O.C. Sports Hall of Fame Adds to Its Roster : Induction: Only Ryan and Slaney skip the event honoring the class of 1994 at Anaheim Stadium.

The Orange County Sports Hall of Fame’s class of 1994 brought to the induction ceremonies much of the same things the previous 13 sets did--glittering achievements and genuine appreciation for what was happening to them.

“I never thought I would make it,” said George Latka, who also is in the World Boxing Hall of Fame as a boxer and referee. “There are so many high-profile people who deserve it. So many good athletes who are not in it yet.

“When I didn’t get in the first time around I figured ‘Naah, it’ll never happen.’ And now? It’s a wonderful feeling. When they told me I broke down and cried.”

Latka was one of seven inducted Sunday at the Hall of Fame Patio next to Anaheim Stadium, bringing the membership to 74. Also elected this year were former Angels Nolan Ryan and Brian Downing, former Ram center Rich Saul, track stars Steve Scott and Mary Decker Slaney and tennis player Josephine Cruickshank.

Ryan and Slaney did not attend the ceremonies, which attracted a crowd of 350.

Downing almost did not come, either. He had made no secret of his unhappiness with the Angels and how they released him as a player in 1990.

But when he came up to the podium to accept his plaque, Downing used the moment to begin mending fences.

“It was something I had dreamed about,” Downing said of his induction. “I realized very early I would never make it to Cooperstown (the Baseball Hall of Fame). To be in one in your own hometown makes you very happy.

“My family knows I have been tough to live with the past few years. I hope today, with this award, I can start to turn my life around. I had thought about not coming here, but I’m glad I did.”

Saul, who was named to six Pro Bowls and was the captain of the Rams’ lone Super Bowl team in 1980, alternated between humor and pathos in his acceptance speech. “There are probably more people here than have been at a Rams’ game,” he said. But he also picked on Downing’s regard for area recognition.

“When your kids hear you’ve been elected they think, ‘Maybe Dad was better than we thought,’ ” Saul joked. “But the best part is . . . you can be elected to one of those national halls and nobody saw you play. Here, the people know whether you did it or not.”

Although Ryan was unavailable because of a prior commitment, he was remembered by Scott.

“Nolan was a hero of mine,” Scott said. “He taught me that age is not a limiting factor to an athlete’s success, but that attitude is.”

Five other people were honored Sunday in addition to those elected to the Hall.

Dennis Murphy, who helped found the American Basketball Assn., the World Hockey Assn. and World Team Tennis, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Frank Bryant, an organizer of the “Save the Rams” committee and who helped establish the Freedom Bowl and Disneyland Pigskin Classic, was presented with the Good Guy Award.

Ashley Bethel, who set a national record in the pentathlon for 13- and 14-year-olds last July despite losing her right eye after being struck by an errant golf ball, received the Woody Deitch Courage Award.

Donald Kennedy, board chairperson of the First American Financial Corporation and captain of the 1939 Stanford national champion golf team, was given the Distinguished Citizen award. Kennedy’s son, Parker, accepted the award for him.

Jim Dunleavy of Anaheim Hills received the Youth Sports Development Award.