The festivities kicked-off with an afternoon reception sponsored by Hobart Sales & Service on Sunday, January 31^st at the Hall of Fame. The evening reception was held at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, followed by the banquet at 6:00 p.m. 

 Marty Schottenheimer – Coach, Kansas City Chiefs   After leaving the head coaching job of the Cleveland Browns, where he posted a 44 – 27 record, Martin Edward Schottenheimer spent 10 seasons as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989 to 1998 recording an impressive 101-58-1 regular season record (.634). His tenure with the Chiefs included three division titles, seven playoff appearances, and a trip to the AFC Championship game in 1993.  After leaving the Chiefs, Schottenheimer served as head coach for the Washington Redskins and later the San Diego Chargers where he posted  8 – 8, and 47 -33 records respectively. Coach Schottenheimer left the coaching ranks after the 2006 season, posting a career record of 200 - 126 -1.

Kellen Winslow Sr. – Tight End, Missouri Tigers, San Diego Chargers  Born in St. Louis, Missouri and playing college ball with the Missouri Tigers and professionally with the San Diego Chargers, Winslow is widely recognized as one of the greatest tight ends in the history of the game. An All American at Mizzou, Winslow went on to lead the NFL in receptions in 1980 and 1981, becoming the first tight end ever to lead the league in receptions in back to back seasons. He also exceeded the 1,000 yards receiving milestone in three different seasons. In a 1981 regular season game, Winslow tied an NFL record by catching five touchdown passes. Winslow was elected to the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.Kellen played in five Pro Bowls, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Mark Gubicza – Pitcher, Kansas City Royals   Mark Gubicza spent 13 years on the hill for the Royals helping them clinch the 1984 American League Western Division and the 1985 World Series crown.  A two-time All Star selection (1988 and 1989), Mark finished his career in 1997 with the Anaheim Angels, leaving baseball with a career record of 132 – 136 and an ERA of 3.96. Gubicza finished 3rd in the voting for the 1988 A.L. Cy Young Award,  having a 20–8 win–loss record in 35 games, 8 complete games, 4 shutouts, and  183 strikeouts.

Tom Pagnozzi – Catcher, St. Louis Cardinals After debuting in 1987, Tom Pagnozzi impressed Cardinals manager Joe Torre enough that by 1990 he was named the Cardinals every day catcher. Pagnozzi remained at the position until 1996. While “Pags” had moderate power and was considered an RBI threat, he was primarily regarded for his defense, for which he won gold gloves in 1991, 1992, and 1994. Pagnozzi also made the National League All-Star team in 1992. Pagnozzi retired in 1998 at the age of 36 with a career batting average of .253, with 44 home runs and 320 runs batted in.

Bruce Van Dyke – Guard, Missouri  Tigers, Pittsburgh Steelers,  A product of Buckner, Missouri, Bruce Van Dyke played college football at the University of Missouri, where he was a two-way starter, playing on both the offensive and defensive lines. As a first-team All-Big Eight Conference defensive tackle in 1965, Van Dyke played on Tiger teams that went a combined 21-8-2 from 1963 to 1965.  Van Dyke was drafted in the 12th round of the 1966 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a key player for the Pittsburgh Steelers for seven years. In 2008, Van Dyke was named to the Steelers Legends Team. 

Mel Tjeerdsma – Football Coach, Northwest Missouri State University   Completing his 15th season at Northwest Missouri State and his 25th as a collegiate head coach, Tjeerdsma is the winningest coach in program history.  Tjeerdsma has guided the Bearcats to nine MIAA championships overall, three NCAA national championships and six title game appearances in the last 10 seasons.  Tjeerdsma has more postseason victories than any other coach in Division II history. Tjeerdsma has been named MIAA Coach of the Year nine times (1995-2000, 2002, 2006-07).  On December 12^th, Tjeerdsma's Bearcats once again captured the National Championship by defeating the Grand Valley State University Lakers in Florence, Ala.

John Bryant – Tennis Coach, Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar)  Now in his 44th year at SBU, John Bryant serves as the men's and women's varsity tennis coach and an associate professor of mathematics. Bryant served as the director of athletics from 1989 to 1995. From 1967-86, SBU tennis won 18 NAIA District 16 titles, played in 19 consecutive NAIA national tournaments and won the 1984 co-national championship. He was named NAIA District 16 Coach of the Year 18 times. In 1983, he picked up the NAIA National Coach of the Year.  When SBU became a member of the NCAA Division II in 1990 Bryant once again garnered the National Coach of the Year honor. The Bearcats have played in the NAIA national championships 19 times and 19 times in NCAA national tournaments.

Dewey Combs – Football Coach, Joplin Parkwood High School Coaching 29 years at four different high schools, Dewey Combs compiled an impressive overall record of 213 -65 -14.  His 19 year tenure with Joplin Parkwood saw him garner his last three State Championships.  His first came in 1966 as he and his Trenton Bulldogs were named Class M State Champs by sportswriters.

Peter Herschend –Cyclist (Branson) The co-owner and co-founder of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation (formerly Silver Dollar City, Inc), Peter F. Herschend is an avid fund raiser on behalf of those with multiple sclerosis. Since 1990 Peter has participated annually in the local MS 150 Bike Tour, generating $1,264,680 during that time.  Peter is recognized as the nation’s highest cumulative fund raiser for the MS 150 Bike Tour, and for several years was the event’s top individual fund raiser in the nation.

Mark Musso – Sports Executive, Special Olympics, President & CEO (Jefferson City) Mark Musso has been President & CEO of Special Olympics Missouri for 18 years. Mark began his Special Olympics career in 1988 with the International World Games Organizing Committee in Minnesota. He arrived in Missouri in 1991 as the organization's 2nd President, only a few hundred dollars in the bank and around 5,000 athletes.  Now nearly two decades later under his leadership Special Olympics Missouri reaches more than 15,000 athletes with an operating budget of $3.9 million.

Ellen Gale Hopkins Green – Swimming (Springfield)   One of Missouri’s earliest premier swimmers, Ellen Gale Hopkins Green shattered virtually every swimming record known during her heyday in the 1930’s. From 1934 to 1939 won a total on 62 individual titles; her best year 1937 saw her capture20 individual medals and a National Junior AAU Championship. Most impressive was her 1937 time of 1:06 in the 100 meter freestyle.  The gold medalist in the previous year’s Olympics swam it in 1:05.09.  Almost certain to be a pick for the U.S. Olympic team, Ellen Gale’s hopes were dashed as the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were canceled due to World War II.  Such was her swimming prowess, that in 1937, Ellen Gale was named one of Springfield’s Sportsmen of the Year.

Irl Robinson – Golf Club Maker, Clinton, MO   Clinton, Missouri’s, Irl Allen Robinson II, opened Custom Clubs & Repair in October 1994. A member of the Golf Clubmakers Association (GCA) Irl is a Master Certified Clubmaker by many golf organizations.  He is a six-time Missouri State Clubmaker of the Year; a three-time GCA Northern US Regional Clubmaker of the Year, has finished as a GCA Top Ten Worldwide Clubmaker of the Year the past four years, and in 2006/2007 was named the GCA WORLDWIDE Clubmaker of the Year.

Mid State Oil Softball 1974 – 1979 Teams (Jefferson City) In the day when everybody played softball, Mid State Oil distinguished itself as a dynasty in the mid to late 70’s.  Playing in the Open Division which included the best teams in the state, Mid State Oil won the state slow pitch softball championship an unprecedented 6 consecutive years.  Prior to this no team had ever won even back to back championships. Along the way, the team made four appearances in the National Tournament.

1979 Southwest National Champion Missouri State (now Missouri State) University Women’s Field Hockey Team (Springfield)   The 1979 team had the greatest field hockey season in school history. The Bears finished the season with a 28-2-1 record and dominated their opponents in every aspect of the game.  For the season, the Bears outscored their opponents by 117 goals, 127 – 10, and hold the school record for most goals scored and fewest goals allowed.  The team capped off their greatest season ever by winning the National Championship.  Five members of the 1979 team are enshrined in the Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the season which would mark the Kansas City Chiefs first Super Bowl victory, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of the 1969 – 70 Kansas City Chiefs into the Honor Roll of World Champions. A relatively new feature at the Hall, the Honor Roll of World Champions’ only other team is the 1957-58 St. Louis Hawks.



On Tuesday October 13, at an 11:00 am luncheon, former Chiefs players and personnel met at the University Plaza Convention Center in Springfield, to celebrate this milestone. The luncheon, a part of the Sports Luncheon Series was sponsored by The Ozarks Coca Cola Dr Pepper Bottling Company.



Former players  in attendance were Len Dawson, Bobby Bell,  Ed Podolak, Chuck Hurston, Cesar Belser, Curtis McClinton and wife of Chiefs great Buck Buchanan, Mrs. Georgia Buchanan.  Also on the platform was G.M. Jack Steadman.

Chiefs Art provided courtesy of Chris Murphy http://www.chrism70.com

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inducted long-time Cardinal third baseman Ken Reitz, Royals star pitcher Steve Busby and major league pitcher Carl Mays  at a special evening ceremony held at the Hammons Field Training Facility on October 22^nd.  The induction was presented by the Ozarks Coca Cola / Dr Pepper Bottling Company. 

Reitz who was dubbed the Zamboni Machine for his stellar defense donned the birds on the bat from 1972 -75 and again from 1977 – 80.  In his rookie season of 1973, Reitz replaced Joe Torre as the Cardinals’ starting third baseman. In both 1973 and 1974, he led all National League third basemen in fielding percentage. In 1975 he won a Gold Glove Award at the position, breaking Doug Rader’s streak of five consecutive Gold Gloves. In 1977 he set a National League record by committing only nine errors; he bettered that record by committing only eight in 1980. He was named to the 1980 National League All-Star team.  In his career, Reitz batted .260 with 68 home runs and 548 RBIs in 1344 games played.
 
Drafted by the Royals in 1971 in the second round,  Steve Busby made his debut the following season and stuck in the major leagues for good in 1973, when he won 16 games.  On April 27 pitched the first no-hitter in Kansas City Royals history.  In 1974, Busby enjoyed his best season, winning 22 games and making the American League All-Star team. He also pitched a second no-hitter on June 19, making him the first pitcher in major-league history to throw no-hitters in each of his first two complete seasons. In 1975 he won 18 games and made the All-Star team again.  Busby won 56 games in his first three full seasons.  In an eight-year career, Busby posted a 70-54 record with 659 strikeouts and a 3.72 in 1060.2 innings.  Despite having his career derailed by a rotator cuff tear, Busby was among the first two players elected to the Royals Hall of Fame. Outfielder Amos Otis being the other. His 70 career victories rank him ninth on the Royals' all-time list.

Carl Mays who called Mansfield, Missouri His home for nearly 80 years, posted a pitching record of 208 wins against only 126 losses, all while boasting a .268 lifetime batting average. Pitching in four World Series’ Carl Mays set a record of hurling 31 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing a walk.  Five times Mays posted 20 win seasons, and in 1920 and ’21, posted 25 win seasons.  Although a right handed pitcher, the left handed batter hit .343 in 1921.  Mays unfortunately will always be remembered as the only pitcher to throw a pitch which resulted in the death of a batter.  The game was August 16, 1920 when a pitch got away from Mays and struck Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman in the head.