Several years ago I was on the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Board and that has given me a vote annually to help select new inductees.
This year there are 58 people listed on the ballot with the top 10 getting inducted. Eight Emporia-connected names are on the ballot. That alone is impressive.
Today I will share those 8 names in alphabetical order.
- Clint Bowyer retired NASCAR driver and current Fox NASCAR race commentator and an Emporia Native. Clint’s Cup Series record: Ten wins, 226-top ten finishes in 541 races!
- Emily Bloss Carpenter, ESU lady Hornet who was NCAA D-II player of the year and MIAA’s Outstanding Female Athlete both in 2001.
- Keith Caywood, ESU 1942 graduate earning 4 letters in football and basketball and 3 in track. Served Emporia State as Head Football Coach, Golf Coach, and Athletic Director.
- Tara Holloway Churchill, ESU Lady Hornet who was NCAA D-II Player of the year and MIAA MVP in 2000.
- Bill Dickey outstanding player in football, basketball, and track graduating in 1959. Later became Athletics Director at Pitt State for 23 years.
- L. Lewis Emporia native who left Emporia State after 2 years for SW Texas State where he led them to a National Championship. JL had a very successful professional career winning twice on the PGA Tour.
- Jesse Nelson graduated from ESU in 1974 and became Olpe High School’s girl’s coach in 78 winning an astonishing 951 games, an all-time Kansas In 2021 named National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State Associations.
- Brian Robinson, ESU Basketball was named CSIC Player of the Year in 1986 the same year he was named First Team NAIA All American for the second straight year.
The 58 candidates on the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame ballot are among the most qualified I’ve ever seen. I voted for 7 of the 8 with Emporia connections.
The other 3, I voted for were: Wayne Jackson, wrestling coach from Ark City who preceeded Emporia’s, Greg Buckbee. Roy Williams recently retired North Carolina basketball coach and Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Bill Parcells who played football for Wichita State in 1961- 62 & 63.
There are 17 Emporia types in the KSHOF if you count Dean Smith as an Emporian. Most notable and still living in Emporia are Ron Slaymaker and Bill Tidwell.
You can enter kshof.org and find a list of all inductees.
Interesting final thought I failed to find a single athlete from C of E listed in the KSHOF, I believe that’s an oversight.
I’m Steve Sauder
