Scott Bates

Scott graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kansas, where he lettered for two years in football, starting at center and linebacker, and also played basketball for two years. During summers he played in the Ban Johnson Baseball League. In 1975, he led that league in batting with a .398 average while playing for Milgram. He was voted all-league at first base and he played in the all-star game that same year.

At Baker, he played both football and baseball. In his freshman year he blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown against Graceland allowing the Wildcats to ultimately end up with a tie. He lettered all four years in baseball — two as a catcher, one as a third baseman and one as a first baseman. He was voted to the all-conference team for three years. He was voted his senior year the team’s captain and most valuable player. He batted over .300 in three of his four years. Following graduation with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism he was invited and had tryouts with the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. Among other positions he spent his career in retail sales and as a business owner of BOW Truckline. He has a daughter, Austin.

Gary enrolled at Baker after graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School where he played basketball and was the leading scorer and team captain his senior year. He was voted to the all-league, all-area and all-state teams. He left Shawnee Mission East as its fifth all-time leading scorer. In the summers he played baseball and was a member of the Johnson County 3&2 Baseball Division Championship team of 1973, was a member of the league championship team for three years and pitched four no-hitters and one perfect game. He also played for Milgram for two summers in the Ban Johnson League. At Baker he pitched and lettered for the Wildcats for two years in baseball and he was the undeniable sparkplug of the Wildcat basketball squad where he started and lettered all four years at guard. He was voted all-conference for three years and was named the best defensive player his freshman year and MVP his sophomore year. He led the team in assists all four years. He completed his Baker career ninth on the all-time scoring list.

He graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He returned to the Wildcats to assist in coaching for a year before teaching and coaching in area high schools for 10 years. From 1987 to 1996 he was the assistant coach of basketball at UMKC. He currently resides in Overland Park and is employed as an executive with the George Fern Co. He is married to Karen and together they have a son, Kevin, and two daughters, Kelley and Natalie.

Robert D. Shores

Following a successful high school athletic career, Bob signed to play at Coffeyville Community College for one year where he played and lettered in football. He enrolled at Baker in the fall of 1952 and lettered in football and made the all-conference team at defensive tackle. Called to serve in the Army near the end of the Korean War, he was away from college for two years.

He returned to Baker for his junior and senior years and once again lettered and made the all-conference team both years as well. He graduated from Baker in 1958 with a degree in education and was immediately hired as principal, teacher and coach at Oneida (Kansas) Junior High School. He also coached basketball and track at Oneida High School. He moved on the next year to the high school level at Blue Rapids High School where he taught and coached for another year.

In 1960 he accepted the position of head coach for football and track and assistant coach for basketball at Yates Center where he remained for five years. His final position at the high school level took him to Fort Scott where he taught and coached football, basketball and track. At the same time he took on added responsibilities for teaching at Fort Scott Community College. In 1967 he moved full time to the community college and through his 11 years there he taught, coached and had responsibilities for directing the Guidance and Counseling Office and was the Dean of Students. A change of careers found Bob in the insurance field in sales and management for a 10-year period. During this time he joined the Board of Trustees at Fort Scott Community College.

In 1988 he once again joined Fort Scott Community College on a full-time basis to serve for an additional five years as the Dean of Instruction. He retired from Fort Scott in 1993. During his years of coaching his team’s accomplishments included winning the Community College National Championship in football in 1970. Additionally, from 1969 to 1974 the Fort Scott Community College football team won 54 straight games, played in five national bowl games, played for three national championship games and for four years was ranked number one in the nation in defense.

For his outstanding achievements and accomplishments he has been inducted into both the Fort Scott Athletic Hall of Fame and the National Junior College Hall of Fame. His brother Dick was inducted into Baker’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. Bob is married to Wilma. Together, they have three children, Rick, Janet and Leann. The Shores additionally have seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.