Former St. Louis Cardinals outfield Jim Edmonds highlights this year’s inductees into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
A total of 15 individuals, including a former basketball standout born in Plato, one high school program and one university program will be inducted during ceremonies Sunday, Jan. 12, at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield.
This year’s inductees are:
Edmonds, outfield, St. Louis Cardinals: In eight full seasons with the Cardinals, Edmonds made three all-star appearances and in 2000 became the first Cardinals outfielder ever to hit 40 or more home runs in a season. In 2004, Edmonds earned a Silver Slugger Award, hitting .301 with 42 home runs and driving in 111 runs. At the end of his 17-year career, Edmonds retired with a .988 fielding percentage and eight Gold Gloves, six of which came while playing for St. Louis. Edmonds hit the game-winning walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game 6 in the 2004 LCS against Houston to send the series to Game 7.
Emmitt Thomas, cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs: Thomas returned to his football roots in Kansas City in 2010, joining the Chiefs as the defensive backs coach. Thomas played cornerback for 13 seasons with Kansas City (’66-78) and finished his career with a franchise-record 58 interceptions. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Chiefs Hall of Fame in ’86, Thomas was also enshrined into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jon Sundvold, guard, University of Missouri: One of only two players in Big Eight Conference history to play on four consecutive league championship teams, Sundvold played on Mizzou teams that had a cumulative record of 100-28. A guard from Blue Springs, he twice won all-conference, all-district and all-Big Eight Tournament honors, and was an all-American in 1983.
Sunvold is one of only four players to have his jersey (#20) retired. He played professionally for the Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. He was a second-team choice on the Big Eight’s all-decade team, and was named the MVP of MU’s own all-decade team in the 1980s. Sundvold was a 1990 Missouri University Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.
Jamie Quirk, catcher, Kansas City Royals: During his 18-year playing career, Quirk appeared in 984 Major League games — 525 of those as a catcher. He compiled a .240 career average with 43 home runs and 247 RBI and played for a total of eight different teams, including the 1980 AL champion Royals, 1985 world champion Royals and the 1990 AL Champion Oakland A’s.
Mel Gray, receiver, University of Missouri and St. Louis Cardinals: At the University of Missouri, Gray lettered in football and track from 1968-’70. In track, Gray was an all-American once indoors and twice outdoors. In football, Gray was all-Big Eight in 1969, when he caught 25 passes for 705 yards and a school-record nine touchdowns. He at one time held the MU career record for receiving touchdowns (14). He was chosen to MU’s all-century team in 1990. Gray was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, and was an all-pro receiver during a career that lasted from 1971-82. Gray appeared in four straight Pro Bowls from 1974-’77 during the “Air Coryell” years.
Al Onofrio, football coach, University of Missouri: In 1971, after spending 12 years as an assistant coach, Onofrio was named the head football coach at the University of Missouri, a post he held until 1977. While his record hovered at the .500 level, he was noted for having pulled upsets, mainly on the road. He coached four All-Americans and 30 NFL players. He led Missouri to two bowl games, in the 1972 Fiesta Bowl, a loss to Arizona State in Tempe, and the 1973 Sun Bowl, a win over Auburn in El Paso, Texas.
Mickey Owen, catcher, St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers: A native of Nixa, Owen was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1935. He made his major league debut in 1937, appearing in 80 games, and spent the next three full seasons in St. Louis before being traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941. After spending 5 seasons as the Brooklyn backstop, Owen finished out his career with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. In a 13-season career, Mickey posted a .255 batting average with 14 home runs and 378 RBI in 1209 games. Owen passed away on July 13, 2005.
Dr. Richard Lehman, sports medicine, St. Louis: Lehman obtained his medical school degree from the University of Miami Medical School. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Washington University in St. Louis and was trained in orthopedic sports medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He has been involved with ownership groups on the professional level with the Florida Panthers and has served as team physician for the St. Louis Blues and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rex Sinquefield, chess, St. Louis: The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has taken the lead of the International Olympic Committee which recognizes chess as a sport. Sinquefield founded the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, a venue where newcomers can learn and seasoned veterans can compete in local and national and international tournaments. In 2011, the Sinquefields opened the World Chess Hall of Fame.
Lawrence Walls, football coach, Sumner High School: From the 1960s through the ’80s, Walls, who retired in 1998, presided over a dynasty at Sumner High School. He tallied an impressive 248 wins compared to only 53 losses and two ties. His teams won four state titles.
Jim Pearson, golf and football coach, Kickapoo High School: In 1971, he was named the first head football coach at Springfield’s Kickapoo High School. Pearson retired after 20 years with a record of 135-66. He is a member of four Halls of Fame: the Missouri High School Football Coaches, the Springfield Area Sports, the Ozarks Golf and the Missouri Valley College Athletic.
Richard Hantak NFL official, St. Louis: In addition to his many years officiating high school basketball and college and high school football, Hantak’s NFL career as an official has spanned 25 years. His accolades in the NFL are numerous and include such assignments as the 1985 and 1997 NFC championships, the 1989 AFC championship and two Pro Bowls. But the biggest assignments in his career were being named as the back judge in 1982’s Super Bowl XVII and referee in the 1992 Super Bowl XXVII.
Ellen Port, amateur golf, St. Louis: The “First Lady of Missouri Golf,” Port won her seventh Missouri Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championship in 2010, placing her in a tie for the most ever. She has qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur 17 times.
Clyde Lear, sports media, Jefferson City: Lear is the retired xhairman and CEO of Learfield Communications, Inc., a company he started in 1972 as an outgrowth of his master’s project at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Learfield Sports is the preeminent leader in the collegiate sports marketing arena, boasting a rich history dating back to 1975.
Gene Ruble, basketball, (Southwest) Missouri State University: Ruble was born in Plato and began making a name for himself as a basketball standout in Camdenton. He helped guide that team to the Missouri Class B state championship during his first year of high school play in 1941. His junior year, Ruble moved to Lebanon High School and helped the Yellowjackets to a 28-1 campaign. He led the team back to the state finals and a second place finish in his senior season. In 1946, after serving in the Army and seeing action at The Battle of the Bulge, Ruble joined the Southwest Missouri State basketball team where he was a four-time first team all-conference selection, while leading the league in scoring each of those four seasons. He finished his SMS career with 1,406 points and was the school’s all-time scoring leader until 1967. Today he is still among the top 10 all-time scorers in Bears’ basketball history.
Columbia College, volleyball: From 1998 to 2001, the Cougar volleyball team amassed an overall record of 167-2. They participated in four straight NAIA national volleyball championship matches, winning three national titles.
New Haven High School, basketball: Since the school’s first game 100 years ago, New Haven has established itself an unparalleled basketball tradition recognized throughout the state. The Shamrocks have 10 final four appearances and eight state championships.