2016 GHS Hall of Fame BIOS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIKE ARBANAS, GHS CLASS OF 1980

 

MIKE ARBANAS

 

MIKE PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN FOOTBALL, MIKE WAS NAMED A TWO TIME 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE LINEBACKER, 2ND TEAM ALL STATE IN 1978 AND FIRST TEAM IN 1979 AFTER AVERAGING JUST UNDER 20 TACKLES PER GAME. HE WAS NAMED A PARADE ALL AMERICAN AND NAMED TO THE “SUPER 11 H.S PROSPECTS” BY BIG EIGHT MAGAZINE. IN TRACK, MIKE WON THE OUTDOOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE DISCUS AND PLACED 3RD IN THE SHOT PUT AND ALSO WON THE INDOOR SHOT PUT HIS SENIOR YEAR. MIKE WAS ALSO NAMED THE KC MISSOURI HS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR BY THE SPORTS COMMISSION HIS SENIOR YEAR.

 

MIKE CONTINUED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND WAS A 4 YEAR LETTERMAN, WAS NAMED CAPTAIN HIS SENIOR YEAR. HE FINISHED HIS CAREER WITH 238 TACKLES PLACING HIM IN THE TOP TEN ALL TIME. MIKE IS CURRENTLY THE OWNER OF FRED ARBANAS, INC.

 

MIKE IS MARRIED TO JENNY AND HAS 3 SONS, JAKE, FRANK, AND LUKE. MIKE’S FAVORITE MEMORY AT GHS WAS PLAYING AGAINST HICKMAN MILLS HIS JUNIOR YEAR WITH AN ESTIMATED 10,000 SPECTATORS IN ATTENDANCE AGAINST HIS FUTURE COLLEGE ROOMMATE. BOTH HICKMAN MILLS AND GRANDVIEW HAD 6 PLAYERS SIGN DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIPS.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURTIS BARNES, GHS CLASS OF 1991

 

CURTIS BARNES

 

CURTIS PARTICIPATED IN BASKETBALL AND TRACK DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN BASKETBALL, CURTIS WAS NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE HIS SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, AND SENIOR YEAR. HIS SENIOR YEAR, CURTIS WAS NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL-STATE, ALL-METRO, AND ALL-DISTRICT. CURTIS SCORED 1,330 POINTS IN HIS GHS CAREER, AVERAGING 25 POINTS A GAME HIS SENIOR YEAR AND 21 POINTS PER GAME DURING HIS JUNIOR YEAR. IN TRACK, CURTIS PLACED 8TH IN THE 110M HIGH HURDLES AT THE STATE MEET HIS SENIOR YEAR. CURTIS WAS A MEMBER OF THE 1990 TEAM THAT WON THE STATE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP.

 

CURTIS ATTENDED UMKC ON A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP AND WAS A STARTER HIS LAST THREE YEARS LEADING THE KANGAROOS IN 3 POINT SHOOTING HIS JUNIOR YEAR. CURTIS CURRENTLY WORKS FOR THE JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT, SERVES AS THE JV BASKETBALL COACH AT GARDNER-EDGERTON HS AND COACHES AAU BASKETBALL.

 

CURTIS IS MARRIED TO LINDSAY AND HAS 2 DAUGHTERS, MARY ANN AND HALEY AND A SON, RILEY. CURTIS’S FAVORITE MEMORY AT GHS WAS BECOMING THE ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER IN GRANDVIEW HISTORY AND SIGNING A LETTER OF INTENT TO PLAY BASKETBALL AT UMKC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOHNNY BLAKE, GHS CLASS OF 2001

 

JOHNNY BLAKE

 

JOHNNY PARTICIPATED IN WRESTLING AND BASEBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN WRESTLING, JOHNNY HAD A CAREER RECORD OF 107-9. HE FINISHED 2ND IN STATE HIS JUNIOR YEAR GOING 35-1, FINISHED 3RD IN STATE HIS SENIOR YEAR AND 4TH IN STATE HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR. JOHNNY WAS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MO-KAN WRESTLING ALL-STAR DUAL HIS SENIOR YEAR. IN BASEBALL, JOHNNY WAS NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE SHORTSTOP HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. HE WAS NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL STATE HIS SENIOR YEAR. JOHNNY BROKE THE SEASON RECORDS FOR STOLEN BASES IN A SEASON WITH 27 AND THE CAREER RECORD WITH 45. HE CURRENTLY HOLDS THE SINGLE SEASON RECORDS FOR PLATE APPEARANCES AND AT-BATS AND IS SECOND IN WALKS. JOHNNY HIT .324 FOR HIS CAREER. HE WAS CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE KC METRO ALL STAR GAME. JOHNNY WAS CHOSEN AS THE 2001 GHS SENIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.

 

JOHNNY IS MARRIED TO HOLLIE AND HAS TWO DAUGHTERS, RYLEE AND AUREY. JOHNNY IS CURRENTLY THE OWNER OF DIAMOND TILE & STONE. JOHNNY’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GHS WAS PLACING ALL THOSE TIMES AT STATE WRESTLING AND WINNING DISTRICTS IN BASEBALL HIS SENIOR YEAR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JIM BLANKENSHIP, GHS CLASS OF 1962

 

JIM BLANKENSHIP

 

JIM PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN TRACK, JIM BROKE THE GHS SCHOOL LONG JUMP RECORD IN 1961 WITH A JUMP OF 22’6”. THAT RECORD STOOD FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. IN FOOTBALL, JIM WAS SELECTED TO THE 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. JIM SIGNED TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. HE TRANSFERRED TO NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE FOR HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR WHERE HE RUSHED FOR OVER 1,000 YARDS HIS JUNIOR YEAR WHILE EARNING 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS. JIM WAS SELECTED AS CAPTAIN HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS.

 

JIM LATER TAUGHT HISTORY AND WAS THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT WEST NODAWAY H.S AND LOURDES H.S (NEBRASKA) BEFORE COMING BACK TO GRANDVIEW H.S IN 1976. JIM COACHED BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASEBALL BEFORE BECOMING THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR IN 1997. JIM RETIRED FROM GHS IN 2002.

 

JIM IS MARRIED TO ETHEL AND HAS A DAUGHTER, LORI AND A SON, ERIK ALONG WITH 4 GRANDCHILDREN. JIM’S FAVORITE MEMORY AT GHS WAS PLAYING FOOTBALL ON GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL’S FIRST UNDEFEATED TEAM WHICH FINISHED RANKED 1ST IN THE AREA BY THE KC STAR.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANDRE BROWN, GHS CLASS OF 2001

 

ANDRE BROWN

 

ANDRE PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, AND TRACK DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN FOOTBALL, ANDRE AS A SENIOR WAS NAMED A 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE, ALL-DISTRICT AND ALL STATE AS A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. ANDRE WAS HONORED BY METRO SPORTS AS THE KANSAS CITY HIGH SCHOOL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. HE WAS NAMED TEAM DEFENSIVE MVP WHILE SERVING AS A TEAM CAPTAIN. ANDRE STILL HOLDS THE ALL-TIME SACK RECORD AT GHS WITH 20 CAREER SACKS. ANDRE WENT ON TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI.

 

ANDRE OBTAINED A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION AND A DOCTORATE IN PHILOSOPHY IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY ANALYSIS FROM MU IN 2014. ANDRE CURRENTLY WORKS AS A UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATOR AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE HE WORKS WITH STUDENTS OF COLOR AND STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY OPPRESSED BACKGROUNDS.

 

ANDRE IS ENGAGED TO HIS FIANCEE, ELIZABETH. ANDRE’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES INVOLVE EULOGIZING HIS BROTHER, ANTHONY, SAYING “I HOPE HEAVEN IS NOT A DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE HEAVEN WAS PLAYING WITH MY BROTHER AND MY TEAMMATES FOR THE BLUE AND GOLD”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANTHONY BROWN, GHS CLASS OF 2001

 

ANTHONY BROWN

 

ANTHONY IS BEING INDUCTED POST-MORTEM AFTER PASSING IN 2007.  ANTHONY PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GHS. IN FOOTBALL, ANTHONY WAS A THREE TIME ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTION AND TWO-TIME ALL-DISTRICT SELECTION DURING HIS TIME AT GHS. ANTHONY IS CURRENTLY THE CAREER TACKLES RECORD HOLDER WITH 330 TACKLES. ANTHONY EARNED FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE HONORS BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. ANTHONY WAS THE RONALD WARREN AWARD RECIPIENT IN 2000 AS THE BEST LINEBACKER IN THE METRO. HE WAS NAMED TEAM MVP AND SERVED AS A CAPTAIN HIS SENIOR YEAR. ANTHONY WAS SELECTED AND PLAYED IN THE MISSOURI-KANSAS ALL STAR GAME.

 

ANTHONY CONTINUED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS WITH A DEGREE IN LIBERAL ARTS WITH AN EMPHASIS IN AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE AFTER GRADUATION, ANTHONY WORKED AT SPRINT CORPORATION. 

 

ANTHONY IS SURVIVED BY HIS GRANDPARENTS, VERNICE AND ODELL SR., HIS PARENTS, CARMEN AND ODELL JR., HIS BROTHER ANDRE AND SISTER ANGELA. ANTHONY’S BEST ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW H.S. ACCORDING TO ANDRE WAS HIS COMPETITIVENESS AND RELENTLESS NATURE. ANTHONY WANTED TO DOMINATE EACH PLAY, EVERY PLAY, ALL GAME, AND EVERY GAME. HE WAS A FEROCIOUS TACKLER WHOSE MOTOR STARTED AROUND THURSDAY MORNING AND SLOWED DOWN SOMETIME SUNDAY EVENING. HE LED BY EXAMPLE AND HIS RELENTLESS PURSUIT TO WIN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAM BROWN, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT GHS FROM 1978-1990

 

SAM BROWN

 

DURING HIS TENURE AT GRANDVIEW H.S, SAM COMPILED A WIN-LOSS RECORD OF 94-41 AT GHS MAKING HIM THE ALL-TIME LEADER IN CAREER WINS. HIS TEAMS WON 7 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 5 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS. SAM COACHED IN 4 QUARTERFINALS AND 1 SEMIFINAL GAME. HIS 1984 TEAM WAS 11-2 AND RANKED #1 IN THE METRO AREA BY THE KC STAR. HE WAS NAMED THE CECIL PATTERSON COACH OF THE YEAR IN 1990. SAM LATER WAS INDUCTED INTO THE EXCELSIOR SPRINGS HALL OF FAME, THE MISSOURI FOOTBALL COACHES HALL OF FAME, THE GREATER KC FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME AND HIS 1970 MU ORANGE BOWL TEAM WAS INDUCTED INTO THE MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME. SAM IS CURRENTLY COACHING QUARTERBACKS AT WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE

 

SAM IS MARRIED TO CINDY AND HAS A SON, MACK AND A DAUGHTER, MAGGIE.  SAM GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AND RECEIVED HIS MASTERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI. HIS FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY WAS THE 1986 GAME VS. KC SOUTHEAST. WITH LESS THAN 3 MINUTES TO PLAY AND THE BULLDOGS LEADING, SOUTHEAST WALKED OFF THE FIELD IN PROTEST OF THE OFFICIATING. THE GAME ENDED WITH SOUTHEAST FORFEITING. IRONICALLY, THE BULLDOGS PLAYED SOUTHEAST IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS AND WON BY A LANDSLIDE.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHAEL BURTON, GHS CLASS OF 2002

MIKE BURTON

 

MICHAEL PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN FOOTBALL, MICHAEL WAS NAMED THE FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE AND ALL-DISTRICT AND ALL STATE QUARTERBACK HIS SENIOR YEAR. MICHAEL BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD FOR PASSING YARDS AND TOUCHDOWNS IN A SEASON AND A SINGLE GAME WHILE AT GHS. HE WAS THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE MISSOURI-KANSAS ALL STAR GAME. IN BASEBALL, MICHAEL WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. HE WAS HONORABLE ALL STATE BOTH YEARS. MICHAEL BROKE MANY SCHOOL RECORDS WHILE AT GHS. HE WAS NAMED 2002 GHS MR. BASEBALL AND WAS CHOSEN TO PLAY IN THE EAST-WEST MISSOURI ALL STAR GAME AS A PITCHER AND INFIELDER. MICHAEL ALSO PLAYED VARSITY BASKETBALL FOR THREE YEARS. MICHAEL WAS NAMED OUTSTANDING SENIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.

 

MICHAEL CONTINUED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER AT MISSOURI WESTERN UNIVERSITY, STARTING AT QUARTERBACK HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. HE WAS NAMED THE OFFENSIVE MVP AT THE MINERAL WATER BOWL IN 2005. MICHAEL COACHED AT MISSOURI WESTERN AFTER GRADUATION UNTIL 2013. HE CURRENTLY IS AN ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH AT MISSOURI S&T.

 

MICHAEL IS MARRIED TO LISA AND HAS A SON, DRAKE. MICHAEL’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GHS IN FOOTBALL ARE TOO MANY TO LIST BUT IN BASEBALL WAS WINNING THE FIRST DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP VS. LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH IN 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAYNE CHAMBERS, GHS CLASS OF 2002

 

WAYNE CHAMBERS

 

WAYNE PLAYED FOOTBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN FOOTBALL, WAYNE WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE LINEBACKER HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS AND NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL STATE, ALL-DISTRICT, AND K.C ALL-METRO HIS SENIOR YEAR. WAYNE WAS NAMED THE SUBURBAN CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN 2001. HE WAS A PREP- STAR ALL AMERICAN, RANKED AS THE 14TH BEST INSIDE LINEBACKER IN THE NATION BY RIVALS.COM, AND THE NINTH BEST LINEBACKER BY SUPERPREP. WAYNE WAS THE RONALD WARREN AWARD RECIPIENT AS THE BEST LINEBACKER IN THE KC METRO AREA HIS SENIOR YEAR.

 

WAYNE CONTINUED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, PLAYING AS A TRUE FRESHMAN AND BREAKING A RECORD FOR TACKLES IN A GAME BY A FRESHMAN. WAYNE’S TEAMS PLAYED IN 3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES, 4 BCS BOWL GAMES, 3 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS AND PLAYED ON THE #1 AND #2 TEAM IN THE COUNTRY IN 2002 AND 2003. WAYNE CONTINUED AS A COACH AT OKLAHOMA FOR 5 YEARS EARNING A MASTERS IN HUMAN RELATIONS AND THEN COACHED AT MISSOURI STATE FOR 4 YEARS. HE RETURNED TO COACH 1 YEAR AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN 2015.

 

WAYNE’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW H.S WAS GETTING THE GAME WINNING INTERCEPTION HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR AGAINST RAYTOWN SOUTH. THE VARSITY HAD LOST EVERY GAME THE YEAR BEFORE AND THIS WAS HIS FIRST START FOR THE VARSITY. THEY WON THEIR FIRST GAME THAT YEAR AGAINST OUR RIVAL, RAYTOWN SOUTH, A GREAT NIGHT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DON FONTANINI, GHS CLASS OF 1964

 

DON FONTANINI

 

DON PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL AND TRACK DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN TRACK, DON WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SHOT PUT HIS SENIOR YEAR AND FINISHED SECOND IN STATE IN THE DISCUS.  HE FINISHED THIRD IN THE SHOT HIS JUNIOR YEAR. HE STILL HOLDS THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE SHOT PUT WITH A THROW OF 58’3 ½’, A RECORD THAT HAS STOOD FOR OVER 50 YEARS.  HE ALSO BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE DISCUS UNTIL IT WAS BROKEN BY FELLOW HALL OF FAMER, MIKE ARBANAS. HE WAS THE CONFERENCE CHAMPION IN THE SHOT PUT AND DISCUS HIS SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, AND SENIOR YEARS. IN FOOTBALL, DON WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE LINEMAN HIS SENIOR YEAR AND SECOND TEAM KC ALL-DISTRICT. DON WAS A KEY MEMBER OF THE 1963 TEAM THAT WENT 10-0 AND WON THE SUBURBAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AND FINISHED RANKED AS THE #1 TEAM IN KC BY THE KANSAS CITY STAR. DON WAS AWARDED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS.

 

AFTER GRADUATING FROM KU, DON WAS THE GENERAL SALES MANAGER FOR PACESETTER CORPORATION. HE WAS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE FOUNDATION FOR FAIR CONTRACTING IN THE GREATER KC AREA AND WAS THE SECRETARY-TREASURER AND BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HEAVY CONSTRUCTION LABORERS UNION #663.

 

DON IS MARRIED TO KAREN AND HAS TWO SONS, ANTHONY AND ZACH, AS WELL AS 4 GRANDCHILDREN. DON’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GHS WAS BEING A PART OF THE 1963 UNDEFEATED FOOTBALL TEAM AND SETTING THE SCHOOL RECORDS IN THE SHOT PUT AND DISCUS.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOSH FREEMAN, GHS CLASS OF 2006

 

JOSH FREEMAN

 

JOSH PLAYED FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN FOOTBALL, JOSH WAS NAMED AN ALL-CONFERENCE QUARTERBACK HIS SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, AND SENIOR YEARS. JOSH WAS NAMED A FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE QUARTERBACK HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR SEASONS. JOSH WAS SELECTED TO THE KC STAR ALL-METRO TEAM HIS SENIOR YEAR. JOSH WAS HONORED WITH THE THOMAS A. SIMONE AWARD IN 2005 AS THE TOP PLAYER IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA. HE WAS LISTED AS THE #4 PRO STYLE QUARTERBACK IN THE NATION. JOSH HOLDS THE CAREER PASSING YARDS RECORD WITH 7,175 YARDS, TOUCHDOWN PASSES WITH 78, COMPLETIONS WITH 385 AND ATTEMPTS WITH 809. HE HOLDS THE SINGLE SEASON RECORD FOR YARDS IN A GAME WITH 404 YARDS, 6 TOUCHDOWNS AND WITH 2,400 YARDS AND 24 TOUCHDOWNS.

 

JOSH CONTINUED HIS PLAYING CAREER AT KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE HE PLAYED THREE SEASONS. DURING HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR, JOSH SET A SINGLE SEASON SCHOOL RECORD FOR PASS ATTEMPTS, COMPLETIONS AND YARDS (3,353) WITH 18 TOUCHDOWNS. HIS JUNIOR YEAR HE THREW FOR 2,945 YARDS WITH 20 TOUCHDOWNS AND 14 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS. HE FINISHED HIS CAREER WITH A SCHOOL RECORD 8,427 TOTAL YARDS AND OVER 60 TOUCHDOWNS. JOSH WAS HONORED WITH SEVERAL NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS DURING HIS CAREER.

 

IN THE 2009 NFL DRAFT, JOSH WAS SELECTED BY THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS IN THE FIRST ROUND, 17TH OVERALL. JOSH HAD A STELLAR CAREER WITH THE BUCS AND PLAYED THERE UNTIL 2013. HE LATER PLAYED FOR THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS AND THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS. JOSH’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GHS WAS COMING FROM WAY BEHIND TO DEFEAT SEDALIA SMITH-COTTON IN THE PLAYOFFS HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BYRON GASAWAY, GHS CLASS OF 1998

 

BYRON GASAWAY

 

BYRON PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, AND RAN TRACK DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN TRACK, BYRON WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN BOTH THE 200M RUN AND AS A MEMBER OF THE 4X200 RELAY TEAM HIS SENIOR YEAR. BYRON BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE 200M AND IS THE CURRENT RECORD HOLDER IN THE 100M DASH AND THE 4X200M RELAY. BYRON ALSO FINISHED 3RD AS A SR. AND 2ND AS A JR. IN THE 100M. HE PLACED 4TH IN THE 200M DASH HIS JR. YEAR AND 5TH HIS SOPH. YEAR. IN FOOTBALL, BYRON EARNED ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS FOR 3 YEARS AS A QUARTERBACK, RECEIVER, AND PUNTER AND WAS NAMED ALL METRO AND ALL STATE HIS SENIOR YEAR. IN BASKETBALL, BYRON WAS A THREE-YEAR VARSITY LETTERMAN AND EARNED FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS HIS SENIOR YEAR. BYRON WAS RANKED AS A TOP 20 WIDE RECEIVER IN THE 1997 CLASS. IN 1998, BYRON WAS VOTED BY THE GREATER KC SPORTS COMMISSION AND FOUNDATION AS THE MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. HE WAS ALSO NAMED THE KC STAR MISSOURI ATHLETE OF THE YEAR HIS SENIOR YEAR.

 

BYRON CONTINUED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS AND HAD A STELLAR CAREER AS A WIDE RECEIVER. BYRON CAME BACK TO GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL AND COACHED FOOTBALL AND TRACK FOR THREE YEARS. BYRON IS CURRENTLY A SUPERVISOR AT GENERAL DYNAMICS.

 

BYRON IS MARRIED TO LARISSA AND HAS FOUR CHILDREN, IMANI, TEVYN, KYNDALL, AND KARTER. BYRON’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GHS WERE THE FEELINGS HE HAD BEFORE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL GAMES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARLIE GILKISON, GHS CLASS OF 1967

 

CHARLIE GILKISON

 

CHARLIE RAN TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN TRACK, CHARLIE SET THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE MILE RUN WITH A TIME OF 4:22.2 WHICH STILL STANDS TODAY 50 YEARS LATER. IN CROSS COUNTRY, CHARLIE SET THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE TWO MILE RUN. AFTER GRADUATION, CHARLIE RAN TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY AT NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY LETTERING FOUR YEARS. HE HELD SCHOOL RECORDS IN THE MILE RUN AT 4:12, THE INDOOR MILE AND TWO MILE, AND THE 3 MILE OUTDOOR RUN, AND IN THE 4X800 INDOOR.

 

AFTER GRADUATION, CHARLIE BEGAN HIS TEACHING AND COACHING CAREER AT GRANDVIEW H.S. HE COACHED 33 YEARS IN TRACK AND AS THE GIRLS HEAD TRACK COACH LED GHS TO 3RD AND 4TH PLACE FINISHES IN 2000 AND 2001. HE COACHED 15 YEARS AS AN ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH AND 18 AS THE CROSS COUNTRY COACH. CHARLIE ALSO COACHED 28 YEARS OF BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL. CHARLIE TAUGHT BIOLOGY AT GHS AND IN 1996 WAS HONORED AS THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT GHS. HE WAS ALSO GIVEN THE BOOSTER CLUB ALUMNI AWARD IN 1996. CHARLIE RETIRED FROM GHS IN 2005 AND HAS BEEN SERVING AS THE GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY COACH AT LONGVIEW COMMUNITY COLLEGE SINCE THEN.

 

CHARLIE IS MARRIED TO RITA AND HAS A DAUGHTER NICOLE. CHARLIE’S 3 FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GHS WERE WATCHING THE BOYS TRACK TEAM WIN THE VERY FIRST EVER STATE TITLE FOR GHS IN 1990 BY ½ POINT ON THE VERY LAST LONG JUMP OF THE STATE MEET AND WATCHING MAKEATHA COOPER BREAK THE STATE RECORD IN THE 100M AND 300M HURDLES, WATCHING THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM NEARLY WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP LED BY ALEC BURKS AND FINALLY, WATCHING THE GHS FOOTBALL TEAM BATTLE JEFF CITY ON OUR OWN FIELD IN A RAINY QUARTERFINAL GAME LED BY SHAWN LONG. BUT BEST OF ALL, WATCHING YOUNG ATHLETES AND STUDENTS BECOME PRODUCTIVE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AND HOPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIE GUNNER, GHS CLASS OF 1996

 

CHIE GUNNER

 

CHIE PLAYED BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN BASEBALL, CHIE WAS NAMED A 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE OUTFIELDER BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. CHIE WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-METRO BY THE KC STAR BOTH IN 1995 AND 1996. HE WAS NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL-STATE BOTH YEARS AS WELL. CHIE IS IN THE TOP FIVE IN SINGLE SEASON RUNS SCORED, HITS, RBI’S AND DOUBLES AT GHS. HE IS IN THE TOP FIVE IN CAREER RBI’S AND SLUGGING PERCENTAGE. CHIE WAS SELECTED AND PLAYED IN THE MISSOURI EAST-WEST ALL-STAR GAME HIS SENIOR YEAR. IN 1996, CHIE WAS HONORED AS THE JOHN “BUCK” O’NEIL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNER.

 

CHIE WAS SELECTED IN THE 10TH ROUND BY THE TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS IN THE 1996 MLB DRAFT BECOMING THE FIRST GHS ATHLETE TO BE DRAFTED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER PLAYING FOR THE GULF COAST LEAGUE DEVIL RAYS AND LATER PLAYED FOR THE PRINCETON DEVIL RAYS BEFORE AN INJURY CUT HIS CAREER SHORT. HE WAS SELECTED AS THE MOST IMPROVED MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER IN THE TAMPA ORGANIZATION IN 1997. CHIE CONTINUES TO BE INVOLVED IN BASEBALL WORKING FOR MAC & SEITZ AS A BASEBALL INSTRUCTOR SINCE 1998. CHIE ALSO HAS WORKED AS A PERSONAL TRAINER SINCE 2003.

 

CHIE IS MARRIED TO DEBBIE AND HAS A SON, XAVIER. CHIE’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW H.S WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT WINNING THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP BY HITTING A HOME RUN, ACTUALLY TWO, WHICH IS ANOTHER STORY, IN THE CLINCHER VS. EXCELSIOR SPRINGS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOHN HESSLER, GHS CLASS OF 1975

 

JOHN HESSLER

 

JOHN IS BEING INDUCTED POST MORTEM AFTER PASSING IN 2012. JOHN PLAYED BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. JOHN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING THE BASEBALL PROGRAM AT GHS PLAYING ON THE FIRST TWO TEAMS. IN BASEBALL, JOHN BROKE AND STILL HOLDS THE GHS SINGLE SEASON RECORDS FOR STRIKEOUTS WITH 111, INNINGS PITCHED WITH 66 ⅔, AND COMPLETE GAMES WITH 7. JOHN HOLDS THE RECORD FOR MOST STRIKEOUTS IN A GAME WITH 20, IN A 10 INNING GAME. HE ALSO STILL HOLDS THE CAREER RECORD FOR E.R.A AT 1.58. JOHN THREW A NO-HITTER IN THE LAST GAME OF HIS CAREER VS. FORT OSAGE STRIKING OUT 15 BATTERS.

 

AFTER GRADUATION, JOHN CONTINUED HIS BASEBALL CAREER AT CROWDER COLLEGE WHERE HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE METS. HE TURNED DOWN THOSE OFFERS TO PITCH AT TULSA UNIVERSITY. AT TULSA, HE WAS SELECTED IN THE 1978 MLB DRAFT BY THE HOUSTON ASTROS IN THE 3RD ROUND, 63RD OVERALL AND SIGNED. JOHN PLAYED FOUR SEASONS IN THE MINOR LEAGUES MAKING IT TO THE DOUBLE-A LEVEL. HE WAS ON THE 40 MAN ROSTER FOR THE ASTROS, WITH THE LIKES OF NOLAN RYAN AND J.R. RICHARDS WHEN HIS CAREER WAS CUT SHORT AFTER SUFFERING A ROTATOR CUFF INJURY.

 

JOHN WAS SURVIVED BY 3 DAUGHTERS, JULIE, LORI, AND KRISTI ALONG WITH 3 GRANDDAUGHTERS. JOHN’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW H.S ACCORDING TO HIS SISTER WAS PITCHING THAT NO-HITTER HIS SENIOR YEAR. HERE TO ACCEPT JOHN’S AWARD IS HIS SISTER, GLORIA HESSLER-BRINKER.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHRIS JULO, GHS CLASS OF 1999

 

CHRIS JULO

 

CHRIS PARTICIPATED IN BASEBALL DURING HIS DAYS AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN BASEBALL, HE WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE AND ALL-DISTRICT AS A SHORTSTOP AND PITCHER IN BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SOPHOMORE YEAR. HIS SENIOR YEAR, CHRIS WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM K.C ALL METRO AND ALL-STATE AS AN INFIELDER. HE WAS ALSO NAMED THE SUBURBAN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. IN 1999, CHRIS WAS NAMED BY USA TODAY AS AN HONORABLE MENTION MISSOURI PLAYER OF THE YEAR. HE RECEIVED THE 5 STATE FIRST TEAM COACHES CHOICE AWARD. CHRIS CURRENTLY HOLDS SEVERAL SCHOOL RECORDS INCLUDING SINGLE SEASON HOME RUNS WITH 9 AND RBI’S WITH 49. HIS CAREER SCHOOL RECORDS INCLUDE RBI’S WITH 80, AND SLUGGING PERCENTAGE AND IS SECOND IN HOME RUNS WITH 15 AND BATTING AVERAGE IN .426 ALL IN JUST TWO VARSITY SEASONS FOR GHS.

 

CHRIS CONTINUED HIS BASEBALL CAREER AT MAPLE WOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE HE WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT BOTH YEARS AND ALL-AMERICAN HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR. THAT YEAR HE BROKE ALBERT PUJOLS HOME RUN RECORD AT MAPLE WOODS. CHRIS THEN PLAYED FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI IN 2002 AND FINISHED HIS COLLEGE CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS LITTLE-ROCK WHERE HE WON ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS. AFTER COLLEGE, HE PLAYED IN THE FRONTIER LEAGUE FOR THE EVANSVILLE OTTERS.

 

CHRIS IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE KANSAS CITY LOCAL UNION 533 PIPEFITTERS. HE PLACED THIRD IN THE WBFF FITNESS MODEL COMPETITION. CHRIS IS MARRIED TO LISA AND HAS TWO STEP CHILDREN, REILEE AND CONNOR. CHRIS’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GHS WAS WINNING THE KANSAS CITY STAR PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR HITTING 2 GRAND SLAMS AGAINST FORT OSAGE AND ANOTHER GRAND SLAM AGAINST NORTH KC IN HIS NEXT GAME.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DON KLAPMEYER, GHS CLASS OF 1961

 

DON KLAPMEYER

 

DON PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, AND TRACK DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN TRACK, DON WAS NAMED CONFERENCE AND DISTRICT CHAMPION IN THE HIGH JUMP BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR. HIS SENIOR YEAR, DON WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HIGH JUMP. IN FOOTBALL, DON WAS NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS AS A QUARTERBACK AND RUNNING BACK, AS WELL AS EARNING ALL-DISTRICT HONORS. IN BASKETBALL, DON WAS A 3 YEAR STARTER AND WAS NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE AS A JUNIOR AND FIRST TEAM HIS SENIOR YEAR. AFTER GRADUATION, DON RECEIVED A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI.

 

DON THEN WENT ON TO RECEIVE HIS B.S IN CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS. DON HAS SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL PRACTICE LEADER-AVIATION FOR H.W. LOCHNER, INC. HE HAS SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL, VICE PRESIDENT OF AIRPORT ENGINEERING FOR BUCHER, WILLIS, AND RATLIFF CORPORATION AND HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORTS AND ON THE MISSOURI AND TEXAS AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

 

DON IS MARRIED TO JUDY, AND HAS 3 SONS, CASEY, BRADLEY, AND BRIAN ALONG WITH 5 GRANDCHILDREN. DON’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL ARE ALL WONDERFUL. IF HE HAD TO NAME FAVORITES IT WOULD BE WINNING THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOOTBALL IN 1959 AND 1960 AND WINNING FIRST PLACE IN THE MISSOURI STATE MEET IN THE HIGH JUMP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAWN LONG, GHS CLASS OF 1985

 

SHAWN LONG

 

SHAWN PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, AND BASEBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN FOOTBALL, HE WAS NAMED AS THE FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE AND ALL-DISTRICT QUARTERBACK IN BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR. IN 1983 HE WAS AN HONORABLE MENTION ALL METRO QB, AND IN 1984, HIS SENIOR YEAR, SHAWN WAS NAMED THE FIRST TEAM ALL METRO QB, FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE AND WAS AN HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN. HIS SENIOR YEAR, SHAWN WAS NAMED THE ANTHONY J. SIMONE AWARD WINNER AS THE TOP FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA. IN BASEBALL, SHAWN WAS A TWO YEAR STARTER AND WAS A 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD BASEMAN IN 1984. IN BASKETBALL, SHAWN WAS A THREE-YEAR STARTER. SHAWN ALSO WAS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

 

AFTER GRADUATION, SHAWN CONTINUED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER AT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE WHERE HE STARTED AT QB FOR FOUR YEARS. AFTER COLLEGE, SHAWN WORKED FOR THE KANSAS CITY COMETS, THE CHIEFS RADIO NETWORK (KCFX), CHIEFS TV (KCTV5). TL CONCEPTS, AND THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. SHAWN CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL.

 

SHAWN IS MARRIED TO ALISON AND HAS A SON SAM AND DAUGHTER CHLOE. SHAWN’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GRANDVIEW H.S ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. MOST OF THEM WERE POSITIVE AND HAPPY BUT A FEW TO SHARE WERE AFTER MY FIRST GAME AS A SOPHOMORE BEING FORCED INTO THE GAME AT QB AND PROCEEDING TO THROW 4 PASSES, 2 INTERCEPTIONS AND 2 INCOMPLETE, COACH BROWN CAME TO MY HOUSE THE DAY AFTER AND SAT ON THE FRONT STEPS CARING ENOUGH TO PICK ME UP, BRUSH ME OFF, AND GIVING ME THE CONFIDENCE THAT I DESPERATELY NEEDED. THE OTHER WAS AFTER THE STATE SEMI-FINAL HOME LOSS TO JEFF CITY. AFTER THE GAME, WE EMERGED FROM A CRYING LOCKER ROOM TO A CROWD OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS WAITING IN THE FREEZING RAIN TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT. I REMEMBER HUGGING JACK SHEPARD’S MOM, GRETCHEN FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY WHILE I GATHERED MYSELF TOGETHER ENOUGH TO CHOKE OUT A FEW WORDS TO THE CROWD.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIAM G.  MCCRARY, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH 1958 - 1968

 

WILLIAM MCCRARY

 

WILLIAM CAME TO GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL IN 1958 AFTER ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOL IN HAMILTON, MISSOURI AND ATTENDING NORTHEAST MISSOURI STATE ON A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP. COACH MCCRARY BECAME THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT GHS IN 1958 AND WAS TOLD THAT GRANDVIEW WAS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. HE SET OUT TO CHANGE THAT REPUTATION AND DID HE EVER. WILLIAM COACHED FOOTBALL UNTIL 1968 COMPILING A 77-20-3 CAREER RECORD WHICH INCLUDED 10 WINNING SEASONS, WHICH MAKES HIM THE HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE COACH IN THE HISTORY OF GHS FOOTBALL. DURING THOSE 11 YEARS HIS TEAMS WON 7 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS. HIS 1961 SQUAD WENT UNDEFEATED AND WAS VOTED BY THE KANSAS CITY STAR AS THE #1 TEAM IN THE KC AREA. THE 1963 TEAM WENT 10-0 AND WAS ALSO RANKED AS THE #1 TEAM IN THE AREA. THE 1965 TEAM ALSO WENT UNDEFEATED AND FINISHED RANKED #3 IN THE KC AREA.

 

WILLIAM THEN WENT INTO ADMINISTRATION AND BECAME THE PRINCIPAL OF GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR 21 YEARS BEFORE RETIRING IN 1990 AND 32 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR DISTRICT.

 

WILLIAM HAS BEEN MARRIED TO MARY FOR 66 YEARS. HE HAS 2 DAUGHTERS JULIE, AND JANE AND A SON, DOUG ALONG WITH 4 GRANDCHILDREN AND 4 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN. COACH MCCRARY’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GRANDVIEW H.S ARE ABOUT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANY ATHLETES HE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO COACH. THROUGH THEIR HARD WORK IN HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS, NUMEROUS ATHLETES EARNED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT EXPANDED THEIR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. IT’S ESPECIALLY REWARDING TO KNOW THAT MANY ATHLETES TRANSLATED THEIR ATHLETIC DISCIPLINE, EXCELLENCE, AND LEADERSHIP INTO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAMES MINARD, GHS CLASS OF 1985

 

JAMES MINARD

 

JIM PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, AND BASEBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL. IN FOOTBALL, JIM EARNED 3 VARSITY LETTERS AND WAS NAMED FIRST ALL-CONFERENCE AS BOTH A RECEIVER AND SAFETY HIS SENIOR YEAR. HE EARNED ALL METRO HONORS AS WELL AS BEING NAMED A 1ST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT RECEIVER. HE WAS CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BIG BROTHER’S BIG SISTER’S ALL STAR FOOTBALL GAME. HE ALSO RECEIVED THE CHANNEL 4 PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS, WAS GIVEN THE US MARINE CORPS DISTINGUISHED ATHLETE AWARD ALONG WITH BEING THE OPTIMIST OUTSTANDING ATHLETE AWARD. IN BASEBALL, JIM WAS NAMED THE ALL-CONFERENCE SHORTSTOP BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. HE WAS ALSO NAMED HONORABLE MENTION KC ALL-METRO AS A SHORTSTOP. IN BASKETBALL, JIM EARNED 3 VARSITY LETTERS AND WAS A 3 YEAR STARTER FOR THE BULLDOGS.

 

JAMES CONTINUED HIS ATHLETIC CAREER BY PLAYING BASEBALL FOR TWO YEARS AT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE 1986 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES. JIM THEN TRANSFERRED TO WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE WHERE HE PLAYED BOTH FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL.

 

JIM IS MARRIED TO LAURIE AND HAS THREE DAUGHTERS, MADISON, RILEY, AND EMILY. JIM WORKED FOR 12 YEARS AS A CONTROLLER FOR SMITH-DALE, A WHOLESALE GIFTWARE COMPANY. HE PRESENTLY WORKS AS A SUBCONTRACTOR AND OWNER OF A REMODELING BUSINESS. HIS FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL WAS BEATING RAYTOWN SOUTH IN THE PLAYOFFS 7-6 ON A FAKE FIELD GOAL AND GOING ON TO PLAY ROCKHURST AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEWART MYERS, GHS CLASS OF 1985

 

STEWART MYERS

 

STEWART PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL. IN FOOTBALL, STEWART EARNED FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE, ALL-DISTRICT, AND KC METRO HONORS AS A RUNNING BACK DURING HIS SENIOR SEASON. HE WAS NAMED SECOND TEAM ALL STATE AFTER RUSHING FOR 1,510 YARDS AND 23 TOUCHDOWNS. HE WAS NAMED CHANNEL 4 PLAYER OF THE WEEK AND WAS SELECTED AND PLAYED IN THE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS ALL STAR GAME AS WELL AS THE LIONS CLUB EAST-WEST ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME. IN TRACK, STEWART WAS A 3 YEAR LETTERMAN RUNNING SPRINTS, HURDLES, LONG JUMPING AND RELAYS AND SERVED AS A CAPTAIN. HE BROKE THE GHS SOPHOMORE LONG JUMP RECORD GOING 21’4”. IN BASKETBALL, STEWART PLAYED 3 YEARS OF JV AND VARSITY. HE WAS AN HONOR ROLL STUDENT ALL THREE YEARS AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY. STEWART WAS NAMED A NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE BY THE US ARMY RESERVE.

 

STEWART GRADUATED FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE AND RECEIVED HIS JURIS DOCTORATE FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL. HE WAS CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL. HE IS CURRENTLY VICE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL CABLE TELEVISION COOPERATIVE AFTER WORKING AS SENIOR ATTORNEY AT SPRING. HE IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE MISSOURI AND KANSAS BAR AND SERVES AT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM.

 

STEWART IS MARRIED TO DEBBIE AND HAS TWO CHILDREN, ELLE AND STEW JR. HIS FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL WAS AGAINST WINNETONKA. THE GAME WAS A BUILD UP FOR THE TWO TOP TEAMS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. HE HAD THREE TOUCHDOWNS, RUSHED FOR 184 YARDS AND WAS NAMED CHANNEL 4 PLAYER OF THE WEEK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RICK PICKREN, GHS CLASS OF 1983

 

RICK PICKREN

 

RICK PARTICIPATED IN BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL. IN BASKETBALL, RICK EARNED 3 VARSITY LETTERS AND WAS NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. HE WAS NAMED KC ALL METRO HONORABLE MENTION AFTER HIS JUNIOR YEAR. FOLLOWING HIS SENIOR YEAR, RICK WAS ALSO NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL DISTRICT, 1ST TEAM KC ALL-METRO AND WAS THE FIRST GHS PLAYER TO BE NAMED TO THE 1ST TEAM ALL-STATE TEAM. HE AVERAGED 32.2 POINTS PER GAME AND 10.2 REBOUNDS PER GAME HIS SENIOR YEAR AND SET THE ALL-TIME CAREER SCORING RECORD WITH 1,192 POINTS (WHICH WAS LATER BROKEN BY CURTIS BARNES). HIS 47 POINTS VS. RAYTOWN SOUTH SET A SCHOOL RECORD AND BROKE SEVERAL OTHER RECORDS DURING HIS CAREER. HIS 44 POINTS BROKE JON SUNVOLD’S RECORD AT THE LEE’S SUMMIT TOURNEY. RICK WAS RECOGNIZED AS A CONVERSE ALL-AMERICAN AND HONORABLE MENTION PREP ALL-AMERICAN BY BASKETBALL WEEKLY. HE WAS CHOSEN TO PLAY AGAINST THE RUSSIAN 19 AND UNDER TEAM AT ALLEN FIELDHOUSE AND PLAYED IN THE MISSOURI-KANSAS ALL STAR GAME.

 

RICK CONTINUED HIS BASKETBALL CAREER AT VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY WHERE HE EARNED AMCU ALL-CONFERENCE NEWCOMER TEAM AS A FRESHMAN AND WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 1984 OLYMPIC TRIALS. HE THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK. HIS NEXT AND FINAL STOP WAS AT EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY AND WAS NAMED ALL-CONFERENCE HIS SENIOR YEAR AFTER AVERAGING 21.2 PPG. HE FINISHED WITH 1,046 CAREER POINTS AND WAS NAMED THE MOST OUTSTANDING GREYHOUND BASKETBALL PLAYER BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. AFTER GRADUATION HE PLAYED IN THE SUMMER PRO LEAGUE AND LATER THE CBA FOR GRAND RAPIDS. IN 2003, RICK WAS ELECTED INTO THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC HALL OF HONORS AND THE UALR HALL OF FAME AS A MEMBER OF THE 1985-86 TEAM.

 

RICK IS MARRIED TO HONEY AND HAS TWO CHILDREN, KYLAN AND JENT. RICK HAS OWNED SEVERAL CONSTRUCTION RELATED BUSINESSES AND CURRENTLY IS THE PRESIDENT OF VENICE ON THE LAKE, INC AND THE WHITE RIVER TRADING COMPANY ANTIQUE STORE NEAR BRANSON. HIS FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GHS WAS BREAKING JON SUNVOLD’S RECORD AT LEE’S SUMMIT ALONG WITH THE LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS THAT CAME AS A RESULT OF PLAYING ATHLETICS AT GHS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORRIANNA RACKLEY, GHS CLASS OF 2006

 

ORRIANNA RACKLEY

 

ORRIANNA PARTICIPATED IN TRACK, BASKETBALL, AND SOFTBALL ALL FOUR YEARS DURING HER TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN TRACK, ORRIANNA WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HER SENIOR YEAR IN THE 400M AND AS A MEMBER OF THE 4X100 RELAY TEAM. ORRIANNA BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE 400M, AND EARNED ALL-STATE HONORS ALL FOUR YEARS AND WAS ALL-CONFERENCE AS A JUNIOR AND SENIOR. IN BASKETBALL, ORRIANNA WAS A THREE-YEAR VARSITY STARTER AND WAS A 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYER BOTH HER JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS AS WELL AS BEING A TEAM CAPTAIN BOTH YEARS. HER 2005-06 TEAM WON THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP. IN SOFTBALL, ORRIANNA WAS A FOUR YEAR VARSITY STARTER AND GARNERED NUMEROUS HONORS. SHE WAS NAMED THE GRANDVIEW H.S SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. DURING HIGH SCHOOL, ORRIANNA WAS ON THE HONOR ROLL ALL FOUR YEARS, WAS NAMED WHO’S WHO AMONGST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND WAS A MEMBER OF NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

 

ORRIANNA CONTINUED HER TRACK CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY WHERE SHE GRADUATED WITH A B.A. SOCIOLOGY DEGREE AND WAS NAMED TO THE DEAN’S LIST. ORRIANNA HAS WORKED FOR THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, THE KANSAS DIVISION OF FAMILY SUPPORT AND SWOPE HEALTH SERVICES. SHE ALSO SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT TRACK COACH AT GRANDVIEW H.S. HER FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GHS WAS HAVING HER PICTURE ON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WALL FOR HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WELL AS SHARING THAT WITH FRIENDS WHO ARE NOW CONSIDERED LIFETIME FRIENDS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANN (SHELTON) WELSH, GHS CLASS OF 1992

 

ANN (SHELTON) WELSH

 

ANN PARTICIPATED IN SOFTBALL, BASKETBALL, AND VOLLEYBALL DURING HER TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN SOFTBALL, ANN WAS NAMED THE TEAM MVP ALL FOUR YEARS, WAS NAMED THE ALL-CONFERENCE 1ST TEAM PITCHER BOTH HER JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. SHE LED THE TEAM IN HITTING HER SOPHOMORE YEAR AND LED GHS TO THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS BOTH HER JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. IN BASKETBALL, ANN WAS NAMED 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE HER SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. SHE WAS NAMED ALL-DISTRICT 2ND TEAM HER JUNIOR YEAR. SHE HELPED LEAD GHS TO A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP HER JUNIOR YEAR AND DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS HER JR. AND SR. YEARS. ANN SCORED OVER 1,000 POINTS IN HER CAREER. IN VOLLEYBALL, ANN WAS A 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYER HER JUNIOR YEAR. SHE HELPED LEAD GHS TO A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AND A DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP HER JUNIOR YEAR.

 

ANN CONTINUED HER SOFTBALL CAREER AT JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE HER NAME IS SCATTERED AMONGST THE RECORD BOOKS.  SHE WAS NAMED ALL-CONFERENCE AND A JUNIOR COLLEGE ALL-AMERICAN HER SOPHOMORE YEAR AFTER HITTING .491 AND 17 WINS ON THE MOUND. ANN CONTINUED HER SOFTBALL CAREER AT JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY. DESPITE PLAYING ONLY TWO YEARS, SHE BROKE THE SCHOOL’S CAREER STRIKEOUT RECORD. AS A SENIOR SHE WON 28 GAMES, STRUCK OUT 335 AND HAD A 0.71 E.R.A. SHE LED JACKSONVILLE STATE TO THE NCAA REGIONALS. SHE WAS NAMED ALL-ATLANTIC SUN, CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT MVP AND WAS NAMED THE ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. ANN ALSO HAD A CAREER .372 BATTING AVERAGE AND HER NAME IS SCATTERED AMONGST THE RECORD BOOKS STILL TO THIS DAY.

 

ANN IS MARRIED TO MARK AND HAS 5 CHILDREN, LUKE, NEELY, JOHN, JACOB, AND SARAH. ANN IS IN HER 20TH YEAR OF TEACHING AND COACHING CURRENTLY AT SPRING GARDEN H.S IN SPRING GARDEN, ALABAMA. SHE WORKS WITH ELEMENTARY KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND IS THE HEAD SOFTBALL COACH. SHE HAS LED HER TEAM TO FOUR STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES. ANN’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW H.S WAS FINISHING SECOND AT THE GREATER KANSAS CITY SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST TOURNAMENT SINCE THEIR WAS NO STATE TOURNAMENT. ALSO, BEING ABLE TO PLAY IN THE SECTIONAL BASKETBALL GAME AT KEMPER ARENA AFTER WINNING THE DISTRICTS WAS A THRILL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEAH SNIDER, GHS CLASS OF 1992

 

LEAH SNIDER

 

LEAH PARTICIPATED IN SOCCER, BASKETBALL, AND VOLLEYBALL DURING HER TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN SOCCER, LEAH WAS NAMED TO THE 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE, ALL-DISTRICT,  AND ALL STATE TEAMS. LEAH IS THE GHS SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER WITH 163 CAREER GOALS, 83 GOALS MORE THAN THE NEXT GIRL AND WITH 54 GOALS SCORED IN A SEASON. LEAH STILL HOLDS THE STATE CAREER RECORD FOR GOALS PER GAME WITH 2.36.

 

IN BASKETBALL, SHE GARNERED 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE AND ALL-DISTRICT HONORS. LEAH HELD THE RECORD AT ONE TIME FOR 3 POINT SHOOTING AND SCORED OVER 1,000 POINTS IN HER CAREER. IN VOLLEYBALL, SHE PLAYED VARSITY AND WAS ALL-CONFERENCE. DURING HER HIGH SCHOOL CAREER, SHE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF STUDENT COUNCIL, WAS ON THE HONOR ROLL ALL FOUR YEARS, AND GRADUATED IN THE TOP THREE OF HER CLASS.

 

LEAH CONTINUED HER SOCCER CAREER AT PARK UNIVERSITY. SHE APPEARS IN THE NAIA RECORD BOOK SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING THE NAIA WOMEN’S RECORD FOR SINGLE GAME POINTS WITH 21 (10 GOALS AND 1 ASSIST). SHE STILL IS LISTED 2ND IN THE NATION WITH TOTAL POINTS WHICH IS COMBINED GOALS AND ASSISTS. SHE IS 5TH IN THE NATION IN CAREER GOALS WITH 119, WHICH IS A SCHOOL RECORD AND 8TH IN THE NATION IN ASSISTS WITH 57. LEAH WAS NAMED A 3 TIME NAIA ALL-AMERICAN EARNING 1ST TEAM HONORS HER SENIOR YEAR AND 2ND TEAM HER SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR YEARS. LEAH LED PARK TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HER SOPHOMORE YEAR. SHE HAS A SEAT AT PARK’S STADIUM IN HER HONOR. IN 2015, LEAH WAS NAMED TO THE PARK UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS WALL OF HONOR.

 

LEAH IS THE MANAGING PARTNER AT LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE IN BELTON AND SPENDS MANY HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS AND ATHLETICS. LEAH’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GRANDVIEW H.S ARE TOO MANY TO LIST HOWEVER THE FRIENDSHIPS MADE ARE NUMBER 1. SCORING 10 GOALS IN ONE GAME AND SCORING 1,000 POINTS ARE AT THE TOP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRETT WATKINS, GHS CLASS OF 2003

 

BRETT WATKINS

 

BRETT PARTICIPATED IN WRESTLING, CROSS COUNTRY, SOCCER, AND TRACK DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN WRESTLING, BRETT WAS A FOUR TIME STATE MEDALIST WINNING THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HIS JUNIOR YEAR AT 119 LBS. AND HIS SENIOR YEAR AT 125 LBS. HE ALSO FINISHED 4TH HIS JUNIOR YEAR AND 5TH AS A FRESHMEN. HIS CAREER RECORD WAS 160-10. HIS SENIOR YEAR BRETT WAS NAMED THE CLASS 2 STATE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR. HE WAS NAMED THE CONFERENCE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AND DISTRICT 7 WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AS WELL AS BEING NAMED 1ST TEAM KC ALL METRO BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. HE WAS THE CONFERENCE AND DISTRICT CHAMPION THREE TIMES. BRETT WAS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL STATE AND ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN ALL FOUR YEARS. BRETT PARTICIPATED IN THE MISSOURI-KANSAS ALL-STAR DUAL.

 

BRETT CONTINUED HIS WRESTLING CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. HE WAS A STARTER AT 133 LBS. AS FRESHMAN AND FINISHED 5TH AT THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT. AFTER GRADUATING FROM MISSOURI, HE RECEIVED HIS MASTERS IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP/ADMINISTRATION FROM SOUTHWEST BAPTIST.  BRETT HAS TAUGHT ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN BELTON, NEOSHO, AND IN THE NORTH KANSAS CITY DISTRICT. HE HAS SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT HEAD WRESTLING COACH FOR NINE YEARS AND WAS NAMED THE 2014 MISSOURI ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR.

 

BRETT IS MARRIED TO KATHARINE AND HAS A SON, JACK. BRETT’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW H.S WAS MEETING BOTH COACHES AND ATHLETES OF SUCH GREAT CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY DURING HIS TENURE AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUDY WICHMANN, HEAD BOYS TRACK COACH AT GHS FOR 26 YEARS FROM 1980-2005 AND HEAD FOOTBALL COACH FROM 1992-1997

 

RUDY WICHMANN

 

RUDY ALSO SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT TRACK AND FOOTBALL COACH AT GRANDVIEW H.S. RUDY COACHED THE 1990 BOY’S TRACK AND FIELD TEAM TO GRANDVIEW’S FIRST EVER STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP. RUDY HAS COACHED SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS DURING HIS CAREER AT GHS. MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS STILL HOLD SCHOOL RECORDS AT GHS. AS A HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, RUDY LED THE BULLDOGS TO A 27-33 RECORD IN HIS 6 SEASONS.  RUDY GRADUATED FROM LILLIS H.S AND RECEIVED A FOOTBALL AND TRACK SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN COLORADO. HE WAS SELECTED AS AN OUTSTANDING COLLEGE ATHLETE OF AMERICAN IN THE 1969 EDITION. AFTER COLLEGE,

 

 RUDY TAUGHT AND COACHED FOR THREE YEARS AT LILLIS. RUDY TAUGHT DRIVER EDUCATION AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR 33 YEARS. RUDY SPENT 22 YEARS IN THE ARMY RESERVES BEFORE RETIRING IN 1992.

 

RUDY IS MARRIED TO NANCY AND HAS 2 SONS, JEFF AND STEVE AND A DAUGHTER, JENNIFER. RUDY ALSO HAS 6 GRANDCHILDREN.  RUDY’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORY AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL WAS WINNING THE LARGE CLASS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BARRY WILKINSON, GHS CLASS OF 1964

 

BARRY WILKINSON

 

BARRY PARTICIPATED IN FOOTBALL, TRACK, AND BASKETBALL DURING HIS TIME AT GRANDVIEW H.S. IN FOOTBALL, BARRY WAS A 3 YEAR STARTER. BARRY WAS NAMED A 1ST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE, ALL-DISTRICT, AND KC ALL METRO PLAYER HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS. HIS SENIOR YEAR, HE WAS ALSO NAMED 2ND TEAM ALL STATE. AS A RUNNING BACK. BARRY WAS A KEY PLAYER ON GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL’S FIRST TWO UNDEFEATED TEAMS. BARRY PLACED 2ND FOR THE NIGRO AWARD AS THE TOP PLAYER IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA HIS SENIOR YEAR AFTER SCORING 23 TOUCHDOWNS. IN TRACK, BARRY WAS A FOUR YEAR LETTERMAN. HE WAS THE CONFERENCE CHAMPION HIS SENIOR YEAR IN THE HIGH HURDLES AND LOW HURDLES. IN BASKETBALL, BARRY WAS A THREE-YEAR VARSITY LETTERMAN. HE EARNED ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION HONORS HIS SENIOR YEAR.

 

BARRY CONTINUED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER ON A SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. HE PLAYED FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE SUFFERING A CAREER ENDING INJURY. BARRY RETIRED AS PRESIDENT AND BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE HEAVY CONSTRUCTION LABORERS UNION #663 AND SECRETARY/TREASURER OF THE WESTERN MISSOURI AND KANSAS LABORERS DISTRICT COUNCIL. HE ALSO SERVED AS AN EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER AND TRUSTEE TO THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION OF EMPLOYEE FRINGE BENEFITS FOUNDATION.

 

BARRY IS MARRIED TO MARTI AND HAS A DAUGHTER TRACY, AND A SON, JEFF. BARRY’S FAVORITE ATHLETIC MEMORIES AT GRANDVIEW HIGH SCHOOL IS BEING PART OF TWO UNDEFEATED FOOTBALL TEAMS WHICH BOTH WERE VOTED #1 IN THE KC AREA. ALSO, THE 1962 BASKETBALL TEAM WON THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP. FINALLY, THE 1961 AND 1964 TRACK TEAMS WERE UNDEFEATED IN DUAL MEETS AND WON THE SUBURBAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS.