Six Red Devils to be Inducted into the Lower Columbia College Athletics Hall of Fame

Leta (Guglomo) Meyer

Leta (Guglomo) Meyer played basketball and volleyball at Lower Columbia and then coached both sports at LCC after her playing career was over. The Kelso native was team captain for two years on both the Red Devil volleyball and basketball teams from 1975-1977. In basketball, she was the team MVP as a freshman, scoring 16.5 points per game. She also earned ‘Most Inspirational’ during her sophomore season of basketball. In volleyball, she was the team captain for both of her seasons at LCC.

After completing her bachelor’s degree at Central Washington University, Meyer came back home and served as the Devils head volleyball coach for two seasons with a record of 49-21. The 1981-82 Devils won the league title and finished third in the NWAC. Leta was also the assistant women’s basketball coach for those two seasons.

Meyer achieved her master’s degree from Lewis and Clark College and then completed a stellar career as coach and athletic director at Mountain View High School and Heritage High School. Meyer coached volleyball, basketball, softball, track and golf while at Mountain View, receiving numerous Coach of the Year honors. As an administrator, she was a member of the WIAA Executive Board and was a leader in planning and direction for the Greater St. Helens Conference.

Stephen Waite

Stephen Waite was a two-sport star at Lower Columbia where he played basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring, excelling in both. Waite arrived in Longview from Ingraham High School and made an immediate impact, scoring 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Red Devil team that took second in the WSCC. Waite as a sophomore hoopster scored 15.6 points per game as the Devils finished third.

In baseball, Waite was a smooth fielding first baseman where he hit .267 for the WSCC champions. Waite led the 1971 Red Devils with a .316 batting average and 17 RBI’s, leading the team in both categories. LCC took third that season.

Waite went on Gonzaga University where he was one of the top players on the Bulldogs squad. Waite ended up teammates with LCC Hall of Famer Rick Sweet at Gonzaga.

Waite had an eclectic working career including stints as a Boeing engineer, college administrator (Western Washington University), international engineer consultant/trainer and middle school teacher. Steve retired in 2016.

Jocelyn Price

Jocelyn Price was the head coach of the Lower Columbia College volleyball team for 18 seasons, highlighted by leading the team to the NWAC championship in 1991 where she was named NWAC Coach of the Year. Price had a 186-86 record in a career that included seven division titles, unbeaten league champs in 1993 and 2004, and seven division coach of the year honors.

“Jaws” played college volleyball at Pacific Lutheran University and brought her experience and knowledge to solidify the LCC program as well as the local Cowlitz Volleyball Club, where she was a long time coach and administrator. Jocelyn is also one of the top volleyball officials in Southwest Washington. While as coach of the Red Devils, she served many years on the NWAC volleyball committee.

Price is an elementary school teacher in the Longview School District. She is already a member of the NWAC Hall of Fame as coach of the 1991 champions.

Dave Hall

Dave Hall was one of the great hitters in the storied LCC baseball program. He played two seasons at LCC (1978-1979) and helped lead the team to two division titles and a pair of second place finishes in the NWAC championships. Hall was named 1979 NWAC Tournament MVP, where he set tournament records for at-bats (29) and hits (16). Dave hit five homers in the 1979 tournament.

Hall went on to Gonzaga University for one season (1980), where he was named All-Pac-10 North and led the Zags to the NCAA Regionals. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds following that huge season in Spokane, Hall played four seasons of minor league ball hitting .277 with 45 homers and 244 RBI’s.

An injury ended his pro career, but he never strayed far from baseball and sports as he owns and operates Willie’s Sports Shop in Centralia.

Betty and Larry Johnson

Betty and Larry Johnson have been around Lower Columbia sports probably longer than anyone. It would be hard to find a couple that has seen as many LCC games as Betty and Larry.

Betty played on one of the first Lower Columbia women’s basketball teams before conference affiliation. Following her academic career, she stayed on campus and was the longtime program director for student activities, working closely with many student athletes over the years. Betty was a mentor, confidant, supporter and fan of all Red Devil players. You can still find her not far from the bench offering support for the LCC teams.

Larry spent several seasons as a golf coach at Lower Columbia. Whether as head coach or assistant, Larry was a huge factor in the successful golf teams of the 1980s and 90s. Larry also has been a great behind-the-scenes contributor to the LCC softball program where he handles field preparation and other duties, freeing up the coaching staff to concentrate on the game that day. He continues to be an important part of the LCC staff to this day.

Contributors like the Johnsons are hard to find these days. Betty and Larry love the college and they are always there to offer support for their beloved Red Devils, whether home or away.