Jack Jennings, Passes Away August 4, 2011, Father to Debbie, Bettie, Jerry and Larry

Jack K. Jennings, Warrensburg, MO

Jack K. Jennings, Warrensburg, Missouri

Jack K. Jennings, 82, Warrensburg, Missouri passed away Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, at his home. Jack was born March 19, 1929 in Pittsburg, Kan., to Robert F. and Sarah (Lyngar) Jennings. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1947 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1951. He served from 1948-1968 with the 135th Artillery Group of the Missouri Army National Guard rising to the rank of Sergeant Major. From 1951-1961 he served as the Associate County Extension Agent for Johnson County, Mo., responsible for the organization of 49 4-H clubs with a combined membership of 649 boys and girls and 200 adult leaders. In 1961, Jack joined Investors Diversified Service (later known as American Express and Ameriprise) and devoted the next 40 years to assisting residents of Johnson, Pettis, Benton, Henry, St. Claire, and Bates counties in Missouri with personal financial planning. During this time, he served as District Manager and Zone Manager. For the last ten years, Jack has been an active volunteer for Missouri Boys State. Jack was known for his gentle, soft-spoken manner and his love and respect for nature. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alice, of the home; four children, Deborah Turnbow and husband Herb, Bettie Rusher, Larry Jennings and wife Sharon all of Warrensburg, and Jerry Jennings and wife Rita of Sturgeon, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Tim Turnbow, Katie Turnbow, Amanda McSwain, Lisa Jennings, Charlie Rusher, Ken Jennings, and Joe Jennings; and three great-grandchildren, Brandon Marr, Kambrie Jennings, and Ian McSwain. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Eric Jennings, November 2010. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, at Sweeney-Phillips and Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg. Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery will full military honors. Pallbearers will be Scott Solomon, Lynn Solomon, Bryan Livengood, Justin Patrick, Ryan Bowie and Dan Miller. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, at Sweeney-Phillips and Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg. Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=jack-k-jennings&pid=152900907#ixzz1UKLfI2d8 Our condolences and prayers to all of the children, grandchildren and friends on the loss of Jack Jennings, a good man and a friend. The class of 73.

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inducts Dr. Millie Barnes, January 2011

Dr. Mildred "Millie" Barnes, UCM Legendary Coach

Dr. Mildred Barnes, who coached the Jennies for nine seasons (1971-80), is credited with laying the foundation that helped make the Jennies' basketball program one of the best in the nation. She never had a losing season in her nine-year career, compiling a 156-63 record and winning two AIAW state championships. Barnes retired from Central Missouri in 1991 as professor emeritus of physical education, following 22 years of service to the university.

Highly respected in women's basketball circles nationwide, Barnes became the first woman to serve on the board of trustees of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (1977-86) and was the only woman out of 50 trustees until the late 1980’s.

She wrote the first book on five-player women's basketball, served on the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Committee as the chair and was instrumental in bringing the first U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team to Warrensburg to train prior to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

In addition to the Central Missouri Hall of Fame, she is in four others including the Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame (1994), the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2005), the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2000), and the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame (1978) where she was the first woman ever inducted.

As an athlete, she was a member of the U.S. National Lacrosse team and competed nationally in field hockey, tennis, and badminton. She was drafted by the women’s professional baseball league and was on the All-American Lacrosse Team 12 years in a row. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston University, and her master’s and doctorate degrees from Surgent University.

Dr. Mildred Barnes – Women’s Basketball Coach, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MOServing as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Central Missouri State University from 1971 to 1980, Dr. Barnes’s teams posted a 156 – 63 record. That 71.2% mark came against Division I and Division II schools. Against DI schools her record was 95 – 33 and against Big Ten institutions, she was a perfect 8 – 0. Her teams qualified for the AIAW National Championship twice. Dr. Barnes is a member of five Halls of Fame. As a former athlete, she competed in lacrosse, field hockey, badminton and tennis.

Some other inductees honored included...
Priest Holmes – Running Back, Kansas City ChiefsBorn in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Priest Holmes was raised in San Antonio, Texas. Holmes played football at John Marshall High School, where he led his school to the state championship game. After graduating from high school in 1992, he attended the University of Texas at Austin. In 1997, his NFL Career took him to play for the Baltimore Ravens, where he earned a ring in Super Bowl XXXV. In 2001, he joined the Kansas City Chiefs where he set team records in career rushing attempts, career rushing yards, career rushing touchdowns, and total touchdowns and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2002.
Tom Herr – Second Baseman, St. Louis CardinalsA fan favorite during the 1980’s, Tom Herr starred for the St. Louis Cardinals in three World Series’. During the '85 season, he set career highs in nearly every statistical category, including an amazing 110 RBI’s, which came along with only 8 home runs. Tom was selected to the 1985 All Star team for his efforts. In a 13-season career, he batted .271 with 28 home runs and 574 RBI’s in 1514 games. He had 1450 career hits in 5349 at bats. He is best remembered for hitting a walk-off grand slam in extra innings against the New York Mets on April 18, 1987.
Kenny Schrader – Automobile Racing, Fenton, MODespite having a full-time NASCAR ride for over twenty years, Fenton, Missouri’s Kenny Schrader frequently races at local tracks between NASCAR races. The 1985 NASCAR Rookie of the Year and owner of Ken Schrader Racing races in many racing divisions, and has been successful in every division he has stepped into. He owns a dirt late model and dirt open wheel modified car. Both of these cars, along with his Camping World Truck Series and ARCA series cars, are sponsored by Federated Auto Parts.
Mike Matheny – Catcher, St. Louis Cardinals