by Alan Hoskins
Two long-time major contributors to athletic programs at Kansas City Kansas Community College are the newest members of the KCKCC Athletic Hall of Fame – Duane Shaw and the late Keith Lindsey.
Shaw served as director of athletics from 1987-1999 while Lindsey was a major supporter of KCKCC sports teams during his 28 years as owner of Varsity Sports. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame prior to the final game of the 11th annual Keith Lindsey Basketball Classic Saturday, Nov. 15.
A teacher at Central Junior High School in Kansas City, Kan., from 1961-1972, Shaw came to KCKCC as director of student activities in 1972. During a 15-year career in that position, he started KCKCC’s first Academic Challenge Team and Teacher-Staff Appreciation Day; sponsored ski trips and trips to foreign countries for students; and was Student Senate and Phi Theta Kappa sponsor.
The recipient of the KCKCC Outstanding Staff Service Award in 1978 and 1988, Shaw was also the recipient of the Career Education Award in 1978 and Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished Service Award in 1988.
The successor to Walt Shublom as director of athletics in 1987, Shaw took Blue Devil athletic programs to new levels by increasing the number of athletes, scholarships and full-time coaching positions; improved physical facilities including development of a training room; and increased the budget. His efforts resulted in an increase in grade point averages and graduation rates of athletes. In addition, he was active in scheduling for the Jayhawk Conference.
Shaw was also well known as a basketball, baseball and softball official, umpiring for more than 40 years and refereeing more than 1,100 basketball games. Retired July 1, 1999, he continues to be involved at KCKCC as a part-time employee in the Maintenance Department.
Tragically killed in a one-car accident Christmas Day 2003, Keith Lindsey was an outstanding athlete, coach, teacher and businessman. A starter on two Wyandotte High School state basketball championship teams, he graduated from Hardin-Simmons where he was a three-year basketball letterman. An English major, Lindsey began teaching and coaching at Maple Park Junior High in North Kansas City and was an English teacher and assistant coach at Washington High School for three years before serving two years as head boys coach at Turner High School.
In 1976, he opened Varsity Sports where stories of his generosity to athletes in need and others were endless.
“We’d have coaches call about a kid who had no money and Keith would tell them to come by and he’d give them a glove or shoes and tell them, ‘Young man, play hard and come back and see me some time,’ ” said Jim Woods, who worked for Lindsey for 27 years.
While it’s been nearly 13 years since his passing, the respect, admiration and love for Keith Lindsey will carry on for years and years. In 2008, he was inducted into the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame at KCKCC. In addition to the annual basketball classic, KCKCC holds a Keith Lindsey Scholarship Golf Scramble each fall and both Washington and Wyandotte high schools and the Kansas City Coach Association have honored Lindsey’s memory.
Founded in 2010, charter Hall of Fame members were Robert Russell, David Segui, Kevin Young, Jurgita Kausaite and the late Al Heider. Nancy Allen, Bryan Scott and Aneta Kausaite were added in 2012 and Steve Burleson, Stephanie Brown, Dinsdale Morgan and the 1976 baseball team which played in the NJCCC World Series last year.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.