Athletics Misc (783)
Fredrick Lawrence Heine Jr.
Lettered in football, basketball and track.
Football: Was second team all-conference at tackle as a sophomore, and first-team selection as a junior. Served as team captain as a senior.
Basketball: Played as the center, winning all-conference honorable mention honors as a freshman, second team as a sophomore, and first team as a junior and senior. Also was elected the all-conference team captain as a junior and senior, while Baker’s team won the conference.
Track: Won conference championship in the shot put and also placed in the mile relay.
President of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and a member of the German Club. Served as junior class treasurer, senior class president, president of the B Club, and student commission president.
Received A.B. degree in business administration and mathematics in 1937 and an M.A. degree in education administration from UMKC in 1943.
Taught accounting and mathematics in the Kansas City School District from 1942 to 1955 and served as vice principal and principal from 1956 to 1981.
Elected to the Kansas City, Missouri Board of Education in 1982 and re-elected in 1986. Served as president 1984-86.
Has served as president of the Kiwanis Club, and as a member of Intercity of Independence, Mo.
Received a special award from the Independence Neighborhood Councils in 1985 and a Baker University Alumni Citation in 1986.
Rankin Wellborn
A family who brought honor to the University through their athletic achievements as well as their service and devotion to their alma mater. Perhaps never before or since has one family made such a positive impact upon the athletic life of Baker University.
Rankin lettered in basketball and track as a regular on the undefeated team of 1919. Known widely for his ability to shoot the foul shot. Honorable mention to the coaches All-Conference Team in 1919 and 1920. In 1920 he won the conference track meet in the half-mile. Member of Zeta Chi. M.A. Degree from Emporia State. Taught and coached, later serving as superintendent of schools, at Lyndon for 20 years. After resigning his post, he worked for many years with the Lyndon State Bank.
Rob Wellborn
A family who brought honor to the University through their athletic achievements as well as their service and devotion to their alma mater. Perhaps never before or since has one family made such a positive impact upon the athletic life of Baker University.
Robert lettered in football, basketball, and track. Captained the undefeated basketball team of 1919. Chosen All-Conference by conference coaches. Member of conference champion relay team also winning track points in the quarter mile and weight events. Conference champion in javelin.
Member of Zeta Chi. Commissioned lieutenant during World War I. Served with the S.A.T.C. at the University of Wisconsin. Taught school at Fredonia; later superintendent of schools at Moran. Went into the insurance business before moving to Wichita where he worked for the State of Kansas Department of Labor.
Fred Wellborn
A family who brought honor to the University through their athletic achievements as well as their service and devotion to their alma mater. Perhaps never before or since has one family made such a positive impact upon the athletic life of Baker University.
Fred lettered in basketball and track where he served as track team captain in 1918. Held Kansas Conference record in the half mile. Captain in 1918. Kansas conference record in the half mile. Member of Zeta Chi. Received M.A. from Kansas University in 1923, and his Ph.D. from Wisconsin in 1926. Professor of history at Iowa State Teachers College, 1926-1946; Professor of history at University of Maryland, 1946-1969, during which time he conducted classes at the Pentagon and other East Coast military bases. Author of two books. Listed in Who’s Who in the East.
John Wellborn
A family who brought honor to the University through their athletic achievements as well as their service and devotion to their alma mater. Perhaps never before or since has one family made such a positive impact upon the athletic life of Baker University.
John Wellborn, 1918
John lettered in basketball and track, won conference championship in 1915 and 1916 in the mile, while taking third in the two mile.
Member of Zeta Chi. During World War I was a member of the Machine Gun Company, 10th Div. Camp Funston. Received M.A. degree from Kansas University. Spent his career in education and as superintendent of schools first in Baldwin City, then Wamego.
Fred L. Webb
Athletic career started in Osage City, Kan.; lettered in football, basketball and track. Recruited by Emil Liston in 1942 to attend Baker University; lettered in basketball and track four years each. Attended Baker the fall semester, 1942; left to serve in the armed forces-returned in 1946. Graduated June, 1949. Member of Delta Tau Delta.
Scored 20 points vs. College of Emporia, 1947. Pole vaulted 12’ 5 ½”, at the 1949 conference meet. (The world record was 14’ 8 ½”).
Coaching career began in 1949 at Hanover High School. In four years there, his teams went 75-27 in basketball. Coached baseball in ’49. 5-0 record.
Coached the first football team in the history of Hanover High School in September 1950. Lost the first game ever played 9-7. Won the next 7 games and finished the year 7-1. 1951 season went undefeated 8-0. 1952 Season was undefeated 7-0. Team of 1952 was recognized as one of the top teams in Kansas in their class. Selected as Coach of the Year in 1952-53.
Moved to Minneapolis, Kan. As basketball coach in 1953. coached there from 1953-55. Served as basketball coach and assistant football coach.
Moved to St. John, Kan. In 1955-59. Coached basketball and was assistant football coach. Record for the 10 years of coaching basketball: 136-81.
Moved to Baldwin in 1959 as high school teacher and assistant coach in all sports. Head coach resigned after the second football game. He finished the season as coach of all sports.
Was named principal of Baldwin High School in 1960. Served in that capacity until 1963. Received MS from Emporia State, 1961.
Employed at Baker University in 1963 as Dean of Men and registrar. Also served as assistant professor of physical education. Named Dean of Students in 1975. Served that capacity until he retired June 30, 1986.
Received the “Mr. Alumni Day” Award – 1985.
Rudolph Beiser
Attended East High School in Kansas City, Mo., where he was named to the all-city and all-state basketball team as a senior.
At Baker, lettered four years in varsity basketball and led each of these teams in scoring.
Named honorary captain of the 1937 Kansas Conference All-Star Team. Was the leading scorer as Baker defeated the University of Kansas varsity team coached by Phog Allen 32-27 at KU. This was the last time Baker defeated KU in varsity basketball action.
Following graduation he started at guard for the Healy Motors team, which went on to win the National Championship of the league, the forerunner of today’s NBA.
In 1939, played for the MGM team of Culver City, Calif., which lost one game during the entire season but finished in third place in the same pre-NBA league. While working in Hollywood, was recruited and played shortstop on the famous Roz Russell’s Boy’s Softball Team, which finished third in the tough Southern California Softball Championship Tournament.
In later life became an avid golfer and served on the Board of Directors of the Blue Skies Country Club, Yucca Valley, Calif.
Member and major supporter of the Baker University Wildcat Booster Club.
Member of the B-Club and Spanish Club, sports dditor of Baker Orange for three years, class vice president 1935-36, member of the Zeta Chi fraternity.
Worked for MGM as an “A” grip. Worked on “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland. Also worked on movies with Roz Russell, Norma Shearer, Wallace Beery, Edward G. Robinson, Nelson Eddy and Eleanor Powell.
Returned to Kansas City. Employed as a writer, producer and director of commercial films for United Film.
U.S. Army duty 1941-1945. Wrote scenarios for military training films. Assigned in 1943 to the Pentagon in charge of darkroom processing and development.
1946-1972, worked in supervisory capacities for the Veterans Administration first in Los Angeles, later in Washington, D.C.
During retirement became heavily involved in community service and volunteerism.
Francis Maywood Smith
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.
Theodore A. Wright
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).
Giles Owen Wright
1899-1974
Football letterman Orange 22, November, 1920, “He is the deadliest 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.
