WASHINGTON - Four deserving honorees were celebrated by family, friends and fans at their induction into the Stafford H. "Pop" Cassell Hall of Fame at American University on Saturday, January 31. The Class of 2026 was honored following a ribbon-cutting ceremony in AU's brand new Alan and Amy Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance.

Jack Cassell, a former men's soccer student-athlete and longtime chair of the AU Board of Trustees, and Alan Meltzer, a former wrestler and passionate supporter of the student-athlete experience, were inducted as lifetime contributors. They were joined by Shelly Montgomery, a two-time Patriot League champion and All-American in field hockey, and Wilbert "Wil" Smith, a 1971 track and field champion whose sprint records stood for five decades. With the inclusion of those four, the Cassell Hall of Fame now includes a total of 107 deserving inductees.

All attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. After an introduction from Director of Athletics and Recreation JM Caparro and remarks by American University President Jonathan Alger, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Meltzer Center took place on stage, following remarks from AU's CFO, Vice President, and Treasurer Bronté Burleigh-Jones, head wrestling coach Jason Borrelli, volleyball student-athlete Emma Blankenship, Caparro, and Alger.

Cassell was the first to be presented, with an introduction from President Emeritus Dr. Neil Kerwin. Up next was Smith, introduced by teammate and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Holden.

Following dinner, the program proceeded with the presentations of Montgomery, introduced by field hockey head coach Steve Jennings, and finally Meltzer, introduced by former wrestling coach Dr. Robert Karch.

Guests were treated to video introductions of all four inductees, which can be seen above, as well as the speeches by the presenters and the inductees.

American University's Stafford H. Cassell Hall of Fame has been in existence since 1969. Sponsored by the Cassell Family, the Hall of Fame was developed to recognize the achievement of individuals associated with American University Athletics and Recreation. Cassell was a legendary coach, athletic director, and vice president at the university.