2013 Olivet College Athletic Hall of Fame Class announced

OLIVET, Mich. – Three individuals – Jeff Bell, Larry Melendy and Mark Raven – will be inducted into the Olivet College Athletic Hall of Fame Feb. 1. The induction ceremony will take place Feb. 1 in the lobby of The Cutler Event Center, and the trio will also be recognized at halftime of the men’s basketball game Feb. 2.

Jeff Bell ’99: Bell was a four-year letterwinner on the men’s basketball team. He earned first-team All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) honors in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99. During the 1996-97 season, Bell was the MIAA’s scoring champion at 24.8 points per game. As a junior and senior, he earned All-American honors and after his senior year, Bell was one of 15 college basketball players to receive the Naismith Award.

At the time of his graduation in 1999, he was Olivet’s leading scorer with 1,568 points and all-time leader in field goals made with 595 . In addition, Bell received the O.C. Gary Morrison Male Athlete of the Year award in 1998-99.

A native of Quincy, Bell lives in Silver Spring, Md., and is employed at The Hanover Insurance Group, as a territory underwriting manager.

Larry Melendy ’64: Melendy played four years of football at Olivet, earning All-MIAA honors in 1962. He played offensive and defensive halfback, kicked extra points and field goals, and played on special teams. During his senior season, Melendy was the team’s co-captain. In addition, he earned three letters in track, participating in the pole vault, 440-yard dash and mile relay. At the MIAA Field Day, Melendy placed third in the mile relay in both 1961 and 1962 and fourth in 1963. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Athlete in 1963. While at Olivet, Melendy was a member of the Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity and Student Government. He was also selected as the Homecoming King in 1963.

Melendy lives in Hastings with wife, Mary Martha. Upon graduating from Olivet, he taught two years at Pierce Junior High School in Waterford Township. Melendy then began teaching in the Hastings Area Schools in 1966 before retiring in 2000. In Hastings, he coached football, wrestling, soccer and track.

Melendy is also very active in the community of Hastings. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he has taught Sunday school for more than 30 years, served as elder and deacon and still leads a men’s Bible study class. Melendy has also been a member of the Lions Club for more than 25 years. He and Mary Martha received the local Exchange Club’s Golden Deeds award in 2010, as well as an Olivet College Distinguished Alumni award in 2011. Melendy was also elected as a “Buzz Youngs Athletic Legend” by the Hastings Athletic Boosters for his distinguished service and participation in Hastings athletics during his teaching career.

Mark Raven ’00: Raven was a four-year letterwinner on the men’s golf team. He was a four-time first-team All-MIAA selection, leading the Comets to the MIAA championship in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Raven was named the league’s Most Valuable Golfer in 1997. He also led Olivet to four consecutive trips to the NCAA Division III National Championships and was named an NCAA All-American in 1997 and 1999. In addition, Raven was selected as the Olivet College Male Athlete of the Year in 1998. As a senior in 2000, he earned Scholar All-American honors, was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and received the O.C./Walter B. Sprandel Scholastic Achievement Award.

Raven lives in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, with wife, Charleen, and their eight-month-old son, Brody. Raven is an assistant manager of the professional trading department at Raymond James Ltd.