MOUNT CARMEL, IL — The Mt. Carmel Sports Boosters are proud to announce the 2026 class of the Mt. Carmel High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
This year's class includes two outstanding baseball teams, four accomplished individual athletes, and five individuals being recognized for their lasting contributions to Golden Aces athletics in the Friends of MCHS Athletics category.
The 2026 inductees will be honored during the Mt. Carmel boys basketball game against Casey-Westfield on Friday, February 5, 2027, at Mt. Carmel High School.
1979 & 1980 MCHS Baseball Teams
The 1979 and 1980 Mt. Carmel Golden Aces baseball teams, coached by Larry Lockhart, made back-to-back appearances in the IHSA State Championship Game, finishing just one victory away from bringing a state title home to Mt. Carmel.
The 1979 team, competing in Class 2A, was the smallest school in its class with an enrollment of just 754 students. The Aces finished 17-2, defeating West Aurora 3-0 and Palatine Fremd 2-0 to reach the state championship game before falling to Proviso West, 5-1. Reggie Fisher and Scott Wampler were named All-State, while Fisher, Wampler and Pat Dunkel earned All-NEC and All-Southern Illinois honors. Fisher went on to be drafted by the Chicago White Sox and remains eighth all-time in IHSA history with a 0.69 career ERA.
The 1980 team competed in Class 1A and finished 23-6, returning to the state championship game. Mt. Carmel defeated Peoria Bergan 3-2 and Genoa-Kingston 6-4 before falling to Alton Marquette, 8-7. Greg Seaton, Russ Hargrave, Randy Hiatt and Todd Painter were named All-State.
Bud Brown
A 1957 graduate of Mt. Carmel High School, Bud Brown was a four-sport standout in football, basketball, baseball and track, earning an impressive 15 varsity letters.
Brown was one of the few freshmen to start on the MCHS football team and was a 1956 All-State Honorable Mention selection, co-captain and second-team All-NEC running back. In basketball, he was a first-team All-NEC selection and helped lead the Aces to a 25-4 regional championship season in 1954 alongside MCHS great Archie Dees. Brown also became a member of the MCHS 1,000-point club.
He earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Evansville before suffering serious injuries in an accident. Brown also competed on the 1957 MCHS baseball team that finished runner-up in the state finals and held the MCHS boys high jump record for years.
Brown's contributions to Golden Aces athletics continued long after his playing days. He was instrumental in helping establish the Mt. Carmel Junior League Football Program. And as owner of Bud Brown Sporting Goods, he also donated football equipment to many area youth. Bud passed away in 2011. His contributions to Golden Aces Nation are still felt today.
Scott (Allen) McCallen — Friend of MCHS Athletics
Scott McCallen, a Peoria native, is a 2026 inductee in the Friends of MCHS Athletics category. Scott came to Mt. Carmel after a short stint at WEIC radio in Charleston, Illinois — working at WYER, WRBT, WYNG, WSJD and at Wabash Valley College's Broadcasting Department.
His name became synonymous with Mt. Carmel Golden Aces athletics, serving as the voice of the Golden Aces from 1979 through 2025. Some of his most memorable calls include Mt. Carmel's 1981 Class 3A football playoff comeback at Nashville, 2013's infamous 71-70 shootout with Greenville, and the Golden Aces' return to the state basketball championship game in 2017 — a special thrill in a return to his hometown of Peoria.
Scott was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009. He also currently maintains the Little Illini Conference website, contributes to the Golden Aces football pre-game show on WSJD, and remains active with his church, where he volunteers regularly.
Tom Tinsley
A 1969 graduate of Mt. Carmel High School, Tom Tinsley became the first MCHS golfer to participate in the IHSA State Golf Tournament.
Tinsley finished second in the 1969 IHSA State Golf Tournament, shooting a 148 over two days. That remains the highest finish by an MCHS boys golfer.
Tinsley earned a golf scholarship to Western Kentucky University, where he was a multiple-time medalist. He won numerous tournaments throughout his career, including the 1967 and 1968 Mt. Carmel Invitationals, the 1971 Carmi Gold Amateur, the Tri-State Amateur, the Cave City Golf Tournament and the 1972 Collegiate Golf Classic at Western Kentucky.
He was also a 10-time Mt. Carmel Men's Club Champion and recorded numerous second- and third-place finishes in tri-state tournaments. Tom passed away last year but will long be remembered for his abilities and his passion for Golden Aces sports.
Tom Wirth
A 1965 graduate of Mt. Carmel High School, Tom Wirth played for Hall of Fame coach Jim John and started at linebacker and fullback for three years.
As a junior, Wirth was part of the first undefeated football team in school history and an NEC championship team. He became known as a “big hitter” on defense as a linebacker and was a key member of a dynamic backfield that averaged over 35 points per game. During his senior season, he was named First-Team All-State at a time when Illinois had only one class of football. He was All-Southern Illinois Player of the Year and NEC Conference Player of the Year.
Wirth earned 11 varsity letters in four sports before receiving a football scholarship to Southern Illinois University, where he was the starting fullback for three years. He graduated from SIU with a bachelor's degree in marketing. Tom passed away in 2018 but his contributions as a Golden Ace will long be remembered.
Dee White — Friend of MCHS Athletics
Dee White, a 1946 graduate of Mt. Carmel High School, was a lifelong supporter of Golden Aces football. Dee helped Ray Farrar and George Woodcock establish the Junior League League Football Program in Mt. Carmel which continues today.
Recognizing a need to help young athletes who could not afford equipment, Dee helped create the Mt. Carmel High School Sports Booster Club and served as its first president. The organization eventually expanded to support all MCHS sports and became an important source of financial support for athletics.
Dee was also a regular contributor to the weekly football meetings and was instrumental in traditions including the Gold Helmet Award and the long-running "Steak Dinner" tradition. Veteran fans remember him watching games from his ladder along the sideline for a better view. Dee White Field, home of the Mt. Carmel Golden Aces baseball team is named in his honor.
Dee passed away in 1994, but his contributions to Mt. Carmel athletics continue to be remembered.
Bill Hackler, Gary Rumsey & Verlin Snow — Friends of MCHS Athletics
The 2026 class will also recognize three longtime voices of Golden Aces football in the Friends of MCHS Athletics category: Bill Hackler, Gary Rumsey and Verlin Snow.
For several decades, these three men provided the public-address voices from the press box, becoming a familiar part of Golden Aces football Friday nights.
Bill Hackler took over the microphone in 1976, Gary Rumsey joined him in 1984, and Verlin Snow came aboard in 1988. All three retired from the booth following the 2016 season.
Fans will especially remember Hackler's signature call:
"On Your Feet Aces Fans, Fire Up, Fire Up!"
Hackler, Rumsey and Snow were also active in numerous community service organizations and held leadership roles with the Mt. Carmel Sports Boosters.
2026 Hall of Fame Induction
The Mt. Carmel Sports Boosters invite Golden Aces fans, former athletes, coaches, families and members of the community to join in celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of the 2026 Mt. Carmel High School Athletics Hall of Fame class.
The induction ceremony will take place during the Mt. Carmel boys basketball game against Casey-Westfield on Friday, February 5, 2027. A reception will also be held, with more details to follow.