Four extraordinary individuals inducted into Northbrook Park District’s Hall of Fame

Two phenomenal athletes and two exceptional volunteers were inducted into the Northbrook Park District’s Hall of Fame last week.

Baseball player Doug Rader and cyclist Dee Dee Scadron were inducted into the 2024 Sports Hall of Fame. Community and park district volunteer, Oscar Dahl, and baseball coach and volunteer, Samuel Einhorn, were inducted into the 2024 Volunteer Hall of Fame.

“The Northbrook Hall of Fame has a long history in our community, and it is gratifying to see our amazing list of inductees grow each year,” Northbrook Park District Board President Lisa Chalem said at the induction ceremony held Oct. 17 at Heritage Oaks Golf Club.

The 2024 inductees have distinguished themselves in a variety of ways.

● A native of Northbrook, Doug Rader attended Glenbrook High School and played professionally as a Major League Baseball third baseman with the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays from 1967 to 1977. Nicknamed “The Red Rooster,” he won five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1970 to 1974.

Rader then coached the San Diego Padres in 1979, and managed the Hawaiian Islanders from 1980 to 1982, the Texas Rangers from 1983 to 1985, the Chicago White Sox in 1986 and the California Angels from 1989 to 1991.

He also served for six years in the Army Reserves while playing professional baseball.

Rader has a special connection to the park district, because his mother, Eveline Rader, served as a board member from 1950 to 1961.

“I wish my mom was still alive,” he said. “She would be so happy about this.”

● Dee Dee Scadron, a resident of Northbrook, grew up in Glenview and attended Glenbrook South High School. She started cycling at the park district’s Ed Rudolph Velodrome at age 18, and successfully competed in road and track cycling events across the United States, England, Italy and Austria from 1973 to 2003.

She is a three-time gold medalist in the UCI Masters World Championships, where she set three records, and a four-time gold medalist in the UCI Masters World Cup. She also took home a multitude of medals from the USAC National and Illinois Championships.

Scadron served as a USA Cycling official from 2006 to 2018, and has given back to the sport by helping younger riders develop their skills and being active with the Northbrook Bicycle Club and the Northbrook Cycle Committee.

“I made friends around the world for racing,” she said. “I am very grateful to all the people who helped me along the way.”

● A resident of Northbrook, Oscar Dahl served on the Northbrook Park District board of commissioners for 20 years from 1987 through 2007, including two years as president.

He coached youth hockey and baseball for many years, and started the park district’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

He was also president of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, on whose board he served from 1994 to 2001. In 1999, he started the “2,000 trees by 2000” tree planting program in Illinois that has since yielded 500,000 new trees.

In 2006, he received the IAPD Chairman’s Citation for Steadfast Leadership in Parks and Recreation.

“The satisfaction that you get from volunteering can't be (found) anywhere else,” Dahl said. “Volunteering is one way you become part of the community … and you get back more than you give.”

● Samuel Einhorn, who lives in Northbrook, served as head coach for Northbrook Junior League baseball from 1979 to 1994. For 12 of those years, he also served as commissioner for the organization.

Einhorn helped establish some of the group’s first fundraising programs, and actively helped by increasing business sponsorships and selling baseball jackets alongside his wife. His efforts helped ensure the continuation of all-star facilities at Village Green Park and travel to games at Thillens Stadium in Chicago.

Einhorn also helped start a program that allowed older players to work as umpires for the younger players’ games, providing jobs and a positive work experience for the youth of the community.

“Northbrook baseball has been, really, a very exciting thing for me to do over the years. It gave me the opportunity to meet so many more people than I would've if I didn't do it,” Einhorn said.

The Northbrook Park District’s Hall of Fame has recognized 72 volunteers and athletes over the last 48 years. Nominations are accepted from members of the community and reviewed by the park district’s Hall of Fame Committee. The committee makes a recommendation to the board of commissioners, which ultimately decides who receives the honor. For more information visit nbparks.org/get-involved/hall-of-fame.

Established in 1927, the mission of the Northbrook Park District is to enhance the community by providing outstanding services, parks and facilities through environmental, social and financial stewardship.