| School: Grant | Graduation Year: 1970 |
Year Inducted: 2020
Dan Percich (Grant, 1970)
Sports Played: Football, Basketball, Baseball
High School Honors: 4 Letters each in Football, Basketball and Baseball. 1st Team All-PIL defensive back as a Junior and Senior; 2nd team All-PIL as a Sophomore. On PIL championship teams as Sophomore and Junior. On ’69 State Basketball Championship Team as a Junior with 26-1 record. On PIL Baseball Championship Team as a Sophomore pitcher/outfielder. Scholar-Athlete and Student Body Vice President as a Senior. National Honor Society.
Post High School Career: Washington State University football 1 year; Willamette University 3 year football and baseball letterman; BS degree in political science/economics. Two-time All-Northwest Conference football all-star and NAIA Little All-American. Worked in soda pop bottling industry for 12 years; Educational Assistant at a lock-down facility with the Multnomah Educational Service District for 20+ years. Grant High School Hall of Fame.
Commentary:
(From Banquet Introduction) In the “good ol’ days” Dan Percich would have fit the moniker, “He’s a Gamer,” indicative of his ability and grit on the playing field, any playing field. His inspiration was sparked by his dad John D. and his older brother (by 11 months, 19 days) John F. Not many Hall of Fame members can claim team championships in three different sports, but Dan can in football, basketball and baseball. No slouch in the classroom, he received Grant’s first scholar-athlete award in 1969.
At Willamette University, Dan lettered three years each in football and baseball, gaining Northwest Conference honors two times and NAIA Little All-American notice on the gridiron as a Senior. Dan is quick to acknowledge that “my recall isn’t what it used to be,” but he and brother John both clearly remember the inspiration they got from football coach Frank Wolf, “a good man and terrific leader; someone we would follow anywhere.” Coach Wolf relished the two brothers coming against each other in tackle drills, remarking “now we’ll see who has Mamma or Papa’s genes.” The brotherly love and joshing continue to this day.