Athletic Hall of Fame 2000 Inductees

James H. Kean, 1960

Raised in Johnson County, Kansas. Attended Olathe High School. Lettered in four sports in high school; basketball two years; track two years; cross country two years; and football one year.

Enrolled at Baker in the fall of 1956. Became a crucial member of the basketball and track squads as a freshman. Through four years at Baker, lettered four times in each sport.

Received numerous honors for athletic achievements in basketball, including honorable mention all-conference 1957; second-team all-conference 1960; and first-team all-conference 1958 and 1959.

Set school and conference records in rebounding (28 vs. Sterling in 1956) and for free throws (15-for-15 vs. McPherson in 1956). Remains one of the top all-time scorers in University history.

On campus, served as president of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity in 1960. Was an academic scholarship recipient from 1957 to 1960; on the Dean’s Honor Roll 1957-1960; a member of the B-Club 1957-1960; recipient of the Goetz Athletic Scholarship Award 1959-1960; and served as president of the senior class in 1960.

Following graduation, continued education at the University of Kansas. Received a master’s degree in public administration in 1962.

As a young adult, continued in basketball competition and was a key team member of the Ideal Market team of Boulder which advanced to the 1969 AAU National Basketball Tournament in Macon, Ga.

During career, served as the assistant city manager and acting city manager (twice) for the city of Boulder, Colo. Since 1968, has been self-employed with several successful businesses in Boulder, Colo., and Chandler, Ariz.

Daughter is Jori Lindsay and sons Mike Kean and Tod Kean. Married to Rebecca L. Kean.

Merton J. McCann, Jr., 1966

Attended North Kansas City High School from 1959 to 1962. Played offensive tackle and center. Lettered and was named to the all-conference squad for both 1960 and 1961.

Enrolled and played freshman football at William Jewell College prior to transferring to Baker in January 1963.

As a Wildcat, became the starting center under head football coach Jim Irick and held the position through his sophomore, junior and senior years, lettering all three.

Known as a tenacious competitor and blocker, was a member of the front line that helped elevate the Wildcats to national prominence in rushing statistics during the fall of 1964. Following his senior year, was named to the honorable mention all-conference squad.

Not only active in varsity athletics, but an intense participant in campus intramural athletics.

Member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity where he was elected and served as vice president. Member of the B-club.

Following graduation, earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. Returned home to Kansas City, taking a position with TWA. Initially accepted a position in the audit department and has subsequently moved to positions of increased responsibility in finance and accounting. Currently serves as manager of Passenger Refunds.

Served as a volunteer coach for the Jets in the Northland Football League for seventh and eighth grade for a period from 1989 to 1998.

Passed along his love of competition to his children and has spent the previous 10 years as their most ardent fan and in traveling to their sporting events whenever possible.

Married to Kathy Kruckenberg McCann. Together they have three children: Sarah, Katie and Scott.

Charles S. (Sherm) Kolacny, 1950

Raised in WaKeeney, Kan., where he attended his first two years of high school. Lettered in football, basketball and track. Moved with his family to Baldwin where he continued in these same sports, lettering a total of seven times between the two schools.

Enrolled at Baker in the fall of 1946 and became an immediate starter on the football team as a halfback and later added duties as the extra-point and field-goal kicker. A significant highlight of his football career came in 1947 when he scored on an 89-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game against Rockhurst.

As a senior, he led the Wildcats to a 7-2 record and the conference championship of the KCAC. Baker’s record during his career was 22-13-1. Earned a total of nine athletic letters at Baker; four each in football and track, and one in basketball. In football, was selected all-conference second team all four years. In track, won nine conference medals and scored points in seven different events.

On campus was a member of the B-Club for four years, serving as treasurer as a junior, and was a member of the Independent Students Association.

Following graduation, taught and coached for a year at the Post’s middle school at Fort Leavenworth. Afterward, returned to Baker to assist with coaching football and track for a year.

During his career, spent 23 years as a member of the Kansas Highway Patrol. Retired in 1976 as the “Safety and Education” and Training Officer where he was instrumental in establishing the Cadet Lawman Program in cooperation with the American Legion.

After retirement from the Highway Patrol, operated an antiques business until 1999.

Served as a Scout master and Explorer Scout adviser for 19 years.

Karl E. "Bud" Spear, II, 1961

Son of longtime Baker coach Karl Spear who was inducted in the initial class of Baker University Athletic Hall of Fame inductees in 1977. Thus becomes the first father/son inductees in University history.

As a young boy, served as a ball boy for several teams coached by his father. Later graduated as the salutatorian of the Baldwin High School class of 1957 where he began his athletic career in earnest.

As a Wildcat, lettered four years each in football and golf. Known as a leader throughout his career, served as senior co-captain of the team, which went 8-1 with a 27-8-1 combined career record. Designated to the all-conference squad after sophomore and junior seasons and the first-team all-conference and all-Methodist All-American squad his senior year. As a junior, received designation as a second-team member of the All-American Academic Team and was elevated to first-team status his senior year.

On campus, was active in a wide range of activities including: member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, serving as vice president as a junior and pledge trainer as a senior; as a member of the German Club, serving as president as a junior, member of the B-Club, serving both vice president and president, won the Garrett Mathematics Scholarship; won the Freshman Chemistry Award; and upon graduation was initiated into Alpha Delta Sigma, a national honorary academic fraternity.

Following graduation with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, he completed graduate research at the University of Munster, Germany, and later earned a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Kansas in 1967.

Following three years at the Oak Ridge National Research Laboratory, joined Penn State University in 1970 where he currently serves as professor of Materials Science and Engineering, as Associate Head of the Intercollege Graduate Program in Materials and as the Coordinator of Graduate programs in the Department of Materials and Engineering.

Has won numerous honors and awards in his field, is a member of several professional associations, has authored or co-authored over 175 publications and three patents, and has given more than 265 presentations around the world. Current research emphasis is on the safe storage of radioactive waste materials.

Married to his college sweetheart, Nancy Boudrot, ’62. Together they have three children: Kalie, Sally and Karl III (Charlie).