Ace Hardware, the Sports Place, is aptly named, considering its more than 35-year financial and moral support of Pahrump Valley High School athletics.

Last Friday, that considerable dedication to Trojans programs was rewarded, when the business was elected to the Pahrump Valley High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

And Preston Dockter will be posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame. The former Trojans' star athlete graduated from college, then returned to his hometown to coach and teach.

In his rookie season as coach of the PVHS fast-pitch softball team, the Lady Trojans won the Southern Nevada Class 3-A regional championship and advanced to the state tournament. But in September, Dockter died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Calvada Boulevard.

Also elected by a select panel were:

* Ron Allison, one of the first star multi-sports athletes in PVHS history;

* Sherry Allison, who has been of invaluable service to PVHS athletes, coaches and anyone else involved in the program in her role as secretary of the athletics department;

* Three late 1990s and early 2000s standout multi-sports athletes: Lori Hopkins, Emily Cross and Ashley Hastings;

* Jared Dillman, who scored a school-record 52 points in a boys' basketball game during an illustrious PVHS career;

* Jo Jo Worden, another exceptional athlete from the early years in PVHS sports;

* Bob Farthing, who helped the PVHS baseball program excel in that sport's formative years .

More biographical information will be published in the coming weeks. Hall of Fame Night is Sept. 25, when Las Vegas Bonanza visits PVHS for a Sunset Region Southwest Class 4-A Division football game.

The Hall of Fame currently includes:

Class of 2007

(The Charter Class)

Richard Empey, Mike Floyd, Ron and Charlotte Floyd, Al Giannotti, Larry Goins, Mike Kruse, Shari Longden Gals, Rod Poteete, Charles Stevens, Maggie Veloz Villa, Janelle Ward, Misti Ward Scott, Don Worden and Ray and Irene Wulfenstein.

Class of 2008

Jeff Caha, Kelly Costley Buffi, Neil Cowley, Ray DePalma, Melodie Eleogram, Amy Ellenwood, Felicia Fahey, Carl Kaucky, Gary Nerger and the Pahrump Valley Youth Golf Founders Club.