SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two former big-leaguers – the Kansas City Royals’ Johnny Damon and the St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Adams – and Missouri Football Tiger Brock Olivo will headline the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. Additionally, longtime St. Louis high school track & field coach Rod Staggs will be celebrated as a Missouri Sports Legend. Interim CEO & Executive Director Jerald Andrews unveiled the list of honorees Friday, noting that the Enshrinement is set for a noon reception and 1 PM ceremony on Sunday, February 2 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield. The Hall of Fame will present the John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award to Wilson Logistics and recognize St. Louis native Rita West with the President’s Award. Additionally, the Hall of Fame will recognize each of the eight high school state football championship teams from the 2024 season. The Class of 2025 is as follows: Johnny Damon – Kansas City Royals Matt Adams – St. Louis Cardinals Brock Olivo – St. Francis Borgia Regional High School & Mizzou running back Willard Harrell – St. Louis Football Cardinals Kris Flood – Republic High School girls basketball coach The Godwin Golf Family of Poplar Bluff Brent Thomas – Missouri State baseball hitting coach Nyla Milleson – Glendale, Drury & Missouri State basketball coach Denny Thum – Kansas City Chiefs executive Jefferson City High School Cross Country Program Dr. David Glover – University of Central Missouri team physician Benny Lawson – Monett and Parkview High School football coach Horner Askins – Kickapoo High School cross country and track & field coach Corey Riggs – Sports Broadcaster Jean Larrick – Tennis coach Larry Cowger – Voice of Carl Junction Athletics Lockwood High School Volleyball Era 1983-2008 Larry Garman – Seneca native and football coach Jeffrey Brummet & Quarterhorse Tucker – Shooting Sports The Legends Campaign for Coach Staggs includes numerous sponsorship levels in which supporters’ names will be encased in bronze as part of the stone upholding his bronze bust on the Legends Walkway. An individual ticket is $150. Sponsorship tables of 10 are available and include the gameday poster autographed by individual inductees, and visible recognition at the table and in the printed program. Numerous sponsorships are available, including congratulatory ads. Call 417-889-3100. Wilson Logistics – John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award The John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award will bestowed on Wilson Logistics for championing the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports in general in the Show-Me State. The Springfield-based trucking company was launched by Darrel Wilson in 1980. In recent years, Wilson has thrown his support behind the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame by rising to be the presenting sponsor of the Enshrinement in Springfield in 2023, as well as supporting the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper. In 2023, for instance, Wilson Logistics sponsored the golf carts of the tournament held at Highland Springs Country Club. Additionally, Wilson Logistics is a sponsor for Missouri State University and the University of Missouri athletic departments. In late 2023, the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds opened the Wilson Logistics Arena, a 100,000 square foot facility designed for trade shows, concerts, sporting events, cheer competitions, motor sports, horse shows, livestock shows and more. It seats 6,400. All this comes after Wilson built a powerhouse of a trucking company. In 1996, he purchased his dad’s trucking company. Over the years, it has purchased Jim Palmer Trucking, O&S Trucking, RJ’s Transportation, Haney Truck Line and Market Transport. In recent years, it relocated from a facility on the southeast side of the I-44 and Highway 65 interchange to a spectacular building & parking area east of there, at the Strafford exit. Rod Staggs – Missouri Sports Legend Staggs will become the 39th Missouri Sports Legend, meaning a bust – specially cast in bronze – will be featured on the Hall of Fame’s Legends Walkway. A Kirksville native and 1966 Truman State University graduate, Staggs led track and field programs to 19 high school state championships, guided 58 state champion relay teams, 143 individual state champions and 28 All-Americans. He was the head coach at St. Louis Berkeley High School for 32 seasons, with his teams winning 16 state titles. He also won a pair of NAIA national track and field championships at Lindenwood University and coached in Loveland, Colo., winning two state championships at Loveland High School and one at Mountain View High School. He went on to coach on eight USA national teams, which competed in the World and Pan-American championships in Australia, Argentina, Canada, Poland, the United Kingdom, Qatar and Mexico. Staggs was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He also is an inductee of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, Missouri Cross Country & Track & Field Coaches Association, the St. Louis Sports, Lindenwood University Athletics and Truman State Athletics halls of fame. Johnny Damon – Kansas City Royals Damon spent the first nine of his 21 years in professional baseball with the Kansas City Royals, who drafted the outfielder in the first round in 1992. He made his big-league debut in 1995 and steadily improved every year. Damon led the American League in runs scored (136) and stolen bases (46) in 2000, his final season in Kansas City, before being traded the next spring to the Oakland Athletics. Damon scored 504 runs in his Royals days, along with 894 hits – including 48 home runs in his final three seasons. His .292 batting average is sixth-best in Royals history behind five players – George Brett, Mike Sweeney, Billy Butler, Kevin Seitzer and Hal McRae – who are Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductees. Damon also ranks 10th in steals (156) and sixth in triples (47). In 2000, he helped the Royals tie with Cleveland for the best batting average in the American League (.288) and lead the league in hits (1,644). Damon later played for the Athletics, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland. He helped the 2004 Red Sox win the World Series, and the 2009 Yankees win it all. Matt Adams – St. Louis Cardinals Adams proved baseball scouts wrong after climbing out of a small NCAA Division II university in Pennsylvania, not only showing power but also demonstrating excellent footwork around the first base bag. Overall, he played 15 seasons of professional baseball – 10 in the big leagues – after being the St. Louis Cardinals’ 23rd round draft pick in 2009. The former Slippery Rock University standout spent seven seasons with the big-league Cardinals from 2012 to parts of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He signed a one-day contract in 2024 and retired as a Cardinal. He helped St. Louis reach the 2012 National League Championship Series and win the 2013 NL pennant. Of his 624 hits, 396 were with the Cardinals. He also hit 59 of his 118 home runs in a Redbirds uniform. Among his most memorable moments came in Game 4 of the 2014 NL Division Series, when he hit a winning home run off the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw. Adams later went on to play 1 ½ seasons for the Washington Nationals, helping them win the 2019 World Series. All this came after Adams soared through the Cardinals farm system. He was the Texas League MVP with Double-A Springfield in 2011, five years after graduating from Philipsburg-Osceola High School in Pennsylvania. Brock Olivo – St. Francis Borgia Regional High School/University of Missouri Raised in Hermann just outside of St. Louis, Olivo starred at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School for coach Dale Gildehaus (MSHOF 2018) in the early 1990s. He helped Borgia win a state championship in 1993 and was the Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year that season, finishing his prep career with 5,030 yards rushing and 70 touchdowns. At Mizzou, Olivo led the Tigers to the 1997 Holiday Bowl – MU’s first bowl appearance since 1983. When he left after that season, he was the school’s all-time leading rusher, with 3,026 yards, and his 188 points ranked him fourth on the career scoring list. The 1994 Big Eight Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year, Olivo won the Mosi Tatupu National Special Teams Player of the Year Award in 1997 – making him the first Tiger to ever win a national individual award. He later played 44 games as a special teams standout for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, and served on NFL staffs from 2014 to 2019, including with coach Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2014 to 2016. He coached in Italy from 2007 to 2011 and is now on the Mizzou staff as an assistant special teams coach. Willard Harrell – St. Louis Football Cardinals Harrell played 10 seasons in the National Football League, including seven with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1984. A third-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1975, Harrell was a punt returner, running back and receiver who had 1,378 yards rushing and 1,135 yards receiving in 136 career games. He spent his first three NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, who had made him a third-round draft selection in 1975. He was a running back and kick returner. As a rookie, he led the Packers in punt returns (6.5 avg.), was the team’s second-leading rusher (359 yards, 1 touchdown) and receiver (34 catches, 261 yards, 2 touchdowns), and threw three TD passes in only five attempts. He also led the team in rushing in 1976, with 435 yards in 130 attempts. Harrell is an inductee of the University of Pacific Hall of Fame. His jersey No. 39 is retired there. He led the nation in 1973 in all-purpose yards (177.7) and had an NCAA record 100-yard kickoff return. He also played in several postseason all-star games, including the 1975 Chicago All-Star game against the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. These days, Harrell is a longtime State Farm Insurance agent in St. Louis. Kris Flood – Basketball Coach In 25 seasons (1997-2023) as coach of the Republic High School girls basketball program, Flood was 530-178 (.749). He led the Lady Tigers to a pair of state championships in Class 4, in 2004 (61-55 victory against Duschene) and in 2012 (53-51 victory against Smithville). Additionally, Flood’s Republic teams captured nine Central Ozark Conference (COC) championships, including five seasons in which they finished conference play without a loss. Flood’s won-loss record in COC play was 161-44, a winning percentage of .631. Republic won Flood’s last 17 consecutive COC games, dating back to 2022. Republic won 15 district championships and qualified for 11 state quarterfinals. His teams won 20 games in 19 of his 25 seasons. Over his last four seasons, the Lady Tigers averaged six losses. Flood is a 1989 graduate of Clever High School and was First Team All-Southwest Central League in 1987, 1988 and 1989 – and the conference MVP his junior and senior years, when he also was First Team All-State. Brent Thomas – Baseball Coach A Marshfield High School graduate, Thomas was the hitting coach of the Missouri State University baseball program from 1983 to 2014. He helped the Bears to six Mid-Continent Conference championships, five Missouri Valley Conference titles (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2009) and eight trips to the NCAA Tournament. That included the 2003 College World Series. His duties included academic evaluation of players and game administration, as well as working with hitters and outfielders. In other words, Thomas was a great fit for the game. At Marshfield, he was a four-year starter in baseball, and also played football and basketball. He earned four all-conference honors in baseball and was a two-time all-conference selection in football. He also coached the Marshfield American Legion team two summers. After graduation, he played at Crowder College in Neosho, earning MVP honors twice. He then went on to Missouri State, playing for the Bears’ 1981 unbeaten MIAA Southern Division champs and the 1982 team that earned a regional title and a trip to the NCAA Division II World Series. Thomas has spent much of the past decade working at Whispering Oaks Country Club in Marshfield and game days for the Springfield Cardinals and Missouri State Baseball Bears. The Godwin Golf Family of Poplar Bluff Buddy Godwin and his sons, Bobby and Ben, have enjoyed tremendous success in golf. Buddy won more than 100 amateur tournaments, including eight Ozark Opens. Starting in 1965, he qualified for the United States Amateur several times, reached the quarterfinals in the U.S. Mid-Am in 1985 and played in the U.S. Senior Open in 1987. He also won the Missouri Amateur in 1973 and later competed in several PGA Senior Tour events. Bobby was a three-year letterman at Poplar Bluff High School, competing on the Mules’ 1980 and 1981 state championship teams. He continued at Three Rivers Community College and Arkansas State University, where he was a three-year letterman. Beginning in 1989, he qualified for seven USGA events and won numerous local, state and national amateur tournaments, including the 1999 Missouri State Stroke Play championship, and was the Missouri Golf Association Player of the Year that year. Ben lettered in golf for four years at Poplar Bluff, competing on the Mules’ 1988 state championship team. He later earned four varsity letters for the University of Missouri. He began winning local and state amateur tournaments in 1990, qualifying for six USGA events. He won the two-man state team event with Bobby in 1998 and eventually won the Missouri Amateur in 2003 and 2006. Buddy and Ben are only the second father-son duo to win the Missouri Amateur after Bill and Payne Stewart (MSHOF Legend 2000). Nyla Milleson – Basketball Coach Milleson made her mark in Missouri as a basketball coach. A Goodland, Kan., native, she coached at Springfield’s Glendale High School from 1992 to 1999, compiling a 157-39 record as the Lady Falcons reached two Final Fours. Her 1996 team won the Class 4 state championship, finishing 27-3, and her 1997 team placed third. Milleson then made an even greater impact at Drury University as the first coach of the women’s basketball program beginning in the fall of 2000. The Lady Panthers were 185-36 in her seven seasons, qualifying for five NCAA Division II Tournaments – the 2004 team was the national runner-up – and winning three conference championships. Her teams also won two NCAA D-II Regionals, and Milleson was the Coach of the Year in the Heartland Conference four times and won the same award in the Great Lakes Valley Conference twice. She then coached 14 seasons at the NCAA Division I level, including six seasons at Missouri State, where her teams had three consecutive 20-win seasons and won the 2012 Missouri Valley Conference championship. At George Mason University for five seasons, she took a program that had won only eight games in her first year to a team-record 24 wins and its first national postseason appearance in 14 seasons. Milleson is now in her third year as the athletic director of Drury University after a year as AD at Hollister High School. Denny Thum – Kansas City Chiefs Talk about making a major impact behind the scenes for one of the state’s premier professional sports organizations. Thum worked 36 years for the Kansas City Chiefs, rising from an entry-level ticketing office role to team president in 2009. Overall, his time with the franchise spanned the full tenure of Chiefs president Carl Peterson (MSHOF 2005) and every head coach from Hank Stram through 2010, including Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductees Marty Schottenheimer and Dick Vermeil. His career also spanned almost every aspect of the Chiefs except for the football operations. Thum’s greatest contributions arguably were as Chiefs Vice President and Chief Operating Officer under Peterson. In that role, he worked vigorously on maintaining the salary cap for the Chiefs and handled all player negotiations. It’s a pretty remarkable career, considering Thum went to work for the Chiefs as an accountant in the ticket office on May 16, 1974, just as he was graduating from Rockhurst University. Jefferson City Jays Cross Country Program The Jefferson City High School Cross Country Program has been one of the most successful in state history. The boys have earned 35 Top 10 finishes from 1972 to 2023, while the girls have earned 36 Top 10 finishes from 1980 to 2023. For the boys alone, they have had 12 podium finishes (top four), including the 1996 state championship in Class 4, the largest classification in the state at the time. The Jays also were state runner-up in 1981, 1982, 1995 and 1997. Jefferson City also had four third-place finishes in 1972, 1988, 1989 and 1992, and placed fourth in 1975, 1994 and 1998. David Cooper in 1974 and Bryce Allmon in 1976 were individual state champions. The boys also have 21 district titles, including 11 consecutive in one stretch. Meanwhile, the girls have had 11 top four finishes. The 1994 team won the state title, while the Lady Jays had state runner-up finishes in 1994, 1995 and 2008. They also finished third in 1983, 1997, 2004 and 2006. They placed fourth in 1991, 1998 and 2005. The girls have 16 district titles, including nine consecutive at one point. Overall, the Jays have had seven head coaches since 1972: Larry York (1972-1979), David Harris (1980-1984), Jim Marshall (1985-2009), Brett Phillips (2010-2021), Lily Kennedy (2002), James Murphy (2023) and Landon Dunlap (current). The programs have 65 All-State recipients. Dr. David Glover – University of Central Missouri Head Team Physician A 1972 graduate of Bolivar High School, Glover has been the team physician for the University of Central Missouri since 1989 and also held the same role for Warrensburg High School football from 1985 to 2009. Dr. Glover has been a family physician with Central Family and Sports Medicine since 1981. He earned his Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in 1993, served on the MSHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee from 1994 to 2020 and was the National Federation of High School Associations’ liaison for AMSSM in 1995 and 1996. Dr. Glover also was a charter member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Among his numerous published works is “Sideline Preparedness for the Team Physician: A Consensus Statement.” Dr. Glover has worked for Western Missouri Medical Cetner since 1981. He has been a member of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians since 1978, and the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine since 1992. Dr. Glover earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Benny Lawson – Football Coach A 1957 graduate of Seneca High School, Lawson coached football for 53 years. After being a three-sport athlete in high school, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma City University, returned to Seneca for a few years and then went with head coach Burl Fowler to Monett High School in 1967. As an assistant coach, he helped the 1971 Monett Cubs win the Class 2 state championship, finishing 12-0. Lawson was promoted to head coach in 1975 and led the Cubs to the Class 2 state championship as Monett finished 11-2 in 1977. A hot commodity, Lawson was recruited to the Springfield Public Schools district, where he coached Parkview High School from 1979 to 1996. Overall, his teams earned 115 wins. Along the way, Lawson was instrumental in moving MSHSAA to adopt a district, head-to-head schedule for playoff berths and move away from the points system. He was inducted into the Missouri Football Coaches Association in 1996 and spent several years helping Cherokee Middle School and Kickapoo High School. Horner Askins – Cross Country and Track & Field Askins has been involved in high school sports in Missouri since 1965. That year, he got his start as a head basketball coach at Marionville High School, compiling a 45-26 record in three seasons. He then started the football, basketball and track & field programs for Pleasant View Middle School, a part of Springfield Public Schools. Askins soon was recruited to teach and coach at Kickapoo High School when it opened in 1971. He worked on coach Jim Pearson’s football staff as an assistant offensive line coach and was the school’s first head track & field coach. He later resigned from coaching football in order to start the school’s cross country program in 1979, staying nearly a decade in that role. He went on to become an official for track and cross country for 20 years, including working two starting positions in the large school state track meets, as well as in college meets – including two regionals. In 2004, he was asked to take over as president of the Springfield Quarterback and Tip-Off Clubs, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame, serving as its president in 2012. Askins is a graduate of Clarksville (Ark.) High School and the University of the Ozarks. Corey Riggs – Sports Broadcasting A Webb City High School graduate, Riggs called his first Missouri State games on radio/internet as a student broadcaster in 1999 after making his TV debut with Mediacom earlier in his senior year. He was with Mediacom for 26 years as he held several roles in its coverage of high school and college sports, as he was involved in announcing, directing and producing upwards of 100 games/shows a season. He also led coverage of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinements in Springfield. In 2004, he took on the role of production manager at Mediacom, where he brokered a successful rights agreement to carry both Missouri State and Southern Illinois basketball on MC22. He was promoted to senior production manager in 2013. Under his leadership, the Mediacom production crew has won more than 20 MidAmerica Cable show awards. Riggs also has announced a number of high school and regional sporting events, including state championship games in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, for over a decade. In 2018, he also expanded his resume into dirt track racing, working for the national MAVTV network. His work has also been featured on ESPN2, ESPNU and other national platforms. Riggs joined the Missouri State Radio Network as a studio host on football and basketball games in 2013 and has been a part of the institutions’ announcer rotation on ESPN-Plus since 2015. In 2024, Riggs joined the Missouri State Sports Properties staff as its Director of Broadcasting and will take over radio play-by-play duties for football, men’s basketball and baseball full time in 2025-2026. Jean Larrick – Tennis Instructor Larrick has been playing tennis for nearly 72 years, going back to her childhood days in Decatur, Ill. She excelled as a player, educator, coach and tennis official in Springfield and nationally for more than 60 years. That includes time as a professional tennis teacher and coach for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board since 1980. She has taught every highly ranked youth player in the area at Springfield Cooper Tennis Complex, and played and coach on various U.S. Tennis Association teams. Larrick has earned numerous awards, including the UTSA Missouri Valley Golden Star Award in 2020. She has won more than 200 titles in singles, doubles and mixed competitions at national, sectional, regional, district and local levels. She played at Missouri State University in the late 1970s, with the 1977 team winning the MIAA and AIAW regional championship and competing in the AIAW nationals. Larrick represented the USTA Western Sectional on the Junior Wightman Cup team, which finished fourth at the USTA National 35 Doubles. A schoolteacher, she also coached swimming, volleyball, physical education and taught adaptive P.E. before retiring after 23 years. All this came after the Decatur (Ill.) High School graduate played on the five Illinois women’s fast-pitch state softball championship teams. Larry Cowger – Voice of Carl Junction Athletics For over two decades, Cowger has been a beloved and integral part of Carl Junction High School athletics, serving as the Voice of the Bulldogs since 1998. His passion for sports and dedication to the student-athletes has been unwavering, and his enthusiasm resonates with everyone who tunes in to hear him broadcast games on the radio and live stream. His involvement with Carl Junction Athletics goes well beyond his role behind the microphone. He offers encouragement, and builds relationships with the students, coaches and fans. His positive energy and commitment to promoting sports in the community have left an indelible mark on Carl Junction. In addition to his broadcasting contributions, Larry has been a valued member of the Carl Junction Board of Education since 2001. During his tenure, he has played an instrumental role in expanding athletic opportunities for students by approving the establishment of programs such as girls soccer, girls swimming, boys and girls tennis, dance team, archery and trap shooting. His leadership on the Board has led to significant improvements in the district’s athletic facilities, including new turf, track resurfacing, upgraded scoreboards, and enhancements to seating, the press box, and the sound system at Bulldog Stadium. Most recently, under his leadership, the community passed an $18.5 million bond issue with a new athletic complex as the anchor project. His advocacy for these improvements has helped elevate the experience for athletes and spectators alike. Cowger is a 1968 graduate of Joplin High School who was a student manager on the 1967 boys state championship basketball team. He later graduated from Missouri Southern State University. Lockwood High School Volleyball 1983-2008 Era In Dade County in southwest Missouri, you’ll find one of the state’s top volleyball traditions. The Lockwood Lady Tigers were among the state’s best for a 25-year stretch (1983-2008), mostly under coach Cheryl Shores (MSHOF 2017). Marla Kemp coached the 2003 team. Lockwood advanced to 19 state tournaments and earned five state trophies. The Lady Tigers won the 2004 state championship in Class 1, only a year after coming close with a state runner-up finish. Lockwood placed third in 1991 and was fourth in both 1990 and 2001. Additionally, the program made 16 state quarterfinal appearances and had five other sectionals. Lockwood also won 22 district championships and played in the district final 25 times. Along the way, 35 players earned All-State honors, and 89 earned all-conference. The Lady Tigers also won 22 conference championships in that stretch. Overall, Lockwood’s teams were 579-170-34. Larry Garman – Football Coach Garman grew up in the southwest Missouri town of Seneca south of Joplin, playing football for Seneca High School before graduating in 1957. He then took his passion for the game that he learned in Newton County and went on to become a successful high school football coach, leading Pittsburg High School in Kansas for 34 years. Garman was 255-84-5 (.749) and won three Class 5 state championships (1983, 1988, 1990). His teams had 31 winning seasons and a state-record 21 playoff appearances, with his final team in 1998 falling in four overtimes in the state semifinals. He continued to give back to the game as an assistant coach for 24 seasons at Pittsburg State University, working with tight ends for 12 years before serving as the staff’s in-season, off-campus recruiter, extensively recruiting regional high school schools and junior colleges for nine years. He retired in 2023 after serving three seasons as a local high school/junior college recruiter while also focusing on campus and community outreach as well as alumni relations. Jeffrey Brummet & Quarterhorse Tucker – Sports Shooting A resident of Rolla, Brummet & his American Quarterhorse, Tucker, have been among the best in the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association World Competition. They won the Senior Men SM1 in 2019, Senior Men SM2 in 2020, and was second in SM3 in 2021. This year, he was the Super Senior Limited Champion in the Eastern, Western and National Championships, and the Senior Limited Reserve Cowboy in the Western Championship – all as he ended 150th in the rankings. And it’s hardly a walk in the park, er, arena. Mounted shooting is the fastest-growing equestrian sport in the nation, with 20,000 members. They compete in the timed event using two .45 caliber single-action revolvers, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. Contestants dress in western attire of the late 1800s, and pistols must be western in design from the late 1800s, based on the Colt .45 model. Brummet shoots two Ruger Vaqueros .45 Colt single-action revolvers, along with a Yildiz .410 over-under that shoots .45 Colt rounds and a Winchester 73 lever action rifle. Contestants ride one of more than 50 specific patterns, shoot 10 balloon targets with blank rounds of black powder, which are loaded to break balloons from a distance of 15 feet. A graduate of Missouri Military Academy who attended Missouri Science & Technology, Brummet is a senior vice president with Stifel Financial in Rolla. Rita West – President’s Award West will be honored with the President’s Award, which is bestowed on individuals who champion the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports in the Show-Me State in general. She has supported the Hall of Fame by participating in golf events, playing as a celebrity guest with sponsorship teams, and also attending induction ceremonies or sponsoring ads for honorees. Among her recent big contributions has been playing in the Stan Musial Hall of Fame Championship presented by Landau Pontoons, as she and her husband, former big-league umpire Joe West, have turned out for the two-day event at Old Kinderhook near Camdenton. A 2003 inductee of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, West – known as Rita Hoff in her high school and college days – enjoyed a professional racquetball career from 1976-1986. She teamed with Anheuser-Busch as the Director of Racquetball Promotions in 1978, putting on charitable exhibitions against NFL players in each tournament city, teaching at adult and children’s clinics and making public appearances on behalf of Anheuser-Busch. She was among the founders of the Women’s Professional Racquetball Association, serving on the Board of Directors. While competing on the WPRA Tour until 1986, she consistently held a top 10 ranking and was ranked as high as No. 3. West won seven tournaments and earned 22 top three finishes. She is a graduate of Missouri-St. Louis, where she was a four-sport standout. She later served as President of a Catholic Charities Home in St. Louis for 10 years.

Johnny Damon, Matt Adams, Brock Olivo to lead Missouri Sports Hall of Fame's ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two ex-major leaguers – the Kansas City Royals’ Johnny Damon and the St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Adams – along with Missouri Football Tiger Brock Olivo will be the featured inductees in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. Furthermore, veteran St. Louis high school track & field coach Rod Staggs […]

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two ex-major leaguers – the Kansas City Royals’ Johnny Damon and the St. Louis Cardinals’
Matt Adams – along with Missouri Football Tiger Brock Olivo will be the featured inductees in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. Furthermore, veteran St. Louis high school track & field coach Rod Staggs will be honored as a Missouri Sports Legend.

Interim CEO & Executive Director Jerald Andrews announced the honorees Friday, emphasizing that the Enshrinement will feature a noon reception followed by a 1 PM ceremony on Sunday, February 2 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield. The Hall of Fame will also award the John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award to Wilson Logistics and honor St. Louis native Rita West with the President’s Award. Additionally, the Hall will recognize all eight high school state football championship teams from the 2024 season.

The Class of 2025 includes:

Johnny Damon – Kansas City Royals

Matt Adams – St. Louis Cardinals

Brock Olivo – St. Francis Borgia Regional High School & Mizzou running back

Willard Harrell – St. Louis Football Cardinals

Kris Flood – Republic High School girls basketball coach

The Godwin Golf Family of Poplar Bluff

Brent Thomas – Missouri State baseball hitting coach

Nyla Milleson – Glendale, Drury & Missouri State basketball coach

Denny Thum – Kansas City Chiefs executive

Jefferson City High School Cross Country Program

Dr. David Glover – University of Central Missouri team physician

Benny Lawson – Monett and Parkview High School football coach

Horner Askins – Kickapoo High School cross country and track & field coach

Corey Riggs – Sports Broadcaster

Jean Larrick – Tennis coach

Larry Cowger – Voice of Carl Junction Athletics

Lockwood High School Volleyball Era 1983-2008

Larry Garman – Seneca native and football coach

Jeffrey Brummet & Quarterhorse Tucker – Shooting Sports

The Legends Campaign for Coach Staggs comprises various sponsorship tiers, featuring the names of supporters engraved in bronze on the stone supporting his bronze bust along the Legends Walkway. An individual ticket costs $150. Sponsorship tables accommodating 10 participants are available, including an autographed game day poster from inductees, along with visible recognition at the table and in the event program. A range of sponsorships is available, including congratulatory advertisements. For inquiries, call 417-889-3100.

Wilson Logistics – John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award

The John Q. Hammons Founder’s Award will be presented to Wilson Logistics for their unwavering support of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports initiatives statewide. This trucking enterprise from Springfield, established by Darrel Wilson in 1980, has significantly contributed to the Hall by becoming the presenting sponsor for the Enshrinement in Springfield in 2023 and backing the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper. As an illustration, in 2023, Wilson Logistics backed the golf carts utilized in the tournament held at Highland Springs Country Club. The company is also a sponsor for both Missouri State University and the University of Missouri’s athletic programs. In late 2023, the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds debuted the Wilson Logistics Arena, a 100,000 square foot venue intended for trade exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, cheer competitions, motorsports, equestrian events, livestock exhibitions, and more, accommodating 6,400 attendees. This follows Wilson’s ascent to become a leading trucking firm, having acquired his father’s trucking venture in 1996 and later expanding by purchasing Jim Palmer Trucking, O&S Trucking, RJ’s Transportation, Haney Truck Line, and Market Transport. Recently, the company relocated from its prior location adjacent to the I-44 and Highway 65 interchange to a magnificent site eastward at the Strafford exit.

Rod Staggs – Missouri Sports Legend

Staggs is set to become Missouri’s 39th Sports Legend, which entails having a bust specifically designed in bronze displayed along the Hall of Fame’s Legends Walkway. A native of Kirksville and a 1966 alumnus of Truman State University, Staggs piloted track and field programs towards 19 state championships, supervised 58 state champion relay teams, 143 individual state champions, and 28 All-Americans throughout his career. He dedicated 32 seasons as the head coach at St. Louis Berkeley High School, leading his teams to 16 state titles. Additionally, he claimed two NAIA national track and field championships at Lindenwood University and coached in Loveland, Colorado, securing two state championships at Loveland High School and one at Mountain View High School. He represented the USA on eight national teams competing in World and Pan-American championships across countries including Australia, Argentina, Canada, Poland, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Mexico. Staggs was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and holds memberships in the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, Missouri Cross Country & Track & Field Coaches Association, the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, Lindenwood University Athletics Hall of Fame, and Truman State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Johnny Damon – Kansas City Royals

Damon dedicated the initial nine years of his 21-year professional baseball journey to the Kansas City Royals, who selected him in the first round of the 1992 Draft. He launched his big league career in 1995 and progressed annually. In 2000, he led the American League in both runs scored (136) and stolen bases (46) during his concluding season with the Royals before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in the following spring. Over his tenure with the Royals, Damon accumulated 504 runs, 894 hits, and recorded 48 home runs across his last three seasons while maintaining a .292 batting average, ranking sixth in Royals history, trailing only five Hall of Fame inductees: George Brett, Mike Sweeney, Billy Butler, Kevin Seitzer, and Hal McRae. Additionally, he stands 10th in steals (156) and sixth in triples (47). In 2000, he played a pivotal role in the Royals tying with Cleveland for the American League’s top batting average (.288) and leading the league in hits (1,644). Damon’s career later took him to the Athletics, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cleveland, and he had a hand in helping the 2004 Red Sox secure the World Series title, as well as assisting the 2009 Yankees in doing the same.

Matt Adams – St. Louis Cardinals

Adams defied the expectations of baseball scouts by emerging from a lesser-known NCAA Division II university in Pennsylvania, showcasing not just power, but exceptional footwork as well around first base. His journey spanned 15 seasons in professional baseball, encompassing 10 years at the major league level after being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals as their 23rd round pick in 2009. The former standout from Slippery Rock University played seven seasons with the major league Cardinals from 2012 through parts of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2024, he inked a one-day contract and concluded his career as a Cardinal. Adams played a crucial role in St. Louis’ pursuit of the 2012 National League Championship Series and in winning the 2013 NL pennant. Out of his 624 career hits, 396 were achieved with the Cardinals, and he powered 59 of his 118 home runs while in a Redbirds uniform. One of his most memorable instances occurred during Game 4 of the 2014 NL Division Series when he knocked a game-winning home run against the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw. Adams later contributed 1.5 seasons to the Washington Nationals, aiding them in clinching the 2019 World Series victory. This success followed a rapid rise through the Cardinals’ minor leagues, where he was named the Texas League MVP with Double-A Springfield in 2011, just five years after graduating from Philipsburg-Osceola High School in Pennsylvania.

Brock Olivo – St. Francis Borgia Regional High School/University of Missouri

Growing up in Hermann, right outside St. Louis, Olivo excelled at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School under coach Dale Gildehaus (MSHOF 2018) in the early 1990s. He was instrumental in helping Borgia attain a state championship in 1993 and earned the distinction of Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year that season, concluding his high school career with an impressive 5,030 rushing yards and 70 touchdowns. At Mizzou, Olivo led the Tigers to the 1997 Holiday Bowl, marking the program’s first bowl appearance since 1983. Upon leaving after that season, he held the record as the university’s all-time leading rusher with 3,026 yards, and his 188 career points placed him fourth on the scoring leaderboard. Named the 1994 Big Eight Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year, Olivo later secured the Mosi Tatupu National Special Teams Player of the Year Award in 1997, becoming the first Tiger to win a national individual accolade. He subsequently participated in 44 games emphasizing special teams for the NFL’s Detroit Lions, and from 2014 to 2019 held coaching positions on NFL teams, including with Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. His coaching career also included a span in Italy from 2007 to 2011, and he is currently part of the Mizzou coaching staff as an assistant special teams coach.

Willard Harrell – St. Louis Football Cardinals

Harrell enjoyed a decade-long tenure in the National Football League, including seven years with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1984. Initially drafted in the third round by the Green Bay Packers in 1975, Harrell established his role as a punt returner, running back, and receiver, amassing 1,378 rushing yards and 1,135 receiving yards across 136 career games. He spent his first three seasons with the Packers, where he not only gained recognition as a running back and kick returner but led the team in punt returns during his rookie season (6.5 avg.). He ranked as the second-leading rusher for the team (359 yards, 1 touchdown) and receiver (34 receptions, 261 yards, 2 touchdowns) during his debut year, and he added three touchdown passes in merely five attempts. In 1976, he topped the team in rushing again with 435 yards from 130 attempts. Harrell is honored in the University of Pacific Hall of Fame, where his jersey number 39 is retired. He led the nation in all-purpose yards in 1973 (177.7) and set an NCAA record with a 100-yard kickoff return. Furthermore, he participated in numerous postseason all-star games, including the 1975 Chicago All-Star game against the Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Currently, Harrell serves as a long-time agent for State Farm Insurance in St. Louis.

Kris Flood – Basketball Coach

Flood achieved a remarkable record of 530-178 (.749) over 25 seasons (1997-2023) as the coach for the Republic High School girls basketball team. He guided the Lady Tigers to two state championships in Class 4, securing victories in 2004 (61-55 against Duschene) and 2012 (53-51 against Smithville). Flood’s teams also garnered nine Central Ozark Conference (COC) titles, including five seasons where they concluded conference play undefeated. His win-loss record in COC action was 161-44, achieving a winning percentage of .631. The Lady Tigers concluded widely recognized campaigns with 20 wins in 19 of his 25 seasons, with his final four seasons averaging just six losses. Flood, a 1989 graduate of Clever High School, earned First Team All-Southwest Central League accolades in 1987, 1988, and 1989, capturing the conference MVP award in both his junior and senior years while also achieving First Team All-State honors.

Brent Thomas – Baseball Coach

A graduate of Marshfield High School, Thomas served as the hitting coach for the Missouri State University baseball program from 1983 to 2014. Under his guidance, the Bears claimed six Mid-Continent Conference championships, five Missouri Valley Conference titles (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2009), and secured eight NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a trip to the 2003 College World Series. His responsibilities encompassed academic assessments of players and game management, alongside working closely with hitters and outfielders, marking him as an excellent fit for the sport. At Marshfield, he was a four-year baseball starter, additionally participating in football and basketball. His achievements include four all-conference awards in baseball and two in football, coupled with coaching the Marshfield American Legion team for two summers. Following his graduation, he played at Crowder College in Neosho, earning MVP honors twice before continuing to play for Missouri State, partaking in the Bears’ 1981 undefeated MIAA Southern Division championship season, and the 1982 team that captured a regional title and qualified for the NCAA Division II World Series. Thomas has dedicated much of the past decade working at Whispering Oaks Country Club in Marshfield and for game days with the Springfield Cardinals and Missouri State Baseball Bears.

The Godwin Golf Family of Poplar Bluff

Buddy Godwin and his sons, Bobby and Ben, have made remarkable strides in the world of golf. Buddy achieved triumph in over 100 amateur tournaments, including eight Ozark Opens, and qualified for the United States Amateur multiple times since 1965, reaching the quarterfinals in the 1985 U.S. Mid-Am and having competed in the U.S. Senior Open in 1987. He also clinched the Missouri Amateur in 1973 and took part in several PGA Senior Tour events. Bobby, a three-year letterman at Poplar Bluff High School, was a key member of the Mules’ state championship teams in 1980 and 1981. His collegiate career continued at Three Rivers Community College and Arkansas State University, where he also earned three letters. Since 1989, Bobby qualified for seven USGA events and triumphed in a number of amateur tournaments at local, state, and national levels, winning the 1999 Missouri State Stroke Play championship and being named Missouri Golf Association Player of the Year that year. Ben also represented Lockwood High School’s state championship team in 1988 and went on to earn four varsity letters from the University of Missouri. Beginning in 1990, he started winning local and state amateur tournaments, qualifying for six USGA events. Ben, alongside Bobby, won the two-man state team event in 1998 and eventually claimed the Missouri Amateur in 2003 and 2006. Notably, Buddy and Ben became only the second father-son duo to win the Missouri Amateur after Bill and Payne Stewart (MSHOF Legend 2000).

Nyla Milleson – Basketball Coach

Milleson made her mark in Missouri as a basketball coach. Originally from Goodland, Kan., she coached at Glendale High School in Springfield from 1992 to 1999, leading the Lady Falcons to a 157-39 record, reaching two Final Fours. Her 1996 squad secured the Class 4 state championship title, wrapping up the season with a 27-3 record, while her 1997 team finished in third place. Milleson then had a profound influence at Drury University, serving as the inaugural head coach for the women’s basketball program starting in the fall of 2000. The Lady Panthers completed her seven seasons with an impressive 185-36 record, qualifying for five NCAA Division II tournaments—the 2004 team finished as the national runner-up—and securing three conference championships. Her teams also clinched two NCAA D-II Regional titles, and Milleson received the Heartland Conference Coach of the Year honors four times, along with the same accolade in the Great Lakes Valley Conference on two occasions. She subsequently coached at the NCAA Division I level for 14 seasons, including six at Missouri State, where her teams recorded three consecutive 20-win campaigns and captured the 2012 Missouri Valley Conference championship. During her five years at George Mason University, she turned a struggling program that had previously only won eight games in her first year into a record-setting 24-win team and secured its first national postseason appearance in 14 seasons. Presently, Milleson is in her third year as the athletic director at Drury University after serving a year as AD at Hollister High School.

Denny Thum – Kansas City Chiefs

Thum has made a significant impact behind the scenes at one of the state’s elite professional sports organizations. He dedicated 36 years to the Kansas City Chiefs, advancing from a foundational ticketing office position to team president in 2009. His journey with the franchise coincided with the entire tenure of President Carl Peterson (MSHOF 2005) and every head coach from Hank Stram through 2010, encompassing notable Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductees Marty Schottenheimer and Dick Vermeil. Almost every area of the Chiefs organization except football operations was touched by his career. His most significant contributions arguably came in his capacity as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer under Peterson, where he played a crucial role in managing the Chiefs’ salary cap and overseeing all player negotiations. Thum’s remarkable career commenced on May 16, 1974, coinciding with his graduation from Rockhurst University, when he joined the Chiefs as an accountant in the ticketing office.

Jefferson City Jays Cross Country Program

The Jefferson City High School Cross Country Program has established itself as one of the most successful in the history of the state. From 1972 to 2023, the boys’ team secured 35 Top 10 finishes, while the girls’ team totaled 36 Top 10 finishes from 1980 to 2023. Notably for the boys, they achieved 12 podium finishes (top four), including the 1996 state championship in Class 4, the largest classification at that time. The Jays were also state runners-up in the years 1981, 1982, 1995, and 1997. Jefferson City had four third-place finishes in 1972, 1988, 1989, and 1992 and placed fourth in 1975, 1994, and 1998. David Cooper in 1974 and Bryce Allmon in 1976 emerged as individual state champions. Additionally, the boys have claimed 21 district titles, including an extraordinary stretch of 11 consecutive wins. The girls’ program boasted 11 top four finishes, with the 1994 team capturing the state title and runner-up finishes in 1994, 1995, and 2008. Their third-place finishes occurred in 1983, 1997, 2004, and 2006, with fourth-place finishes in 1991, 1998, and 2005. Collectively, the girls garnered 16 district titles, including a remarkable nine consecutive stretches. Since 1972, the Jays have been guided by seven head coaches: Larry York (1972-1979), David Harris (1980-1984), Jim Marshall (1985-2009), Brett Phillips (2010-2021), Lily Kennedy (2002), James Murphy (2023), and Landon Dunlap (currently). Remarkably, the programs boast a total of 65 All-State recipients.

Dr. David Glover – University of Central Missouri Head Team Physician

A Bolivar High School graduate of the class of 1972, Dr. Glover has served as the team physician for the University of Central Missouri since 1989 and held a similar position with Warrensburg High School football from 1985 to 2009. He has been a family physician with Central Family and Sports Medicine since 1981 and earned his Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in 1993. Glover was a member of the MSHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee from 1994 to 2020 and served as the liaison for AMSSM to the National Federation of High School Associations in 1995 and 1996. Dr. Glover is a charter member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and has authored numerous publications, including “Sideline Preparedness for the Team Physician: A Consensus Statement.” He has been affiliated with Western Missouri Medical Center since 1981 and is an active member of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians since 1978, as well as the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine since 1992. Dr. Glover earned both his bachelor’s and doctor’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Benny Lawson – Football Coach

A 1957 alumnus of Seneca High School, Lawson boasts a distinguished 53-year football coaching career. He showcased his prowess as a three-sport athlete during high school before earning a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma City University. He returned to Seneca for a brief period before joining head coach Burl Fowler at Monett High School in 1967. As an assistant coach, he played a part in securing the Class 2 state championship for the Monett Cubs in 1971 with a 12-0 record. In 1975, he was elevated to head coach and led the Cubs to a Class 2 state championship as they recorded an impressive 11-2 finish in 1977. A highly sought-after coach, Lawson was recruited to Springfield Public Schools, where he served as the head coach at Parkview High School from 1979 to 1996, accumulating a total of 115 wins. Throughout his career, he facilitated the transition of MSHSAA to implement a district, head-to-head scheduling system for playoff berths, moving away from the former points-based system. His contributions led to his induction into the Missouri Football Coaches Association in 1996, and he dedicated several years assisting Cherokee Middle School and Kickapoo High School.

Horner Askins – Cross Country and Track & Field

Askins has been a part of Missouri high school sports since 1965. He began as a head basketball coach at Marionville High School, boasting a 45-26 record in three seasons. Following this, he pioneered the football, basketball, and track & field programs at Pleasant View Middle School under Springfield Public Schools. Shortly after, Askins was sought out to teach and coach at Kickapoo High School upon its opening in 1971. He served as an assistant offensive line coach under coach Jim Pearson in football and took on the role of the head track & field coach. In 1979, he transitioned from football to establish the school’s cross country program, where he remained dedicated for nearly a decade. His involvement later led him to officiate track and cross country for 20 years, including serving as a starter in significant large school state track meets, and at various college meets, including two regional competitions. In 2004, he accepted the presidency of the Springfield Quarterback and Tip-Off Clubs, later fulfilling obligations on the Board of Directors for the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame, even serving as president in 2012. Askins is an alumnus of Clarksville High School in Arkansas and the University of the Ozarks.

Corey Riggs – Sports Broadcasting

After graduating from Webb City High School, Riggs began his broadcasting journey as a student caller for Missouri State games in 1999, making his TV debut shortly before at Mediacom. He remained with Mediacom for 26 years, taking on various roles in covering high school and college sports, announcing, directing, and producing over 100 games/shows each season. He was at the forefront of covering the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinements in Springfield. In 2004, he advanced to production manager at Mediacom, successfully brokering a rights agreement that allowed for Missouri State and Southern Illinois basketball games to be broadcast on MC22. He became the senior production manager in 2013, during which time the Mediacom production crew earned over 20 MidAmerica Cable show awards. Riggs has also been the voice of numerous high school and regional sporting events, including multiple state championship games across Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas over the last decade. In 2018, he expanded into dirt track racing, working for the national MAVTV network with his work also appearing on ESPN2, ESPNU, and other national platforms. In 2013, Riggs joined the Missouri State Radio Network as a studio host for football and basketball games and has participated in the announcer rotation for ESPN-Plus since 2015. Riggs began working with Missouri State Sports Properties as the Director of Broadcasting in 2024 and is set to take charge of radio play-by-play duties for football, men’s basketball, and baseball full-time in 2025-2026.

Jean Larrick – Tennis Instructor

Larrick has enjoyed nearly 72 years of active tennis play, beginning in her childhood in Decatur, Illinois. She has thrived as a player, educator, coach, and tennis official both locally in Springfield and at a national level for over 60 years. As a professional tennis instructor and coach with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board since 1980, Larrick has tutored every top youth player in the area at the Springfield Cooper Tennis Complex. She has played for and coached numerous U.S. Tennis Association teams, acquiring various accolades, such as the UTSA Missouri Valley Golden Star Award in 2020. Larrick’s triumphs include over 200 titles in singles, doubles, and mixed competitions across national, sectional, regional, district, and local settings. As a participant in the late 1970s at Missouri State University, she played on the 1977 team that clinched the MIAA and AIAW regional championships while competing nationally at the AIAW event. Larrick was active on the Junior Wightman Cup team representing the USTA Western Section, capturing fourth place at the USTA National 35 Doubles. In her professional career, she has instructed swimming, volleyball, physical education, and adaptive P.E., retiring after 23 years, having also made her mark playing for five Illinois women’s fast-pitch state softball championship teams.

Larry Cowger – Voice of Carl Junction Athletics

For over twenty years, Cowger has become a cherished and vital part of Carl Junction High School sports, known as the Voice of the Bulldogs since 1998. His fervor for athletics and dedication to the student-athletes is unwavering, and his spirited commentary resonates with all who listen to his broadcasts on the radio and livestreams. Cowger’s ties to Carl Junction Athletics encompass far more than just his microphone role; he actively offers encouragement and fosters relationships with students, coaches, and supporters. His infectious enthusiasm and commitment to promoting sports in the community have made a lasting impact on Carl Junction. In addition to his broadcasting efforts, Larry has been an esteemed member of the Carl Junction Board of Education since 2001. During his time on the board, he has significantly aided in expanding athletic opportunities for students by approving the initiation of programs such as girls soccer, girls swimming, boys and girls tennis, dance teams, archery, and trap shooting. His leadership has led to major enhancements in the district’s athletic facilities, including new turf, track resurfacing, upgraded scoreboard systems, and improvements to seating, press boxes, and sound systems at Bulldog Stadium. Recent accomplishments include guiding the community to pass an $18.5 million bond issue centered around a new athletic complex as a key project. His advocacy for these enhancements has greatly improved the experience for athletes and spectators alike. Cowger is a graduate of Joplin High School, where he was a student manager for the state championship boys’ basketball team in 1967, before completing his degree at Missouri Southern State University.

Lockwood High School Volleyball 1983-2008 Era

Dade County in southwest Missouri boasts a remarkable volleyball legacy. The Lockwood Lady Tigers held a position among the state’s elite for a 25-year period (1983-2008), predominantly led by coach Cheryl Shores (MSHOF 2017), alongside Marla Kemp who coached the 2003 team. Lockwood advanced to 19 state tournaments, bringing home five state trophies. They clinched the 2004 state championship in Class 1, closely following a runner-up finish the previous year. The Lady Tigers also placed third in 1991 and secured fourth-place finishes in 1990 and 2001. In addition, they made 16 appearances in state quarterfinals and participated in five sectional rounds. Lockwood achieved 22 district championships, competing in the district final on 25 occasions, during which 35 players were awarded All-State honors, and 89 players were recognized as all-conference players. In their competitive period, the Lady Tigers triumphed in 22 conference championships, with an overall record of 579-170-34.

Larry Garman – Football Coach

Garman grew up in the southwest Missouri town of Seneca, playing football for Seneca High School before graduating in 1957. He then took his passion for football into a coaching career, dedicating 34 years as head coach at Pittsburg High School in Kansas. Garman achieved a remarkable record of 255-84-5 (.749) and guided his teams to three Class 5 state championships (1983, 1988, 1990). He had 31 winning seasons and set a state record with 21 playoff appearances, with his final team in 1998 narrowly falling in four overtimes during the state semifinals. Garman continued to give back to the sport as an assistant coach at Pittsburg State University for 24 seasons, which included 12 years mentoring tight ends, followed by nine years as the staff’s in-season off-campus recruiter, fostering extensive recruiting efforts in regional high schools and junior colleges. He retired in 2023 after serving three seasons as a local high school/junior college recruiter, highlighting campus engagement and alumni relations throughout his career.

Jeffrey Brummet & Quarterhorse Tucker – Sports Shooting

A resident of Rolla, Brummet & his American Quarterhorse, Tucker, have excelled in the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association World Competition. They secured titles in Senior Men SM1 in 2019, Senior Men SM2 in 2020, and finished second in SM3 in 2021. This year, he was crowned the Super Senior Limited Champion at the Eastern, Western, and National Championships, while earning the Senior Limited Reserve Cowboy title at the Western Championship, wrapping up 150th in the overall rankings. Mounted shooting isn’t for the faint-hearted; it is the fastest-growing equestrian sport in the nation, boasting 20,000 members who compete in this exhilarating timed event utilizing .45 caliber single-action revolvers loaded with specially prepared blank ammunition. Contestants are required to don authentic western attire from the late 1800s, with the firearms reflecting historical designs based on the Colt .45 model. Brummet employs two Ruger Vaqueros .45 Colt single-action revolvers alongside a Yildiz .410 over-under firearm that discharges .45 Colt rounds, in addition to a Winchester 73 lever-action rifle. Contestants expertly navigate various patterns, taking aim at ten balloon targets with blank rounds filled with black powder, designed to burst balloons from a distance of 15 feet. A graduate of Missouri Military Academy, who also attended Missouri Science & Technology, Brummet currently serves as a senior vice president with Stifel Financial in Rolla.

Rita West – President’s Award

West is set to receive the President’s Award, a prestigious recognition given to individuals who significantly advocate for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and sports in the Show-Me State at large. She has contributed to the Hall through her participation in golfing events, playing as a celebrity guest with sponsorship teams, as well as attending induction ceremonies and sponsoring ads for distinguished honorees. Among her notable contributions is her participation in the Stan Musial Hall of Fame Championship presented by Landau Pontoons, where she and her husband, former major league umpire Joe West, have participated in the two-day event situated at Old Kinderhook near Camdenton. A member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame since 2003, West—known as Rita Hoff in her high school and collegiate years—held a professional racquetball career from 1976 to 1986. She collaborated with Anheuser-Busch as the Director of Racquetball Promotions starting in 1978, during which time she organized charitable events against NFL players in various tournament cities while also leading clinics for both adults and children, along with numerous public appearances for Anheuser-Busch. Eleven years ago, she emerged as one of the founding members of the Women’s Professional Racquetball Association, serving on the Board of Directors. Throughout her tenure on the WPRA Tour until 1986, she remained a top 10 competitor and was ranked as high as No. 3. West not only triumphed in seven tournaments but also notched 22 podium finishes. She holds a degree from Missouri-St. Louis, where she excelled in four sports, and subsequently led a Catholic Charities Home in St. Louis for a decade.