Inductees

Burl “Bud” Henderson started his career in basketball as a student-athlete at Southwest Missouri State University. After graduation, his first coaching position was at Mount Vernon High School, which at the time did not even have a real gym where students could play. Finally, in 1929, one was constructed, but since the team had little experience, they lost every game but the last, that first season. Two years later, however, they became champions.

After his time in Mount Vernon, Henderson coached for two years at Monett High School, then Bagnell High School. When he arrived at Bagnell High School, the students were still playing on a dirt court. The following year, in 1934, the new School of Osage was constructed, complete with a proper gym, and Henderson led that team for the next 24 years with a winning percentage of .700, with a total of 264 wins and only 77 losses.