Hairston Hall of Fame
The Hairston Hall of Fame was established in 1983 through a gift from William L. Hairston, a 1933 graduate of Central College (now Central Methodist University). The Hall of Fame honors the outstanding accomplishments of CMU athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams and recognizes significant contributions to the University’s athletics programs.
1928 Football Team
Inducted in 2013 The 1928 Central College football team won the Missouri College Athletic Union (MCAU) championship with an overall record of 7-2. Members of the team included: head coach Clarence (C.E.) Clingenpeel, assistant coaches George Kline and Bertram I (B.I.) Lawrence, Marvin Gray, Tal Turner, Herbert Sharp, Edwin Hansbrough, Climpson Moore, Russell Nix, Harold McKinley, Eddie Bryant, Monte Reid, Wesley Tyler, Wendell Ensor, Samuel Downing III, Leon Innes, Charles McAdams, Robert Ricketts, Vernon Griggs, Malcom Tomlin, Euhlan Rhodes, Clyde Lillard, Paul McDaniels, Joe Seiling, Vester McKinney, and Chester Magruder.
1930 Football Team
Inducted in 2007 The 1930 Central College Football team posted a 9-0 record, the first undefeated season in program history. The squad won the Missouri College Athletic Union (MCAU) championship. Team members include: Head Coach Clarence Clingenpeel, assistant coach George Kline, Max McMahon, Euhlan Rhodes, Wallace Blume, Carl Allan Edmonston, Lee Sheridan Doherty, Riley Patrick, Vernon Becker, Uellee Clary, Charles Jost, Clifton Estill, Maurice Fitzmaurice, Aubrey Harcourt, Thomas Todd, Sam Schooling, John Innes, Claiborn Simpson, Lowell Doak, Woodroe Cannon, Lyle Coles, Raymond McIntyre, David McLaughlin, George Printz, Champ Clark Stanley, David Maples, Joe Seiling, Winston Welsh, Oscar Wollenman, Raymond Bartee, Deane Ball, Verne Harris, Don McMurtry, William Woodworth, Clyde Burke, Harry Darley, Earl Rigg, Gerald Riegel, Clarence Crumpecker, Victoria Huddleston, William Hairston, Leemon Adams, Harland King, James Stegner, William Patterson, Ralph Dorman, Walter Blank, Edward Speiser, Wilber Wyatt, Cecil Mooney, James Moore, Daniel Chiles, Emerson Hare, Charles Innes, George Knight, Jess Stewart, Wesley Tyler, Clyde Lillard, Chester Magruder, William Sutton, Vernon Griggs, Malcom, and Morton Chiles.
1934 Football Team
Inducted in 2013 The 1934 Central College Football team won the Missouri College Athletic Union (MCAU) Championship with a record of 5-1-3. It marked the program's third title in seven seasons. Team members included: Head Coach Clarence Clingenpeel, assistant coach George Kline, Howard Bourner, Charles Schoene, Raymond Groves, Herbert Hurst, George Randolph, Henry Bogart, Joe Wommack, Boone Guyton, Gale Erp, Leland Schaperkotter, Norman Adair, George Smith, William Kilpatrick, Sylvester Albano, John Oliver, William Ricketts, and Thomas Todd.
1936 Men's Track and Field Team
Inducted in 2009 Won the 1936 Conference Championship. Team members include; Wendell Bennett, Ross Fulton, John Hammond, Ben Hurst, Elvin Imes, Dwight Jackson, Leland Loy, Paul, Morgan, Jack Oliver, Bill Ricketts, Erle Swaim, Rex Tharpe, B.J. Wilson, Ralph Yoder, and Coach Kline.
1942-43 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2023 - 24 The 1942-43 Central men's basketball team won the first of three consecutive MCAU Conference Championships. Led by Hall of Fame Head Coach Bob Vanatta, the Eagles also participated in the Intercollegiate Tournament, finishing the year with an 11-4 overall record. The team featured two players who earned MCAU All-Star recognition, George Walley (First Team) and team captain Warren Pettigrew (Second Team). Team members include Coach Bob Vanatta, Melvin L. Block, Louis C. Graue, Warren A. Pettigrew, Bob Morrow, George E. Walley, John B. Hyatt, Bob Holmes, Jim Walley, Carlos D. McCullough, Robert W. Leech, John L. Cannon, Jerry W. Rhodes, Charles B. Baskett, George E. Pilcher, Dick Symmonds, Jessie W. Mothershead, Joe F. Scott, and Charles L. Smith.
1943-44 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2023 - 24 The 1943-44 Central men's basketball team won the Eagles' second consecutive MCAU Conference Championship, clinching the title with a 49-30 win over rival Westminster College in Fulton. Central finished the year with a 10-0 record. Team members include Coach Charles Mills, team captains Tom Phelps and Arnie Saul, Bill Allison, Milt Iverson, Rudy Schilder, Jack Carson, Don Corbitt, Dick McBride, Bill Wasson, Harvey Peterson, Rudy Schilder, Larry Stewart, Bill Vines, and Athletic Director/Professor Keith Anderson.
1944-45 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2023 - 24 The 1944-45 Central Men's Basketball team posted an undefeated regular season with an 11-0 record, winning a third-straight MCAU Conference Championship. A team represented by players from 14 different states, the Eagles were comprised of V-12 Navy members who attended the college. Central secured two big wins over the Sedalia Army Air Force. The Eagles ended their season with a quarterfinal appearance at the national tournament in Kansas City, posting a 1-1 record at the final site. Team members include Coach Chief T.H. Moar, Edward J. Hemsworth, Loren M. McCormick, Richard P. Culberson, Donald O. Corbitt, Henry E. Hatch, Harvey A. Peterson, Wilmer J. Harvey, Charles N. Cooley, Charles E. O'Neal, Frank M. Jacobs, Leo D. Nicholson, Richard E. Johnson, and Martin L. Eddlemon.
1949 Football Team
Inducted in 2016 The 1949 Football Team finished the season with just one loss at 8-1; which marked the best finish for a Central team since 1930. The Eagles were led by head coach Bob Vanetta and assistant coach Ernest E. Smith. The team consisted of Robert Irving, William Weber, Paul Danclovic, Robert Jackson, Vergil Landers, James Engelhard, Earl De La Roche, Harold Beasley, William Hollway III, Robert Finley, Edward Christian Jr., Robert Sears, Kenneth Miller, Raymond Calvin, Richard Vigil, Nick Ghnouly, John Jankowski, Roland Banaka, Joseph Villers, Robert Costilow, Robert Otto, Robert Ellis, Gabriel Georgeff, Richard Stewart, James Dobyns, James Patrick Dionne and Paul Pappas.
1949-50 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2007 BIO COMING SOON
1950-51 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2016 The 1950-51 Men’s Basketball Team was comprised of Dean Ehlers, Ed Christian Jr., Edwin Wayne Young, Calvin Voegtle, Lloyd Summers, Pauk Dessieux, Robert Allen, Thomas Hoge, Leo Folsom, Don Wheeler, Donald Pape, Carl Dulgeroff, Dr. Nelson Bryant, Mitch Cochran, Gil Georgeff, Lowell Pettit, Robert “Bob” Ellis, Tom Burcham, Frank Kirby, Don Lynch, Carl Dulgeroff, and Don Burgess. The Eagles were led by head coach Ralph Pink, and finished the season with a 24-5 overall record, and won the MCAU. They also qualified for the NAIA National Tournament; which consisted of 32 teams.
1955-56 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2022 - 23 The 1955-56 Men's Basketball Team, led by Head Coach Richard Brumitt, posted a 20-4 record to win the MCAU Conference Championship. The team, at the time, became just the fourth to win at least 20 games in school history. The team featured two members who are a part of the 1,000-point club. Team members include: (First Row) Elbert Haenssler, Jerry Linneman, Don Williams, Jim Snell, Charles Leonard, Foster Sadler, Bob Morgan, Ronald Hampton, William Meyer, Ron Gulley, Duane Sterling, Don Hammelman (Second Row) Coach Richard Brumitt, Tom Crews, Wally Crawford, Dallas Wetzler, Dennis Eckert, Donald Slater, Jerry Cantlon, Don Spalding, Dick Schultz, and Bob Schnatmeier.
1960 Men's Golf Team
Inducted in 2016 The 1960 Men’s Golf Team consisted of Ronald Hampton (’60), David Parker (’62), team captain Richard Veleta (’60), Sam Powell (’62), Billy Brewer (’60), and alternate Michael Reid. The Eagles won the 1960 M.C.A.U. Conference, by defeating Westminster 608-611. The conference included the likes of the aforementioned Westminster, William Jewell, Missouri Valley, Drury, and Culver-Stockton. The team qualified for the National Collegiate Golf Championship that year, which was played in Bemidji, Minnesota. The estimated team cost to attend the Championship in Bemidji, Minnesota was $350. President Woodward allowed the College to contribute $200, and the Student Council contributed $100 towards the trip. The golf team then vowed to raise the remaining $50 for the trip, stating “we can raise the remaining $50 with little trouble," which they did.
1967 Football Team
Inducted in 2016 The 1967 Football Team finished with one of the highest winning percentages in program history. The Eagles closed out the ’67 season with an overall record of 6-1-1; which was the highest winning percentage for Central Methodist since the 1930’s. The ’67 squad consisted of five current Hairston Hall of Fame members: head coach Bill Holmes, Augie Eckhardt, Joe Forrest, Keith Walk and Scott Swofford; along with newly named member Levern Gaskin Jr. Other members from the ’67 squad include: William Mauller Jr., Rodney Hoffman, David Taff, Bill Rudeseal, Kenneth “Sonny” Page, William Lazenby, Dick Van Dyne, David Alvis, Larry Moore, John Nickens III, Donald Swanson, Gale Hairston, Paul King, William Pentland, Lewis Douglas, Michael Watkins, Robert Sander, Daniel Frank, Earl “Buster” DelaRoche, Robert Fisher, Thadeus Staniec, William Fivecoat Jr., Richard Spathelf, Samuel Rauls, Tom Schoemehl, Donald Spencer, Roger Peters, Dale Riebold, Donald Malson, Michael Harcourt, Bruce Banks, James Chellew, William Meyerkord Jr., C. David Bockman, William Dierks, Joseph P. Rice III, and assistant coach Rodney Miller.
1975 Baseball Team
Inducted in 2009 Won the 1975 Heart Conference Championship. Team Members include; Bob Bishop, Brad Brinkman, Charlie Brown, Rex Currin, Bob Gould, Jim Holtwick, Steve Kine, John Kurtz, Don McLean, Rick Rhodes, Dave Stoll, John Stoll, Rodney Young and Coach Steve Phipps
1975 Football Team
Inducted in 2009 The 1975 Central Methodist College Football team won the MCAU Conference Championship, the fourth conference title in program history at the time. Team members include: Don Bagby, student coach Marvin Baker, manager Richard Barkley, Monty Beltz, Jime Blaine, Louis Bluford, Steve Bonagurio, Brad Broome, Tom Brummitt, John Compton, Rex Currin, John Danner, Rocco DiMarsico, Steve Edwards, Willie Givens, Bob Gould, Bob Griffin, Duane Hall, Doug Hanser, Dave Hoke, Leonard Holloway, Head Coach Bill Holmes, Pat Jarnagin, assistant coach Herb Johnson, Scott Johnson, John Kurtz, Dan Lamburth, trainer Dave Lang, Bill Lankford, Ralph Lee, Steve Luetjen, Dale Mason, Melvin Mathis, Tim McPherson, Tom Morrell, Glen Morelli, Mickey Neal, Jerry O'Dell, Bob O'Neal, Richard Ortmann, student coach Bill Pentland, Rick Perpich, Quentin Peters, Lerone Roberts, Richard Ross, Mike Scardina, Larry Shelton, Andy Stoll, John Stoll, Rick Stover, Dave Thornton, Greg Thurman, Bill Weber, David Williams, Gene Williams, and Tom Williams.
1976-77 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2019 The 1976-77 men's basketball team, coached by Tom Bartow, boasted a 20-6 overall record while closing the season with an eight-game win streak. The program still holds one of the best winning percentages in 114 years of CMU basketball history and was the first team to win more than 20 games since the 1955-56 team. Members of the 1976-77 team include Mike Grimes, Randy Frevert, Gary Wideman, Rickey Frevert, Charles Jones, Jay Webster, Dennis Hagedorn, Don Walton, Kevin Cantwell, Alan DeGeare, Arthur Woods, Ed Shelton, Rick Javey, Russell Wilson Coaches Tom Bartow, Dave Owens, and Ted Snodgrass.
1979 Volleyball Team
Inducted in 2009 The 1979 CMC Volleyball team won the program's first ever regular-season conference championship. The team compiled a 32-5 record and set several program records including single-season wins (32), single-season winning percentage (.865), and fewest single-season losses (5). Head Coach and 2005 Hall of Fame Inductee, Phyllis Richardson, was also named the Coach of the Year. Team members include; Liz Fassler, Bonnie Ford, Linda Goetz, Peggy Gutjahr, Barb Hagerla, Sandy Jackson, Cindy Moon, Vicki Rees, Susan Schnakenberg, Carmen Smith, Kim Stoll, Robin Younger, and Coach Phyllis Richardson.
1980-81 Men's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2018 The 1980-81 Men's Basketball Team was comprised of David Fox, Hank Grayson, Bernard King, Kenny Boggs, William Webb, Joe Arnold, Danny Widhalm, Mark Applin, Duane Widhalm, Ron Mills, Jeff Sherman, Gerald Gerndt, Vince Ketterer Trainer, Garfield Hayden (manager), assistant coach Chris Kelly, head Coach Kenny Ash. The team finished the season with a 24-7 overall record and won our first conference championship in over 30 years.
1981 Sotball Team
Inducted in 2007 BIO COMING SOON
1982-83 Men's Basketball Team
The 1982-83 Men's basketball program led by Hall of Fame Coach Ken Ash, finished the year with a 26-7 overall record and a 13-1 mark in conference play. The Eagles claimed the Heart Conference Championship, the second of three conference titles Central would win in a four-year span. Team members include Coach Ken Ash, and Assistant Coach Duane Widhalm. Players - Clay Chiles, Mike Davis, Mark Dempsey, Randy Durk, David Fox, Paul Hinton, Vince Ketterer, Scott Knoche, Barry Krause, Troy Kreiling, Stacy Maxwell, Gary McClure, Ron Mills, Glenn Moore, Rob Mudd, Kelly Reed, Rex Rutter, Jeff Sherman, Fred Smith, Steve Strick, Dick Tharp, Danny Widhalm, Darrell Widhalm, Kenny Wyatt, and Jim Young.
1993-94 Men's Basketball Team
BIO COMING SOON
1996-97 Women's Basketball Team
BIO COMING SOON
1997-98 Men's Basketball Team
BIO COMING SOON
1997-98 Women's Basketball TEam
BIO COMING SOON
1998-99 Women's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2007 BIO COMING SOON
1999-00 Women's Basketball Team
Inducted in 2009 BIO COMING SOON
2002 Men's Cross Country Team
The 2002 Men's Cross Country team finished in fourth place at the NAIA National Championships. Team members include; Josphat Boit, James Kamau, Alex Kangethe Maina, Peter Mburu, William Ngetich, Carter Snow, Mark Stone, and Coach Gary Stoner.
2004 Volleyball Team
The 2004 Central Methodist Volleyball team posted a 20-14 record and won a share of the Heart of America Athletic Conference championship. Led by Head Coach Dominique Savage, the squad qualified for the NAIA National Championship and finished as Region V runner-up. The team concluded the season ranked No. 23 in the country. Rose Obunaga was named a Heart First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selection. She was also tabbed as a Second Team All-American. Whitney Ralph and Mandy Maune Brinkley were voted to the Heart First and Second Team All-Conference teams respectively. Loran Ichord Richardson, Jessica Davis, and Jennifer Lester-Stutzer were Heart Honorable Mention selections. In addition, Richardson and Ashleigh Holzer Willis were named Academic All-Americans. Members of the team include: Head Coach Dominique Savage, Tessa Frazee Patterson, Heather Farmer, Ashleigh Holzer Willis, Mandy Maune Brinkley, Jennifer Lester-Stutzer, Tiffany Grayer, Whitney Ralph, Jessica Davis, Rose Obunaga, Tonya Goosen Nelson, Amanda Bird, and Loran Ichord Richardson.
2008-09 Men's Basketball
The 2008-09 Men's Basketball Team went 28-7 overall, the third-most wins by a team in CMU history. They were regular-season conference runners up and postseason conference runners up. The team started an impressive 12-0; which was and still is the best start in CMU history. The team had another perfect stretch in the second half of the season, going 10-0. The team earned the school's sixth-ever NAIA National Tournament bid in school history and finished in the Round of 16. Overall, CMU spent five weeks in the NAIA Top 25 Poll and reached as high as 18th. Coach Sherman was awarded with conference coach of the year honors; which he had previously won the year before and as luck would have it, he won it again the following year. The 2008-09 team had two All-American with Jeff Blauvelt and Matt Sherman, three players win All-Conference, and two win Heart Player of the Week honors. The 2008-09 team consisted of Mike Regan, Matt Sherman, Curtis Smith, Jeremy Esry, Alvin Brass, Jeff Blauvelt, Nic Dykman, Jake Prosser, Moses Harper, Joe Howell, Nick Stellwagen, Brock Edris, Anthony Johnson, Paul Cibulskis, and Jake Clark. The coaches were Jeff Sherman, Charlie Wilson, Sam McMahon, and Ryan Peterson.
2009-10 Men's Basketball Team
The 2009-10 Men's Basketball team was comprised of Jake Clark, Brock Edris, Luca Dahl, Dan Pierre, Derek Klitch, Mike Regan, Nick Stellwagen, Tyler Bredehoeft, Curtis Smith, Joe Howell, Matt Sherman, Jake Prosser, Eric Franklin, Nic Dykman, and Alvin Brass. The Eagles were led by Head Coach Jeff Sherman, who was assisted by Sam McMahon, Charlie Wilson, and Ryan Peterson. Central finished the year with a 24-9 overall record, winning the Heart Regular Season Conference Championship. The Eagles also qualified for the 32 team NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City.
2011-12 Softball Team
The 2011-12 Softball team was comprised of Bri Kirkland, Melaine Wilmsmeyer, Kayla Yount, Courtney Dennis, Rebecca Lipsey, Megan Robbins, Mary Kate Townley, Aubrey Utley, Bri Ford, Kelsey Johnley, Briana Boatwright, Jacqulin Cappuccilli, Kerri Francis, Katelyn Moeller, Rebekah Munday, Shelby Pohlman, Erika Reinagel, Michele Rupard, and Kennedy Seifert. The Eagles were led by Head Coach Pat Reardon, assisted by Gene Reardon, Kenya Fuemmeler, Steve Siebert, Katie Dove, and Ross Dowell. The team finished the year with a 41-14 overall record, winning both the Heart Regular Season and Heart Tournament Championship. They also qualified for the NAIA Softball World Series.
2012-13 Baseball Team
The 2012-13 Baseball Team was comprised of Mike Wagner, Brian King, Dustin Ray, Neil Hansen, Daniel Peters, Shane Lowe, Aaron Schuster, Tony Shipp, T.J. Singh, Travis Tompson, Eli Bowers, Brock Grant, Grant Davis, Ryan Weber, Drew Greiwe, Alex Hunter, Colby Stack, Rhett Quilan, Neal DeMartin, Mike Allen, Marty Shaw, Jesse Zellner, Mason Mershon, Kyle Poynter, Alfredo Souffront, and Tyler Paule. The Eagles were led by head coach Fred Smith, assisted by Rick Sage, Dane Frazier, Ryan Mansfield, and Nate Breland. The team made history by winning the conference regular-season championship and conference tournament championship, while also qualifying for the program's first-ever appearance in the NAIA national tournament.
2012-13 Sotfball Team
The 2012-13 softball team, coached by Pat Reardon, finished the season with a 34-12-1 overall record and won the Heart of America Conference Title while also qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament. The team placed nine members on the All-Conference list and three to the Gold Glove squad. The 2012-13 softball team produced the Heart Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in first baseman Lauren Geringer. This was also the season that saw Aubrey Utley, who was voted as the Heart Pitcher of the Year for the third consecutive season, become one of the most decorated players in school history. Team members include; Jocelyn Glaze, Kennedy Seifert, Erika Reinagel, Bri Ford, Jacqulin Cappuccilli, Megan Robbins, Bri Kirkland, Melanie Wilmsmeyer, Shelby Pohlman, Nicole Beck, Johnica Hanke, Nikki Giovenco, Mary Kate Townley, Courtney Dennis, Jessica Wilmes, Lauren Geringer, Bri Boatwright, Madison Watson, Aubrey Utley, Michele Rupard, Coaches Pat Reardon, Gene Reardon, Ross Dowell, Kenya Fuemmeler, Steve Siebert, Ashley Flemming, Audrey Crabtree and Kayla Yount.
2013-14 Sotfball Team
The 2013-2014 Softball Team was comprised of Michele Rupard, Lindie Adair, Jessica Wilmes, Bri Boatwright, Lauren Geringer, Bri Ford, Mary Kate Townley, Megan Robbins, Alyssa Lilly, Hannah Blackmon, Nikki Giovenco, Melanie Wilmsmeyer, Catlin Evans, Mercedes Marriott, Madi Watson, Nicole Beck, Aubrey Utley, Bri Kirkland, Jocelyn Glaze, Chelsea Smith, Ashley Litton, and Mollie Crader. The Eagles were led by head coach Pat Reardon, and he was assisted by Gene Reardon, Ross Dowell Kayla Yount, Lyndsey Talbot Jacque Cappuccilli and Steve Siebert. The team finished the season with a 41-10 overall record, and won both the Heart Regular Season Championship and the Heart Tournament. They also qualified for the NAIA national tournament.
2014-15 Softball Team
The 2014-15 softball team won the program's fifth-straight Heart regular-season championship with an overall record of 45-10 and a perfect 18-0 mark in conference play. The Eagles also qualified for the NAIA National Tournament and appeared in the NAIA World Series, becoming only the third team in program history to do so. Team members include Coach Pat Reardon, Assistant Coaches Gene Reardon, Lyndsey Talbot, Neil Hanson, Jackie Cappuccilli, Ross Dowell, and Steve Sebiert. Athletic Trainer – Alanna Dennison. Players - Lindie Adair, Nicole Beck, Hannah Blackmon, Bri Boatwright, Annie Crouch, Erin Enke, Kylee Foster, Alyson Fuemmeler, Lauren Geringer, Nikki Giovenco, Jocelyn Glaze, Haley Kinnison, Alyssa Lilly, Lori Lindsey, Ashley Litton, Mercedes Marriott, Shelby Roark, Abby Ruessler, Michele Rupard, Brenna Russ, Meagan Thompson, Madi Watson, Jessica Wilmes.
Norman Adair
Inducted in 2011: Adair, who was born in Harrison, Ark., was raised in Carthage, Mo., where he graduated from Carthage High School. Adair entered Central Methodist in the fall of 1932, where he was a member of the football and golf teams, while also serving as president of the “C” club and the Chi Delta“Atom Club.” As a football player, Adair was a two-time All-Conference center and also served as a team captain for the Eagles. After Central Methodist, Adair graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1941. He then returned to Missouri to serve his internship at Kansas City General Hospital. In 1942, Adair was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army Medical Corps and served as a member of the 82nd Airborne where he was attached to the 326 Glider Infantry Regiment. Following the war, radiology became Adair’s specialty. He served as a resident physician in radiology at Baylor University Hospital and the University of Virginia Hospital. Adair, a 1936 graduate of Central Methodist, passed away in 1999. Members of his family were in attendance to accept the award on his behalf.
Larry Anderson
Inducted in 2006: As an athlete at Central, Larry Anderson lettered four years in football and two years in both basketball and baseball. On the gridiron, he led the MCAU Conference three times in rushing and once in total offense. Anderson served as team captain of the 1965 and 1966 football teams and received all-conference honors three times as a running back. He earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors as a sophomore on the basketball team. In 1966, Anderson was named the Estes Athlete of the Year, which is awarded each year to the most outstanding athlete at Central. In 1982, he returned to CMC to serve as the head track & field coach and assistant football coach. Following that football season, he was appointed as the Head Coach and led the Eagles for 13 years, twice receiving Coach of the Year honors. Anderson became the College's Director of Athletics in 1992 and held that position until 2005 when he became Director of Admissions. He was honored as the HAAC Athletic Director of the Year in 1998 and received the Region V Award in 1999. Anderson also received an NAIA Award of Merit in 2005.
Ken Ash
Inducted in 2005: Ken Ash, a former Hickman High School player and coach and current director of the Show-Me State Games, coached basketball at CMU from 1978 to 1985 and racked up a record 160 wins against 91 losses, winning three Heart of America Conference and three NAIA district titles. Current Coach Jeff Sherman, an Eagle player in the early 1980s for Ash, recently broke his record.
Charles Bentley Jr.
Inducted in 2022-23: Charles Bentley Jr. ('73) built a perennial power as the Head Boys' Basketball Coach at Harding High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. During his 34 years as a coach, Bentley compiled a career record of 651-155, which included nine state championships. He took over the program prior to the 1977-78 season, winning a state title in his first year as coach. From 1983-87, Bentley's programs won five consecutive CIAC Class L Championships. In addition to his duties as the basketball coach, Bentley also served as the Head Track and Field & Cross Country Coach as well as a Physical Education Teacher at Harding High School. During his time at the helm of Harding High, Bentley coached both John Bagley and Charles Smith, who would go on to have careers in the NBA. Prior to his coaching career, he was a member of the men's basketball program at CMC where he served as a team captain.
Lynne Biggs Maddox
Inducted in 2011: Maddox, a native of Kansas City, Mo., graduated from Winnetonka High School in 1997 and is a 2002 graduate of Central Methodist College. While attending Central Methodist, Maddox set numerous softball records for hits, runs, RBIs and fielding percentage. She currently ranks in the top 10 for single-season hits (9th) and fielding percentage (10th). Maddox also ranks first in single-season on-base percentage (0.521) and is tied for first in single-season fielding percentage with a perfect season in 2000. Maddox was a four-time first-team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference catcher for the Lady Eagles. She was also honored with second-team All-Region honors, as well as being named a second-team NAIA All-American in 2001. Biggs was recognized with Central Methodist’s Darla Pannier Outstanding Female Athlete Award in 2001. Maddox, who received her bachelor’s in elementary education from Central Methodist in 2002, now teaches third grade for the North Kansas City School District. She and her husband, Brandon, reside in the Kansas City area with their two sons, Chase and Gage.
Nate Breland
Inducted in 2022-23: Nate Breland ('06) played for the CMU Baseball program from 2003-06, serving as one of Central's top offensive weapons for the better part of his four seasons. During his time with the Eagles, Breland was a Heart All-Conference selection four times, three-times as a catcher and once as an outfielder. He was named to the Heart First Team All-Conference and All-Region First teams as a senior. Upon finishing at CMU, Breland owned several career records including hits (241), at-bats (646), and runs scored (211), with two of those records just recently being broken. As it stands today, Breland's name can still be found in the Top 10 of nine different CMU Baseball career records.
Dick Brumitt
Inducted in 2005: Dick Brumitt coached basketball and baseball at CMU from 1952 to1957, winning two Missouri Collegiate Athletic Union titles and finishing second twice in his five years in Fayette.
Bob Bryant
Inducted in 2004: BIO COMING SOON
John Bucksath
Inducted in 2001: John Bucksath lettered in basketball for four years at Slater High School in Slater, Missouri, where he earned All-Conference, All-District, and All-State honors. In addition, John was a member of the KWIX-KRES All-Star Team and the KMZU "Dream Team." At Central Methodist College, John was a four-time All-Conference basketball player and a four-time All-District 16 selection. He was also named the ICAA Conference Most Valuable Player in 1988. He currently ranks second on the all-time scoring list at CMC with 2,278 points. In addition, John still holds the career rebounding record with 1,186 rebounds, is first in career field goal percentage at 57.5 (956-1660), and second in career free throw percentage at 79 percent (366-463). John scored more than 30 points eight times during his CMC career, including a single-game high of 38 points. John and his wife, Melissa, and their daughter, Emily, live in Columbia, Missouri, where he is Vice President of Stability and Product Analysis Group at ABC Laboratories.
Brian Byers
Inducted in 2014: Brian Byers was a three-year starter and four-year letter winner as a cornerback for the Central Methodist football team from 2001-04. Byers was first team All-HAAC selection as a junior and senior and in 2004 was named an honorable mention All-American by the NAIA and NAIAFootball.Net. Byers was named NAIAFootball.Net Special Teams Player of the Week as a junior and earned the honor again during the 2004 season. As a senior, he was named the NAIA Defensive Player of the Week and twice the HAAC Defensive Player of the Week. In 2003, Byers was part of a special teams unit that set a single-season school record for blocked kicks (14). In 2004, Byers ranked second in the country in interceptions per game (0.900), 10th in passes defended per game (1.500) and 22nd in punt return average (23.000). He tied the single-game school record for most interceptions, picking off three passes against Missouri Valley. Byers was part of a defense that tied a single-game school record for most interceptions (6) and set single-season records for most interceptions (33), most takeaways (49) and highest turnover margin (plus-28). The 2004 defense led the nation in turnover margin per game (2.500) and in per games averages ranked sixth in opponents third down conversion rate (26.100), 10th in pass defense efficiency (89.000), 11th in scoring defense (16.0), 27th in total defense (306.7) and 29th in rushing defense (136.5). Byers ranks second in Central Methodist history in single-season interceptions (10 in 2004) and career interceptions (18).
Donnie Chatmon
Inducted in 2007: Donnie Chatmon was a member of the football and track & field teams. As a four-year letterman in football, he established a number of records including the single-season rushing record of 1,138 yards in just seven and a half games, and the single-game rushing record of 277 yards. Chatmon was named the NAIA National Player of the Week in October of 1994, and in 1994-95, was ranked fourth in the NAIA in rushing. In addition, he was tabbed as the Most Outstanding Offensive Back in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Chatmon averaged 150 yards rushing/game and 7.1 yards/carry in 1994-95. He was a four-year letterman in as a member of the track team, participating in the 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, 100 yard dash, 200 yard dash, and the long jump. Chatmon graduated from CMC in 1995.
Debbie Chavez-Newby
Inducted in 2003: BIO COMING SOON
Clarence A. Clingenpeel
Inducted in 1983: Clarence "C.A." Clingenpeel was a longtime Football and Men's Basketball Coach for Central Methodist. He also served as Athletic Director in the early years of his career. Clingenpeel led the Eagles football team to three MCAU Conference Championships in a seven year span, the best run of any Central Football program in school history. The highlight of the program's run was in 1930, when the team went a perfect 9-0, the first undefeated team in school history. Each of Clingenpeel's conference championship teams (1928, 1930, and 1934) were inducted into the Hairston Hall of Fame. Clingenpeel also served two separate stints as Head Men's Basketball Coach from 1915-17 and again 1926-42. In his nearly 20 years as basketball coach, he compiled a career record of 155-125. The 155 wins stood as the most in program history for 43 years, until it was broken by fellow Hall of Fame Coach Ken Ash. The Clingenpeel Physical Education Building, now known as Clingenpeel Hall was named in his honor. It has been home in the past to CMU Basketball and the athletic weight room. It now houses several coaching staff offices and is where the men's and women's wrestling teams practice.
Matt Clutter
Inducted in 2013: Matt Clutter played basketball at Central Methodist College from 1997-00. He led the Eagles to a berth into the NAIA Division II National Tournament during the 1997-98 season. Clutter earned NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors during his junior and seniors seasons, and finished his career with 1,833 career points. He remains in the top five in program history in career-scoring.
Mitch Cochran
Inducted in 1984: BIO COMING SOON
Mike Davis
Inducted in 2009: At the time of his induction, Mike Davis coached 12 seasons as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Central Methodist University. During his tenure, Davis posted five consecutive 20-win seasons and was named the Heart of America Athletic Coach of the Year three times. He also led the Eagles to four-straight NAIA National Tournament appearances including a Fab Four finish in the 1998-99 season. Davis had nine NAIA All-Americans, four NAIA National Players of the Week, six Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes, and eight 1,000-point club members.
Travis Day
Inducted in 2022-23: Travis Day played for two seasons on the Men's Basketball team before graduating from the College in 1997. During his time with the Eagles, Day set the single-season program record for rebounds with 388 during the 1995-96 season. He was a two-time Heart First Team All-Conference selection and is considered the best rebounder in program history. In just two seasons with Central, he eclipsed 1,000 career points to become the 21st member of the 1,000-point club. Day was named the 1997 Estes Award Winner, which is given to a senior athlete that is awarded on the basis of scholarship, spirit, ability, leadership, citizenship, and moral and spiritual qualities.
Earl Delaroche
Inducted in 2004: BIO COMING SOON
Earl Buster DelaRoche
Inducted in 2004-05: BIO COMING SOON
Mark Dempsey
Inducted in 2019: Mark Dempsey, a 1985 graduate, is being inducted for his contribution to Central Methodist. In the early 1980's, Dempsey founded the athletic training program at CMC while studying for his BSE in Physical Education. At the time, individuals did not have to have a certificate to be an acting athletic trainer in Missouri. Dempsey started by working with the men's basketball program before expanding his services to the football team, developing a foundation for what would eventually become the athletic training department. After graduation, he continued his education in the field at the University of Missouri. Dempsey returned to Central Methodist as the Head Athletic Trainer in 1991 and was later promoted as the Director of Sports Medicine in Columbia. Dempsey currently serves on the Missouri Board of Healing Arts Sports Medicine Advisory Committee as well as the Missouri State High School Activities Association Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. He is the Vice President and COO of Peak Sport and Spine, which is the 4th largest privately-owned Physical Therapy company in the United States, and was recently honored as an inductee of the Missouri Sports Medicine Hall of Fame.
George Derrieux
Inducted in 2023-24: George Derrieux '62 was a four-year starter on the men's basketball team from 1958-62. A two-time team captain and team MVP for the Eagles, Derrieux averaged 11 points per game during his career. He saved his best season for last, as he averaged 17.2 points per game while providing stingy defense against centers that towered over him. Derrieux led the Eagles in rebounding during two different seasons and recorded 20-plus rebound games numerous times. He was named a unanimous MCAU All-Conference player in his final season in 1961-62. Derrieux was also a scholar, as evidenced by his standing on the Dean's List. He graduated from Central with a Bachelor of Science in education. Upon completing his degree, he embarked on a career spanning 30 years in public education.
Rolf Dieter Schmitz
Inducted in 2004: BIO COMING SOON
Amy Dority
Inducted in 2021: Amy Dority ('97) was a standout player in the women's basketball program from 1993-97. She was a four-year varsity student-athlete that led the Eagles to their first Heart Regular Season Conference Championship, Heart Tournament Championship, NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) National Tournament appearance, and first-ever win at nationals. Dority was selected as the Conference Player of the Year and an NAIA Second Team All-American during the 1996-97 season. She left as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,748 points.
Chris Drummond
Inducted in 2017: Chris (Drummond) Wheeler competed for the women's soccer program and was a member of the 1988 graduating class. Her story began when she tried out for the men's soccer team, making the team in 1984, to become CMU's first female soccer player. Chris was the only female to play men's soccer for two seasons. She went on to become captain of the women's soccer team the following two years.
William Eckhardt
Inducted in 2007: William Eckhardt was a member of the CMC graduating class of 1969. During his two and a half years of eligibility, Eckhardt was awarded eight varsity letters. He was a starter at defensive back and served as team captain of two winning Eagle Football teams in 1967 and 1968. In addition, Eckhardt played point guard and co-captained three men's basketball teams and was captain and an All-Conference pitcher for CMC's baseball team. On the bump, he threw two no-hitters as a senior. Eckhardt received Outstanding Pitcher and Red Weir Outstanding Baseball Player Awards as a senior and the coveted Estes Award as Central's outstanding student-athlete.
Dean Ehlers
Inducted in 1985: Dean Ehlers was a CMU dual sport athlete playing both baseball and basketball. He excelled on the hardwood for four seasons from 1947-51, finishing his career with 1630 points. At the conclusion of his career he stood as the all-time scoring leader and today , over 70 years later , remains in the all time top ten list currently standing eighth . Additionally, Ehlers was a part of two MCAU Championships in 1949-50 and 1950-51. The 1950-51 team finished with a 24-5 record and an NAIA National tournament qualification.
Bobby Ellis
Inducted in 1999: BIO COMING SOON
Autumn Feaker Schwartze
Inducted in 2011: Schwartze, a native of Solon, Iowa, was a standout on the Central Methodist women’s basketball team during the 1997-98 season. After an outstanding prep career at Solon High School, during which she was a two-time All-State player, Schwartze attended Northwest Missouri State University. She played three seasons at Northwest Missouri and was a member of the athletic academic dean’s list before transferring to Central Methodist. On Feb. 23, 1998, Schwartze was named the NAIA Division II Player-of-the-Week. She also became the only women’s basketball player to be named to the NAIA Division II National Championship All-Tournament team, after leading the Lady Eagles to the quarterfinals of the national tournament. The leading scorer for the program in 1997-98, Schwartze was also recognized as an NAIA Division II All-American. Schwartze graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Methodist in 1998. Schwartze currently resides in Ames, Iowa, with her husband, Brian, and their children, Aubri, Joel, and Carlee. She works as a software developer for Nationwide Insurance.
Sue Feldkamp
Inducted in 2008: Sue Feldkamp was responsible for the establishment of the Women's Athletic Program at Central Methodist in 1973, serving as the head women's athletic coach from from 1973-1977. Feldkamp directed Central's first MAIAW (Missouri Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) State Badminton Tournament team, which placed second and third in doubles and winning first place as a team. She also led athletes in the first MAIAW State Track & Field meet where Central placed third in the long jump. Feldkamp's women's basketball team won the first MAIAW Small College Basketball Tournament in 1973-74 with a team of only seven players. CMC finished third in the HAAC (Heart of America Athletic Conference) Tournament in 1974-75 and second in 1976-77. Following her tenure with Central Methodist, Feldkamp served as a coach in multiple sports for Berea College from 1978-1984; as gymnastics instructor and coach at Northern Kentucky School of Gymnastics from 1984-1985; and as head volleyball coach at Spellman College from 1985-1990 and again from 1992-1997.
Rashon Fisher
Inducted in 2014: From 1998-2002, Rashon Fisher was a forward for four seasons on the Central Methodist men's basketball team and a four-year letter winner as a member of the Eagles' track and field squad. On the hardwood, Fisher was a forward for four seasons and helped guide the Eagles to two 20-win seasons as a sophomore and junior. The Eagles were ranked in the NAIA Division II Coaches' Top 25 each year and were as high as No. 12 in January 2001. As a senior, Fisher won the team's Character and Coaches' Awards. On the track, Fisher dominated the NAIA landscape, winning the 2001 indoor national title in the triple jump while also setting the school record with a mark of 14.8 meters. In 2000, Fisher set the school's outdoor season record in the 400 meter dash in 48.69 seconds. Fisher was a three-time All-HAAC selection from 2000-02 and won the conference championship in (events and years). He was named a NAIA All-American three times: in 2000 outdoor season in the high jump, in 2001 outdoor season in the triple jump and in 2002 indoor season in the high jump. Fisher won Central Methodist's Estes Prize in Athletics in 2001. Fisher earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Central Methodist in 2002. A native of Macon, Mo., Fisher attended Macon High School.
Joe Forrest
Inducted in 2010: Joe Forrest is a native of Malden, Missouri, where he was a member of the high school football and track teams, began attending Central Methodist College (CMU) in the fall of 1967. He became a member of the CMC Eagle football and rugby teams and played for four years. Forrest began his freshman year at Central Methodist starting at both linebacker and offensive tackle positions. He lettered all four years of football and in 1969 and 1970 was named to the All-District 16 and the All-MCAU teams as a linebacker. In 1970, he was All-Conference both on offense and defense. He served as captain both his junior and senior year. After graduating from Central Methodist, Forrest became the head coach at Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, Missouri. The following year he moved home to Malden, where he became the assistant football coach and head track coach for the next two years. In 1987, Forrest became the football coach at Charleston (Mo.) High School and built a winning program, competing in the state semi-finals in 1989. Forrest was named Conference Coach of the Year in 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1989, and was named District Coach of the Year for 1982, 1984 and 1987.
David Fox
Inducted in 2006: David Fox was a Hall of Sponsors Scholarship recipient and an athlete during his time at Central. He was a four-year letterwinner in basketball. Fox was a HAAC First Team All-Conference performer, served as co-captain and was named the Estes Athlete of the Year in 1983. He is currently the boys basketball coach and Driver's Education teacher at Jefferson City High School. Fox is also active in the Missouri Basketball Coaches' Association and the Show-Me-State Games. He was the founder of the Mr. and Miss Special Olympics Missouri Basketball Award, and helped create a partnership with Special Olympics Missouri.
Matt Fraley
Inducted in 2019: Matt Fraley was a four-year letterwinner and starting defensive lineman for the football program during 2007-2011. He was one of 11 players throughout the nation, out of 112 nominees, to be named to the 2010 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Fraley achieved a number of accomplishments in his time as an Eagle, including being named as a two-time NAIA All-American, three-time All-Conference selection, Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and the Mike Cavanaugh True Eagle recipient. He was also a member of the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society and the NAIA Champions of Character Council.
Katherine L. Fulton
Inducted in 2022-23: Katherine L. Fulton was a four-time NAIA All-American and five-time conference champion in the high jump. She placed third at indoor nationals in 2011, fifth in 2012 and 2013, and fifth at outdoor nationals in 2011. She set the school record in the high jump with a mark of 1.68 meters as a sophomore in 2011, a record that still stands today. Altogether, Fulton qualified for nationals every season she competed in. In addition, she competed in the long jump, javelin, and the 4x400 relay during the conference championships. Fulton graduated from CMU in 2013 with a degree in Biology and a minor in criminal justice.
Levern Gaskin Jr.
Inducted in 2016: Gaskin, a 1972 graduate of Central Methodist, was a member of both the football and track & field programs, where he was a First Team All-Conference performer in football in 1967 and 1968. He was a part of the legendary 1967 football team, which finished with one of the highest winning percentages in program history, posting a 6-1-1 overall record. Gaskin, was also an outstanding athlete for the track & field team, running the 100m and 220m sprints. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education and health from Central in 1972. His athletic accomplishments translated well into the coaching ranks, where he served as the Assistant Football Coach at Fayette High School (1971-1972); Head Basketball Coach at WN Clark Middle School (1971-1972), and Assistant Basketball Coach for Central Methodist (1970-1971). After graduation from Central Methodist, Levern received a job offer in Lincoln, Rhode Island to become a physical education teacher and the head boy's basketball coach at William M. Davies Jr. Career & Technical High School. While at the helm of the program, Gaskin led his program to seven division championships and back-to-back state titles in 1984-85 and 1985-86. In his 28 years as head coach, Gaskin not only turned inexperienced basketball players into all-division and all-state performers, but he helped mold them into outstanding young men.
Gil Georgeff
Inducted in 1983: BIO COMING SOON
Daniela Georgieva
Inducted in 2021: Daniela ('04) was a star athlete for the women's track and field program in the early 2000s. Georgieva set numerous school records during her time with the Eagles including the 100, 200, and 400m dash along with indoor records in the 55, 200, and 400m dash. Her career culminated with an NAIA National title in the outdoor 400m dash. She finished her career as a five-time NAIA All-American. Daniela also represented her country, Bulgaria, at the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney. She now serves as the Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, New York.
Shannon Gepford
Inducted in 2015: Shannon Gepford graduated from CMC in 1991 and at the time of his induction was just the second baseball player ever, in Central Methodist history, to be named an NAIA All-American. Gepford had a senior season to remember back in 1991, earning First Team All-Region honors; as well as All-Conference honors, he recorded seven bunt base hits; the season record at that time, and hit .402 at the plate. While at CMC, Gepford played every position except pitcher and catcher, was an academic all-scholar and chosen as team captain. He also is tied for the current single season record holder for triples, with six back in 1989. Gepford's record was tied back in 2000 by Jason Bierk. Overall Shannon Gepford ranks in the top-15 in nine career statistical categories in Central's rich baseball history.
Justin Gerald
Inducted in 2022-23: Justin Gerald ('10) played multiple positions throughout his career with the Eagles Football program including running back, wide receiver, and return specialist. He was a three-time Honorable Mention All-American and a four-time Heart All-Conference performer, primarily as a return specialist for the Eagles from 2005-08. Gerald was consistently ranked nationally in yards/punt return, climbing as high as No. 4, averaging 16 yards/return during his junior season. The 16 yards/return was also good enough to lead the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Nick Ghnouly
Inducted in 2003: BIO COMING SOON
Marvin Gray
Inducted in 1984: BIO COMING SOON
William Hairston
Inducted in 1983: BIO COMING SOON
James Hazlett
Inducted in 2021: James Hazlett, A 1983 graduate of Central Methodist, was a two-sport athlete for the Eagles in both football and baseball. On the diamond, Hazlett was an all-conference selection as both a pitcher and first baseman in 1982 and 1983. He was also an All-District and All-Region honoree as a pitcher and was nominated for All-America honors in 1983. He threw two no-hitters during his time on the bump. On the gridiron, Hazlett was a two-year letter-winner and earned all-conference honors as a wide receiver. Upon graduation, he would go on to sign a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, where he played for the next two seasons.
Greg Hession
Inducted in 2006: BIO COMING SOON
William Hollmann
Inducted in 2012: BIO COMING SOON
Bill Holmes
Inducted in 2003: BIO COMING SOON
Keeyon Howard
Inducted in 2014: Keeyon Howard was a three-year starter and three-year letter winner as a cornerback for the Central Methodist football team from 2002-04. Howard was a unanimous first team All-HAAC selection as a junior and senior and in 2004 was named a first team All-American by NAIAFootball.Net and Don Hansen's Football Gazette and a second team NAIA All-American. In 2004 Howard was also named Don Hansen's Football Gazette Defensive Back of the Year. In 2003, Howard was part of a special teams unit that set a single-season school record for blocked kicks (14). In 2004, Howard led the country in interceptions per game (1.2) and passes defended per game (2.4). He tied the single-game school record for most interceptions, picking off three passes against Evangel (Mo.). Howard was part of a defense that tied a single-game school record for most interceptions (6) and set single-season records for most interceptions (33), most takeaways (49) and highest turnover margin (plus-28). He was part of a special teams unit that twice set the single-game record for blocked kicks (3). The 2004 defense led the nation in turnover margin per game (2.500) and in per games averages ranked sixth in opponents third down conversion rate (26.100), 10th in pass defense effiency (89.000), 11th in scoring defense (16.0), 27th in total defense (306.7) and 29th in rushing defense (136.5). Howard ranks first in Central Methodist history in single-season interceptions (13 in 2004) and career interceptions (23). Howard signed a professional contract for one season with the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Montreal Alouettes in 2006.
Ben Hurst
Inducted in 1984: BIO COMING SOON
Bob Iglehart
Inducted in 1983: Bob Iglehart played both Baseball and Men's Basketball at Central from 1956-60. On the hardwood, Iglehart was named an NAIA Third Team All-American in his senior season. He finished his career with 1,749 points, which put him as the all-time leader in career-scoring. His scoring record stood for nearly 25 years before being broken in 1984. He currently sits 7th all-time in career-scoring. Iglehart still holds school records in season-season scoring average (27.8 points/game), and career scoring average (20.3 points/game).
Joy Kistler
Inducted in 1983: BIO COMING SOON
Steve Kline
Inducted in 2019: Steve Kline was a stellar two-sport athlete for Central Methodist, competing in both baseball and men's basketball during 1974-76. In baseball, he hit .477 his last year and had a career batting average of .399, both of which held as Central Methodist records for many decades. Kline was signed by the Seattle Mariners after his collegiate career ended, where he played several years of minor league ball before injuries ended his career. Kline boasts a long list of accolades, including three-time baseball All-Conference and All-District honoree, two-time team MVP for both programs, and a two-time 1st Team All-Conference and All-District selection for men's basketball. Upon his graduation, Kline held 13 school records for baseball and was averaging 18.4 points per game on the hardwood.
John Kurtz
Inducted in 2023-24: John Kurtz '76 was a two-sport Eagle athlete in football and baseball during the mid-70's. A four-year starter under Head Coach Bill Holmes, Kurtz played four seasons as a wide receiver for CMC football. He was part of the 1975 Heart Championship team and was named team MVP. That same season, Kurtz was recognized as an All-District, Heart All-Conference, and NAIA Division II All-American. He finished the year with 743 receiving yards and averaged more than 100 yards receiving per game while playing in just seven games due to injury. Additionally, John served as the starting catcher for the baseball team all four seasons under Head Coach Steve Phipps. As a baseball player, he was named First Team All-District and Heart All-Conference. He finished his CMC career batting .370, and administratively he was President of the Letterman Club in 1975 and 1976. John was a member of the program's first conference championship team in 1975. He graduated from CMC in 1976 with a degree in physical education/health and elementary education. In 2023, he was recognized as a member of the 1970's baseball all-decade team.
Bill Lankford
Inducted in 2023-24: Bill Lankford '76 was a three-sport competitor in football, basketball, and baseball during his time as an Eagle athlete in the mid-70s. His presence was most felt on the football gridiron. While leading the Eagles to a 6-3-1 overall and a 5-2 mark in the Heart of America Conference in 1973, Lankford earned Heart All-Star honors as a running back, kicker, and return specialist. He was named to the NAIA First Team All-District 16 Offense after leading CMC in scoring with a school record of 107 points, which was good for sixth-best nationally. His 107 points included 10 touchdowns, 27 extra points, and seven field goals, highlighted by a school-record 47-yard field goal. As a running back, Lankford carried the ball 132 times for 730 yards, good for 5.5 yards per carry. He also caught 17 passes for 278 yards. Aggregately, he generated 1,008 yards of total offense in his sophomore campaign. Lankford was a big part of the 1975 CMC Football Heart Championship campaign where he led the NAIA in punt returns.
Bertram I. Lawerence
Inducted in 1983: BIO COMING SOON
Beth Lewis
Inducted in 2015: Beth Lewis is the definition of an athlete, and an old school athlete at that. Lewis spent 2001 to 2006 at CMU, where she double majored in Athletic Training and Physical Education while also minoring in Biology. During that timeframe, Lewis competed for both the indoor and outdoor track & field teams, the cross country team and the women's soccer team. Lewis ran cross country from 2001 to 2004 and then helped as a student coach in 2005. From 2002 to 2005, Lewis competed for both the indoor and the outdoor track & field teams, before returning as a student coach for the 2006 season. While on the track team, Lewis was a four-time National Qualifier at the indoor level for the 3,000 Race Walk and was named an All-American in both 2004 and 2005. In outdoor track & field, Lewis was named an All-American three times and was an NAIA National Qualifier four times in the Race Walk. Lewis was also selected as a conference Academic All-Scholar. To complete the trifecta, Lewis played on the women's soccer team in 2004 and played both forward and midfield.
Tyler Lieberman
Inducted in 2018: Tyler Lieberman competed for the CMU Men's Golf Program and was a member of the 2014 Graduating Class. Two-time conference golfer of the year, four-time all-conference player, and all-time low season scoring average in CMU history. He was a member of the 2012-2013 conference championship team and the NAIA national tournament team.
Dr. Gerald Linneman
Inducted in 1988: Gerald Linneman was a four-year member of the Central Methodist Men's Basketball team from 1952-56. During his four seasons on the hardwood, Linneman was apart of three MCAU Conference Championship teams, including the 1955-56 team that was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022-23. Linneman holds single-game records in points scored (51) and field goal makes (19). Upon finishing his career, he was ranked No. 2 all-time in career-scoring and currently sits at No. 11 with 1,461 points.
Larry Littrell
Inducted in 2005: Larry Littrell served only two seasons as an assistant under then Head Coach Larry Holley from 1972 to 1974, before becoming a Hall of Fame coach at Glasgow High School. While there, his boys’ teams won 452 games, 12 conference titles, 13 district championships, and three state titles. His girls’ teams won 310 games, 11 conference and five district titles, and finished third in the state three times. Littrell was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004.
Richard Loy
Inducted in 1997: BIO COMING SOON
Dr. James Luetjen
Inducted in 1997: Dr. James M. Luetjen came to Central Methodist College in 1965, setting the stage for a historic and legendary career as a coach and educator. From 1965 to 1992, Luetjen served in many roles at Central, from head coach of the men’s basketball team and professor of physical education, to athletic director and chair of the physical education department. At the time of his retirement in ’92, Luetjen had worked for four different presidents and served longer as the director of athletics than anyone in Central’s history. He was an essential player in building not only the facilities for many CMC athletic programs but also the relationships and structure that made them great. The James M. Luetjen Scholar Athlete Award and the Dr. James Luetjen Golf Tournament were both named in his honor, established in 1987 and 1991, respectively. Luetjen married Libby Holman in 1953. They have three children – Larry ‘78, Steven ‘79, and Amy ‘86 – all of whom went on to be Central graduates. James and Libby also have 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Steve Luetjen
Inducted in: 1991 Steve Luetjen was a four-year member of the Central Methodist Football program from 1975-78. A standout gridiron athlete, he helped lead Central to its first Heart of America Conference Championship during his freshman season in 1975. As a junior, in 1977, he set the single-season program record with 17 total touchdowns and followed that up with 17 receiving touchdowns in 1978, also a program record. He, along with teammates Tom Stine, Eric Trelz, and Thomas Brummitt were recognized as NAIA Division II First Team All-Americans in 1977. The trio of Stine, Trelz and Luetjen formed one of the best passing attacks in the country during the late 70’s and arguably the best in the history of Central Methodist Football. Steve and his father, Dr. James M. Luetjen are both CMU Hall of Fame Members.
Lucas Manring
Inducted in 2023-24: Lucas Manring '12 competed for Eagle track & field from 2008-12. The native of Stockton, Missouri excelled as a middle-distance runner, winning seven conference championships. Nationally he was a six-time NAIA All-American. Manring was the national runner-up in the 800m run at the indoor national championships in both 2011 and 2012. Altogether, Manring finished in the top 5 at Nationals on five different occasions. At the time of his induction, Lucas continues to hold school records in the indoor 600m run (1:21.7), indoor 800m run (1:50.2), indoor medley distance relay (10:15.1), and the outdoor 800m run (1:49.8). Manring's athletic prowess mirrored his classroom achievement when in 2012 he was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Second Team by CoSIDA during his senior year.
Brad McCarty
Inducted in 2003-04: Brad McCarty was a four-year member of the Central Methodist Men's Basketball team from 1990-94. An all-around player during his four-seasons, McCarty finished his career with a school record nine triple-doubles, including four during his sophomore campaign in 1991-92, also a school record. Additional program records held by McCarty include: single-game assists (16), single-game steals (9), single-season free throw makes (201), single-season steals (111), career free throw makes (515), career assists (847), and career steals (402). McCarty concluded his time with the Eagles as the third all-time leading scorer in program history with 2,078 career points, becoming just one of three players in school history to reach 2,000 points in a career. He was named an NAIA Second Team All-American during the 1993-94 season, and was also a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 1992-93. In his senior season, McCarty led the Eagles to the Heart Regular Season Championship and a berth into the NAIA Division II National Tournament, where they advanced to the Round of 16.
Dr. Glenn McElroy
Inducted in 1995: A lifelong Central Missourian, Dr. McElroy profoundly impacted the lives of countless area residents and especially made significant contributions in the area of sports medicine, as he attended to the needs of student-athletes at numerous universities throughout the state of Missouri. McElroy was a 1940 graduate of Central Methodist College, going on to earn a graduate degree from Washington University in 1943. Upon graduating, he served with the Army Medical Corps from 1946-48 and completed his residency before launching his orthopaedic practice in Columbia in 1951. He was the co-founder of the Columbia Orthopedic Group and one of the founders of Columbia Regional Hospital. McElroy was a charter member of the Missouri Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame. In addition to being inducted into the Hairston Hall of Fame, he has also been inducted into the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame and the MU Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. McElroy was named "Doctor of the Year' by the Boone County Medical Association in 1989, and in 1993 received the NATA President's Challenge Award.
Raymond McIntyre
Inducted in 1985: BIO COMING SOON
Alex Nichols
Inducted in 2022-23: At the time of his induction, Coach Alex Nichols completed his ninth year as Head Men's Soccer Coach in 2022. Nichols has built a soccer power at Central, having compiled a 153-30-13 overall record in those nine seasons. He led the Eagles to back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2018 and 2019 and has twice been named the NAIA National Coach of the Year. In the last four seasons, Nichols has led Central to four-straight Heart Regular Season and Tournament Championships, including four-straight NAIA National Tournament Semifinal appearances from 2018-2021. Central is currently riding a 46-game undefeated streak at home, with their last home defeat coming in November of 2018. To date, Nichols has coached 56 Heart All-Conference selections and 27 NAIA All-Americans.
Michael Nichols
Inducted in 2006: BIO COMING SOON
Quintin Norris
Inducted in 2018: Quintin Norris has volunteered countless hours as a public address announcer, and sports broadcaster on both the radio and web-cast for the Eagles for more than twenty-five years. He was a member of the 1996 Graduating Class. He is also known as "The Voice of the Eagles" and "Wildcat." CMU would not have been able to cover all the games without his help.
Ken Oliver
Inducted in 2018: Ken Oliver has been a part of Eagle Athletics for over twenty plus years as an assistant football (DC/OC) coach, assistant men's/women's track & field coach, head women's golf coach, director of athletics, vice-president over athletics, and as a student-athlete in football and track. Ken was a member of the 1993 Graduating Class. He has brought CMU athletics to the forefront of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. His guidance has made a perinneal doormat into one of the premiere venues in the conference. Under his leadership, CMU student-athletes have excelled in the classroom as well as in the athletic arenas with over 300 student-athletes having been named Academic All-Americans and over 100 student-athletes having earned All-American honors. Over twenty CMU teams have won conference championships and qualified for the national tournament in his tenure. He led the charge of the Campaign for Eagle Athletics (2007), the athletic department won the conference champions of character award in 2008, all of the athletic programs now have the full allotments of scholarships per the NAIA and every athletic program now has a full-time assistant.
Darla Pannier
Inducted in 1989: Darla Pannier was an up and coming star on the women's basketball team when she stepped onto the CMC campus in the fall of 1988. A blue chip prospect, Darla came from Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Pannier was a three-time Missouri All-State Class 4A First Team All-American for the Tigers, finishing her high school career with more than 30 girls basketball records. In her lone season with the Eagles in 1988-89, she had one of the greatest single-seasons in program history. Pannier averaged a program best 29.6 points/game, which was the second best scoring average in the nation that season. She also nailed 303 of her field goal attempts, also a single-season school record. She was named the NAIA National Player of the Week on February 13, 1989. For her efforts in her freshman campaign, Pannier was named a NAIA College Kodiak First Team All-American. Her life was tragically cut short the following summer from injuries sustained in a car accident. To honor Darla, the University now awards the Pannier Female Athlete of the Year, an award given to an oustanding female athlete based on scholarship, spirit, ability, leadership, citizenship, and moral & spiritual qualities. Darla was posthumously inducted into the Hairston Hall of Fame in 1989.
Joan Pauly
Inducted in 2008: Joan (Pauly) Upperman was an all-around athlete from 1995-1999 as a student at CMC. She lettered in three sports - women's soccer, volleyball, and women's basketball. In basketball, she was recognized as an All-American and finished as the fourth highest-scorer in program history with 1,622 career points. She also holds records for the most blocks in a game (eight), most blocks in a season (95), most blocks in a career (285), and most rebounds in a career (1,260). Upperman received a bachelor's degree in nursing from CMC in 2000. Upperman and her husband, Justus, and their son, Drew, live in St. Louis, where she currently serves as a pediatric asthma nurse and educator with St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Evelyn Peters
Inducted in 1997: BIO COMING SOON
Mike Petruso
Inducted in 2014: Mike Petruso was a three-year starter and four-year letter winner as a strong safety for the Central Methodist football team from 2001-04. Petruso was a unanimous first team All-HAAC selection as a junior and senior. In 2003, he was voted a second team All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette and an honorable mention NAIAFootball.Net All-American. In 2004, Petruso was named an honorable mention All-American by the NAIA, NAIAFootball.Net and Don Hansen's Football Gazette. In 2002, Petruso was named the NAIAFootball.Net Special Teams Player of the Week and three times the HAAC Special Teams Player of the Week. In 2004, he was voted the HAAC Defensive Player of the Week. As a freshman in 2001, Petruso was part of a defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards in a game in school history, as the Eagles limited Southern Nazarene (Okla.) to negative 43 yards. In 2004, Petruso led the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and ranked second on the squad with 98 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He was part of a defense that tied a single-game school record for most interceptions (6) and set single-season records for most interceptions (33), most takeaways (49) and highest turnover margin (plus-28). He was part of a special teams unit that twice set the single-game record for blocked kicks (3).
Jill Pratte
Inducted in 2021: Jill Pratte served for 20 years as the Clinical Education Coordinator as well as an Associate Professor in the Athletic Training Education program at Central. She was a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award along with being honored as Professor of Athletic Training Emerita. Jill was the primary athletic trainer for the soccer, men's basketball, and baseball program during her time at CMU. She was selected as the 2012 Athletic Trainer of the Year by the NAIA-Athletic Trainers Association. At the time of her induction, Pratte serves as a teacher in the Sports Science Rehabilitation department at Logan University in St. Louis.
Gene Reardon
Inducted in 2021: At the time of his induction, Reardon has served as Associate Head Softball Coach for 16 years at Central Methodist. The program has become nationally successful upon Gene's arrival, as he has served an integral part in the recruitment and development of numerous all-conference and all-Americans. In his 16 seasons on staff, Gene has recruited over 400 players to Central Methodist. Gene was recognized as the 2015 and 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and has been a part of six NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year teams. During Reardon's time with the Eagles, Central has won seven regular-season Heart Championships, five conference tournament titles, and has made eight national tournaments including two trips to the NAIA World Series in 2012 and 2015.
Pat Reardon
Inducted in 2012: Pat Reardon, while entering the Hall of Fame for his excellence as a player on the soccer field and coach of the softball team, also was a three-year letter winner in baseball. In addition, Reardon was a four-year letter winner on the pitch from 1986-89 and has coached softball in Fayette since 1993. Reardon was named All-Heart in 1986 and All-District from 1987-89 when the team was a member of the Independent Collegiate Athletic Association. He scored 39 career goals, including 22 in 1989, both of which are CMU records. He began coaching women's soccer and softball for the Eagles three years after earning his undergraduate degree from CMU in 1990. At the time of his induction, the five time Heart Coach of the Year (1995, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012) and two-time NFCA NAIA Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2008, 2012), has won four Heart Regular-Season Championships (1992, 2008, 2011, 2012), two Heart Tournament titles (2008, 2012), established the Eagles as a consistent title contender while continuing to produce outstanding graduates. Reardon is one of only two coaches in conference history to surpass the 500-win milestone. His 525 career wins in his first 20 seasons rank 15th in the history of the NAIA.
Vicki Rees
Inducted in 2001: Vicki Rees graduated from Quincy High School in Quincy, Illinois, where she was an outstanding three-sport athlete, continuing this success at Central Methodist College. During her time at CMC, she lettered all four years in volleyball, basketball, and softball. She not only started but received All-Conference and All-District honors in all three sports. She is the only athlete in Central Methodist College history to receive this recognition. She received the Estes Award in 1981, which recognized her as the outstanding athlete at Central Methodist College. Vicki ranks 10th in career points in women's basketball and was a starter on the 1979-80 team, which lost only five games. She was a member of the CMC softball team that participated in the national tournament in 1981. She coached women's basketball for one year at CMC, and coached volleyball and softball from 1987-92. Rees was selected as the HAAC softball coach of the year in 1992. Vicki graduated from Central Methodist with a Physical Education degree, received her masters degree from Winona State University, and is currently completing a Specialist Degree at Central Missouri State University. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, coaching and teaching at Brentwood High School.
Phyllis Richardson
Inducted in 2005: Phyllis Richardson was a Moberly High School and junior college teacher when Athletic Director, Dr. James M. Luetjen, picked her for her first coaching job in 1977. She was appointed as Head Women’s Athletic Coach for the Department, serving as a coach for both tennis and volleyball programs. She earned Coach of the Year awards in both sports. She led the volleyball team to three straight Heart Regular Season Championships (1978-1980) and one Heart Tournament Championship (1978). The 1979 team compiled a 32-5 record and set program records in single-season wins (32), single-season winning percentage (.865), That team joined their coach in the Hairston Hall of Fame with induction in 2009. Richardson led both programs until 1989. Her efforts and impact on women’s athletics at Central Methodist was monumental and, as mentioned above, Richardson was rewarded with induction into the Hairston Hall of Fame in 2005. Before her time at CMU, Richardson was a physical education teacher at St. Pius X school in Moberly, Moberly High School, and Junior College for over 19 years. She graduated from the University of Missouri and was a 50-year member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. She was also a 50-year member of PEO. The PEO Sisterhood is an International Organization of 230,000 members based in the United States that provides educational opportunities for female students worldwide.
John Rivituso
Inducted in 2001: BIO COMING SOON
Mark Robb
Inducted in 2014: Mark Robb worked for Central Methodist for 37 years after arriving on campus in 1977. Robb began his career at Central Methodist working as a resident assistant. Over the course of his career, Robb would work in student development and intramurals before embarking on a career in athletics in 1982. He was named the senior associate athletic director in August 2012 before passing away from surgical complications in December 2013 at the age of 60. Robb was a member of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association and was well-known by the Eagles' community as a collector of antique toys. In March 2014, the Central Methodist Board of Trust unanimously agreed to rename the campus' multipurpose facility the Philips-Robb Recreation Center, the building that housed Mark's office for over three decades. Robb earned a Bachelor's degree from Missouri State in 1976. A native of Springfield, Mo., Robb attended Mount Vernon High School. Mark is survived by his wife Vickie and son Jess, and twin daughters, Lauren and Elizabeth. Jess, Lauren, and Elizabeth followed in Mark's footsteps in Fayette. Jess earned a Bachelor's degree from Central Methodist in 2010, while Lauren and Elizabeth earned Bachelor's degrees in 2012.
Becca Rogers
Inducted in 2011: Rogers was a standout player for the Central Methodist women’s basketball team that made back-to-back appearances at the NAIA Division II National Tournament in 1999 and 2000, including the 1999 Final Four team. During her two-year career at Central Methodist, Rogers set four school records. She holds the records for single-game rebounds (25 vs. Missouri Valley College on Dec. 1, 1999), as well as single-season rebounds (540 in 1999-2000). Rogers’ 540 single-season rebounds in 1999-2000 also still stands as the NAIA Division II national record for that category. She also holds the CMU record for the highest rebounds per game average with 14.6 in 1999-2000. After earning honorable mention All-HAAC honors in 1998-99, Rogers was recognized as a first-team All-HAAC honoree in 1999-2000. During her senior season, Rogers also received NAIA National Player-of-the-Week honors and was a first-team NAIA Division II All-American. Rogers graduated from Central Methodist with a bachelor’s in business administration in 2000 and later received her Master of Education degree from Central Methodist.
Rael Rotich
Inducted in 2023-24: Rael Rotich '10 was a two-year starter for CMU volleyball in 2007 and 2008. An outside hitter from Nairobi, Kenya, Rotich made an immediate impact when she stepped onto the floor as a junior transfer in the fall of 2007. She led the team in kills (384) and was second in total blocks (75). Rael saved her best for last, as in her senior campaign she was named both a 2008 AVCA and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American. Additionally, Rotich was selected to the Midwest Region First Team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and earned Heart First Team All-Conference honors. During her senior year alone, she tallied 521 kills and 48 solo blocks, both landing in the top 10 of single-season CMU records. She finished her time at Central with 905 kills, 96 solo blocks, 76 service aces, and a .304 hitting percentage. At the time of her induction, Rotich's name can still be found in the top 10 of seven individual and career statistical categories.
Michele Rupard
Inducted in 2021: Rupard ('15) served as Central softball's starting catcher for four seasons. During her time with the Eagles, Rupard was a three-time NAIA All-American and a four-time Heart All-Conference performer. She was tabbed as the Heart Freshman of the Year in 2012 and the Player of the Year in 2014. Rupard was also a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, finishing her career with a .991 fielding percentage as a catcher. She concluded her time with the Eagles ranked in the top 10 in numerous career categories including 3rd in batting average (.390), 2nd in runs scored (149), 2nd in career doubles (49), and seventh in RBI (113). She is also the program record holder in single-season in both on-base percentage (.546 in 2014) and walks (45 in 2015). Rupard was a part of four-straight regular-season conference championship teams and three conference tournament titles.
Michael Scardina
Inducted in 2011: Scardina, a native of Cincinnati, graduated from Cincinnati Elder High School in 1972 before attending Central Methodist to compete in football and track & field. Scardina started all 44 games at defensive back from 1972-75, a period when Central Methodist finished with a conference record of 21-7. During his career, Scardina twice set the school record for interceptions in a game with three each against Missouri Valley College as a freshman in 1972 and against Graceland University as a junior in 1974. Scardina finished his career with 17 interceptions and six fumble recoveries and had five returns for touchdowns. Scardina was a two-time All-District defensive back in 1974 and 1975, and also earned All-Conference and NAIA All-America honors as a senior in 1975. He received the CMU Football Stick Award for individual game performance of big hits and toughness in 1975. For all of his outstanding accomplishments, Scardina was recognized with the Wellborn Estes Prize in Athletics as Central Methodist’s outstanding male athlete in 1975-76 and was awarded the Wallace M. Coff man Sportsmanship Award. Scardina received the Walt Diehl Freshman Scholar-Athlete Award in 1972-73 and the Senior Scholar-Athlete Award in 1975-76. Scardina graduated Magna Cum Laude from Central Methodist with a bachelor’s in business administration in 1976.
Robert Sears
Inducted in 2003: BIO COMING SOON
Jeff Sherman
Inducted in 2012: Jeff Sherman has led the Central Methodist Men's Basketball program for 28 years as Head Coach. Sherman has been named the Heart Coach of the Year four times and ICAA Coach of the Year twice. Under his guidance, the Eagles have won two Heart Regular Season Championships, two ICAA regular season titles, and the 2004 Heart Tournament Championship. In his first 28 years as coach, Central has made two appearances at the NAIA Division II National Tournament, and two appearances in the NAIA Division I National Tournament, including reaching the Round of 16 in 1994 and 2009. Sherman has posted 10 seasons of 20 or more wins, and his 1993-94 squad won a school record 30 games. At the time of his induction in 2012, his 490 career wins rank third in conference history and 18th in the history of the NAIA. In 1998, Sherman was given the Young Alumni Award, presented by the CMU Alumni Association. Sherman was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009. He is the eighth all-time winningest coach of any four-year college in the state of Missouri. Sherman played basketball for Central for two seasons (1980-81, and 1981-82). The Eagles compiled 44 wins during that stretch.
Matt Sherman
Inducted in 2015: Just as he did in high school, Sherman was a four-time All-Conference recipient with the Eagles. He received honorable mention honors as a freshman, made the second team as a sophomore and a junior and received All-Conference first-team honors in his senior season. After helping the Eagles to a 17-14 record in 2006-07 during his freshman season, Sherman guided Central Methodist to three-consecutive 20-win seasons. The Eagles posted a 28-7 record in his junior season and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. There, Central Methodist upset No. 4 Georgetown (Ky.) in the opening round of the tournament, arguably one of the greatest victories in Eagles' history. During his senior season in 2009-10, Sherman led Central Methodist with 15.9 points per game and made 131 3-point shots, a school single-season record that still stands. His career mark of 433 made 3-pointers also still stands as a school record. Sherman received NAIA All-America honorable mention honors in both his junior and senior seasons at Central Methodist. He finished his college career with 1,817 points, ranking sixth on the Eagles' all-time scoring list.
Evelina Slatinska
Inducted in 2013: Evelina Slatinska, from Doupnitza, Bulgaria, had a highly decorated cross country and track career at Central Methodist from 2000-04 that included five individual NAIA national titles and 12 NAIA All-America honors, the most in school history. She won back-to-back titles in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500 meters in 2003 and 2004. Additionally, Slatinska won the 2003 outdoor 5000-meter title. In cross country, she was a three-time national runner-up at the NAIA National Championship. She was recognized as the Darla Pannier Most Outstanding Female Athlete as a senior. She served on the CMU Cross Country and Track & Field staff in assistant and head positions from 2006-2010. She was named the Heart Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2009. To date, she still owns the best 5K time in program history at 17:18.10 for women’s cross country, indoor 1000m run (2:50.9), indoor mile (4:50.9), indoor 3,000m run (9:44.4), the outdoor 1500m run (4:25.9), and the outdoor 5,000m run (17:13.4).
Fred Smith
Inducted in 2013: Fred Smith enters the 2013 Hairston Hall Of Fame as a Baseball player form 1982-1985. Smith, a native of Columbia, Mo. was selected unanimous First Team All-Conference three times; He was also a two-time All-District selection. In 1984, he received All-Region honors, and was named to the NAIA All-American Team. The first baseball player named All-American in Central’s history. He ended his playing career at Central with a career batting avg. of .427, averaging eight homeruns and 40 RBI/season. Smith also had 14 wins as a pitcher. He has a career record of 175-52 in high school baseball. In 2007 Smith was named the Head Baseball Coach at CMU. Among his accomplishments, he received the CMU Champions of Character Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2012. Smith was also recognized as the HAAC Conference Champion of Character Baseball Coach of the Year. The 2013 Baseball Team won the HAAC regular season title, first in school history. They also won the conference tournament, first time since 1975, and made the schools first appearance in the NAIA World Series in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Smith was selected as the HAAC Conference Baseball Coach of the Year in 2013. In his six years as Head Baseball Coach, he coached 21 Academic All-Americans, two NAIA Honorable Mention All-Americans, and sent three players to Professional Baseball.
Carter Snow
Inducted in 2015: Carter Snow racked up the accolades and records during his time at CMU in both cross country and track & field. Snow was a six time NAIA All-American, a seven time NAIA Academic All-American, a five time Heart of America Athletic Conference Champion in track & field, was a member of the fourth place cross country team at the National Championships, a conference Academic All-Scholar, and won the Estes Award at CMU in 2003 and 2004; for being the Top Male Athlete. Snow set school records in the 2000-2001 season, when he placed fifth in the indoor track Distance Medley Relay. In the outdoor season later that year, he placed third in the 4x800m Relay. During his junior season in 2002-2003, Snow set a school record, when he won the 1000m event at the Iowa State Invitational.
Don Spaulding
Inducted in 2000: BIO COMING SOON
Laura Stageman
Inducted in 2017: Laura Stageman competed for the CMU Women's Track & Field program and was a member of the 2005 graduating class. While at Central Methodist, she ran the 800-meter leg of the distance medley relay at the NAIA Indoor National Championships in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, the relay team garnered a fifth place finish with a time of 12:14.8, setting a new school record. At the time of her induction, this record remained unbroken. Laura earned NAIA All-America honors in both 2003 and 2004. During her career, she held the 400-meter outdoor hurdle record along with indoor records in the 55m hurdles and 60m hurdles. She also qualified for the indoor pentathlon in 2003 and was an Academic All-American.
Jim Stamos
Inducted in 2016: Jim Stamos graduated from CMC in 1974. Stamos played quarterback for the CMC Football team, and began his career playing for Coach Holmes, while using the “Wishbone” offense. Things would change, and the Eagles moved to a passing attack. Following Stamos’ junior year, the QB ranked second in the nation in passing yards, and CMC ranked fifth in the Nation as a team in total offense. Following graduation, Stamos returned to CMC for the 1977 and ’78 seasons as a graduate assistant coach under Coach Holmes.
Edward Stewart
Inducted in 2019: Edward Stewart was a member of the men's track & field program from 2009-13. He was a 14-time All-Conference performer, securing 11 individual Conference Champion titles. Stewart was a two-time NAIA National Champion in both the 60m and the 110m hurdles. In 2011, he set the NAIA Indoor National Championship meet record with a time of 7.89 in the 60m hurdles. At the time of his graduation, Stewart proudly held five indoor and five outdoor track records for Central Methodist.
Tom Stine
Inducted in 1997: Tom Stine completed his career as the greatest quarterback in the history of Central Methodist Football. Shining on the gridiron in the late 1970’s, Stine led one of the most potent passing attacks in the country. Paired with Hairston Hall of Fame receivers Eric Trelz and Steve Luetjen, Stine set multiple program records, twelve of which still stand at the top of the CMU leaderboard. He finished his career as a two-time NAIA Division II First Team All-American (1976 & 1977). Stine owns program records in single-game yardage (584), single-game passing yards (576), single game touchdowns (6), single-season passing touchdowns (35), single-season passing yards (3,412), single-season passing yards/game (387.7), single-season passing attempts (395), single-season total yards (3,279), single-season total yards/game (364.3), career passing touchdowns (60), and total career yards (6159). He and teammate Eric Trelz set a CMU program record as well as matching the NAIA record for the longest touchdown pass with a 99 yarder against Culver-Stockton College in 1977.
David Stoll
Inducted in 2023-24: David Stoll '75 was a two-sport athlete for Central Methodist in the mid-70s. On the football gridiron, the St. Louis, Mo. native was a four-year starting linebacker, earning Heart All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-District honors in 1974. He was also named team captain during his senior year. On the baseball diamond, Stoll was a two-time Heart First Team All-Conference selection in 1974 and 1975. He led the team in batting average as a junior, batting .333 with four doubles, a triple, and four home runs. As a senior, David batted .347 and recorded five doubles, five home runs, and a triple while driving in 27 runs. He was a member of the first Conference Championship team in 1975, which would later be inducted into the Hairston Hall of Fame in 2009. In a remarkable moment, three of his siblings were also inducted with their respective teams that same year, including his sister Kim, (1979 volleyball), and brothers John (1975 baseball and 1975 football) and Andy (1975 football). A career highlight for David was hitting a walk-off grand slam against William Jewell which clinched the Eagles' championship, 7-6. In the spring of 2023, he was named to the CMU Baseball All-70's Decade team. David graduated from Central Methodist with a degree in business administration in 1975. David passed away in 2010. His daughter, Tricia Stoll Justus accepted the award on his behalf.
Patrick Stroupe
Inducted in 2013: A native of Fayette, Mo., Patrick Stroupe was a four-year member of the Central Methodist Men's Cross Country and Track & Field programs from 2003-07. In addition to being named All-HAAC on the cross country course, he shined in the spring for the Eagles, winning eight Heart of America Athletic Conference titles and five NAIA National Championships. Combining both indoor and outdoor track & field seasons, Stroupe was a nine-time NAIA All-American. He also earned Academic All-America honors as a senior. Stroupe was named the Estes Male Athlete of the Year in 2007.
Salum Stutzer
Inducted in 2014: Salum Stutzer was a three-year starter and four-year letter winner as a free safety for the Central Methodist football team from 2001-04. He was a unanimous first team All-HAAC selection for three seasons (2002-04). As a sophomore, he was named an honorable mention All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette. In 2003, Stutzer was voted an honorable mention All-American by the NAIA, NAIAFootball.Net and Don Hansen's Football Gazette. As a senior, he was named a first team All-American by the NAIA, NAIAFootball.Net and Don Hansen's Football Gazette as well as the HAAC Defensive Player of the Year. As a freshman in 2001, Stutzer was part of a defense that allowed the fewest rushing yards in a game in school history, as the Eagles limited Southern Nazarene (Okla.) to negative 43 yards. In 2003, Stutzer set the school's single-game record for tackles with 23. He was part of a special teams unit that set a single-season school record for blocked kicks (14). In 2004, Stutzer ranked 17th in the country in interceptions per game (0.5) and led the defense with 100 tackles. He was part of a defense that tied a single-game school record for most interceptions (6) and set single-season records for most interceptions (33), most takeaways (49) and highest turnover margin (plus-28). He was part of a special teams unit that twice set the single-game record for blocked kicks (3). Stutzer ranks first in Central Methodist history in career tackles (407).
Scott Swofford
Inducted in 2010: Scott Swofford was a native of St. Louis, Missouri, where he was a leader of his high school football team. He was also a leader of his college football team and the rugby team, as well as a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization. Following his death in September 2000, more than 3,000 people ranging in age from 10 to 100 came to pay their respects “to someone that had given them joy and hope.” Swofford began attending Central Methodist College in 1968 and became a four-year starter as a linebacker. He was named team captain and the squad’s most valuable player in 1971. He was All-District and an All-Conference player. His first job was spent coaching and teaching at Fayette (Mo.) High School for one year. From 1973-1975, he served as the assistant coach for Wentzville (Mo.) High School’s football team and also taught health, physical education, and driver’s education. He returned to Central Methodist College and coached as an offensive line coach and defensive coordinator from 1977-78 and continued his career as assistant football coach at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, then as head coach at Tarkio College in Missouri. His experience in coaching brought him to Grandview (Mo.) High School, where he led Grandview to its first winning football season in the school’s history. After 17 years of teaching and coaching at Wentzville, he was honored by the Wentzville School District which named its new football stadium at Timberland High School the “Scott Swofford Stadium.” Naming the stadium after Swofford was a gift of love from his students.
Melvin Tillman
Inducted in 2021: Melvin Tillman ('14) was a three-year captain on the men's basketball team at Central Methodist from 2011-2014. In only three seasons as an Eagle, Tillman tallied 1429 career points to finish No. 12 all-time in program history in career scoring. He was a two-time all-American including second-team recognition his senior year. In addition, Tillman was honored as the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2014. He closed his career scoring 30 plus points in five of his final six games including a 40-point performance against MidAmerica Nazarene.
Tom Todd
Inducted in 1986: BIO COMING SOON
Zach Towe
Inducted in 2012: Towe was a four-year starter for the Eagles men's basketball team, appearing in over 137 games. He was a four-year letterman who earned NAIA All-American honors in 2003. That season, he also earned Player of the Year in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and his third all-conference honor. Towe ranks as Central Methodist’s No. 4 all-time leading scorer (1,859 points) and is No. 2 in career assists. He set school records for games played and started in a career and for single season assists (261 in 2003).
Eric Trelz
Inducted in 2021: Eric ('80) was a star wide receiver for the Eagles' Football program in the late '70s. He was recognized as a three-time All-American during his time with CMU and was twice honored as the team's Most Outstanding wide receiver. He and his fellow teammate, quarterback Tom Stine, set the NAIA record for the longest touchdown pass at 99 yards against Culver-Stockton College on Nov. 5, 1977, in Fayette. Trelz finished the 1977 season with 41 receptions for 897 total yards and three touchdowns, averaging 112 yards receiving/game inside one of the best passing games in the nation. For his outstanding accomplishments during the 1977 season, Trelz was given the title of "Little All-America" by the Associated Press, which included all non-NCAA Division I football programs throughout the country.
Aubrey Utley
Inducted in 2021: Utley ('14) was one of the most decorated players to come out of the CMU Softball program. The 2014 graduate was a four-time NAIA All-American, Heart All-Conference selection, and Conference Pitcher of the Year. She led the Eagles to four-straight conference championships and three consecutive appearances in the national tournament. Central was nationally ranked in each of the four years Utley was part of the program and she left as the program record holder in multiple categories highlighted by career wins (94), strikeouts (559), complete games (98), and shutouts (43).
Bob Vanatta
Inducted in 1983: BIO COMING SOON
Richard Vigil
Inducted in 2003: BIO COMING SOON
Danny Widhalm
Inducted in 1996: Danny Widhalm played four seasons for the Central Methodist Men's Basketball team from 1980-84. Perhaps the greatest player in program history, Widhalm led the Eagles to three Heart Conference Championships in a four-year span, including back-to-back championships during his junior and senior seasons. Two of those conference championship teams (1980-81 & 1982-83) were inducted into the Hairston Hall of Fame. Widhalm finished his career as a four-time NAIA Honorable Mention All-American and the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,352 points, a record that still stands today. He also holds school records in single-game blocks (nine), career field-goal makes (963), career-rebounding average (9.8/game), and career blocks (245).
Holly Wade McMahon
Inducted in 2023-24: Holly Wade McMahon '08 played four seasons on the women's basketball team. A 5-foot-10 forward from Springfield, Mo., Holly appeared in 111 games during a career spanning the years 2004-08. During her senior campaign, she scored 20 or more points on eight different occasions. This included a career-high 26 points against Missouri Baptist on Nov. 13, 2007. Named team captain in both her junior and senior seasons, Wade finished her CMU time with 1,275 career points, ranking No. 7 all-time in program history. Holly averaged 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds/game and shot over 70 percent from the free throw line in her four seasons leading the Eagles. The two-time Heart All-Conference selection also earned multiple honors in the classroom. She was named to the Dean's List three times and was a Heart Scholar-Athlete in 2008.
Keith Walk
Inducted in 2004: BIO COMING SOON
Harold Weir
Inducted in 1996: The late Harold Ross "Red" Weir, '50 was inducted into the Hairston Hall of Fame in 1996. Weir was an outstanding and respected athlete during his years at Central Methodist College. He was a member of the 1950 CMC Men's Basketball team that finished third in the NAIB postseason tournament. Weir was well known as an outstanding high school and college basketball and football official throughout the state of Missouri. In 1960, he and his wife started "Red" Weir Athletics Supplies as a family business, an enterprise that continues to thrive in central Missouri. "Red" and Dorothy Weir have been generous boosters of the Central Methodist College athletic programs for many years. CMC President Marianne Inman proclaimed on induction day, "Let it be known that Central Methodist College holds Harold Ross "Red" Weir and his family in highest esteem and wishes to honor him with induction into the William L. Hairston Athletic Hall of Fame." Accepting the honor on his behalf was his wife Dorothy Shiflett Weir, '50.
Wade Welton
Inducted in 2015: Wade Welton is the program director on the academic side of the athletic training program at CMU. Welton has tended to thousands of Central Methodist athletes over the years and has been a mentor to countless athletic trainers who are practicing athletic training across the country. At the time of his induction, Welton completed his 22nd year as Head Athletic Trainer and 13th as Director of Athletic Training Education at CMU. He oversees all areas of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Education Programs at CMU. From 1992-99, Welton worked as a clinical athletic trainer for HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine in Columbia, Mo., where he also served as head athletic trainer for CMU before becoming a full-time employee of the university. As the head athletic trainer and having a great interest in athletic training education, Wade was very proactive in starting a then-CAAHEP accredited athletic training education program. He started the Athletic Training Education program in 1996 and gained full accreditation in 2001, becoming the first to gain accreditation among private liberal arts institutions in the state of Missouri.
Patricia Wendling
Inducted in 2017: Patricia Wendling competed for the women's tennis team and was a member of the graduating class of 1968. Patricia was the first female inducted into the varsity athletic "C" club. She played on the men's tennis team for four years, after becoming the first female member of the program her freshman year.
Gene Williams
Inducted in 2022-23: Gene Williams ('79) played for the Central Methodist Football program from 1975-78 as a wide receiver. During his final two seasons with the Eagles, Williams was a part of one of the most lethal passing attacks in the country, a team that set national records in 1977 averaging 383.7 passing yards/game in only an eight-game schedule. He finished his junior year with 44 receptions for 853 yards and five touchdowns. His 107 receiving yards/game were good for second on the team and sixth in all of the NAIA. Williams improved upon his junior season accomplishments with 46 catches for 1,080 yards, good for No. 4 in the country. In 1978, he joined teammate Steve Luetjen as becoming the first two receivers in school history to record over 1,000-yard seasons.
Justin Wisdom
Inducted in 2015: Justin Wisdom had a highly decorated career as a football player at CMU. Wisdom was a three-time All-Conference selection, two-time All-Conference Player of the Week, two time National Player of the Week, an All-American in 2007, was voted unanimously to the All-First Team in the conference in 2007, started every game as the long and short snapper for the Eagles, was a four-time letter winner, a two-year team captain, a VSN All-Start Football Game participant and chosen to be a team captain for the game, and won the Estes Award from CMU; which is awarded to the Top Male Athlete. Off of the field, Wisdom was also honored by being named an Academic All-Conference Scholar. Wisdom set numerous career records during his time at CMU, including most career sacks, most career tackles for a loss, sacks in a season, tackles for a loss in a season, sacks in a game, and tackles for a loss in a game. He also ranked in the top 10 in the Nation in each of these statistical categories during his career and finished in the top three of these statistical categories in the conference as well.
Leigh Yarick
Inducted in 2009: Leigh (Yarick) Trumbore played for the CMC Women's Basketball program from 1995-1999. During her career, Yarick compiled 1,492 points, which ranks her fifth all-time in career scoring. She also holds records for assists in a season (241) and a career (766). Yarick was a two-time NAIA All-American, and a two-time Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete. As a senior, she also received the Darla Pannier Most Outstanding Female Athlete Award. Yarick, who started at point guard all four years at CMC, led the Eagles to three NAIA National Tournament appearances and 106 wins.
Hairston Hall of Fame
The Hairston Hall of Fame was established in 1983 through a gift from William L. Hairston, a 1933 graduate of Central College (now Central Methodist University). The Hall of Fame honors the outstanding accomplishments of CMU athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams and recognizes significant contributions to the University’s athletics programs.
Hairston Hall of Fame
The Hairston Hall of Fame was established in 1983 through a gift from William L. Hairston, a 1933 graduate of Central College (now Central Methodist University). The Hall of Fame honors the outstanding accomplishments of CMU athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams and recognizes significant contributions to the University’s athletics programs.
Hairston Hall of Fame
The Hairston Hall of Fame was established in 1983 through a gift from William L. Hairston, a 1933 graduate of Central College (now Central Methodist University). The Hall of Fame honors the outstanding accomplishments of CMU athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams and recognizes significant contributions to the University’s athletics programs.
Hairston Hall of Fame
The Hairston Hall of Fame was established in 1983 through a gift from William L. Hairston, a 1933 graduate of Central College (now Central Methodist University). The Hall of Fame honors the outstanding accomplishments of CMU athletes, coaches, administrators, and teams and recognizes significant contributions to the University’s athletics programs.
- Hairston Hall of Fame
- 1928 Football Team
- 1930 Football Team
- 1934 Football Team
- 1936 Men's Track and Field Team
- 1942-43 Men's Basketball Team
- 1943-44 Men's Basketball Team
- 1944-45 Men's Basketball Team
- 1949 Football Team
- 1949-50 Men's Basketball Team
- 1950-51 Men's Basketball Team
- 1955-56 Men's Basketball Team
- 1960 Men's Golf Team
- 1967 Football Team
- 1975 Baseball Team
- 1975 Football Team
- 1976-77 Men's Basketball Team
- 1979 Volleyball Team
- 1980-81 Men's Basketball Team
- 1981 Sotball Team
- 1982-83 Men's Basketball Team
- 1993-94 Men's Basketball Team
- 1996-97 Women's Basketball Team
- 1997-98 Men's Basketball Team
- 1997-98 Women's Basketball TEam
- 1998-99 Women's Basketball Team
- 1999-00 Women's Basketball Team
- 2002 Men's Cross Country Team
- 2004 Volleyball Team
- 2008-09 Men's Basketball
- 2009-10 Men's Basketball Team
- 2011-12 Softball Team
- 2012-13 Baseball Team
- 2012-13 Sotfball Team
- 2013-14 Sotfball Team
- 2014-15 Softball Team
- Norman Adair
- Larry Anderson
- Ken Ash
- Rebeca Barajas Bounds
- Charles Bentley Jr.
- Lynne Biggs Maddox
- Nate Breland
- Dick Brumitt
- Bob Bryant
- John Bucksath
- Brian Byers
- Donnie Chatmon
- Debbie Chavez-Newby
- Clarence A. Clingenpeel
- Matt Clutter
- Mitch Cochran
- Mike Davis
- Travis Day
- Earl Delaroche
- Earl Buster DelaRoche
- Mark Dempsey
- George Derrieux
- Rolf Dieter Schmitz
- Amy Dority
- Chris Drummond
- William Eckhardt
- Dean Ehlers
- Bobby Ellis
- Autumn Feaker Schwartze
- Sue Feldkamp
- Rashon Fisher
- Joe Forrest
- David Fox
- Matt Fraley
- Katherine L. Fulton
- Levern Gaskin Jr.
- Gil Georgeff
- Daniela Georgieva
- Shannon Gepford
- Justin Gerald
- Nick Ghnouly
- Marvin Gray
- William Hairston
- James Hazlett
- Greg Hession
- William Hollmann
- Bill Holmes
- Keeyon Howard
- Ben Hurst
- Bob Iglehart
- Joy Kistler
- Steve Kline
- John Kurtz
- Bill Lankford
- Bertram I. Lawerence
- Beth Lewis
- Tyler Lieberman
- Dr. Gerald Linneman
- Larry Littrell
- Richard Loy
- Dr. James Luetjen
- Steve Luetjen
- Lucas Manring
- Brad McCarty
- Dr. Glenn McElroy
- Raymond McIntyre
- Alex Nichols
- Michael Nichols
- Quintin Norris
- Ken Oliver
- Darla Pannier
- Joan Pauly
- Evelyn Peters
- Mike Petruso
- Jill Pratte
- Gene Reardon
- Pat Reardon
- Vicki Rees
- Phyllis Richardson
- John Rivituso
- Mark Robb
- Becca Rogers
- Rael Rotich
- Michele Rupard
- Michael Scardina
- Robert Sears
- Jeff Sherman
- Matt Sherman
- Evelina Slatinska
- Fred Smith
- Carter Snow
- Don Spaulding
- Laura Stageman
- Jim Stamos
- Edward Stewart
- Tom Stine
- David Stoll
- Patrick Stroupe
- Salum Stutzer
- Scott Swofford
- Melvin Tillman
- Tom Todd
- Zach Towe
- Eric Trelz
- Aubrey Utley
- Bob Vanatta
- Richard Vigil
- Danny Widhalm
- Holly Wade McMahon
- Keith Walk
- Harold Weir
- Wade Welton
- Patricia Wendling
- Gene Williams
- Justin Wisdom
- Leigh Yarick
- Hairston Hall of Fame
- Hairston Hall of Fame
- Hairston Hall of Fame
- Hairston Hall of Fame