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THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: April 12, 2014

| April 12, 2014 9:00 PM

When Dr. James "Doc" Lynn does something, you know it's going to be big.

Singing - he does that.

Talking - he can do that better than anyone I can think of.

Being inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame - it's about time.

LYNN IS among six inductees for the annual event, set for tonight at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn beginning at 6:30. Also being inducted will be Keith Gilbertson, Ryan Phillips, Mike Cox, the late Gary "Big Daddy" Rasmussen and Merril Hoge.

Lynn, 82, ran most of the youth programs through the Wallace Elks, and started the Wallace High Hall of Fame in 1990. He took over the North Idaho Sports Banquet in 2000, and retired from his organizational duties in 2012, leaving that to his son, John.

"He was definitely a figurehead for the Elks," said Bill Delbridge, who was a member of the Elks Lodge with Lynn in Wallace. "He was really concerned with the kids, helped them with college scholarships and got some kids scholarships that wouldn't have gotten them any other way. He really took the time to help the kids and put the time in with the kids. He was really well respected and pretty well thought of around the state."

From the annual Elks Hoop Shoot to a Just Say No club to keep kids drug free, if it was happening in Wallace, "Doc" was always there.

"He knew all the kids," Delbridge said. "He took the time and was so genuine with them. At the Elks, you couldn't beat him for youth activities or sporting events."

When it came to raising money for the Elks, you could just leave it to "Doc".

"He was a well respected man within the lodge," Delbridge said. "When he walked into the building, everyone felt at ease because he knew his business and was a good person to go to all the time."

"Any questions you had, he'd have the answer," Delbridge added. "He was a PR man - and really good at it. He made sure the people were in the right places to do the right job."

And you knew he appreciated everything you did to help him out.

"He was very complimentary, appreciated of the all the work that I and the other workers did," Delbridge said. "You'd always get a pat on the back, and you knew it meant something."

Often times, the room was packed for whatever he was doing that night.

"If he does something, it's big," Delbridge said. "He's got a way with people. He can call them up and get them to help out. One year, we needed money for the Elks, so he contact past members and college graduates that were a little well off. He had a way to raise money, and knew how to get it, and nobody got offended with it. If he asked, it was always sincere."

WHETHER IT was helping set up tables for the Hoop Shoot, banquets or just showing up to give him a hand, when "Doc" called, I listened.

Still do.

Often times as a kid, once we'd completed setting up tables for an event, he'd take me up to the Silver Corner Bar and Grill in Wallace for a hamburger and a soda.

Later, when he needed to get information into the paper for the Wallace Hall of Fame, we'd meet for - you guessed it - a burger and soda.

Last year, on what turned out to be a colder than normal spring day, I saw "Doc" at the state 5A softball tournament at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene, just a few minutes before the first pitch of a semifinal game between Lake City and Coeur d'Alene.

When he asked if I had another coat in the car to keep him warm, I didn't ask questions. I just got him one.

If you're looking for him tonight, he'll be easy to find.

He'll be the guy, smiling, laughing and enjoying his Hall of Fame moment.

In that same ol' pink coat that has been about as big of legend as the man wearing it.

"It's well deserved," Delbridge said. "He put a lot of time and effort into recognizing others. It's great."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.