By Meredith Moss, Dayton Daily News Arts Reporter

Former Wright State University professor Abe Bassett was inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, July 30. The special evening also incorporates the annual DayTony award presentations.

The Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame was created in 2001 to honor local theatre artists and patrons of the arts whose life-long participation, innovation and creativity have influenced the Dayton arts culture. The special honor recognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to the cause of theatre arts in Dayton or have made a significant impact on Dayton’s theatrical community. The 2016 inductees are Abe Bassett and Joe and Marilyn Mitchell.

When Bassett first came to Wright State in 1970 to build the school’s theatre program, there were two faculty members, six theatre courses, and no dedicated facilities. Under his leadership, by 1980 the department led the state in number of majors and size of audience. The school won Program Excellence Awards fro the Ohio Board of Regents in 1984, 1986 and 1988, brining grants of more than $1.5 million.

In 1988, Bassett left Wright State to become the founding Dean of the College of Fine and Performing Arts at Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne. He retired in 1994, and is a past president of the Wright State University Retirees Association, and presently serves as Secretary and Webmaster.