Before the NBA’s reach was truly national, semi-pro teams sponsored by local businesses and organizations were a big deal, and few Midwestern teams were a bigger deal than Joplin’s TAMKO Roofers. From 1947-1950, the Roofers traveled more than 3,200 miles and played 92 games – 81 wins and only 11 losses – including their most famous victory over the Harlem Globetrotters in 1948.
The Roofers started in 1947 as a way to gain publicity for TAMKO Asphalt Products at the suggested of Fred Wolfson, one of TAMKO-founder E.L. Craig’s original partners. The team was made up of standout players from Joplin-area high schools and colleges, the Joplin YMCA league and recruits from Midwestern universities, many of them TAMKO employees. They played local and national teams – two league games a week, nearly all out of town, as well as tournaments and weekend games. The Roofers even played and won against the All-American Red Heads, a national all-girls team.
The Roofers had a formidable front line, with three players 6’5” tall. They were aggressive around the basket but also had great shooting from the field. A newspaper article from 1948 describes the Roofers as “packed and loaded with talent.” Of particular note were Gaylon Enos, the coach/team captain for many years, Rusty Haynes, who played all five years with the roofers and had professional-level talent and Clarence Brannum, and outstanding recruit from Kansas State University.
The Roofers needed all of that talent when they faced the famous Globetrotters team in 1948. More than 800 people watched the game live at Joplin Memorial Hall, a few expecting to see the Roofers beat the nationally-known team. The Globetrotters used all their usual tricks – deflating the ball and clowning around – but the game grew rough as the lead changed hands 10 times in the second half of the game. Lester Cooper, who played five seasons with the Roofers, was fouled at the final buzzer of the game with the score tied 33-33. He made the free throw shot, giving the Roofers the 34-33 win.
The Roofers were well-known in regional basketball, winning numerous tournaments and championships, including beating a rival Anderson team in the last three seconds of the Four State Tournament final in 1950. The Roofers were considered “a grade or two above the average independent team of the district and that their entrance [into a tournament] might cause some reluctance on the part of other good teams not competing,” according to a newspaper article from 1949.
The Roofers were also asked several times to compete against the tough University of Arkansas collegiate team to prepare the UA athletes for their regular season. Photos from one of those games ended up on the cover of a national sports magazine. The Roofers also traveled as far as St. Louis to play preliminary games against teams from Minnesota.
The TAMKO Roofers dissolved in 1951 when several of the team members went into military service during the Korean Conflict. A small group of Roofers players went on to play with the Joplin Body & Trailer corporate team later on.
Roofers Team Roster:
Keith Adams
John Allen
Clarence Brannum
Lester Cooper
Fred Daughtery,
Bill Davis
Walt Dellbringge
LeRoy Deming
Gaylon Enos
Burt Evans
Bob Fitton
Rusty Haynes
Charles Hight
George Hosp
Harld Howey
Bill Hurd
Bud Kite
Monte Lamb
Scotty Plumb
Joe Pogue
Bob Rayon
T.G. Reynolds
Shelby Slinker
W.G. Tracey
Smitty Warden
