A two-time All-American and All-Missouri Valley Conference forward at the University of Missouri, J. Craig Ruby took over the head coaching position of his alma mater in 1920. Ruby coached the Tigers for two seasons, compiling a record of 33 wins and only 2 losses. Both of Ruby’s Missouri teams were retroactively named national champions… Read more »
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Team: University of Missouri
Martin Rucker
He was in the stands at Memorial Stadium the night of the infamous flea-kicker loss and, years later, could have followed in his older brother’s footsteps to help Big Red chase another national title. Yet weeks before he signed a national letter of intent to play college football, Martin Rucker stopped himself and thought of… Read more »
Andy Russell
Andy Russell and history are synonymous. The Ladue High School graduate went on to star for the University of Missouri Tigers and later emerged as a key with the Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense in his 12 seasons in Pittsburgh. He never missed a game – in high school, college, military or the NFL. “I never… Read more »
Joann Rutherford
From the moment her father put a basketball in her hands at age 2, Joann Rutherford loved the game, and her passion for the sport only grew from there. How could it not? Her father, who had played at Pittsburg State University and with the U.S. Air Force team, had installed a full-length court in… Read more »
Nancy Rutter
Nancy Rutter, from Shelbina, Missouri, was a four-year letter-winner in women’s basketball and a three-time co-captain (1975-78). Rutter earned Big Eight Conference all-tournament team honors in back-to-back seasons in 1977 and 1978 and helped lead Mizzou to a Big Eight Conference Tournament title in 1978. Mizzou was nationally ranked in Rutter’s junior and senior campaigns… Read more »
Jerome Sally
After snarling along the defensive line for the Mizzou Tigers’ bowl teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s and later for the NFL’s New York Giants, Jerome Sally could have taken the easy road. Perhaps snagged some cushy job. Maybe moved to some tropical locale. Instead, he’s worked in the Columbia public school system… Read more »
Sandbothe Family
Back in the 1980s, if folks running Missouri’s tourism board wanted to attract even more eyes to the state, it could have included this line without anybody thinking twice: Sandbothe Family Basketball Machine. No, it wasn’t a factory that produced basketballs. More accurately, it was a seemingly endless assembly line of Sandbothe children – seven… Read more »
Walt Schoenke
Walt Schoenke was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 as a sports contributor. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1941 and served four years as a crew chief on the F-86 Fighter Sabre Jet. After his military career, Schoenke eventually joined the Monsanto Company as a national sales manager for… Read more »
Joe Scott
For successful athletes, writing the next chapter of their lives can be a challenge. However, Joe Scott offers a blueprint. Once a basketball standout known as “the Gainesville Gunner” in high school and who later starred for the University of Missouri, Scott has become an integral part of the Poplar Bluff community over the past… Read more »
Rex Sharp
Those who work behind the scenes in sports know all too well that you can make a huge difference. Just ask Rex Sharp. Back in the spring of 1997, less than a year after being hired as the head athletic trainer for the University of Missouri, he had a request for the team doctor –… Read more »
Walt Shublom
An avid athlete, Walt Shublom played minor league baseball and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates farm organization prior to joining the Navy in 1942. After his discharge from Naval service in the Philippines during World War II, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Southeast Missouri State Teachers College. In 1946 he married Lillian Pulliam of… Read more »
John “Hi” Simmons
A native of Lancaster, Mo., John “Hi” Simmons had a long and decorated career at the University of Missouri as head baseball coach and a trusty football assistant to Don Faurot. In baseball, he coached from 1937 to 1973, posting a record of 481-294-3. His teams won 11 conference championships (1937-1938, 1941-1942, 1952, 1954, 1958,… Read more »
Bob Simpson
Robert Ingalls ‘Bob’ Simpson was an American hurdler and track coach. Born in Bosworth, Missouri, Simpson set several world records in the 120-yard hurdles, equaled the world record in the 220-yard hurdles, and won two gold medals at the 1919 Inter-Allied Games. Simpson entered the University of Missouri in 1913 and found success as a… Read more »
Dr. Pat Smith
Back in 2011, after a Mizzou standout running back tore two knee ligaments, a meniscus and patellar tendon on the same play, Tiger fans had a rare glimpse into the world of the head team physician. In essence, Dr. Pat Smith showed his human side. Sure, it had always been there when he celebrated victories… Read more »
Brad Smith
He had chances to stay close to home and play college football at what you might consider mid-majors. But talk about timing. Just as Youngstown, Ohio All-State quarterback Brad Smith was pairing down his choices, a head coach from one of those interested schools got hired to lead the University of Missouri football program. “We… Read more »
Doug Smith
He traveled from Detroit determined to carry the University of Missouri deep into the Big Dance, along the way emerged as one of its all-time greats and then received the ultimate compliment in his final home game. Doug Smith remembers it like yesterday – not so much because the Mizzou Tigers surprised him by retiring… Read more »