Dover High School boys head basketball coach Bob Von Kaenel will be inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame April 20, but another with ties to Dover will have a big hand in the honor. Dover native and 1997 graduate Sheila (McCombs) Fox is the Executive Director of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. “One of the things I love most in my work with the Hall is the relationships I’ve made and how gracious and kind all the inductees are,” said Fox. “When my 12-year-old daughter was in 3rd grade, she had a Black History Month research project & presentation and she decided to learn more about Wayne Embry. He graciously agreed to meet with her on Zoom while she interviewed him. (during COVID) Later that year, Miami University dedicated a statue in his honor, and I took her with me for the celebration. They have had a special relationship ever since.” A 2001 grad of Ohio University, Fox was originally hired to oversee the annual Induction Ceremony in 2010. Through her work and experience with non-profit organizations, the Executive Board named her the first-ever Executive Director in 2014. Since beginning her work with the OBHOF, Fox created the Strategic Partnership Committee, which is working to build partnerships with individuals and organizations. She also established their social media presence, oversaw a brand and website redesign, and developed new membership levels and benefits. In addition to working with the OBHOF, Fox also runs her own event planning firm, Event In Site, LLC, which she launched in 2007. She lives in Worthington with her husband and two daughters. Founded in 2005, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame recognizes the remarkable achievements of both male and female athletes across high school, college, and professional basketball – along with phenomenal coaches and individuals who’ve impacted the game along the way. Together with a dedicated collection of coaches and basketball enthusiasts, Doc Daugherty and the late Don Henderson led the charge to establish the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame with a mission of preserving legacies, celebrating greatness, and honoring excellence. The annual Induction Ceremony, hosted in Columbus, celebrates basketball and its rich legacy. As of 2023, 284 individual inductees representing over 30 Ohio colleges and universities and 120 Ohio high schools have been recognized. The list of charter inductees of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame includes Embry, Jerry Lucas, Katie Smith, Jimmy Jackson, Oscar Robertson, Clark Kellogg, Bill Hosket Jr., Fred Taylor, Paul Walker, Jay Burson, John Havlicek, Bob Knight, and Nate Thurmond. Another tie to Dover, Dan Hughes, a Fort Frye High School and Muskingum University graduate, coached the Crimson Tornadoes boys’ basketball team for a season in the early 1980s. He had a tremendous coaching career in the WNBA where led the Seattle Storm to two championships and is second in all-time wins for a WNBA coach. The rest of the Class of 2024 inductees are Sylvia Crawley, Don DeVoe, Craig Ehlo, Jack Greynolds, Tyrone Hill, Thurman Leggs Jr., Kirk Martin, Mel Nowell, Bev Oberding, Lauren Prochaska and the 1976 AAA State Champion Barberton High School boys’ team. The 2024 Class will be enshrined on April 20 at the Hilton Polaris in Columbus.