Inductees

Earl Iba was among the Iba basketball coaching family. Born in Easton, he was the youngest of five children born to Henry B. and Zylfa Iba. His childhood was spent playing basketball, baseball and fishing, pursuits he and his brothers enjoyed through the rest of their lives. Their early years of basketball provided the foundation for coaching careers for the four brothers. He, along with his brothers, is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Following college graduation in 1939 from Panhandle A&M College, Earl accepted a teaching and coaching job in Cache, Okla. He met Tommye Eaker while roller skating at Craterville Park in Cache. They were married in May 1940 and continued their teaching careers in Oklahoma until Earl was drafted into the Army, June 1943.

His Army unit consisted of 113 teachers whose job was to train the new recruits. Earl was initially stationed in Hawaii and later transferred to Saipan to train combat forces returning to battle. He shipped home from Saipan on the USS Independence and was discharged February 1946. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star.

After the war, Earl and Tommye lived in Claremore, Okla., and Goodwell, Okla. For eight years he taught U.S. history and coached basketball at Panhandle A&M College (now Oklahoma Panhandle State University). While living in Oklahoma, their family grew to include four children, Earl Jr., Beth, Jill, and Tim. The family moved to Ashland in 1956. Earl continued teaching and coaching at Ashland senior and junior high schools. He was a member of Ashland B.PO.E. # 944 for 50 years.

Earl and Tommye retired from teaching in 1976. They enjoyed traveling and time with family. They moved to Tigard, Oregon, in 1985 to be closer to all the children and grandchildren.