Athletic Hall of Fame 1996 Inductees

John W. Arnold, 1943

Graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kan., where he played on the school’s state championship basketball team in 1939.

Lettered in basketball at Baker all four years and was selected to the all-conference squad in 1941, 1942 and 1943. During the 1941 season he was a member of the Wildcats NAIA national basketball tournament team. His senior campaign concluded with him leading both teams and the conference in scoring.

In addition to basketball, “Big John” participated in tennis and a wide range of campus activities. He was a member of Zeta Chi, editor of the Baker Orange, member of the B club and president of the senior class. He was elected to the 1943 edition of “Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.”

He served for nine years as the administrative assistant to the NAIA basketball tournament’s executive director, Coach Emil Liston of Baker and following his death, Coach All Deur of Pepperdine.

After graduation he served as a Navy lieutenant in World War II and later received a law degree from the University of Missouri in 1952.

A sales and marketing career that began during law school days took him to increasing management levels with several different companies and in several different states.

He was elected to the Baker University Board of Trustees in 1970 and served two years as its chair during his six years of service.

In 1981 he became general manager of Hibbert Pro Sports Marketing and served as the primary public relations contact with the National Football League. Over the years he developed marketing relationships with several additional National Football League entities, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Thoroughbred Racing Association, and numerous other professional sports organizations.

He is married to Vera Rose. Together they have four children. He resides in Tryon, N.C.

Jim Paramore, 1961

Graduated in 1957 from Seaman High School in Topeka, Kansas, where he participated in a wide range of athletic encounters. He was known as one of the best students of the game and most determined players on Baker football teams from 1957 to 1960. His athletic achievements at Baker earned him numerous all-conference honors and All-Methodist All-American status in 1960. That same year, his 96-yard run for a touchdown established a school record that stands to this day. He ranks sixth on the school’s all-time career total offense list with 3,525 yards and fifth on the all-time scoring list with 204 points.

He also participated in basketball in his freshman and sophomore years and track in his freshman year. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the B club where he served as president in his sophomore year. He served as sophomore class president.

Following graduation he began a distinguished coaching career, which lasted for over 34 years. Twenty-five years were spent as head coach in high schools and colleges in the state of Kansas, where most of his time was spent in football and track. He was selected as Kansas high school football coach of the year in 1992 and received a similar honor in track in 1990. Ten of his track teams won conference championships, eight won regional championships, one was state runner-up and three teams won all-state honors.

He has been a registered basketball official for over 30 years and has worked hundreds of league, championship and tournament games through his career.

He lives in Newton, Kan. He is married to Leilani. Together they have two sons.

George Shore, 1954

Graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City in 1948. Lettered in football, track, boxing and wrestling.

Started on both offense and defense for Wildcat football teams of the early 1950s. Won four letters in football. Was a terror on defense, winning defensive player of the year honors in 1953 through a point system devised by head football coach Karl Spear. Shore easily outdistanced every man in the competition. A co-captain of the 1953 team, he set an all-conference defensive tackling record against McPherson College with 19 unassisted and 12 assisted tackles.

Member of the B Club and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After graduation he became an early pioneer in the health and fitness industry by opening 23 fitness salons in a six-state region. Received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Physical Fitness Association of America. In April 1995, he designed and donated a state-of-the-art weight training facility for Mabee Memorial Hall.

In 1996 he was the driving force behind the creation and implementation of a new Alumni Football Scholarship Fund. He lives in Overland Park, Kan., and is married to Janet. They have five children.