Hall of Fame ceremony set for Apr, 2022
By Mike Pilosof
Garden City, KS-The Garden City Community College Athletic Department announced today that the 2020 Hall of Fame Class, which was originally scheduled to be inducted last April, will now be enshrined During the 2021 Hall of Fame Weekend on April 22 and 23 in Garden City.
"This is a long time coming," Interim Athletic Director, Colin Lamb said. "Unfortunately, with the pandemic, the event got pushed back. But we are very excited to induct this class."
That class includes former basketball star, Keith Smart, former Head Football Coach and Athletic Director, Bob Larson, offensive lineman, Phil Loadholt, former women's basketball star, Tamara Jones, and rodeo cowgirl, Emily Miller. They were selected by a nine-member committee."
"This class is well deserving," Lamb explained. "They're not only great athletes, but great people as well."
The 2020 class is highlighted by Smart, who was named the Jayhawk Conference Player of the year and an All-American in 1986 under Head Coach, Jim Carey. He went on to star at Indiana, where he is infamously known for his game-winning shot vs. Syracuse in the 1987 National Championship Game. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft and played 10 professional seasons. Smart also had coaching stops with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, and New York Knicks. He currently serves as an assistant at the University of Arkansas.
"These inductees exemplify high character, integrity, determination, and the BUSTERS values," President, Dr. Ryan Ruda said. "We are excited to honor each of them for their accomplishments and look forward to celebrating their induction."
Larson will go down as one of the greatest leaders in school history. His 46 wins in six seasons are the most ever, guiding the Broncbusters to the National Championship Game in 2000. After retirement, Larson spent six years running the athletic department. In 2007, he was inducted into the NJCAA Football Coach's Association Hall of Fame.
Loadholt was a two-time All-American and was named the Jayhawk Conference Lineman of the Year in 2006. By the end of his sophomore campaign, he was rated as the No. 1 recruit in the nation before signing a National Letter of Intent with Oklahoma. With the Sooners in 2007, he was named to the All-Big 12 first team and an Honorable Mention All-American by Sports Illustrated. Two years later, Loadholt was taken by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played six seasons before retiring in 2016.
In two years at Garden City, Jones built a tremendous legacy, leaving as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,183 points. In 2013, she was name to the NJCAA and Coach's Association All-America First Team while garnering Jayhawk West Player of the Year Honors. At the same time, Jones, guided the Broncbusters to their best season in school history (29-4), averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. After Garden City, she signed with Southern Mississippi, where she started 21 games as a junior, averaging 14 points and six boards.
Miller's Broncbuster tenure may go down as one of the most successful in Garden City Community College history. In 2011, she won the Central Plains Region All-Around Cowgirl and was crowned champion barrel racer. She finished third in the nation and was named the NIRA Rookie of the Year at the College National Finals Rodeo. Garden City took 13th as a team and fourth in the country among Junior Colleges. The following season, Miller won the Region's All-Around Cowgirl and champion barrel racer again. At the professional level, she qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 2019 and was ranked fourth in the world in 2020.
The class will be inducted during a ceremony on Friday, Apr. 22 at Garden City Community College followed by the annual Broncbuster Athletic Association golf tournament on Saturday, Apr. 23. Stay tuned for more details.