BILL (RED) GATES -
For more than 40 years, Bill Gates played a vital role in the history of softball – fast pitch as well as slow pitch – in Joplin and throughout the state.
In addition to coaching the Ozark Athletics, Red Gates was deputy district commissioner of the Amateur Softball Association under the late Gene Bassman for 16 years. When Gene had to retire for reasons of ill health, Red served as district commissioner for 10 years.
Red Gates was inducted into the Missouri Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1993 for his service as a coach, manager, player, umpire, and administrator.
DR. PAT LIPIRA -
Pat Lipira can match her softball coaching record at Missouri Southern State University against anyone. 632 victories and only 275 defeats for a .697 winning percentage.
Add to that enviable record four NAIA District 16 championships, four MIAA championships, and one NCAA Division II national championship.
In seven years as coach of the Lions volleyball team also, Lipira compiled a record of 265 wins, 90 losses, and 11 ties for a .739 winning percentage.
Although her 1986 volleyball team won 47 games (47-10), her best team was the 1984 squad that finished 42-6, won the CSIC championship and finished second in NAIA District 15. Her volleyball squads never had a losing record and won 40 or more matches four times.
GAYLON ENOS -
Gaylon Enos was a remarkable all-around athlete at Joplin High School and a member of the 1939 state championship basketball team. Enos was known for his competitive drive and his ability to key the Joplin offense from a forward position.
Following his tour of duty in World War II, Enos returned to Joplin and went to work with the Tamko Roofing Co., and helped organize the Tamko Roofers, the company’s basketball team. Enos managed the team, scheduling games throughout the Midwest. The team played most of its home games at Memorial Hall in Joplin, but also played in the YMCA Open League which it dominated.
JHS 1955 BASEBALL TEAM -
Gaylon Enos was a remarkable all-around athlete at Joplin High School and a member of the 1939 state championship basketball team. Enos was known for his competitive drive and his ability to key the Joplin offense from a forward position.
Following his tour of duty in World War II, Enos returned to Joplin and went to work with the Tamko Roofing Co., and helped organize the Tamko Roofers, the company’s basketball team. Enos managed the team, scheduling games throughout the Midwest. The team played most of its home games at Memorial Hall in Joplin, but also played in the YMCA Open League which it dominated.
JHS 1955 BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAM -
Joplin defeated St. Louis DeSoto, 66-45, in the opening round and advanced to a quarterfinal game against undefeated Beaumont High School of St. Louis. Beaumont had disposed of 26 straight opponents going into the Joplin game.
Joplin stalled for one final shot but it missed and the game went into overtime. As was the rule in those days, the overtime period started with a jump ball. Joplin’s 6-foot-2 center Gary Smith got the tip and point guard Jimmy Dailey played keep-away from the Beaumont guards. With the seconds ticking away, Dailey drove down the lane, pulling the defense to him. He then bounced a pass to “Smoky” Joe Ensley who banked home a short jumper to give Joplin a 49-47 victory.
The state title was the second in six years for head coach Russ Kaminsky who directed the 1950 Eagles to a first-place finish.
Joplin defeated St. Louis DeSoto, 66-45, in the opening round and advanced to a quarterfinal game against undefeated Beaumont High School of St. Louis. Beaumont had disposed of 26 straight opponents going into the Joplin game.
Joplin stalled for one final shot but it missed and the game went into overtime. As was the rule in those days, the overtime period started with a jump ball. Joplin’s 6-foot-2 center Gary Smith got the tip and point guard Jimmy Dailey played keep-away from the Beaumont guards. With the seconds ticking away, Dailey drove down the lane, pulling the defense to him. He then bounced a pass to “Smoky” Joe Ensley who banked home a short jumper to give Joplin a 49-47 victory.
The state title was the second in six years for head coach Russ Kaminsky who directed the 1950 Eagles to a first-place finish.
MARTY GALBRAITH -
Marty Galbraith played three years at MSSU playing cornerback and was a member of the national championship team in 1972.
Galbraith coached receivers and the freshman team for a year at Purdue University. Then it was on to Wake Forest University where he spent the next five years. When Steve Spurrier got the job of coaching the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL, he hired Marty as his offensive line coach.
Marty then joined Marshall University as its offensive coordinator and played a key role in the team’s 25-1 record during the next two years, including a 13-0 record and a tenth place rating nationally in his second year. Marty helped develop Byron Leftwich at Marshall. Leftwich was a No. 1 draft pick after his senior year.
WARREN TURNER -
Warren Turner has had a long and distinguished career at Missouri Southern State University. He has been the head baseball coach at Missouri Southern State University for 29 years, taking over the reins in 1977 from Ed Wuch who left to pursue his doctorate at Arizona State University.
During that 29-year stint, Turner’s Lions won over 800 games, making him one of the most successful baseball coaches in the country. Turner has received many personal accolades during his career at MSSU, including NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1978. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in January of 2005. He has received three conference Coach of the Year awards (CSIC in 1986 and MIAA in 1991 and 1992). He was NCAA Division-II Regional Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1992; NAIA District 16 Coach of the Year in 1978, 1985, 1986, and 1987, and NAIA Area IV Coach of the Year in 1978, 1986, and 1987.
Warren joined Missouri Southern in the fall of 1976 and served as an assistant coach in football through 1985. A Joplin native and a graduate of Joplin High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Pittsburg State University in 1965 and a Master of Science degree in physical education from Pittsburg State in 1970.