In a place called Carrollton, about 10 miles north of the Missouri River off U.S. 65, a longtime football coach by the name of Stan Kee sort of embodies the town – hard-working, old-fashioned and resilient.
Here, it’s as if stepping back in time. There’s the traditional town square, anchored by the Carroll County Courthouse. And see the Uptown Movie Theater on the corner? With its 1950s-era vertical sign, one can imagine the blinkety-blink, blinkety-blink neon in all its glory.
And while large businesses have come and gone, and people have moved away, the staples are still here – including Kee. In fact, he certainly fit like a glove as Carrollton High School’s football coach for 22 seasons (1977 to 1998), when the Trojans employed a hard-nosed, run-oriented, clock-chewing offense and churned out a 153-67-1 record.
Thus, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to induct Kee, whose success wasn’t solely about wins on Friday nights. It was also about readying student-athletes for the real world in a rural farming community.
His induction is part of our NFL Kickoff Luncheon presented by Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 in Springfield. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
“Carrollton, the school and the community was just tremendous to me,” said Kee, who was 175-88-2 overall in 27 seasons, including two other stops. “It was a great place for us to raise our son and daughter. And even though I interviewed periodically for other jobs, this was home for our family. Football is pretty important in our community.”
Kee made football important.
His Carrollton teams reached the state semifinals in 1987 and 1997. They also won four Missouri River Valley Conference championships (1978, 1987, 1991, 1997), four district championships (1987, 1991, 1997, 1998) and reached the state playoffs six times (1980, 1981, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998).
This from a coach who graduated from South Holt High School in 1967, played for coach Scott Marriott and loved everything about football, right down to the hot two-a-days under the sun, even when he had to wear three-quarter-length sleeves, and hardly got water breaks.
“You got a drink of water – maybe,” a laughing Kee said of his own playing days.
“All I wanted to do growing up was what I was fortunate to be – and that was a high school football coach. I loved the game,” Kee said. “(Marriott) had a very positive impact – he was the second-most influential person in my life, my dad being the most important. It was just the way he coached the game of football and the things he taught and lessons learned from his coaching style.”
Kee, who graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1971, spent his first years in coaching for Class 1 schools — at South Holt High School north of St. Joseph, from 1972 to 1974; and at Gallatin High School the next two seasons.
In reality, there were no plans to leave Gallatin. Not until that school’s former band director, who had moved to Carrollton, encouraged Kee to apply for the Carrollton football vacancy.
Carrollton had enjoyed success in the ‘40s and ‘50s and other winning seasons. It looked like a good football job.
Kee raised the Trojans’ profile, doing so in a town that was emblematic of so many other communities across America as large employers moved out, with residents moving on as well.
Regardless, Kee and his program soldiered on, employing a triple option offense out of the I-formation, a la Nebraska’s Tom Osborne. In 1987, a large agri-business plant pulled up stakes. That was the year the Trojans energized Carrollton by reaching the state semifinals, beginning a tremendous run into the mid-1990s.
The Carrollton quarterback in ’87 was Joel Cornwell, who went on to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. His dad, Ken Cornwell, Ernie Livingston, and Bob Nolting were some of Kee’s longtime assistant coaches. Ten years later, the Trojans were in the state semifinals again.
“The secret to any success is integrity and discipline and being honest,” Kee said. “That and hard work. I think that’s one thing our football teams were known for – we worked hard and played hard.”
Which is why it was also difficult to say goodbye to Carrollton. Several times, an athletic director came calling. Every time, Kee said no.
After all, Carrollton is where he and his bride, Debbie, raised their children, Cory and Heidi. Unfortunately for the family, Debbie passed away in the summer of 2014.
“She was our No. 1 fan and really bonded our family together,” Kee said. “She did everything for us.”
In other words, Kee was surrounded by great people.
“I’m really humbled,” Kee said. “When one person gets an award, you have to know you were surrounded by great people – and I was – with players, coaches, administrators, parents, support staff, and a great community as well as a great family.”
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Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s
NFL Kickoff Sports Enthusiasts Luncheon presented by Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper
When: 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28
Where: University Plaza Convention Center, Springfield
What: Induction of former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Eddie Kennison; former Missouri State University football All-American and coach Rich Johanningmeier; and former Carrollton High School coach Stan Kee. Elite 11, group of former high school and college standouts, also to be recognized.
Elite 11 to be recognized: defensive lineman Brett Potts (Bolivar, Pittsburg State); quarterback Eric Czerniewski (Montgomery County, Central Missouri); lineman Rusty Shadel (Lebanon, Missouri State); running back Rex Sawyer (Ava, Missouri Valley College); linebacker Steve Forbis (Republic, Missouri Southern); defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams (Mizzou); punter/quarterback Chuck Blair (Camdenton, Central Missouri); kicker Jeremy Flores (Willard, Colorado); defensive back T.J. Onstott (Lamar, Missouri Southern); split end Steve Newbold (Aurora, Missouri State); and running back Justin Gerald (Hillcrest, Central Methodist).
Tickets: $40 for individual seat; $400 for a table of eight, with associate sponsorship recognition in the printed program. $100 for seat at head table.
Contact: Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, 417-889-3100.