Mahlon R. Aldridge, Jr., also known as the“Voice of the Tigers” for 28 years, started his career as a reporter for the Jefferson City News-Tribune and by officiating basketball games in the late 1930s. He initiated Missouri Tiger football and basketball play-by-play on KFRU in 1946, and after buying the station he started the Missouri… Read more »
News
Year: 1990
Jerry Anderson
Jerry Anderson came to Missouri State University from Marshfield and lettered four years each in basketball and track between 1951 and 1955. He was a standout track performer as a broad jumper, high jumper, and sprinter. But it was in basketball that he achieved the most acclaim, both for himself and for his school. He… Read more »
Robert Carlson
Robert Carlson was born in Fairfield, Iowa. After graduating from Fairfield High School in 1942, he attended Parsons College, also in Fairfield. Later he attended Kansas City Central Radio and TV School before joining the staff of KIRX Radio in 1949. It was there that he became known as the “Voice of the Bulldogs” for… Read more »
John Cooper
Born in Smith Mills, Kentucky, Cooper was the eldest of six children. He graduated from Hopkinsville (KY) High School, then earned a B.A in Physics, as well as a PhD in Education, from the University of Missouri and lettered in basketball and track between 1932 and 1934. An all-conference choice in 1932 when he led… Read more »
Larry Drew
A Kansas City native, Larry Drew was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round (17th overall) of the 1980 NBA Draft. A 6’1″ point guard from the University of Missouri, Drew played in 10 NBA seasons. He played for the Pistons, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers. During his… Read more »
Howard Ellfeldt
Howard J. Ellfeldt attended the University of Kansas before completing his M.D. in Orthopedic Surgery in 1968. He served in the US Army and founded Kansas City Bone and Joint Clinic. Ellfeldt also served as team physician for the Kansas City Kings and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was inducted in Missouri Sports Hall of… Read more »
Richard Fairchild
Richard Fairchild compiled a .661 winning percentage with a total of 463 wins and 237 losses during his 28-year career as a high school basketball coach. After his first coaching job in Skidmore, Missouri, Fairchild spent a productive six years in Oregon, Missouri, leading that team to win two conference championships, three district titles, and… Read more »
Forrest Hamilton
Forrest (Fordy) Hamilton was one of many key figures in the memorable story of one of the greatest eras in the history of Missouri State basketball, that of the back-to-back NAIA national championship squads of 1952 and 1953. Hamilton came to MSU as a transfer from the University of Missouri and the St. Clair native… Read more »
Max Hayes
Max Hayes’ was born on a farm in Smith County, Kansas. He attended Smith Center High School where he starred in track, basketball and football. As a first-generation college student, Hayes left home to attend college at the University of Kansas in 1947. There, coach Phog Allen (MSHOF 1952) urged him to try out for… Read more »
Burl Henderson
Burl “Bud” Henderson started his career in basketball as a student-athlete at Southwest Missouri State University. After graduation, his first coaching position was at Mount Vernon High School, which at the time did not even have a real gym where students could play. Finally, in 1929, one was constructed, but since the team had little… Read more »
Lamar Hunt
As the organizer of the American Football League over 30 years ago, Lamar Hunt’s activities helped positively change the game of football. Hunt is among those most responsible for the development, direction, and design of the modern-day National Football League. As the founder of the Chiefs franchise, Hunt helped provide Kansas City with a team… Read more »
Joe Kleine
Kleine, a seven-foot center, graduated from Slater High School in Slater, Missouri, and originally enrolled to play basketball at the University of Notre Dame. After his freshman season, He transferred to the University of Arkansas. Kleine was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. He went on to… Read more »
Earl Keth
Earl Keth led the Mules basketball team to national prominence in the late 1930’s. He was the star of the 1937 and 1938 teams that won the first two National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) championships. He was chosen to the Chuck Taylor All-America Team for the 1937-38 season, becoming the Mules’ first All-American in… Read more »
Erv Leimer
Erv Leimer began his 32-year coaching career at Bismark High School in 1942. He led the Indians to the Missouri Championship with a total enrollment of only 84 students when the tournament consisted of only one class. After a year at Brentwood High School, Leimer initiated the basketball program at Lutheran Central and had a… Read more »
James Nelson
Jim Nelson coached at Jewell from 1950-1990. He had the longest tenured coaching career in the history of Jewell athletics. During his illustrious career he served as assistant football coach, head football coach, head men’s basketball coach, head women’s basketball coach, cross country coach, track coach, and tennis coach. Nelson came to Jewell with Dr.… Read more »
Palmer Nichols
Palmer Nichols was a basketball coach at Sacred Heart High School in Sedalia, Missouri. He also co-founded the local Boys and Girls Club chapter in Sedalia.