2021 El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame inductees announced

EL PASO, Texas - They are among the best the Sun City has to offer in the world of sports.

Tuesday, the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2021 inductees.

The induction ceremony will take place in September, but no official date has been set.

Due to Covid-19, last year's Class of 2020 was unable to have an induction ceremony, but their ceremony will take place June 30.

Those joining the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame as the Class of 2021 are as follows:

Living Athlete Category

John Birkelbach - UTEP track and field athlete who won numerous championships in the shot put in the late 60s. A graduate of Austin High School in El Paso.

Joe Overton - A standout player in both baseball and football. He signed with the San Francisco Giants in 1963. Played a number of years with the El Paso Sun Kings before he took over as the varsity baseball coach at Coronado High School.

Jim Weddell - Marathon runner who qualified for the Boston Marathon 49 times. Also served on the Board of Directors for the El Paso Marathon.

Coaches & Administrators Category

Erwin Bloxdorf - Longtime El Paso wrestling coach who won a state title at Irvin High School in 1972.

Maria Kennedy - Former basketball coach, currently the Athletic Director for the El Paso Independent School District.

Officials Category

Victor Firth - Since 2002, Firth has been a college football official in division one. He currently officiates games for the American Athletic Conference.

Media & Supporter of Athletics Category

Felix Chavez - Sports reporter with the El Paso Times who covers El Paso high school sports.

Posthumous Category:

Charlie Brown - Longtime El Paso football coach. Spent time at various schools as an assistant coach. Schools included, El Paso High School, Burges High School, and Montwood High School. He was also the head football coach at nearby Santa Teresa High School. Brown died in late 2020 due to Covid-19.