Jones, Steve Habursky, Bruce Kirby, Paul Exley, John Holloway, Pat Cronin, Ted Rouse, Dave Fiorilli, Mitch Toto, Rev. Bob Cole, Mike Lemasters, Dave Claypool, Joe Kubik and Frank Monteleone.

Randy Wharton welcomed the runners and walkers on behalf of the Ohio County Commission and Ogden Newspapers circulation director Greg Pohl offered opening remarks.

Heidi Clark, retail/display advertising manager for The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, presented plaques to the race’s major sponsors: Wheeling Island Race Track and Gaming Resort, Ogden Newspapers, the City of Wheeling, the Ohio County Commission, United Bank, Mason Rehab Center and Wheeling Hospital.

In addition to the prizes and plaques for the overall and age-group winners in Saturday’s 20K events, Corcoran also handed out several special awards.

Chairman’s Awards were presented to the City of Wheeling’s Rusty Jebbia, who has been an integral part of the race’s support staff for the past 28 years, and Wheeling Police Lt. Randy Rejonis, the course safety director who has worked with the race committee on the last 24 races.

Special awards were also presented to the first male and female finishers from West Virginia and the first male and female finishers from Wheeling.

Ricky Moore was the first male finisher in both categories while Heather Parks of Bruceton Mills was the first West Virginia female finisher and Becky Droginske was Wheeling’s first female finisher.