Jon Heimbigner to receive service, contribution award

The Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame Service and Contribution Award is being presented to Eastern Washington University (EWU) graduate Jon Heimbigner. He is being recognized for his contributions to the sports community in the Inland Northwest.

The Ritzville/Odessa native and Spokane businessman has a statewide reputation for his contributions to the sports community and has successfully played and coached softball and basketball for 35 years. Heimbigner is a 1970 graduate of Eastern after graduating from Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) in 1968.

For his contributions, he was inducted into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 13, 2009, and the Community Colleges of Spokane Hall of Fame a few months before that on March 21, 2009.

Heimbigner, who played basketball at SFCC, was honored in 2002 with a 25-year service award from the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters. He was inducted into both the Northwest Region (2004) and Inland Empire (2000) softball halls of fame, and was honored by SFCC as the Alumnus of the Year in 2004.

He has served as chairman of the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame for 30 years (1982-present), spearheading the move from the old Coliseum to the Veterans Arena. He has served on the selection committee for the Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame since its inception in 1996.

He also had a long association as a board member for the Spokane Regional Sports Commission, stepping down in 2012 after 34 years (1978-2012).

He also served on the steering committee for the State B Basketball Tournament for 30 years (1975-2005) and on the committee for the Inland Northwest Sports Awards Luncheon for 32 years (1980-2012).

Heimbigner has served on local organizing committees and team host for such local events as the NCAA men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball tournaments, USA men’s national volleyball team and the USA women’s softball team.

His other contributions include service as chairman on the advisory board for the Community Colleges of Spokane Booster Club and as founder and president for eight years for the Prime Cut Volleyball Club.

In 2010, he joined the board for Young Life in Northwest Spokane. He has also spent more than 30 years as a recreational softball and basketball player/coach; with his teams winning a variety of league, city and state championships along with top finishes at national and world competitions.

In July 2011, the Washington State Senior Games honored him with the “Spirit of the Games” Award. Heimbigner spent 22 years with Rainier Bank/Security Pacific Bank as vice-president and manager, and more than 18 years with Inland Northwest Communications.

His daughter, JoEne, played volleyball at Eastern and was selected to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team in 2000.

The induction breakfast and ceremony for the Hall of Fame class begins at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 6 at the Pence Union Building.

The public is invited to attend and the cost is $15 per person. Guests must call to reserve a seat at 509-359-2463 or 1-800-648-7697. Inductees are also being honored at halftime of EWU’s football game against North Dakota that begins at 5:05 p.m.