Wichita, Kan. – Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Chairman Jim Dunning, Jr., announced today the selection of 12 individuals to be inducted, Sunday, Oct. 13 in Topeka.
The class includes seven individuals who have ties to Olympic competition, including a gold medalist, paralympic medalist and the only American to be named a head track and field starter for two Olympic Games. The group also includes national champion coaches, collegiate champions and All-Americans, and American-record holders.
“This is an accomplished group and one the Hall of Fame is extremely proud to recognize,” Dunning said. “They bring a considerable diversity of backgrounds and talents to the Hall. In this an Olympic year, I believe it is wonderful to shine a light on seven inductees with Olympic connections.”
The honorees include:
Dave Bingham - NAIA national champion baseball coach at Emporia State and head coach for College World Series qualifier Kansas
Erik Kynard – Olympic Gold Medalist High Jumper at Kansas State
Melvin Lister - National champion in the Long Jump at Leavenworth H.S., Butler County CC, and Arkansas
Mark Mangino - National Assistant Football Coach-of-the-Year at Oklahoma; and Head Coach for Orange Bowl Champion at Kansas
Ron Neugent - Swimming Gold Medalist in World University Games; and American Record-Holder at Kansas
Kelly Rankin - He’s the only American to be the head starter for two Olympic Games
Scott Russell - NCAA champ and Olympic qualifier for Canada in the Javelin at Kansas
Kevin Saunders - Bronze Medalist and Record-Holder for U.S. in Paralympic Games
Will Shields - Native Kansan, 14-year NFL veteran with Kansas City Chiefs and member of College and NFL halls of fame
Sean Snyder - Consensus All-American punter and national special teams coach of the year at Kansas State
Mark Turgeon - All-State basketball player at Topeka Hayden H.S., four-time NCAA Tournament qualifier at Kansas, Missouri Valley (Wichita State) and Big Ten Champion
(Maryland) Head Coach and conference Coach-of-the-Year.
Annette Wiles - Two-time NAIA Basketball All-American and NAIA Tournament MVP at Fort Hays State
This year’s class brings the total number of inductees to 340, with the first class in 1961 including such legends as Dr. James Naismith, Mike Ahearn, Glenn Cunningham, Walter Johnson and Jess Willard. Created by the Kansas State legislature in 1961, the hall has operated for 63 years and is located at the Wichita Boathouse.
The reception (5 p.m.), featuring heavy appetizers and refreshments, and induction ceremony (6 p.m.) will be conducted in the Sunflower Ballroom of the Hotel Topeka City Center. The venue is located at 1717 Southwest Topeka Blvd., in Topeka.
“Topeka as the location for the induction makes sense for several reasons, but the fact that all of our inductees are either from, live or competed collegiately in the Manhattan-Topeka-Lawrence-Kansas City corridor creates an opportunity for more of their family and friends to attend,” Dunning said. “This event is about the honorees, and we want to do as much as we can to make it special for them.”
Dunning said the Hall would be making an effort to invite past Olympians with Kansas ties and those past KSHOF inductees. He noted that the annual induction ceremony is not only a celebration for the incoming class, but also for past inductees. Tickets for the reception and induction ceremony are $100 and go on sale Monday, July 15 at www.kshof.org. For ticket packages and sponsorship opportunities, contact Dunning at 316-641-0162.
The KSHOF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, (EIN is: 41-2060659), and donors are eligible for tax benefits for their donation. Money raised from the donations will go towards programming and serving the community by educating our youth and community about Kansas athletes.