1962 National Championship Team Honored at Reunion

February 20, 2012

Players from Coffeyville's 1962 national championship men's basketball team returning to the reunion held on Feb. 18 in the CCC Student Union include: front row - Dan Stwalley, Dave Baker, Jim Harris. Back row - Jim Ross, Elmer Shade, Paul Henry, and Lou Williams.

Reunion Photo Album (external link, opens in new window)

Seven members of the Coffeyville Community College’s 1962 national championship men’s basketball team returned to Coffeyville on Saturday to attend a 50th anniversary reunion held in the CCC Student Union.

Players returning were Jim Ross, Jim Harris, Dave Baker, Elmer Shade, Dan Stwalley, Lou Williams and Paul Henry. The wife of the late Kenny Hendrix, Dorothy, also attended the reunion.

The 1962 team was coached by Jack Hartman. The team went 32-0 and won all four games at the national tournament to claim the national title. However, the team almost didn’t get the opportunity to play at the national tournament.

“We wouldn’t be here today without Paul Fortin,” said Paul Henry during the banquet on Saturday afternoon. “We were down five points with five minutes to go against Dodge City in the region championship game,” Henry noted. “And Paul hit a last second shot to win the game.”

Fortin, who is deceased, propelled the Ravens to the national tournament with his heroic shot that gave Coffeyville a 59-58 win over Dodge City. The Ravens would advance to the national tournament and defeat Bethany Lutheran (Minnesota), San Angelo (Texas), Trinidad (Colorado) and Lon Morris (Texas) to claim the national championship. The Ravens won those four games by an average of 21 points.

The reunion held on Saturday gave the returning members of the team a chance to reminisce about their championship season. Jim Harris told a story regarding travel arrangements on road trips. “Lou Williams and I rode in the back of a station wagon, looking toward the rear – that’s where the freshmen rode,” said Harris, who prefaced his remark that the team travelled to all road games in station wagons.

“Lou was a good singer and he would sing while we rode back there and once I started singing along with him,” continued Harris. “He looked at me and said “I don’t think so, Jim.”

“That Jim is always a good story-teller,” replied Williams.

“That season was quite a ride,” said Dan Stwalley. “We played unselfish and you worked hard, and you had to do that to play for Jack Hartman,” said Stwalley.

Williams added, “I came here a boy, but left a man. We went 32-0, but the hardest games were at practice.”

Stwalley, whose high school class was ten students strong, also remembers the camaraderie the team had.

“It didn’t matter if you were #1 or #13 on the team, you were respected by your teammates,” said Stwalley.

Dave Baker, who lives in Manhattan, said “It’s been 50 years, but it seems like I’ve never left.”  Baker added, “I’ve had some success and I owe a lot of that to Coffeyville and Coach Hartman.”

Baker also told the banquet crowd that he saw Mrs. Hartman a couple of weeks ago and that she is doing well, but would not be able to attend the reunion.  Mrs. Hartman still resides in Manhattan.

Jim Ross, who has had a successful career in the oil and gas business after graduating from Coffeyville and later the University of Tulsa, attributes part of his success to his time with Coach Hartman.

“The life lessons I learned here were invaluable to me,” said Ross. “We had a Hall of Fame Coach in Jack Hartman, and the current players here have a Hall of Fame coach, too,” Ross added, noting the run of success the past decade under current Ravens coach Jay Herkelman. “They just haven’t voted him in yet.”

Ross also ribbed the current Ravens and their recent struggles at the free throw line. “Defense was the name of the game and for the team this year, we learned how to shoot free throws,” Ross said to the delight of the crowd, and to the collective groan of this year’s Ravens’ team. “If you all would like to meet us in the gym after the banquet, we can give you some lessons.”

Coffeyville native Elmer Shade also had words of advice for the current Red Raven team. “Regardless of where you go, people know about Coffeyville,” said Shade. “Do the best you can and put your best foot forward.”

Paul Henry, who was an All-American in 1961-62 and was also named MVP of the national tournament, recalled the community support he received while playing at Coffeyville. “The boosters were outstanding.  Lou (Williams) and I stayed with an elderly woman and she was like a mother to us,” Henry said. “We enjoyed our time here.”

Henry and Williams transferred to Southern Illinois University following their careers at Coffeyville. Coach Hartman coached at Southern Illinois from 1962 through 1970 before moving on to Kansas State University from 1970 to 1986. At KSU, Hartman led the Wildcats to three Big Eight titles and four NCAA Elite Eight appearances.

Henry also commented on the late Kenny Hendrix, a Coffeyville native on the 1962 team who has passed away. “I enjoyed playing with Kenny and he was an outstanding defender, probably our best,” said Henry.

“Gerald Burton was probably our best all-around player and athlete,” said Henry. Burton, who just returned to the U.S. after serving on a ministry trip to the Philippines, was unable to attend the reunion.

The final speaker at the banquet was the wife of the late Kenny Hendrix, Dorothy Hendrix. “For us to have the memories is great, and I want to pass those on to my grandkids,” said Dorothy. Kenny’s sister, Joyce, also attended the reunion.

Each returning player was given a copy of the 1962 national championship game, converted to DVD format. The original footage was found by Bill Mills. Mills served as an assistant coach on the 1962 team and now lives in California. Mills happened to find the original film of the game while cleaning his garage and shipped the footage to current CCC Athletic Director Jeff Leiker.

Charlie Justice, another member of the 1962 team, was unable to attend because of surgery scheduled on the same day as the reunion. Ron Ziegler has passed away. Willie James and student manager Steve Phelps were unable to be located.

The players attending the reunion had a chance to tour campus and view the changes that have taken place the last 50 years on campus. The only building that existed on campus in 1962 was the Arts and Sciences Building. Weinberg Hall which houses classrooms and the library, the Student Union, Nellis Hall and the current residence hall facilities have all been constructed since 1962.

The 1962 team played at the historic Memorial Hall. Regardless of the facility changes that have taken place in the last 50 years, home is where the heart is. For the 1962 Red Raven basketball team, they will always have a home in Coffeyville.

The Road to the 1962 National Championship, 1962 NJCAA National Tournament Results:

Round 1: Coffeyville 84, Bethany Lutheran of Mankato, Minn. 61.
Coffeyville Scorers: Henry 23 points, Williams 19, Burton 14, Fortin 12, Hendrix 10, Harris 5, Ziegler 1.

Quarterfinals: Coffeyville 82, San Angelo, Texas 69.
Coffeyville Scorers: Henry 22, Hendrix 14, Fortin 14, Burton 13, Williams 10, Ross 2, Shade 2.

Semi-finals: Coffeyville 89, Trinidad, Colorado 67. (Led 56-15 at half)
Coffeyville Scorers: Henry 26, Fortin 24, Burton 11, Hendrix 10, Williams 8, Harris 8, Ziegler 2.

National Championship Game: Coffeyville 74, Lon Morris, Texas 49.
Coffeyville Scorers: Henry 30, Fortin 11, Burton 8, Harris 8, Williams 7, Hendrix 6, James 2, Ross 2.