USASA Hall of Fame – United States Adult Soccer Association

The USASA Hall of Fame was established in 2006 to honor those individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of adult amateur soccer in the United States. Individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame include administrators, players, coaches and referees who have provided distinguished service to the USASA by contributing toward the development and advancement of adult amateur soccer at the national or regional level. Candidates may be either active or inactive in adult amateur soccer when nominated and selected individuals are inducted at the USASA AGM in the fall of each year.

2023

Robert Evans

Robert Evans’ impact on soccer in the USA, particularly in adult soccer, spans an impressive and dedicated career of over 40 years. His playing career began in North Texas and included the Championship of Texas in 1969. Shortly thereafter, he was one of the original group of referees with the North Texas Premier Soccer League and played a pivotal role in the North Texas State Soccer Association Referees Committee. His influence continued as the State Director of Instruction and later the National Director of Referee Instruction for USSF after helping found the National Referee Program. Robert served the game by officiating numerous Adult State Cup games and the USASA Amateur Cup Final in 1983. He also was a FIFA referee from 1979 to 1987. Robert is the co-author of “For the Good of the Game,” a seminal book on refereeing. His legacy continues to impact soccer in the United States beyond his time with us on the field.

Arthur Mattson

Arthur Mattson is a soccer luminary whose outstanding career has left an indelible impact on the sport in Florida and nationwide. His soccer resume boasts an impressive array of roles, including player, coach, referee, and Officer/Administrator. It illustrates his unwavering dedication to soccer on every conceivable level. His playing accomplishments include state, regional, and national cups. As a referee, he officiated at USASA Veteran’s Cup; as a coach, he led the Polk State College Women’s team; as an administrator, where he left his biggest mark, he was President of Lakeland Adult Soccer Organization, President of Florida State Soccer Association (“FSSA”), USASA Vice President and member of the USSF Board of Directors. Arthur spearheaded the establishment of enduring FSSA tournaments like the Florida Classic and the FSSA 7v7 Tournament and forged vital partnerships with Soccer Tag and Orlando City SC (USL and MLS). He currently serves as the Chairman of the USSF US Open Cup Committee.

Nick Radu

A sports visionary whose keen ability to identify players’ demand for elevated competition at all age levels, Nick has transformed the landscape of playing opportunities. As an adult league administrator in Michigan, his strategic leadership resulted in remarkable growth. He pioneered the Michigan Ontario Soccer League, a groundbreaking cross-border organization. Nick served many years as President of the Michigan Soccer Association (“MSA”), passionately supporting leagues and championing State, Regional, and National participation. The esteemed annual President’s Award was established during his tenure to honor members for their dedicated efforts to grow, administer, and promote soccer in Michigan.

Lori Stoneburner

Lori’s passion for soccer began at an early age, playing alongside her sister in Anchorage city leagues with the unwavering support of the family fan club, often led by their father. A standout through high school, Lori’s talent caught the attention of the University of Northern Colorado, where she continued her soccer playing career. Following college, her soccer life evolved from player and supporter to administrator and advocate. She continues to guide the Alaska State Soccer Association as President, a role she has dedicated herself to for more than a decade. Her stewardship is also shaping USASA as its longstanding Treasurer and member of the National Board of Directors. While providing professional financial expertise to USASA for many years, Lori has also fostered meaningful friendships across the United States and tirelessly promoted amateur soccer, its players, and organizations.

2022

Dave Borts

Since 1960 when David first put on a pair of wooden cleated boots in Colindale, England, he’s been in love with the beautiful game of soccer. Returning to the US as a ten-year-old athlete who played all sports but loved one, he became a developer and builder of soccer. There were no youth academies, and only one pee-wee soccer league in Rhode Island. So he became the kid on the bike with a pair of cleats and a ball always looking for players and pick-up games around Providence. When he went to high school, there were not teams, so he founded one.

He went on to play college soccer, and after graduating, played for all the top amateur teams in Rhode Island. As his playing days dwindled, he continued keeping the flame of soccer development in RI going. He got involved in administration and served as a president, committee member and coach. He has been a mentor and advisor for hundreds of young players. He is a top-level administrator, builder and friend of soccer.

Marilyn Childress

When she moved to Georgia in 1982, Marilyn started playing goalkeeper on a local women’s soccer team. She represented Georgia at the Over 30 USSF National Cup team competitions for almost 10 years, and continued to play until injuries forced her playing retirement.

Marilyn was instrumental in the reorganization of the existing women’s soccer programs in the Atlanta Area forming the largest women’s league in Georgia. She was the first woman President for Georgia Amateur Soccer Association and has been on the board of directors for over 20 years. She was instrumental in setting policy for girls’ soccer at the local level. The league that she started is still in existence today following the foundation that she implemented.

She was on various women’s sports committees in Georgia and in the US including US Soccer, USSA, and the Women’s Sports Foundation. She was on the Soccer in the Streets Board of Directors helping the secure special grant for the Women’s Sports Foundation for their girls’ soccer program.

She was on the USASA Region III Women’s Committee starting in 1992 and chaired that committee for 3 years. Marilyn was also on the USSF Women’s Committee. She was an advisor and speaker for the First Women’s Leadership Conference for Women in Soccer in December 1993. In 1995, she developed women leadership conferences in each region of the United States Amateur Soccer Association. Marilyn was the USSF Representative to the first FIFA Seminar on Women’s Soccer in 1992, which was held in Zurich. She was also an alternate for the 1999 FIFA Women’s Symposium held with the Women’s 1999 World Cup. Marilyn was the Chair of the National Coalition for the 1999 FIFA Women ‘ s World Cup. Marilyn was also a member of the NSCAA Women’s Committee for a number of years. She was also an advisor to the Women’s Soccer Foundation in 1993-1994 and has been on the Advisory Board Member of the Women’s Sports Foundation for soccer since 1993.

She co-founded the Women’s Soccer in 96 with Gail Turbyville, leading the movement to have women’s soccer added to the 1996 Olympics. She was the international spokesperson for the inclusion of women’s soccer in the 1996. She also had an audience with Secretary General of FIFA to request their support. The National Soccer Hall of Fame named its Under 17 Girls Division, the Marilyn Childress Division in the National Series of Soccer in the summers of 1994, 1995 &1996. She encouraged a joint resolution through the US Congress showing support for women’s soccer and for the inclusion to the Olympics which was overwhelming passed.

Roger Hamilton

Roger Hamilton was born in Washington, DC, on April 27, 1943. Growing up an Army brat, he was no stranger to moving place to place, even going as far as briefly living in Germany shortly after WWII. Ultimately, he returned to the DC area, then later graduated high school as co-valedictorian in nearby Falls Church, VA. Keeping with his rootless ways, he then chose to attend a prestigious institution across the country in California. At Stanford University, Roger earned a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and received a Computer and Law Fellowship.

Following his degree, Roger briefly wore many hats as a computer programmer and a political campaign manager, before switching gears and enrolling in the University of Oregon’s School of Law to launch his career practicing corporate law. Here, Roger showcased his earlier work as the editor-in-chief for the University of Oregon Law Review.

Despite the fact that Roger discovered his passion for soccer a little later in life than most, at the age of 36, he has unquestionably proved an important asset to the sport by dedicating himself to the to the sport for 42 years with his continuous involvement as a player, coach, manager, mentor, referee and administrator.

Paula Hildman

Administrator:

Paula became the MN State Referee Administrator In the fall of 2009. She is currently serving as the SRA for 10years and has recently been approved for an additional 2-year term. She attends all Region II Adult meetings and AGM events. Paula has attended the past 9 Adult Amateur & Tournament of Champions events as both an SRA & as an assessor. She has helped Ken Baldeosingh with referee check-in, field inspections, referee meetings, game day operations & transportation at these events. Paula has also mentored/assessed at these tournaments for the past 9 years. Paula additionality helped Ken Baldeosingh and Angelo Bratsis with 2 of the Women’s Champions tournaments, 2013 in Kansas City, KS & Virginia Beach, VA. She also helped out with the day-to-day operations & transportation.

Referee:

Paula started referee adult soccer in 2004. In addition, she traveled to the Adult Regional tournament over Memorial Day weekend from 1995 – 2002. She refereed at the Tournament of Champions those same years. She was selected to go to the Donnelly Cup in 1999. Paula attended her first Pro clinic in 1998 and spent 8 years officiating the Men’s A League in Region II, the men’s PDL team and the W league in MN, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. In 2002 the FA flew her to England where she refereed the Men’s amateur leagues up thru the Semi Pro leagues. A huge highlight for Paula was getting to participate in exhibition games for the US women’s, Canadian women’s and Ghana women’s national teams leading up to the 1999 women’s world cup matches. In 2015 Paula received a Referee Lifetime Achievement Award from Region II Adults.