Athletic Hall of Fame 1989 Inductees
George Stuart "Pop" Bretnall, Coach
Francis Maywood Smith, 1938
Born November 30, 1915, Wellsville, Kansas.
Attended Baldwin High School 1930-1931. Lettered in football as halfback.
Attended Wellsville High School 1931-1934: Lettered three years in football, basketball and track.
Attended Baker University 1934-1938, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Lettered four years in football.
Played right halfback on 1934 Kansas Conference co-championship team.
Played every down of every game in 1935. Called the plays from right halfback on the 1938 Kansas Conference Championship Team.
All Conference halfback 1937, 1938.
Winner of the Leslie E. Edmonds Award for the quarter mile in the Kansas Conference 1935, ’36, ’38. Ran anchor leg on 1937, 1938 championship mile relay teams.
President of the “B” Club 1937, 1938.
Worked on building the football stadium for former coach Emil Liston.
Member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon-Served as vice-president.
Member of student council.
President of the senior class of 1938.
Coached all sports at Lyndon (Kansas) High School for three years. Record – Football: 22-2. Basketball: 45-15.
Served as shift foreman on Shell – Loading Line; Kansas Ordinance Plant, Parsons During World War II.
Coached all sports at Sudan (Texas) High School for 17 years. Record-football: 125-5. Basketball: 380-40.
Retired from teaching in 1958 – Began farming and raising cattle.
Involved in numerous civic organizations and active in church activities. Taught Sunday School Class for over 30 years.
Married Margret Dean (Baker 1938) in 1938.
Parents of three sons and six grandsons.
Elbert Stanford Wright, 1916
1894-1977
One of five brothers and three sisters – Baldwin resident. Played varsity basketball. Lettered. Attended University of Chicago, 1927-28. Taught history at Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark. Was commissioned as one of the first black second lieutenants and served overseas with distinction in World War I.
Served for over 25 years with the Kingston Club, San Francisco.
Giles Owen Wright, 1922
1899-1974
Football letterman Orange 22, November, 1920, “He is the most deadly passer on the team, and when it comes to breaking up passes Giles is always there when the ball arrives. Giles has had to fight much abuse and criticism from unsportsmanlike rooters, but he has performed like a gentleman at all times, because he was fighting for Baker, and Baker stands for clean sportsmanship.”
Orange 28, November, 1921, “Giles well represents the 'triple threat' type of football player that makes him a feared opponent. He can pass, kick, and run equally well, and his defense work is unexcelled.”
Member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the yearbook staff.
Coach Emil Liston placed him on Baker’s all-time football team in 1939.
MA – University of Michigan ‘35
Teacher and coach 1922-1968. Nicknamed “Unc” by his students.
1922 George Smith College, Sedalia, Mo.; 1923-26 Kansas Vocational School.
1927-32 Austin HS, Knoxville, Tenn.; 1932-34, Sumner HS, Kansas City, Mo.
1935-47 Xavier University, New Orleans; 1947-49 Washington HS, New Orleans.
1949-71 Texas College, Tyler, Texas. Head of health and physical education. Also served as director of athletics.
Theodore "Ted" A. Wright, 1925
1902-1974
Member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Majored in history.
Football 1,2,3,4 – Scored all points in two victories his senior year.
Basketball 1,2,3. Tennis 1,2,3,4. Member of the “B” Club.
Member of the Classical Club.
MA- University of Michigan.
Taught at Howard University, Taladega College, and later established the physical education program at Tallahassee College. Taught 13 years at Xavier University, also established their physical education program.
Taught 24 years at Georgia State College, Savannah, Ga. Was a member of the National Education Association and the Athletic Coaches Association. Represented Baker at the inauguration of President Eugene Clayton Calhoun, Paine College, Augusta, Ga. (1967).
