Small communities fostered Sports Hall of Famers' careers (+video)
Shalee Lehning used to joke with her Atlanta Dream teammates when she made it to the WNBA that she used to have to drive 30 miles to the nearest movie theatre while growing up in Sublette.
Some couldn’t imagine what that would be like, but to Lehning, she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“You understand what matters growing up in a small town,” Lehning said. “Community matters, people matter, relationships matter. Those are things that you’re doing because you’re spending time with people.”
Those small-town qualities were on full display Sunday night at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, as 11 former coaches and athletes were inducted at the Scottish Rite Center.
Along with Lehning, Paul Coffman (Chase), a college walk-on turned pro-bowl player for the Green Bay Packers, Lonnie Kruse (Holyrood), the second all-time winningest coach in NAIA history at Sterling, Brian Moorman (Sedgwick), a pro bowl punter for the Buffalo Bills, and Troy Morrell (Atwood), a three-time national champion as Butler Community College’s football coach, all mentioned how their upbringing played a crucial role in their hall-of-fame careers.
All said that growing up in a small community helped develop their characters.
“You learn to gain an appreciation for the people, as opposed to getting wrapped up in always doing things,” Lehning said. “When you’re in a city, everything is at your fingertips and you don’t appreciate things near as much.”
Former K-State coach Deb Patterson, who coached Lehning, built one of the most successful Big 12 programs on the foundation of small-town athletes much like Lehning.
“They all grow up in small towns where community matters, where families are important,” Patterson said. “That usually translates into the college environment, where they become great leaders and great team players.”
Coffman built a legacy of hard work and determination out of Chase, as he went from college walk-on at Kansas State to becoming a pro-bowl tight end for the Green Bay Packers.
“You don’t expect anything,” Coffman said. “I didn’t expect to get a scholarship. When I was a free agent in Green Bay, I didn’t expect them to keep me. Each and every day I went out with the attitude that I have to prove myself and that’s part of growing up in a small town.”
Moorman was the most emotional on stage when discussing his time in Sedgwick, becoming passionate when recalling stories of playing on an average high school football team but creating life-long bonds with teammates and coaches.
“It just shows what you can do if you have that kind of resolve and you believe in yourself,” Moorman said. “I always try to tell kids to dream big and that’s how I did it. I’ve tried to live by that and never give up my dream. It’s nice to see all of us small-town kids realize our dreams tonight.”
Other inductees were Terry Beeson, a former KU and Seattle Seahawks linebacker, Ken Berry, a Topeka native and MLB All-Star outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, Tracy Bunge, a former KU softball player and coach, Matthew Downing, a Coffeyville basketball player, Kenny Harrison, a former K-State Olympian in triple jump who was not present, and Dick Sanders, a vital figure in the baseball community in Wichita.
This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 10:25 PM with the headline "Small communities fostered Sports Hall of Famers' careers (+video)."