CEREMONY PLANNED — The Brilliant Blue Devil Hall of Fame Committee is preparing for this weekend’s induction ceremony. From left, sitting, are Sue Hanson, Leanne Hutton, Debbie Roush, Kevin Barr, Charlie Nest, Dave Porter, Sandy Jeffers and Rita Boyd; standing, Dan Hanson, Rick Yocum, Rick Wine, Curt Creamer, DeeDee Rusnak, Larry Roush, Paula Peterson, Frank Bopp, Steve Boyd and Kim Nichols. -- Contributed

BRILLIANT — It’s going to be a big week in Brilliant.

Events surrounding the third-annual Brilliant High School Hall of Fame begin today and culminate Saturday with the formal induction of five teams and 35 individuals.

“We are really looking forward to the celebration,” said Kevin Barr, a member of the Hall of Fame committee. “It’s looking like things may end up being bigger than in 2018. We have a lot of people planning to come home and receive their awards and recognition.”

The Brilliant Hall of Fame induction was on a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, this group of honorees has known it’s going to be recognized for more than a calendar year.

“This class is big because it’s really a combination Class of 2020 and 2021,” Barr said. “Our classes aren’t usually this big.”

The Brilliant Hall of Fame recognizes standout athletes, coaches, teachers, contributors and those who have gone on to achieve great heights.

The Class of 2020/21 includes the following individuals:

• Basketball: Jim Robinson.

• Baseball: Robert “Peedle” Frye, Gary See, Lee Furbee, Harry Chambers, Wayne Coleman, John Frye.

• Football: Kip Biram, Rick Biram, Sam Pflugh, Larry Thrash, Mark Benton, Greg Hamilton, Tim Kamerer, Leonard Joiner, Kim Walker, Fred Tarr, Bobby Rine, Lynn McCutcheon, Bob Schaefer.

• Wrestling: Fred Tarr, Roger Sterling, Greg Lawrence.

• Track: Dick Freemand, Dick Rine.

• Fan of the Blue Devils: Bill Henry, historian; Ron Yocum, Amel Malesky.

• Coaching: Loran Dace, basketball coach.

• Teachers: Lillian Hesske, Peg Enoch, Jim Monogioudis, Charles “Chuck” Merryman.

• Professional achievement: Deputy Susan Bell, Ed Tarr.

Teams to be inducted include:

• 1964 baseball, which won the Eastern Ohio Athletic League Championship. The EOAL was the precursor to the current OVAC.

• 1966 boys basketball, which won the EOAL; the 1968-69 varsity wrestling team and reserve wrestling teams as well as the 1960 district runner-up basketball team.

“We’ve had some really special groups of athletes come through in that era,” Barr said. “Individually, all of the honorees were either All-OVAC, All-EOAL, all-sistrict or all-state. And for the individual sports, you had to have placed very high in the OVAC tournaments for like track and wrestling.”

Brilliant High School opened in 1895 and graduated its final class in 1972 before consolidating with Smithfield to form Buckeye North. That has since consolidated into Buckeye Local.

According to Barr, this will be the final induction ceremony for the hall of fame, but events surrounding will continue.

“The Brilliant Homecoming celebration will be held on the coinciding date next year and it’ll be more of a community event,” Barr explained.

The events surrounding Brilliant Homecoming include bingo and the touring of the former Brilliant High School today.

On Thursday, a fish and chicken fry will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Brilliant American Legion Post 573 with entertainment.

From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., there will be entertainment provided by the Ron Retzer Trio at the North Park/haunted house area.

From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., the third-annual house decorating contest will be held with the top three homes receiving a prize. To schedule a judging, call Barr at (740) 317-4613.

On Friday, a Brilliant mixer will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. featuring a chicken dinner. A corn hole tournament will be held, starting at 2:30 p.m.

A “beat Bingo” bonfire will be held at Wells Township Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8-10 p.m., a Brilliant Sock Hop will be held at the former school, featuring music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

On Saturday, prior to the induction, a parade will be held with lineup occurring at 8:30 a.m. at the Brilliant American Legion. The parade will begin at 10 a.m.

Following the parade, the class will be inducted inside the gymnasium and the evening and events wrap up with a dinner-dance at the Mingo K of C at 7 p.m.