Athletic Hall of Fame 1995 Inductees
Charlie Richard, Coach
John “Spook” Jacobs ’63
Raised in Peabody, Kansas. Earned eight varsity letters in track, football, and basketball at Peabody High School. Football team was 25-1 from sophomore season on. Anchored mile relay team to state championship in senior year.
Graduated in 1959.
Participated and lettered in track for three years and football for four years at Baker under coaches Karl Spear and Jim Irick. Played offense and defense in football and twice broke Baker single-game rushing mark. Baker was the nation’s best offensive team that season, and also ranked in the nation’s top-10 in rushing offense, total defense, and rushing defense. Wildcat football teams were 29-7, outscoring opponents 313-27 in Jacobs’ four years.
Twice led KCAC in rushing and twice was named all-conference on both offense and defense. Two-time honorable mention Methodist All-American. Selected to Little All-American Academic team and NAIA All-American honorable mention team. Twice ranked in top-15 rushers in nation.
Anchored mile relay team sophomore year to conference and school record. Second at conference in individual 440 yard run sophomore year.
Recipient of Goetz Athletic Award senior year. Class President and Popularity King senior year. Member of Delta Tau Delta, B club and Business Roundtable. Honor roll five semesters. Received Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963, Master of Business Administration from Indiana University in 1965 and Master of Liberal Arts from Baker in 1990.
Served on Baker Alumni Board in 1960s. Serves as director of retail marketing at Abbey Press in St. Meinrad, Ind. Interests include gardening and marathon running. Resides with wife Nancy (Keirns), ’62, in Santa Claus, Ind. Daughters are Nicki and Michele.
Alden “Ike” Cearfoss, 1952
Who brought honor to Baker University through his athletic and academic achievements, service to his country during the Korean War, and outstanding record as a coach and educator.
Raised in Centropolis, Kan., and graduated from Appanoose High School in 1946. Two-time state Class B scoring leader in basketball with 21.3 and 20.7 points per game in junior and senior seasons. Those teams finished with a combined record of 38-8 and won league, league tournament and district tournament titles. Served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1946 to 1948. Enrolled at Baker in 1948. Nicknamed “Black Knight”. Started on Baker’s basketball team and was selected all-conference honorable mention in first season, but dislocated right shoulder — an injury that never healed properly. Played sophomore and junior seasons with shoulder brace and knee injury. Lettered all three seasons. Was a member of Zeta Chi fraternity and sophomore class secretary. Graduated in 1952 with degree in physical education. Attended graduate school at the University of Kansas. Returned to Appanoose High School to teach and coach basketball. His teams were 130-87, and won five league championships and five league tournaments. Left coaching and became district manager at Field Enterprises Educational Corporation. Then served as commissioner of finance in Ottawa before returning to teach and coach boys basketball at Central Heights High School in 1972. Led Central Heights teams to a 158-68 record and three league titles in 11 years. Later coached the girls team and conducted instructional camps for youngsters until the time of his death. The Central Heights Gymnasium is named in his memory. His 23-year career coaching record was 307-171. Cearfoss and his wife, Betty, have two daughters, Lynda and Diane.
