On April 14th, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, based in Springfield, Missouri, will induct nine individuals, two programs plus the highlight of the event will be the naming of longtime Jefferson City High School football coach Pete Adkins as the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s 25th Missouri Sports Legend. Coach Adkins worked the sidelines of Jefferson City High School for 37 seasons accumulating a record of 354 – 48 – 2, nine state championships, and a 71-game winning streak. Adding in his record at Centralia, Coach Adkins’ overall record stands at 405 – 60 – 4. He has been named Missouri Coach of the Year eight times. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

AUDIO Pete Adkins (2:28)

The inductees include:

Tony Galbreath – Raised in Fulton, Missouri, Galbreath was an All-Big Eight running back in 1974 and team captain in 1975 at the University of Missouri. With more than 1,600 career rushing yards, Galbreath is the only back in Mizzou history that played just two years as a Tiger, but also ranks among Mizzou’s top-ten rushers. He played on a Super Bowl championship team with the New York Giants, and also saw NFL action with the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings. He is also a member of the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

AUDIO Tony Galbreath (1:30)

Joe Crede – Joe attended high school and played baseball at Westphalia’s Fatima High School, a team he led to 3 district championships and two final four berths (’95, ’96) as a pitcher. Crede was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 5th round of the 1996 amateur draft and made his debut with the team in 2000. Joe was the third baseman for the White Sox when they won the World Series in 2005. That year he hit 22 home runs with 88 RBIs. In 2006 he broke out with a career-high 30 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .283 average, winning the Silver Slugger Award at third base. He was named to the 2008 All-Star team.

AUDIO Joe Crede (2:30)

Phil Bradley – One of the most decorated athletes in University of Missouri annals, Bradley lettered in football at MU from 1977-80, and in baseball in 1979-81. Bradley quarterbacked the Tigers to three bowl games. He was a three-time Big Eight Conference “Offensive Player of the Year” and set the conference total offense record at 6,459 yards which stood for 10 years. In baseball, he starred as an outfielder on MU teams that won the Big Eight championship in 1980, and went to the NCAA Tournament in 1980 and ’81. He reached the Major Leagues with Seattle in 1984, and played with the Mariners through 1987. He was named to the ’85 American League All-Star Team and hit his career-high 26 homers that season.

AUDIO Phil Bradley (2:10)

Bob Burchard – Bob came to Columbia College after 7 seasons as an assistant coach at Missouri Western College, the first of which was under Missouri Sports Legend Gary Filbert. Since his arrival at Columbia College, Bob Burchard has turned the Cougar basketball program into a perennial powerhouse in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Burchard has compiled a 597-225 (.726) record in 24 seasons at the helm, giving him the most in wins in program history. The Cougars have averaged almost 25 victories per season under his guidance. The Cougars are currently 22 and 0 and are the number one ranked NAIA team in America. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2012.

AUDIO Bob Burchard (1:40)

Dennis Licklider – Dennis Licklider of Holts Summit served as the head coach for the boy’s track and field team at Jefferson City High School for 24 years. He was named the National Federation of High Schools Missouri Coach of the Year and coached 14 undefeated track teams. He is a member of the Missouri Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Roberta Licklider – Roberta served as the girls sprint coach at Jefferson City High School for 28 years and had 252 All-State individuals and relays, 19 MSHAA Academic Award Teams and 22 Top Four State Meet Teams.

Together, the Lickliders have a total of 64 years of service (including years as assistant coaches) to the Jefferson City High School Track and Field Teams!

AUDIO The Licklider’s (1:40)

Ray Hentges – Born and raised in Jefferson City, Ray Hentges was in the last graduating class of St. Peters High School before it was renamed to Helias Catholic High School in 1956. Ray served as the head football coach at Helias for 33 years. He coached two state championship football teams and compiled an overall record of 252 wins and 99 losses. During the 1979 season, his defense led the nation in fewest rushing yards allowed by giving up only 255 yards in their ten game season. Ray also coached golf at Helias. He had three state championship golf teams and coached John Daly during his high school years.

AUDIO Ray Hentges (1:40)

Dr. Chris Leslie – A graduate of Jefferson City High School, Southern Methodist University and Kirksville College of Osteopathy, Dr. Chris Leslie was the team physician for the Camdenton R-III School District for 23 years. He provided on-field care for the school’s athletes and offered preventative care in the off season. As an athlete, in addition to playing quarterback for the Jays, Chris participated in the AAU swimming program throughout his high school years and then became a four-year letterman on the swim team at SMU in Dallas. He is the son of Hall of Fame member Dr. John Leslie.

Keith Weber (Posthumously) Keith Weber graduated in 1964 with University of Missouri’s lowest career ERA (0.56). During his senior season in 1964 in which he posted an 0.50 ERA, Weber tallied a then school-record 11 wins, while striking out 90 batters, leading Mizzou to a 26-5-1 overall record while advancing to the College World Series. His 11 victories that season stood as a record at Mizzou for 44 seasons. His strikeout total was also a school record for 26 seasons. In 1964, Weber, from Jefferson City, was All-Big Eight, All-District V and All-American, and signed with the New York Mets. He passed away on February 18, 2011.

Helias Catholic High School Wrestling – With head coach Mike Jeffries at the helm the Helias Catholic High School Wrestling team posted some impressive records. In dual meets, his teams had a record of 623 – 46 which stood at 4th in the nation. During one stretch, the teams won 74 consecutive dual meets. The program is also the holder of 12 State Titles, 29 District Crowns and 32 Conference Championship. Over the past 26 years, the program has finished in the Top 3 in state competition an amazing 25 times.

AUDIO Mike Jeffries (1:15)

Lincoln University Track and Field – Under the guidance of Coach Victor Thomas, the Lincoln University Track program has sprinted to tremendous success. The women’s program has won ten NCAA National Championships, with the first coming in 2003 at the outdoor national championships where his athletes won seven events, one short of the record for first place finishes at the Division II level. The program has produced over 40 national champions, fourteen relay national champions and over 150 All-Americans.

AUDIO Betty Kemna (:45)