General | September 27, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will induct the 2017 Hall of Fame class on Friday, Sept. 29, at the Fetzer Center. The inductees also will be introduced at the Mid-American Conference home-opening football game vs. Ball State on Sept. 30 at Waldo Stadium at 7 p.m. This week www.wmubroncos.com will take a closer look at each of our inductees:  Allen Hughes (football), Robert Louis (men's track & field), Ron Miller (wrestling), Casey Rost-Danzy (women's basketball), and Laura Stewart (softball).
 
ROBERT LOUIS
Robert Louis, a native of Detroit, Mich., ran track and field at Western Michigan from 1985-88. He earned All-America honors after finishing fifth in the 200m dash at the 1998 NCAA Indoor Championships. He holds WMU records in the indoor 500m dash and indoor 300m dash. Louis is second all-time in program history in the 200m dash and is also a member of the record-holding 4x400m relay team. During his time at Western Michigan he won three MAC titles in the outdoor 400m dash (1986, '87, 88), one in the outdoor 200m dash (1986) and in the indoor 4x400m relay (1988).
  
Q & A With Robert Louis

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you were being inducted?
When I found out I was being inducted, I had so many emotions and feelings. But, all in all, I was humbled. I immediately thought of my teammates and coaches. Together, we all were being inducted through me!

Q: Do you have some favorite memories from your time playing at WMU?
Some of my favorite memories while running track at WMU were of team comradery and competing at the highest level. Being an All-American as a freshman was a great memory and I couldn't have done it without Tom Brokema, Brad Mora and Eric Teutsch! Upon qualifying, we ran the fastest Distance Medley Relay time in the world! I loved training and working out with my teammates. We had wonderful relationships off the track, also. Another great moment was also when I was a freshman and both our men's and women's track teams won the MAC Track Championships, together, on our home soil, Kanley Track! We all ran a victory lap, the men and women! It was exhilarating. Also, during my senior year, Jamie Hence and I made the All-America team in our perspective disciplines; he in the 55 meter hurdles and me in the 200-meter dash, at the NCAA indoor track championships in Oklahoma City. Incidentally, the warm up track that the athletes ran on in Oklahoma City was the same track I would run and compete on in high school at Cobo Hall in Detroit! I have so many great memories while at WMU and this is a spotlight article, whereas, I could give you a novel worth of material to enjoy.

Q: Who were some of the people at Western Michigan that made your time memorable?
Some of the people who made my time memorable at WMU were my teammates and fellow Broncos: Michael McClendon, Vince Hodge, Johnny Mitchell, Alex Washington, Steve Gillenwater, Dirk Gill, Anthony Maxwell, Guy Stockard, Derrick Simmons, Derrick Davis, Chauncey Tucker, Martin Ellis, Neil Morehouse, Todd Sprague, Ray Adams, James Cantrell, Jamie Hence, Ron Gillum, Keith Nichols, Doug Butler, Roy Brittney, Earl Moore, Tolbert Tillman, Joe Beaman, Tyke Harris,  Bob Salor, Pat McGeough, Pat Dillon, Rob Davis, Michael Evans, Tony Kimbrough, Otis Cheathem, Paul Source, Terry Crews, Joe Glenn, Tyrese Grice, John Offerdahl, Don Pettis, Troy Truhne, Dan Dorian, Wayne Ganye, Rich Maloney, Randy Bolden, Billy Stanback, Greg Rapp, Latonya Curry, Stacey Randolph, Linda Lee, Angela Strong, Caroline McMullen, Donna Wright, Janet Long, Kim Taube, Maria Shoup, Shannon Pickell, Kendra McDonald, Jenny Malinowski, Lee Martin, Chris Brigman and so many others in our Bronco family. Please forgive me if your name was not mentioned, it's not intentional. Coaches: Jack Shaw, Halbert Bates, Darroll Gatson, Vernon Payne, Jack Harbaugh, John Harbaugh, Blake Glass, Jim Hess, Kathy Beauregard.
Admin: John Bernhard, Leland Byrd, Jayne Clysdale. Professors: Paul Robbert, Don King, Joe Deluca, Dr. Leroy Ray Jr., Dr. Leander Jones, Dr. Ben Wilson.
   
Q: What has life been like for you since leaving Western Michigan? 
Since leaving Western Michigan, my life has been great. I'm still learning and growing. I'm an artist, writer, poet, motivational speaker and entrepreneur.