Hall of Fame Class of 2015

Thomas "Dukes” Knutson

A Birchen Award winner from the Class of 1969, Knutson was a teacher and coach at East 1984-2003. Dukes coached baseball and hockey and taught PE, health, and journalism. He established a chapter of the FCA and SADD at East. Knutson created The Association and advised it for 7 years. Dukes was a volunteer for UMD Athletics for 37 years. Dukes continues his work with the FCA and Baseball Chapel. He now serves as a StatsCrew operator for the USF's basketball teams, Press Box Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays (Twins in 2012), and he is active in prison ministry in Sarasota County.

Kristi (Duncan) Plante

A member of the Class of 1991, class officer, and Homecoming Queen. Kristi earned 14 letters in volleyball, basketball, & softball. She was All-Conference in all three sports and All-State in softball and volleyball. Kristi was Top Senior Athlete in 1991. Following her high school career, she became a star athlete at UMD where she was named Outstanding Female Senior Athlete and Top Scholar Athlete in 1999. She was the NSIC RBI Champion in 1994. In 1995 Kristi was selected to the All-Conference Softball team and was the 1995 NSIC Regular Season Champion in softball.

Judy Smith

A teacher of anatomy and physiology at East High School from 1976-1999, she is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin: Superior with a degree in biology and chemistry. She is a Certified Medical Technologist through St. Luke’s School of Medical Technology. Judy is known as an inspirational teacher who began the training of over one hundred doctors and numerous others in the medical field. She attended ten Nobel Conferences during her teaching career. Smith was the 1999 recipient of the Greg Irons Award for inspirational teaching and commitment to her subject.

Phil J. Verchota

A member of the Class of 1975, Phil won All-State Honors in hockey and football. He was a winner of two NCAA National Hockey Champion titles while at the University of Minnesota. Verchota twice won the John Mayasich Award for outstanding athletic scholarship while at the University of Minnesota. Phil was a member of the 1980 and 1984 United States Olympic Hockey teams and won the Gold Medal for Ice Hockey in the famous “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Winter Olympics. He is currently Northern Market President for the Deerwood Bank in Minnesota.

Glenn L. Rolle

Glenn began his career at East in 1951, teaching PE and health. During his 14 years as head hockey coach, Rolle made four state tournament appearances and gave East its first State Hockey Championship in 1960. Glenn retired from coaching in 1967 and became East’s Athletic Director. He was instrumental in opening the door to equality in girls’ athletics. Rolle won numerous honors including: the Minneapolis Tribune’s Outstanding Coaching Award, the Cliff Thompson Award, 7AA Athletic Director of the Year, and in 1991 he was inducted into the MHSCA’s Hockey Hall of Fame.

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