2010 Roadrunner Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

Image of Aaron Collier and Coach Bill Barton

Aaron Collier (left) and Coach Bill Barton.

The State Fair Community College Athletic Department inducted three new members into the Roadrunner Athletics Hall of Fame on March 26 at its annual athletic banquet.

Inductees for 2010 are former basketball coach Bill Barton, Sedalia, and basketball players Joe Wright, Carthage, and Aaron Collier, Atlanta.

Barton coached the SFCC men’s basketball team from 1970-2005. Under his guidance the Roadrunners won more than 600 games. He led teams to Region 16 championships and two appearances at the NJCAA tournament in 1972 and 1976 and was honored as Region 16 Coach of the Year those two seasons.

In 1991 Barton was elected to the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame, and in April 2010 he is scheduled to be inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Former SFCC President Dr. Steve Poort, who nominated Barton, said the coach cared deeply about SFCC and the student athletes he coached.

“For 35 years Coach Barton set the standard for hard work and coaching excellence at SFCC,” said Poort. “He was not only a leader but also a friend and confidant, and he taught his team members that it takes both athletic ability and heart to become great players.”

Wright, who was not able to attend the banquet, came to SFCC in 1982 as an all-state basketball player from Carthage High School. He was third leading high school scorer in Missouri his senior year, averaging more than 30 points per game.

He continued to distinguish himself at SFCC. His freshman season he led the Roadrunners in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game. As a sophomore he averaged 21.5 points per game, was named to the All-Region 16 team and earned second team NJCAA All-American status.

Wright went on to play for the Kansas State University Wildcats from 1984-1986. His junior year he set a Big Eight record by making all 11 of his field goal attempts in a game against Oklahoma State. His senior year he averaged 18 points per game. After graduating from KSU, Wright played professional basketball for several years.

Collier came to SFCC in 1989 as an all-conference basketball player from Northeast High School in Kansas City. He quickly made an impact at SFCC, leading the Roadrunners in scoring both his freshman and sophomore years, 1989-1991. As a freshman he averaged 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game; as a sophomore he averaged 23.4 points and 12.8 rebounds.He was named to the All-Region 16 team both years and earned second team NJCAA All-American status as a sophomore

Collier went on to play for the Kansas State University Wildcats from 1991-1993. As a KSU forward, he averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds per game his senior year and scored a career-high 20 points against the University of Oklahoma in 1993. After graduating from Kansas State, Collier returned to Northeast High School to teach.

2009 Roadrunner Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

Bob Hoskins (left) and Tim West

Tim West and Bob Hoskins were inducted into the new Athletics Hall of Fame on March 27, 2009, at the Athletic Banquet held at the Best Western State Fair Inn.

Bob Hoskins, Sedalia, has supported SFCC athletics for 42 years and was one of the original organizers and charter member of the first Booster Club, which was established in 1968 as the Coyote Club. He was instrumental in enlisting the clubs first 100 members, became president in its fourth year and served in that capacity for the next 14 years. In 2008 Bob was recognized as the first Booster Club member to have held a continuous membership for 40 years. He also served as an SFCC Board of Trustee from 1988 to 2006. Bob Hoskins has given an immeasurable contribution of time, talent and involvement in the SFCC athletic program.

Tim West, Cross Timbers, played basketball for SFCC from 1977 to 1979. West came to SFCC as an All-State basketball player from Skyline-Urbana High School. For 1977-78 he was named to the All-Region XVI team. In 1978-1979 he again was named to the All-Region XVI team and also named Player of the Year and a Junior College All-American. West averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds per game, and shot 55 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line.

After graduating from SFCC in 1979 with an Associate of Arts degree, West went on to play basketball at the University of Nebraska, where he received honorable mention on the All-Big 8 team for the 1979-1980 season. While in Nebraska, West played in 24 games and started in 20. He averaged 11.5 point and 4.1 rebounds per game, and shot 53 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line.

The State Fair Community College Athletics Hall of Fame was established to enhance college tradition and to pay tribute to former SFCC athletes, coaches and friends of the athletic department for their outstanding athletic achievement, contributions and positive impact on the SFCC athletic program.