Hoge added as inductee to Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame class

Merril Hoge, former Pocatello High, Idaho State and Pittsburgh Steeler standout, has been added as an inductee into this year's class for the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.

In addition, Hoge, a current ESPN football analyst, will be the guest speaker for the 52nd North Idaho Sports Banquet, scheduled for April 12 at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Hoge will join the other five inductees in this year's class of the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame - Dr. James A. "Doc" Lynn, Mike Cox, Keith Gilbertson, Ryan Phillips and the late Gary "Big Daddy" Rasmussen.

Tickets may be obtained by calling the Coeur d'Alene Inn after March 15.

Hoge, a four-year starter at Idaho State, played five years for the Pittsburgh Steelers and one year with the Chicago Bears, before being forced to retire due to post-concussion syndrome. At the time of his retirement, Hoge had played in 122 consecutive games, the longest playing streak in the NFL at the time.

Hoge joined ESPN as an analyst in 1995.

Years later, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and beat it.

Since his playing days, Hoge has been on the board of the Highmark Caring Foundation, and is currently Chairman of the Board. The Caring Foundation has created three centers for grieving children, adolescents and their families, called the Highmark Caring Place, located in Pittsburgh, Erie and Harrisburg, Pa. Hoge lost his own mother when he was 19, and saw the effect it had on his brother, then 14. The Caring Foundation also works to provide care coordination services to children with special health care needs and their families.