Ex-Jayhawks lead inductees

Engleman, Hougland, Douglass, Washington, Mitchell in 2006 class

? Former Kansas University basketball standouts Howard Engleman and Bill Hougland, ex-Jayhawk football All-American Bobby Douglass and former KU standout coaches Marian Washington and Jack Mitchell were among the 14 coaches and athletes named Monday as the Class of 2006 for induction into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Other inductees scheduled to attend induction ceremonies are: Darren Daulton, Natasha Matson Fife, Catherine Fox, Xavier McDaniel, Bill Morse and Bill Snyder.

In addition, three members will be inducted posthumously: legendary former Baker University football coach Charlie Richard, Luther “Dummy” Taylor and Otto Unruh.

They will be enshrined in ceremonies June 3 in Wichita.

“We are thrilled to introduce this accomplished class of new inductees, whose impact resonates across our state and beyond,” said Ted Hayes, executive director of the KSHOF. “For many Kansans, sports is a true passion and is engrained in who we are. The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is so much more than a collection of memorabilia.

“It is dedicated to honoring sports heroes like these 14 and preserving the history of sports for the state to serve as a source of education and inspiration.”

Of the Jayhawk inductees, Richard Konzem, a member of the Hall of Fame board said: “This is an outstanding class of KU people representing a broad spectrum of accomplishments from high school to NCAA championships to the Olympics. You touch all bases with this class.”

Here’s a capsule look at the class:

¢ Darren Daulton – One of the top catchers in major league baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, four-time National League All-Star in 14 seasons. Starred in football and baseball at Arkansas City. Hit 137 major-league home runs, had 511 hits, 588 RBIs in 1,161 games.

¢ Bobby Douglass – El Dorado star quarterback was All-America at KU, leading the Jayhawks to Big Eight title and 1969 Orange Bowl. Long and distinguished NFL career as quarterback for the Chicago Bears. One of the top rushing quarterbacks in NFL history.

¢ Howard Engleman – Arkansas City native and longtime Salina resident, he was consensus All-America basketball player at KU, led Jayhawks to two conference titles and 1940 NCAA championship game. Two-time all conference. KU jersey retired. Coached KU in 1946-47, replacing Phog Allen for 14 games, compiling an 8-6 record.

¢ Natasha Matson Fife – Winfield High star was five-time Kansas Women’s Golf Association (KWGA) Amateur champ, seven-time KWGA Senior Amateur champ, ranked in top 10 nationally in both USGA Senior Amateurs and Women’s Amateurs.

¢ Catherine Fox – Two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming at 1996 Olympics. Nine-time NCAA champion, 21-time All-American at Stanford University. U.S. champion and record holder in 100-meter backstroke. Graduated from Roeland Park Miege High.

¢ Bill Hougland – Two-time Olympic champion for U.S. Basketball team, 1952 and 1956. Started on KU’s 1952 NCAA championship basketball team. Standout in track and basketball at Beloit High.

¢ Xavier McDaniel – Wichita State University All-American basketball player. Led nation in scoring and rebounding in 1985 – first player in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year two times. Twelve-season NBA career.

¢ Jack Mitchell – All-state quarterback at Arkansas City High in 1941, went on to be an All-American quarterback for the University of Oklahoma. Set NCAA records, including seven career punt returns for touchdown. Sugar Bowl MVP in 1949. Head football coach at Wichita University, Arkansas and KU for nine seasons, where he led the Jayhawks to 44 victories, including the Bluebonnet Bowl victory in 1961. Coached KU All-Americans John Hadl, Curtis McClinton and Gale Sayers.

¢ Bill Morse – NAIA Hall of Fame basketball coach, led Fort Hays State University to back-to-back NAIA national basketball championships in 1984 and 1985. Won 236 games in 10 seasons at FHSU, and 500 wins in his career with a 72.9 winning percentage.

¢ (Posthumous) Charlie Richard – Baker football coach retired with highest winning percentage (80.9) in nation. Guided Baker into NAIA playoffs 10 times. Career record: 123-28-1. Coached 14 NAIA All-Americans. NAIA Hall of Fame inductee.

¢ Bill Snyder – Three-time national football coach of the year, five-time Big Eight/Big 12 coach of the year, led Kansas State to 11 consecutive bowl games in 17 seasons and 11 times finished in the AP top 20 in national rankings. Won more games as K-State coach than all 12 of his predecessors combined. Coached 33 AP All-Americans, 42 NFL draft picks.

¢ (Posthumous) Luther “Dummy” Taylor – Born deaf, Oskaloosa’s Taylor spent nine seasons in the pioneer years of major league baseball. One of the National League’s top pitchers for the New York Giants, won 115 games with a career earned-run average of 2.75. Pitched 21 career shutouts. Later supervised all sports at Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe, where the gymnasium bears his name.

¢ (Posthumous) Otto Unruh – Football/track coach at Bethel College and Clay Center High, a combined 44 years. Clay Center won three mythical state football titles, 126-65-8, seven straight regional and two state track titles. Clay Center stadium bears his name..

¢ Marian Washington – KU women’s basketball coach of 31 seasons, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Won 560 games at KU, led Jayhawks to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and seven Big Eight/Big 12 titles. She was named conference Coach of the Year three times and served as an assistant coach of the 1996 U.S. Olympic gold-medal squad.