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Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame - February 18, 2021

     Welcome back to Catching Up With Kids, Incorporated! We hope everyone has been staying warm and safe this week as we make it through this crazy winter storm. This week I would like to give you a little insight into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame. You may not even know that Kids, Inc. manages this organization, but we have since 2016!

      The Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1958. This hall of fame honors the area’s greatest athletes, coaches, teams, and sports administrators. Joe Fortenberry became Inductee #1 in 1958. Fortenberry led WT basketball to back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1932 and 1933. He earned All-American honors in both of these seasons. After his time at WT, he played for the Ogden Boosters in Utah and the Globe Refiners in Kansas. Fortenberry went on to play with and be named captain of the 1936 U.S. Olympic basketball team. He led the Americans to a 19-8 victory. Other inductees vary and include star players, famed coaches, and other esteemed individuals from the world of sports in the Texas Panhandle.

     In 2020, we inducted four new members into the hall of fame. Gene Arrington, a local basketball star in the 1950’s, became Inductee #184. Mike Scroggins, a fixture on the Professional Bowling Association tour, became Inductee #185. Wardell Gilbreath, an Amarillo track superstar, became Inductee #186. Finally, JaNeen Eudy, a legendary volleyball coach, became Inductee #187. We also awarded individuals with Coach of the Year, Athlete of the Year, and various Special Achievement honors.  

     We are already gearing up for this year’s event and are excited to induct even more wonderful individuals from the Panhandle. For more information on the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame, or to see a full list of inductees and award winners, visit the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame official webpage!